Jams & Joints #30: Suburban Holiday

This holiday playlist is baked with love by our Marketing Coordinator, Jess. Reminiscing on the simple pleasures of the Christmas season just outside of Chicago, she plucks out tunes near & dear to the sugar cookie-cutterness of suburbia.

Here's what she had to say about it:

I grew up in a household that was seemingly made to be festive. In the front yard, I made sure my dad put out all the string lights in a tasteful fashion (much to his dismay when the power of the whole house would trip and he had to trudge down the basement steps to the electrical box and flip the switch again.) And on the inside of the house, from the front stairs to the fireplace, to the piano room and each of our individual bedroom doors, my mother & I's "Hobby Lobby gems" adorned each Command Hook and surface. 

 

When I moved to New York City for college, I savored every element of holiday spirit that bled through the streets of Manhattan. Like imagine the giant tree at Rockefeller Center was this bright beacon that derived its power from the likes of Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone 2, Elf, When Harry Met Sally, & Serendipity. 

 

But Christmas for me never truly hit the same unless it was a suburban holiday. The very first thing I do after I spill out of my mom's minivan coming from Midway Airport, is plant myself in front of my baby grand & play "Linus and Lucy," her favorite.

  

(We've listed the tracks and notes below in case you don't use Spotify)

Linus And Lucy | Vince Guaraldi Trio

Wonderful Christmastime | Paul McCartney

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree | Brenda Lee

A Holly Jolly Christmas | Burl Ives

Winter Wonderland | Bing Crosby

Feliz Navidad | José Feliciano

Little Saint Nick | The Beach Boys

Last Christmas | Wham!

Run Rudolph Run | Chuck Berry

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays | *NSYNC

All I Want for Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey

Wizards in Winter | Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Here's Jess, 22 years ago!