Sure, a lot of us Filipinos have been blasting Christmas jingles since September. But that means you may have already exhausted your go-to holiday albums. While there’s no such thing as too much Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande, we wouldn’t blame you if you’ve been itching to find new Christmas albums for the gays and by the people in our community.
Here’s a list of queer Christmas albums by queer artists. Let’s save those Christmas singles for another story.
“Christmas Party,” “Slay Belles,” and “Ho Ho Ho” by RuPaul
It comes as no surprise that someone as iconic as RuPaul has released not just one but three Christmas albums. “Christmas Party” from 2018 is his latest that includes remixes of Ru’s previously released holiday tracks and songs like “Hey Sis, It’s Christmas” (which has a separately released version featuring “Drag Race UK’s” Ella Vaday, Kitty Scott-Claus, and Krystal Versace).
“Slay Belles” from 2015 is our favorite among the bunch since it has the songs featured on “Drag Race: Green Screen Christmas” as well as the uplifting “Merry Christmas, Mary” and the ballad “Christmas Cookies.” It also features collabs like “Deck the Halls” with Todrick Hall.
“Ho Ho Ho” from 1997 started it all with campy covers such as “RuPaul the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus.”
“Happy Holigays” by Mary Lambert
You might remember Mary Lambert as the featured singer on Macklemore’s “Same Love.” In 2020, she released “Happy Holigays”—a slightly amusing choice for the title since it’s full of not-so-jolly yet still comforting ballads like “Seasonal Depression.” Lambert still does sing with her wife Dr. Wyatt Hermansen on the sweet “Christmas Cookies,” which can’t get more holi-gay than that.
“Christmas Queens 1 to 4” by various “Drag Race” queens
Following in the footsteps of Mama Ru, the “Drag Race” queens have released four campy Christmas compilations filled with covers and original songs. Broadway star Jinkx Monsoon shows off her vocals in tracks like “Red and Green.” Jiggly Caliente is her usual fierce self in “Ratchet Christmas.” Manila Luzon and Alaska Thunderfuck are as funny in character as always on songs like “Working Christmas.” Our faves delivered!
“A Very Gaga Holiday” by Lady Gaga
Bi legend Lady Gaga has dropped fun singles like “Christmas Tree” and her “Winter Wonderland” duet with Tony Bennett. But since we are listing albums, the live EP “A Very Gaga Holiday” is what we added to our list. It includes her rendition of “White Christmas” that has an extra verse.
“Big Freedia’s Smokin Santa Christmas” and “A Very Big Freedia Christmas” by Big Freedia
You can count on Big Freedia to create hip-hop versions of Christmas classics that go hard. “Rudy, The Big Booty Reindeer” and “Santa Is a Gay Man” from “A Very Big Freedia Christmas” are bound to make it on the playlist for your Christmas party with friends. On “Big Freedia’s Smokin Santa Christmas,” he teamed up with Flo Milli to bring us “Better Be.”
Art by Ella Lambio
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