There are only about 2 and 1/2 weeks until. This makes me sad because there are only 2 and 1/2 more weeks for me to totally indulge in Christmas music. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I became totally obsessed with listening to Christmas music. This year I started listening to yuletide tunes well before Thanksgiving.

Here are the top ten Christmas tracks I’ve been spinning this year:

10. “Christmas Duel” by The Hives and Cyndi Lauper

The Most Attractive Man Alive (aka Pele from the Hives) and Cyndi Effing Lauper did a duet this year in which they list all the naughty, nasty things they’ve done over the last year: Example, sleeping with each other’s sister/brother, marrying drunk, hiring hit men, etc. Chalk another one up for the not safe for kids/family Christmas song play list.

9. “Christmas Song” by The Raveonettes


8. “Candy Cane Children” by the White Stripes

7. “12 Days of Christmas” by Taking Back Sunday

6. “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders

5. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Coldplay from Mince Spies

4. “Last Christmas” by Wham!

3. “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey

2. “Christmas Song” by Weezer

Yes, the song is a bit pessimistic and sad, but the melody can’t be beat.

1. “Spotlight on Christmas” by Rufus Wainwright

I love this song so much. I think it puts everything in perspective. Great uptempo song…definitely the one ditty I play the most this season.

This is video from one of the many nights of Rufus at the Gramercy Theater here in NYC. Pretty awesome. Link from ONTD.

Yup, I think an encore in heels, stockings, and lipstick qualifies…photo taken during Rufus’s second night of a 4-night stand at the Blender Gramercy Theatre in NYC. More TK.

Note to self–do not go to a Rufus concert 1. hungry 2. tired. You will be hungry and tired for the almost 2 1/2 hours + 30 minutes intermission you are there.

Rufus is also environmentally friendly. See, he even reuses setlists, like this one he used for tonight’s NYC show — it was from one of his London Old Vic shows:

But he actually DID do “La Complainte de la Butte” as well as an acapella song with mom Kate McGarrigle and sister Martha.

On May 16th at 7:00pm, Rufus will be giving a musical performance at Barnes and Noble Union Square.

Link from ONTD

The joy in my life increases x10 because ONTD exists.

Quothe Rufus in Time Out (London):

‘Tulsa’, about Killers frontman Brandon Flowers sounds particularly intriguing. ‘I don’t know him that well,’ Wainwright admits, ‘but I wrote this song about him which is kind of hilarious – it says he tastes like potato chips in the morning.’

Lyrics:

Tulsa – Rufus Wainwright

You taste of potato chips in the morning.
Your face has the Marlon Brando club calling.
And then the thought that I owe it all to Tulsa.
And that fat guy with the Queen shirt that we both signed together.
Wanting it for someone who’d been down forever.

Your suit was the whitest thing since you-know-who.
I feel that that savior I’ve been may be you.
And then the thought that I owe it all to Tulsa.
And that poor girl who waited in the rain for hours to meet me completely.

And I owe it all to Tulsa
Just a reminder
Of the antiques shop I want to go back to and visit when it´s open
In Tulsa, Oklahama
This song’s about you.

And here’s the convo I had w/ Rach about this:

Rach: i hope it pisses flowers off
Me: GAYS ARE DANGEROUS
Rach: but brandon cant say anything about him negative cos then he’ll be gaybashing. SUCK IT FLOWERS.

Last year Rufus Wainwright and his family spread the holiday cheer with their “The McGarrigle Christmas Hour”. This year, on December 13th, Rufus and Martha Wainwright and fam and friends are returning to Carnegie Hall on December 13th for “The Wainwright Family & Friends Celebrate Christmas”, this year featuring guest artists like David Byrne, Jimmy Fallon, and Teddy and Linda Thompson among others.

Buy tickets “wright” here.

Rufus Wainwright reviewed.