Thanksgiving is over, but fans of Bill Murray have something to be very thankful for since he gave the world a new Christmas special on Netflix on Friday, Dec. 4 — A Very Murray Christmas. The hour-long film pays homage to old variety shows, and, with many famous people singing Christmas songs in A Very Murray Christmas , it's the perfect way to geek out over your favorite hip celebs. (Especially Bill Murray, because he is the hippest of them all.) While most of the songs are Christmas standards that you can easily listen to other versions of, no official A Very Murray Christmas soundtrack is being released by Netflix. But, never fear! This DIY-soundtrack gives you all of the songs featured in A Very Murray Christmas, and what time to find them at while you're watching on Netflix.
The special starts with Murray being upset that no one is able to make it to his live Christmas special due to a major blizzard, but what follows is something to bring Murray-followers joy (lots of celebs singing). So, get A Very Murray Christmas streaming and enjoy your unofficial Christmas soundtrack for the 2015 holiday season, brought to you by Murray and friends.
"The Christmas Blues" — 00:14
Murray sets the tone for the rest of the Christmas special with the depressing — yet jazzy — Dean Martin song "The Christmas Blues," accompanied only by Paul Shaffer on the piano. Besides Murray, Shaffer is the only true constant throughout the special.
"Let It Snow" — 06:20
It's only a tiny snippet of the classic song (you'll hear more of it later), but it's worth a listen since Amy Poehler and Julie White accompany Murray in "Let It Snow" as Shaffer plays the melodica and they all walk down the stairs.
"Jingle Bells" — 10:58
Another brief moment since Murray gets depressed performing the happy song without an audience to listen to him.
"Do You Hear What I Hear?" — 14:25
In the best Christmas musical duet since Bing Crosby and David Bowie, Murray — and a reluctant Chris Rock — sing "Do You Hear What I Hear?" in matching turtleneck sweaters and holly pinned to their chests ... that is until the power goes out and Rock escapes.
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" — 19:08
Murray moves to the bar after his show can't go on and Jenny Lewis (as a cocktail waitress) and Murray do their take on the mandatory male-female duet of Christmastime. Luckily, Murray's ad-libbing helps make it a tiny bit more interesting than usual. No wonder there were rumors this pair was dating.
"Alone On Christmas Day" — 26:04
After some failed attempts by other members at the bar of "The 12 Days of Christmas" (by Dimitri Dimitrov), "O Tannenbaum" (by David Johansen), and "Good King Wenceslas" (by Lewis), the French chefs sing "Alone On Christmas Day." The impromptu chef band happens to be Phoenix. (Lead singer Thomas Mars is married to the director of the movie, Sofia Coppola). Murray joins in on the rare Beach Boys song and Jason Schwartzman (Coppola's cousin) plays the drums. You can actually buy the official version of this song if you so desire.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" — 29:44
Usually I'm a fan of Maya Rudolph's vocals, but if there's one song to skip, I'd sadly say it's Rudolph's rendition of Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." Although she does have a lot of attitude, the notes aren't all there, but it's still all in good fun.
"I Saw The Light" — 34:02
Schwartzman in the special is actually Christmas Eve groom Elliot with Jones as his bride. The pair is sad that they couldn't get married because of the blizzard, so Murray gets the couple to sing a song about love. (Even though I adore him, Schwartzman has sounded better in his band Coconut Records, but Jones' vocals are lovely.) Todd Rundgren's "I Saw the Light," isn't a Christmas song, but it brings everyone together, including Johansen, Rudolph, and Murray.
"Fairytale of New York" — 37:50
As Christmas Eve became Christmas, Johansen, Murray, and Lewis sing this favorite Christmas song of mine by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl. Rudolph, Jones, Schwartzman, Dimitrov, and the rest of the bar join in as Murray appropriately slugs a drink down.
"Sleigh Ride" — 41:29
Murray passes out from one too many Christmas cocktails and wakes up to the dream version of how his A Very Murray Christmas should have been. Murray sounds great as he croons with the help of Miley Cyrus, who arrives on a sleigh with George Clooney.
"Silent Night" — 43:56
Cyrus, accompanied by only Shaffer on the piano, sings "Silent Night." And, after hearing a lot of actors-who-can-kind-of-sing (not you, Lewis!), Cyrus nailing the Christmas classic is more than welcome. This should definitely enter the Christmas radio rotation.
"Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'" — 46:58
Murray, with his Santa Claus cape askew, sings Albert King's soulful "Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin.'" And when I had been convinced that Clooney was just going to be eye candy in the background, he popped his beautiful face from behind the white Christmas trees to back up Murray, showing he's got a tiny bit of his aunt Rosemary's vocal skills.
"Let It Snow" — 49:42
Murray gets a second, more epic, chance at "Let It Snow" with Cyrus, with soft backup vocals by Clooney and kick lines galore. Now, that's how you do a Christmas music special.
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas" — 51:42
When Murray awakes from his stupor, Shaffer and Dimitrov are still by his side (just as they were in the beginning). Murray's gloom has been lifted a tiny bit as he does a simple rendition of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." And, when Bill Murray wishes you a Murray Christmas, you accept it with your whole heart — and start all over singing from the beginning again.
Images: Ali Goldstein/Netflix; Caitlin Gallagher/Bustle (13); theverge/Tumblr
