There's no better way to spread Christmas cheer than singing loud for all to hear, as they say in Elf. It's hard to imagine ever growing tired of the classic Christmas carols — or, er, maybe it's not.
Luckily for those of us who might go feral if we have to hear Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" one more time this holiday season, dozens of Louisiana musicians have taken it upon themselves to record their own holiday songs over the years, often drawing upon Cajun culture and New Orleans-style blues and jazz to spice up the old classics.
Singer-songwriter Pat Smith followed in those footsteps this year with an original New Orleans-inspired song, "Santa Don't Want Your Cookies," which imagines Santa galivanting through the French Quarter on Christmas Day eating hard-earned beignets instead.
Featuring J. Mix and Whitney Mixon, the song and accompanying video are part of a holiday marketing partnership with Dirty Coast, a New Orleans-based gift and clothing shop. With around 1,800 views on YouTube just three days after its release on Dec. 19, "Santa Don't Want Your Cookies" is already gaining traction online.
Can't see the video below? Click here.
Check it out above, and add these other Louisiana classics to your holiday playlist while you're at it:
- All I Want for Christmas is You, Vince Vance and the Valiants
- Louisiana Christmas Day, Aaron Neville
- 12 Yats of Christmas, Benny Grunch and the Bunch
- Real Swampy Christmas, Tony Joe White
- Jingle Bells, Fats Domino
- Frosty the Snowman, Fats Domino
- Christmas in New Orleans, Louis Armstrong
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; Joshua Starkman, Rahim Glaspy, and Ha Sizzle
- Celebrate Around the World, Robin Barnes
- Make it Jingle, Big Freedia
- It's Christmas Time, Clifton Chenier
- James Booker, O Holy Night