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Let’s face it, Christmas music can be really annoying—and every year retail stores seem to start pumping it through their sound systems earlier and earlier. Thankfully over the years there have been plenty of classic and current artists who have been able to put their own unique spin on some of these holiday staples in order to re-contextualize them into some thing fresh that we actually enjoy listening to. Here we list five of our all-time favorite Christmas covers, all of which cumulatively prove that presents and family aren’t the only positive aspects of the season known for giving.

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Far (featuring Chino Moreno): “Do They Know It’s Christmas”

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Admittedly “Do They Know It’s Christmas” isn’t the hippest Christmas song, however when you hand it over to underrated emo legends Far and Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno you get a fuzzed-out rendition of this all-star anthem. However instead of making the song a moshworthy rocker, the band stick to the song’s melodic roots and keep the superfluous screaming to a minimum making this song almost acceptable enough to play at your grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. Remember, we said “almost.”

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Bright Eyes: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

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We’ll be the first to admit that usually when we hear “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” at the mall, we want to throw the P.A. speakers through the nearest window display, however Bright Eyes’ tender cover of the song brings out the simple beauty in this composition and the delicate arrangement gives it a whole new level of emotional resonance. Not bad for a dude who used to be best known for slugging bottles of wine onstage and falling over on top of his amplifier—then again the Christmas season has always been known for its ability to inspire small miracles.

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Bing Crosby & David Bowie: “The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth”

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No list of Christmas covers would be complete without Bing Crosby and David Bowie’s legendary cover of “The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth.” Although this performance was recorded over thirty years ago, this timeless rendition of this Christmas classic still gives us goosebumps every time we hear this duet. Admittedly the video is a little curious (i.e. where is this mysterious orchestra coming from), but we have to admit that the scripted interaction between these two pop heavyweights alone is enough to make us nostalgic for the holiday season. See for yourself.

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Zooey Deschanel & Will Ferrell (pictured above): “Baby It’s Cold Outside”

Speaking of holiday duets, one of our recent favorites has to be Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel’s stellar version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” from the movie Elf. Although this was filmed years before Deschanel formed She & Him with M. Ward, the song showcases Deschanel’s angelic voice and also proves that Ferrell’s got quite a pair of pipes on him, too. Admittedly it is pretty tough to watch Deschanel scantily clad in the shower but if that’s the sacrifice we have to make in order to hear this yuletide classic, well, well we’ll have to suffer through it.

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Jimmy Eat World: “Last Christmas”
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Admittedly on paper it seems like the Christmas season and the emo icons in Jimmy Eat World don’t have a lot in common, however the band have been able to make the holiday their own with their impassioned version of “Last Christmas.” In fact as a testament to the band’s artistry their cover of “Last Christmas” sounds less like a stale sing-along and more like an unreleased Jimmy Eat World song, due in no small part to frontman Jim Adkins’ distinctive voice and the group’s expert arrangement. Hey, who said that Christmas songs had to be as stale as the fruit cake your aunt Linda inevitably brings over every December?