Get ready for a holiday soundtrack that’s as unexpected as it is enchanting! Imagine your favorite artists reimagining classic holiday tunes with a twist of modern flair and emotional depth. St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy, Fleet Foxes, and a star-studded lineup including Gwen Stefani, Sharon Van Etten, and Weyes Blood have come together to create the soundtrack for Oh. What. Fun., a new film directed by Michael Showalter. But here’s where it gets intriguing: this isn’t your typical holiday album. It’s a collection of covers that dig deeper into the complexities of the season, blending joy with melancholy and tradition with innovation. The album drops alongside the film’s release on December 3rd via Sony Music Masterworks, and trust us, you’ll want to add it to your festive playlist.
And this is the part most people miss: the soundtrack isn’t just about the music—it’s a collaboration that includes contributions from the film’s cast, like Dominic Sessa’s whimsical take on “The 12 Days of Christmas”. Plus, there’s a standout collaboration between Andy Shauf and Madi Diaz, and even a track from Uwade that’ll make you hear “Step Into Christmas” in a whole new light. Physical copies, available on 140gm color vinyl and CD through Mutant, feature exclusive artwork and liner notes by Showalter himself. Pre-orders are live now at www.madebymutant.com.
Sharon Van Etten, who covers The Pretenders’ “2000 Miles”, shared her thoughts: “I’m usually wary of doing covers, especially holiday songs, but this one connected with me on a deeper level. The holidays can be complicated, and this song captures that.” She worked with her band, The Attachment Theory, to honor Chrissie Hynde’s original while adding her own emotional touch. Controversial take: Could this be the most heartfelt holiday cover of the year?
Jeff Tweedy, meanwhile, tackled “Christmas Must Be Tonight” by The Band, calling it “a song that’s joyful yet strange, emotional, and poetic—everything the season should be at its best.” St. Vincent’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” highlights the song’s underlying melancholy, reminding us that the holidays can be a temporary refuge after a tough year. Bold question: Does this interpretation make the song more relatable, or does it lose its festive cheer?
Now, let’s talk about the film itself. Oh. What. Fun. stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Claire Clauster, the family matriarch who, in a twist reminiscent of Home Alone, gets left behind during a family outing she planned. Feeling underappreciated, she embarks on her own adventure, discovering the unexpected magic of a Christmas gone off-script. The ensemble cast includes Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, and more, promising a mix of humor, heart, and holiday chaos.
Here’s the full tracklist to get you hyped:
1. “Shake The Snow Globe” by Gwen Stefani
2. “The Things We Do For Love” by the bird and the bee
3. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by St. Vincent
4. “2000 Miles” by Sharon Van Etten
5. “Angel In the Snow” by Fleet Foxes
6. “Step Into Christmas” by Uwade
7. “Silent Night” by The Wang Family
8. “Hot Cocoa” by Gwen Stefani
9. “Snowqueen Of Texas” by Weyes Blood
10. “Christmas Eve Can Kill You” by Andy Shauf & Madi Diaz
11. “It’s My Life” by the bird and the bee
12. “Christmas Must Be Tonight” by Jeff Tweedy
13. “Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy” by Lorely Rodriguez (Empress Of)
14. “I Heard The Bells Of Christmas Day” by The Wang Family
15. “The 12 Days Of Christmas” by Dominic Sessa
So, what do you think? Is this the holiday soundtrack we’ve been waiting for, or does it stray too far from tradition? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
