Music Monday, New Music Friday, Playlists

15 New Christmas Songs for Your 2020 Holiday Playlist

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Christmas Playlist 2020 Cover

Regardless of the date on the calendar, the Christmas season isn’t officially underway until your local radio station first plays Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Thanks to the power of music, while many of our holiday traditions will understandably look very different this year, Christmas carols will continue to bring us together.

As much as I love the signature songs of the season, I also love discovering original tracks and fresh takes on holiday classics to add to my annual playlist. Check out new Christmas songs from the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Sam Smith, Tori Kelly and yes, the Queen of Christmas music herself, Mariah Carey, below!

* Christmas 2020 Playlist *

“Merry Christmas to Your Face” by Jordin Sparks

Off her new holiday album Cider & Hennessy (her first full-length release since 2015!), American Idol winner Jordin Sparks sets the mood with a cute and catchy track about wanting to spend Christmas with your favourite person while opening presents, laughing and playing all day. Nothing sounds better!

“I Need You Christmas” by Jonas Brothers

Whether it’s because we’re growing up or just dealing with a drastically different “pandemic holiday,” it’s easy to miss the sweet innocence of Christmases’ past. The holidays spent “waiting for Santa to show [and] caroling late night” can sound like a distant dream sometimes. With this follow-up single to 2019’s “Like It’s Christmas,” Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas deliver another heartwarming Christmas track about holding on to hope and that festive feeling.

“Under The Mistletoe” by Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge

Kelly Clarkson is at the top of her Christmas music game! I still have her beautiful 2013 album ‘Wrapped In Red’ on repeat, and I’m so excited to add this merry new collaboration with country singer Brett Eldredge to the mix.

“Last Christmas” by Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor gives the Christmas classic “Last Christmas” new life on her recently-released holiday album, aptly titled ‘A Very Trainor Christmas.’ Meghan’s voice perfectly fits the vibe of the song, which will forever be one of my fave Christmas carols!

“Christmas Blues” by Sabrina Claudio and The Weeknd

Get ready to grab your special someone, turn up your speakers and slow dance by the Christmas tree! Sabrina Claudio and The Weeknd sound enchanting on this beautiful holiday song off of Sabrina’s new Christmas album of the same name.

“The Lighthouse Keeper” by Sam Smith

Every holiday playlist needs at least one mellow melody. Sam Smith, who had a massive year with the release of their third studio album, just delivered the tearjerker of the holiday season with this breathtaking new single, produced by ‘Love Goes’ collaborator Labrinth. “If any year could make me look forward to the sounds of Christmas, it would be 2020 as more than ever before we are yearning to be around our friends and family once again,” Sam said ahead of the track’s release. Amen to that.

“Joy to the World / Joyful, Joyful” by Tori Kelly

I challenge you to find a more fun rendition of “Joy to the World” — it’s an impossible task! Tori Kelly’s voice is simply incredible and will ignite an irresistible glow inside of you. I highly recommend checking out the rest of her new Christmas album, ‘A Tori Kelly Christmas,’ for 41 minutes of pure holiday vibes!

“Oh Santa!” by Mariah Carey feat. Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson

A long-awaited highlight of Mariah Carey’s new Apple TV+ holiday special, this Mariah x Ariana x Jennifer collab is undeniably the star-studded spectacle of the season!

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Music Monday, Playlists

September Playlist: Fun & Fresh

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Love New Music

With the leaves falling to mark the start of fall, I’m also turning a new leaf — and highlighting all the new music filling my ears this month! From star-studded collaborations to the latest bops from rising artists, a new season is the perfect time to take your music library to the next level. Plus, why not impress your friends with your fresh finds? No thanks needed — everyone deserves a bangin’ playlist.

Plug in your headphones or turn up your speakers, and get amped up to enjoy some of my fave new songs and the new artists you need on your radar.

“Like This” — Sofi Tukker

I haven’t stopped raving about Sofi Tukker for the past two months, after finally having the chance to see the party duo live in Montreal (at one of their unforgettable Animal Talk club parties, nonetheless). Side note: They put on a MUST-see show — and it takes a lot for me to say that!

They premiered this song in Montreal and I was immediately counting down the days until their ‘Dancing On The People’ EP release to get the studio version for my playlist. It’s an irresistible jam and always puts me in the best mood! Take a listen and try to prove me wrong. ㋡

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Playlists

January Playlist: New Year, New You

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January Playlist - New Year, New You

January is often an intense month for several reasons. It can mark the start of a new semester (check), a new job or internship (check) or a new daily routine (check). Many of us also wholeheartedly buy into the “new year, new me” trope and dig deep into ourselves to find something we need to improve. How often do we commit to changes that are actually practical and beneficial?

I’m a firm believer in a few things. One, we’re all meant to be perfectly imperfect. Two, we really don’t need a new calendar year to suddenly “be better”; every day is a new day and each could be our last, so that should be enough motivation to be as great as we can be always.

With that said, HELLO, or welcome back to my blog! If I know anything about myself, it’s that music is a big part of my life and I love sharing my finds (& faves 😉) with others. I loved sharing my monthly playlists last year and want to continue that this year, but I also want to change things up. So, instead of a monthly finds & faves playlist, I will be sharing a monthly themed playlist (featuring old & new tracks) plus some thoughts and ramblings on the theme and music selections. LET’S GET STARTED!

This first playlist is all about songs that will uplift and inspire you in 2019—it’s a new year, new you in all the right ways.

Instead of trying to follow a bunch of unrealistic resolutions again, try…

Being proud of your progress.

As Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie sings on the opening track of this playlist, try saying, “Hey look ma, I made it!” The tongue-in-cheek nature of the song is so smart and the message is legitimate. Whether you’re a “starving artist” like Urie or have just simply been on your work grind for longer than you can remember, you should be able to look back at your journey with pride. Shout your accomplishments from the rooftops! It takes a lot to “make it” and you shouldn’t discount a second of what led to you achieving your goals.

This also applies to knowing your worth. Lauren Jauregui’s “More Than That” is a fun, flirty song about toying with guys at the club. But she won’t just accept any guy—nope, they’re going to have to work for her attention—and that’s the way it should be. Like I said in my 5 Lessons 2018 Taught Me post, NO DISCOUNTS is the only way to go!

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Playlists

Playlist: November finds & faves

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November finds & faves playlist cover - Angela McLean

If I’m being real with you, November was A MONTH. I was so busy and all over the place between meetings, midterms, work and catching up with life, I basically forgot what having a social life was like. A great benefit to this, though, was all the time I had to curate and obsess over my November playlist. It definitely provided a great escape and made doing homework much more entertaining!

It was a great month for music, so I’m sharing 66 songs. Continue scrolling to check out the playlist and get my take on six must-listen tracks (then press play and get through these last weeks of work before the break!)

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New Music Friday, Playlists

Playlist: June finds & faves

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June finds & faves playlist cover - Angela McLean

Message to Mother Nature: It’s OK, you can stop withholding the summer weather from us! She’s come out a few times, we loved her and we’re ready to embrace and love her. Not to mention that I need the weather to match my summer-ready playlist ☼

Whatever the weather where you are, this playlist is filled with upbeat songs and good vibes you can enjoy night and day. My hot tip: Listen to it the whole way through! I worked extra hard this month to make sure every song flows into the next to the point where I can’t stop listening to it myself, so hit play and enjoy the next 105 minutes.

Scroll down to check out June’s ‘finds & faves’ playlist and some of my top tracks.

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