Thanksgiving is around the corner, and every year the holiday is met with the same complaint: there are no Thanksgiving songs!
First and foremost, it must be said that Thanksgiving is up against some pretty tough competition. Being the holiday that many view as a hindrance to Christmas (which has MORE songs than any other holiday ever), people don't hunt for Thanksgiving songs. Instead they count down the days until they can whip out Carol of the Bells without dealing with side-eyed glances from others.
While I would be lying if I said I was not eagerly waiting for the moment I could blast Christmas tunes without fear of judgement, there are a few Thanksgiving songs that are bops that we can rock out to for the time being.
Now, are these songs all fully specifically Thanksgiving songs? No. But, they are songs that one could use to get into the Thanksgiving spirit! (I mean, we've decided Time Warp is a Halloween song for some reason!)
Here are just a few Thanksgiving appropriate songs that you can use to give some rhythm to the days leading up to the family holiday.
1. Thankful: Kelly Clarkson
This jazzy, Thankful, song from the American Idol star turned talk show host Kelly Clarkson radiates the warmth that Thanksgiving is known for. The best way to describe this song is that it feels like a hug. If you are lucky enough to be celebrating this family with loved ones, you know that you will be giving out a lot of those this holiday season. Let this song be part of the soundtrack!
2. Home: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Thanksgiving is a holiday that makes us all think of home. Many of us are going to be embarking on travels that bring us back to our hometowns and our families. Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is the perfect song for that traveling. It emanates the joy of returning home to loved ones after a time away. It is sure to get you into the Thanksgiving spirit.
3. We Are Family: Sister Sledge
There is no holiday that focuses more on celebrating the family than Thanksgiving. Though people get wrapped up in different dramas, discussions, and arguments, at the end of the day, you are family. Therefore, the song We Are Family by Sister Sledge is an absolute must-have on your Thanksgiving playlist. This holiday is not just about loving your family. It is about celebrating them!
4. Everybody Eats: Cab Calloway
What would Thanksgiving be without the food? (Well, it would be a lovely holiday full of love and thanks, but for the sake of this article, we will continue to emphasize the importance of the edible aspect of the day!) Regardless of what foods you end up laying out on your dining table, families around the country gather together to share meals, taking in each others company and eating more than they thought possible. This Cab Calloway classic Everybody Eats is the perfect song to celebrate this generosity and sharing.
5. I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For: Bing Crosby
Thanksgiving is about just that: thanks. What better song is there to emphasize this love and thanks than I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For by Bing Crosby. The song is about being thankful for life's simple pleasure and finding large amounts of appreciation and joy in it all. This makes it the perfect song for Thanksgiving.
6. Thanksgiving Theme: Vince Guaraldi
No holiday playlist is complete without a cheery Vince Guaraldi song to underscore it. The Vince Guaraldi Thanksgiving Theme, popularized in the classic cartoon Charlie Brown is sure to awaken the warmth and nostalgia in the hearts of all. It is impossible to listen to this song without smiling.
7. The Thanksgiving Song: Adam Sandler
The Thanksgiving Song by Adam Sandler. Need we say more?
Now if you are someone that has been desperate for holiday music but trying to stave off jamming out to Christmas tunes, you have a playlist that will get you in the spirit for family, thanks, and pumpkin pie. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
