Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Christmas Music Until After Thanksgiving

Halloweekend is over, which means there’s no more “Ghostbusters" or “Thriller” being blasted through State College. This begs the question, “What do you listen to during the awkward time between Halloween and Christmas?”

No, the first thought should not be, “Christmas music!” Christmas music should strictly be saved until after Thanksgiving or until the calendar says December 1st.

It turns out there are many songs– old and new– that capture the chilly (but not freezing), pumpkin spice-fueled month of November perfectly, and that make your walk to class through the crunchy leaves that much better.

Here is a list of songs that I think fit the month of November, since they feel cozy and a little somber, but at the same time, whimsy and warm.

“California Dreamin’” (1966)

By: The Mamas and the Papas

“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray…” is the first line in this 60s classic.

“California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and the Papas is honestly one of the whimsiest songs ever created, as while listening, you can picture life through an orange-tinted lens while yearning for California. Just picture this song over your digi cam pics at the pumpkin patch. Perfection.

“Harness Your Hopes B-Side” (1999)

By: Pavement

“Harness Your Hopes” was originally one of Pavement’s more obscure songs when it first released on the B-side of a 1999 EP titled “Spit on a Stranger.” However, due to Spotify’s algorithms, it is now Pavement’s most popular song, coming in at 278 million streams on Spotify. It also gained a lot of traction through TikTok, where people would lip-sync the lyrics:

“Well, show me

A word that rhymes with Pavement

And I won't kill your parents

And roast them on a spit

And a-don't you try to etch it

Or permanently sketch it

Or you're gonna catch a bad bad cold”

Why these lyrics? I have no idea, but it was a vibe. This song feels like it would play at the beginning of a coming-of-age movie where they’re introducing the quirky, hopeless romantic main character. So, if you yourself have ever wanted to be “that guy,” listen to this song.

“Cemetery Gates” (1986)

By: The Smiths

One might say, “I love the Smiths,” but do you love this song?

I could argue that just about any Smiths song captures the essence of the fall season, but this one talks about wandering through a cemetery, which is a very spooky-adjacent

thing to do.

With the satirical upbeat melody that The Smiths pull off so well in the majority of their songs, “Cemetery Gates” provides the perfect amount of pep in your step mixed with melancholy undertones that have you mourn Halloween, while getting excited for the holidays to come.

“Vancouver” (1998)

By: Jeff Buckley

What would a moody playlist be without Jeff Buckley? The “Lover You Should’ve Come Over” singer/ songwriter never got to officially publish this song, as it came out on an unfinished/ demos compilation album titled “Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk” in 1998 (one year after he tragically passed away). This song is slightly more upbeat than others on this list, but still has an off-putting sense of grief and longing that makes it fit into the fall vibes.

“Clay Pigeons” (2014)

By: Michael Cera

It might surprise some people to know that Michael Cera has a music career, as he’s most well known for his acting in movies like “Superbad” and “Scott Pilgrim.” “Clay Pigeons” is not originally written by Michael Cera, but instead, American country music artist Blaze Foley, who first performed it in 1988. Cera’s cover of the country song gives heavy childhood nostalgia vibes, especially paired with the album cover, which gives blissful childhood wonder. It would definitely be play over a slideshow of crunchy camcorder videos from 2007 on TikTok (if it hasn’t already).

“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (1965)

By: The Beatles

The whole album “Rubber Soul” by The Beatles is arguably a fall album. Although this song is reportedly about an affair, one can’t help but picture walking through an orange forest in November, your feet crunching on leaves and your nose being enveloped in a brisk breeze.

“My Love All Mine” (2023)

By: Mitski

Performative males rise up, this one’s for you. It’s kind of hard to find someone who has not heard of this song, mostly because it has over 2 billion streams on Spotify. So if you haven’t listened through wired earbuds, while drinking your iced mocha latte, while reading feminist literature… go do that.

“Operator (That’s Not the Way it Feels)” (1972)

By: Jim Croce

Jim Croce has a beautiful catalog of songs, all with warm acoustic melodies with layers of emotion. It’s hard to find a Jim Croce song that doesn’t make you want to bundle up under a blanket and watch the leaves fall.

“Stick Season” (2022)

By: Noah Kahan

It feels wrong not to include this song. A staple of modern folk music and an anthem of many during this time of year, “Stick Season” has yearning in all the right places. Again, Noah Kahan is an artist who has a lot of songs that share autumn vibes, so listen to the whole album while you’re at it.

“Harvest Moon” (1992)

By: Neil Young

Saving the best for last, this is not just one of the greatest fall songs, but might be one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s so warm and comforting, and gives me the best memories of my childhood. If this list got you to listen to at least one new song, I would recommend this one.

Hopefully, after listening to some of these songs, you’ll see that the month of November has a lot to offer, and should not be pushed aside by “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” It’s too early.

Feel free to listen to the entire playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qPvvieVltb3BNu91NgO1l?si=GFS8QG2vSEac2GkogeD5Nw