Today is going to be short on words, heavy on tunes. Without further ado…

Let’s start with the one version that has never been done before. No other artist has attempted this genre, nor has anyone previously emailed me about this. I present, the Dead Cat Orchestra, performing Last Christmas done in the style of dead/dying cats, basically a dude wailing meows. (submitted by Jacob Nathan)

Dead Cat Orchestra – Last Christmas

Next we have a great banjo-led version by Stockholm’s The Linedance Fever. Man I really dig this version. I know it sounds like I say that a lot, but anything that doesn’t sound like a mimic of the Wham! version catches my attention. You have to remember, we’re going to break 500 covers of the same song this year. Anything that stands out from a crowd that large deserves some major credit in my book. And The Linedance Fever certainly stand out. If you took the Erlend Oye version from way back when, and then switched it over to a more raucous, foot-stomping version like the Boss Hoss version, you would get this. Really really good. Check out their Myspace page for a pretty rad cover of Wicked Game also.

The Linedance Fever – Last Christmas

Next we have a handful of tips we got from Guuzbourg from Christmas A Go Go, beginning with Colorado’s Emily Knurr. She does a pretty intriguing low key, somewhat lo-fi keyboard version that I quite like. Her non-LC tunes are great as well, no denying it. Girl can sing!

Emily Knurr – Last Christmas

We are Vapour deliver a cool little ditty, that’s close to the original and yet really distinct. It’s hard to describe unless you hear it.

We Are Vapour – Last Christmas

Lastly, Tiger House follows with a good follow up to We Are Vapour. You follow me? It’s great, although I don’t have anything super specific to call out about it. I think you’ll like it.

Tiger House – Last Christmas

Ok so this was still somewhat heavy on words. More from Christmas A Go Go to come later!

Saskatchewan aren’t just another boy band from Orlando, despite what they would have you believe. Like Ennui, they dabble in that lo-fi hazy guitar sound, which is easily enjoyed often and on repeat. Their cover sounds like it might have been recorded on the surface of a 1960’s imagining of Venus, if that makes any sense. It does to me anyways.

This comes from the free Hey, It’s Christmas! album but we found them via Santas Working Overtime. They’re also having a sale on their bandcamp site where you can name your price on any of their recordings, so go and make sure to spend a little something so they can buy Christmas gifts.

Saskatchewan – Last Christmas

In a pretty heavy shifting of gears, let’s delve into DJ Schalupy’s panflute remix. Which to me, defies description. It doesn’t help that I couldn’t find any info on Mr./Miss Schalupy while poking around the webs. But it’s pretty much what it says. I’ll add one extra bit of a thought though. It sounds like it might have been remixed with beats of one of those old ’80s Casio keyboards.

DJ Schalupy – Last Christmas (Panflute Remix)

And with another jump, we turn to Frank Turner’s live acoustic version, which is pretty great. He definitely has no lack of enthusiasm in his presentation! He’s described as being a folk/punk, and I can hear that a bit here, but moreso in his non-Last Christmas tunes. And in a break from tradition, if we may, you can check out one of this other tunes in video form below.

Frank Turner – Last Christmas (Live)

You can pick up his most recent album on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and Rdio

Good day to you! Let’s get started, shall we?

We start with Japanese duo Q;indivi and their cover from 2009’s Winter Celebration album. Fan and LC reader wohdin sent this last year, and we’re just now getting to it, the shame! It’s an upbeat, fun version without being obnoxious, which as we all know is a fate that many a cover song can suffer. Wohdin would like it to be know that this duo is worth more attention than they receive, so please check them out and support their music! I have to say their site is a bit trippy when you first get there, almost like an art installation. Reminds me of sites before the whole web 2.0 social media boom. Anyone remember how awesome the Donnie Darko movie site was?

Q;indivi – Last Christmas

Visual Moon is up next, with a genre crossing version. It has parts of smooth poppy beats, autotune, crunchy guitars, and a sincere aim to please. It appears they are a young Mongolian band, but I was having a little trouble finding an official site of theirs. If you have any info, please comment!

Visual Moon – Last Christmas

Pittsburgh’s Ennui give us a fun version, I’m not quite sure how to define it though. It’s not dissimilar from Wham!‘s original, but it also has a lo-fi vibe to it, but not overly so. Their non-Last Christmas music is part of the hazy, lo-fi grouping, which I particularly enjoy (think Washed Out, Youth Lagoon, etc). You can grab a free download of the awesome Coconino here, as well as find the rest of their music. Don’t miss “We Are Young,” great stuff as well!

Ennui – Last Christmas

And lastly for today, we have a way relaxed out hip-hop version from Mr. Gikko and Mosch. There’s something about hip hop versions that usually work, and this is no exception. Mr. Gikko has a bit of an Eminem thing happening, with his intonation but the part by Mosch isn’t in English, and I can’t make out the language actually, I would think Austrian, but I can’t say for sure. But I think I’m right. Don’t be mad at me if it turns out to be German. Please note this version has EXPLICIT LYRICS!

Mr. Gikko & Mosch – Last Christmas

And holy crap! Check this out! Please someone get me this for Christmas!

Here are three submissions we received that through the holiday rush unfortunately we were unable to get into article form until now. But let me tell you, hang onto these puppies for next years holiday mixes!

First we have a gem from The Yule Logs who are a new band dedicated to spreading holiday cheer (obviously). Their debut is out so give them support! Their version is a jazzy/rock sort of surprise. Highly recommended.

The Yule Logs – Last Christmas

Secondly, Philco Brothers, actually just one man named Jim, are a band out of Boston. Inspired by our site a few years he recorded his sweet ass version and passed it along! It’s somewhere between 8-bit and lo-fi but all parts amazing. Check out his myspace and thank him!

Philco Brothers – Last Christmas

And here’s their version of another christmas tune, “Christmas Time” by the Dogmatics:

Lastly, Praise-Apella are a faith-based a cappella group whose version is pretty amazing. I am always impressed by a talented a cappella, group but this cover truly deserves some notice, check out their video below:

Apologies for the rushed nature of this post, but we didn’t want to leave you guys hanging! we still have many many more to share, and rather than wait until next year, we’ll do a couple big mix posts for you guys!