Why aren’t these Christmas and holiday songs available for streaming anywhere but YouTube?
[Reader Danny Fournier has been searching from some older Christmas and holiday songs on the streaming music platforms with no luck. – AC]
1. The Payola$, “Christmas Is Coming”
It’s available on YouTube not nowhere else.
2. Bob & Doug McKenzie, “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”
Strange, given how success it was back in the day. The only place we’ll find it is on YouTube.
3. Northern Lights, “Tears Are Not Enough”
Not a Christmas song per se, but wasn’t it originally around holiday time. Find it on YouTube.
4. Christmas In The Stars Album (Star Wars Christmas album)
A weird one. All the songs are sung by C3PO and R2D2, but the big claim to fame is this album is the first-ever recording of a young Jon Bon Jovi, credited as John Bongiovi). Find it here.
5. Stryper, Winter Wonderland
Odd, given the big fanbase of this Christian band. I’m talking about the original studio recorded version. A live version is on Spotify. Find the studio version on YouTube.
6. Doug & The Slugs, White Christmas
Another lost Canadian Christmas radio song from the 80s. At least it’s on YouTube.
7. Muppets Family Christmas
None of the songs from this television special (recorded in Canada) are available anywhere–except on YouTube, of course.
8. Delta Deep (featuring Phil Collen/Def Leppard and Robert Deleo/Stone Temple Pilots), “Take Me Home For Christmas”
Admittedly, you gotta be pretty deep into rock-oriented Christmas to even realize this song exists. Find it on YouTube.
9. Rankin/Bass Christmas Soundtracks
“Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer: is online, but “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and “Year Without Santa Claus” are not, which is surprising because “Heat Miser/Snow Miser” is used a lot in TikTok and instagram reels. There are fakes versions, covers, even a version that sounds like it was recorded right off the TV but no actual soundtrack. Best go to YouTube.
10. Emilia Clarke, “Last Christmas”
Technically this has never been released as an actual single. The movie was called Last Christmas, and they made a big deal about Emilia Clarke actually singing “Last Christmas” in the movie. But just to try to find a version of it anywhere other than in the movie (or clips from it on YouTube).
SNL cast, “I Wish It Was Christmas Today”
Again, with how popular this song is online on YouTube, TikTok, etc. you’ld think it was on Spotify or Apple Music. Nope.
Anyone want to add anything else to this AWOL list?
