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Tablet Playlist: Thanksgivukkah Edition

Classics from Don McLean, Adam Sandler, the Maccabeats, and more

by
Lauren Schwartzberg
November 27, 2013
(Shutterstock)
(Shutterstock)

Let’s forget about bar mitzvah songs this week as we celebrate the rarest American Jewish holiday in the history of American Jewish holidays: Thanksgivukkah. It won’t happen for another 77,798 years, and it’s the perfect opportunity for a mash-up playlist. We’ve compiled five songs about America and giving thanks, plus five songs about Jews and believing in miracles. What unites them both? Adam Sandler, of course. It’s nearly impossible to keep everyone happy and at ease during the holidays, but here’s to hoping for a post-meal, pre-candle lighting dance party.

1. Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World
What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than with a song about all of the beautiful things we already have?

2. Don McLean, “American Pie
An American classic.

3. Wayne Newton, “Danke Shoen
Since your Thanksgivukkah meal is likely to be a multi-generational mix, here’s one for Grandma and Grandpa.

4. Busta Rhymes Featuring Q-Tip, Kanye West and Lil’ Wayne, “Thank You
This one came out on Monday, just in time for your post-turkey dance party. Shake it off before the Tryptophan puts you to sleep.

5. Adam Sandler, “The Thanksgiving Song
A quintessential holiday jam since he first performed it in 1992.

6. Adam Sandler, “The Chanukkah Song
Shout out to Adam Sandler for uniting Jews in Hollywood and beyond, and for refusing to let Hanukkah get completely swallowed by Christmas. Also, for realizing ‘Hanukkah’ rhymes with ‘yarmulke.’

7. The LeeVees, “How Do You Spell Channukkahh
A comprehensive answer to the eternal question.

8. Tom Lehrer, “(I’m Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica
Hanukkah in Santa Monica, Rosh Hashanah in Arizona, and Shavuos in East Saint Louis. I will now plan all my vacations by rhyming the place with the reason I’m going there. Wish me luck.

9. Matisyahu, “Miracle
If you miss Matisyahu’s beard and peyos, go back in time to 2010, when he break-danced on an ice-skating rink and rapped about the miracle of Hanukkah.

10. The Maccabeats, “Candlelight
This catchy song from Yeshiva University’s a capella group has has been stuck in many of our heads since it’s all-out viral assault on the internet in 2010 (apparently a big year for Hanukkah pop songs). Now we will never have a Hanukkah (or, really, any Jewish holiday) without the Maccabeats.

11. Big Teeth Productions, “Oils
And one more for good luck. After all, we couldn’t leave you without a parody song about squeezing both holidays into one enormous meal. Plus, Lorde!

Check out all the Tablet playlists here.

Lauren Schwartzberg is an intern at Tablet Magazine.