David Byrne has compiled a 32-track playlist for those who dread the incessant ringing of sleigh bells and festive cheer, aptly titled “David Byrne Radio Presents: Christmas Music for People Who Hate Christmas Music,” nme.com reports.
The former Talking Heads frontman shared the eclectic collection with a message explaining his criteria for selection.
“This playlist is not about the solstice, nor does it have some Pagan agenda,” he told fans. “It’s rowdy, fun songs that gently poke at and refer to the holidays. Enjoy!”
The Spotify playlist is a unique mix that features a range of artistes from different genres. Listeners will find festive takes like EI GC Y Su Raza Alterada’s “Ya Llega La Navidad,” hip-hop classic Run-DMC’s “Christmas Is” and Prince’s sombre “Another Lonely Christmas”.
Other artistes who made the cut include Macy Gray, Sufjan Stevens and Finneas, with two tracks each from Willie Nelson and Laufey.
The collection also includes more explicit, tongue-in-cheek numbers such as Big Freedia’s “Santa Is A Gay Man” and 100 Gecs’ “Sympathy 4 The Grinch”. Byrne rounds off the list with Phoebe Bridgers’ “If We Make It Through December,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Santa Doesn’t Know You Like I Do,” and his own Christmas tune, “Fat Man’s Comin’”.
The playlist arrives as Byrne’s North American tour drew to a close with two shows in Miami on Friday (December 6). He is set to tour Australia and New Zealand next month before heading to Europe in February, which includes nine dates across the UK and Ireland.
During his recent run of dates, Byrne thrilled fans by playing the Talking Heads’ classic “Psycho Killer” for the first time in 19 years. He was also joined by Hayley Williams in New York City to perform Paramore’s “Hard Times” alongside their recent collaboration, “What Is The Reason For It?”
Looking ahead, Byrne is slated to headline a handful of summer festivals, including Latitude, Open’er and Mad Cool.
The seasoned artiste has also recently touched upon the possibility of another Talking Heads reunion, telling Rolling Stone he felt it was “pretty much impossible to recapture where you were at that time in your life,” noting that he has moved in a “very different place” musically.
•Featured image: David Byrne/Shervin Lainez
