There’s no such thing as too soon when it comes to Christmas tunes, huh? I bet you have loads of Holiday musc favorites, and it’s great that Holiday music can fall into many categories. Today, we’re giving you a brief, yet quality selection of best pop punk Christmas picks, delivered by our friends from Florida based SIGNS OF PROGRESS, who themselves just released a new anti-holiday pop-punk song titled “Retail Holiday“!
The new song from SIGNS OF PROGRESS addresses shopping culture and how Black Friday has more or less become its own holiday in the last couple of decades. It also touches on how certain holiday-crazed people tend to celebrate Christmas and other related holidays far too early in the year, some even months in advance. The song is not meant to be a criticism of the holidays itself – since we actually very much enjoy celebrating the holidays – but instead a frustration-fueled commentary on how the concept of celebrating and gift-giving has been blown entirely out of proportion in recent years.
Here is a quote from our frontwoman, Sage Viscovi, about what event inspired the lyrics for the song: “I think I speak for quite a few of us when I say that I used to work in retail for many years and have seen all types of people around the holiday season. There’s this abundance of people who take that ‘holiday spirit’ and use it as an excuse to be obnoxious and overspend on gifts, all while spreading that guilt onto others for not doing the same.
There was one specific moment I recall when I was traveling from JFK in New York to film the music videos for our debut EP Safe Haven in Florida. I believe the calendar date that day was actually October 2nd, so we’re talking about almost three months ahead of Christmas. I had just gotten through the security check and was walking toward my gate when I was met face-to-face with this massive, inflatable Christmas display right in the middle of the terminal. It was honestly ridiculous and also felt like a slap in the face to anyone who was excited for Halloween/Thanksgiving or those who don’t celebrate Christmas at all!
Not to sound like Scrooge, but I really think many people nowadays – especially companies – see the holidays as just a giant marketing scheme and nothing else. I personally would prefer not to feel like the holidays are being sold to me each year and I’m sure some others would agree.”
Top 5 Pop Punk Christmas Tunes, by SIGNS OF PROGRESS:
1) “Santa Stole My Girlfriend” – The Maine
“Big fan of The Maine over here and I find this song underrated as all heck. Such a playful spin on the whole ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ thing, really kicks it up a notch while still sounding lighthearted. I personally would love to see this band put out more funny songs, I feel like they’re capable of it and would do it justice!” – Sage Viscovi
2) “All I Want for Christmas is You” – My Chemical Romance (cover, originally by Mariah Carey)
“Every time I hear this song, it brings back fond memories of my angsty, emo high school days. It was the first Christmas cover I heard by a relevant band that heavily influenced me at that age. We all love angsty Christmas songs!” – Trent Fraley
3) “(Ho Ho Hey) A Way for Santa’s Sleigh” – Emery
“I always thought this was a cool take on a Christmas song. It doesn’t have the same typical joyful feel of other Christmas songs and it tells a small Christmas story that’s easy to get lost in.” – Justin Burger
4) “Santa Claus is Thumbing to Town” – Relient K
“I grew up listening to Relient K and their Christmas EPs were always on point in the early days. This a great pop punk song on its own, full of energy and a fun twist on the usual Christmas banter. Early Relient K is where it’s at.” – Jarred McKinney
5) “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out” – Fall Out Boy
“Imagine leading your average childhood and growing up on stereotypical Christmas classics… only to hear this song’s lyrics for the first time. I still make it a tradition to play this song around the holidays each year and at no point has it ever gotten old. It takes having a certain sense of (crass) humor to enjoy this kind of music.” – Sage Viscovi
BONUS #1: SIGNS OF PROGRESS – “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out” by Fall Out Boy (Cover)
“Merry Christmas Eve! Sage recorded this mini cover of Fall Out Boy’s “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out,” give it a listen as you prepare for your socially-distant festivities this evening.”<
