Merry Christmas! We wouldn’t dream of posting today without presents, so voila! A playlist and two wonderful tracks for this festive day. The first comes to you from the northern European Yuletide tradition, courtesy of the King’s Singers, with their heart-melting performance of “Wexford Carol.” The carol, a traditional Irish hymn originating from County Wexford, is also known by its Gaelic name, “Carúl Loch Garman.” It has been performed for hundreds of years, and is considered to be one of the oldest Christmas carols with a melody outside the Roman Catholic tradition. Due to Britain’s rule over Ireland, it became popularized in the English version, and as such is also well known by its beginning line, “Good people all this Christmas time.”

The King’s Singers’ version is my favorite: it has all the classic hallmarks that group has become known for: gorgeous a cappella harmony (they mostly sing a cappella, but this version has traditional instrumentation), crisp enunciation, and a clearly defined dynamic and emotional contour over the entire song:

But Christmas isn’t only about huddling together around a fire while the snow falls outside – though I’ll admit that’s my preferred way to experience it. Christmas is a time of revelry and celebration regardless of your climate. I’m a sucker for the traditional stuff on this particular day, but as the night and its libations wind on, one begins to yearn for something with a little bounce in the back. I’m going to put out Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil’s mind-bending “Cada Macaco No Seu Galho (Cho Chuá).” Simply by virtue of the two songwriters involved, you could probably guess that the guitar is memorable here. It is, and more. My favorite aspect of the song is the way the two are able to create the impression of two different, contrasting meters – one, which comes out in the guitar introduction, and a second which becomes apparent at the advent of the percussion. Add in the catchy chorus and the addictive riff and you’ve got one of my favorite songs from either musician’s canon.

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It feels appropriate that today’s playlist should be tailored to that positive, up-and-coming feeling I can’t help but have at this time of the year. We even put in a few hints of Brazil – for what is a festival of light in a time of darkness without the equator’s finest?

1) Tom Waits – Ice Cream Man

2) Gilberto Gil & Jorge Ben – Jurubeba

3) Outkast – Love Hater

4) Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges – Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser

5) Elis Regina – Madalena

6) Ella Fitzgerald – A Night in Tunisia

7) The Zombies – Spooky Little Girl Like You

8 ) Os Mutantes – Panis et Circenses

9) Nina Simone – Here Comes the Sun

10) Bob Marley & The Wailers – Waiting in Vain

11) The Allman Brothers Band – Melissa

12) Brian Wilson – In Blue Hawaii

13) The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations

Listen to the playlist here: http://grooveshark.com/#/playlist/The+Optimist/38882419