Thanksgiving Playlist 2016: Best Songs To Listen To On Turkey Day

Thanksgiving music? Yes, there is a playlist for that.

For those who wish to stave off the holiday season just a little longer, put the holiday tunes on pause and check out some featured playlists for Turkey Day – or compile your own.

The art of the playlist lies in knowing in advance what kind of party you want to have. Is the group small or large? Will it be all family or mostly friends? What time will you be serving the meal? All of these questions should be taken into account when prepping a playlist you won’t have to touch for the remainder of the event.

If it’s family-based and there’s a spread of ages, appropriate tunes that everyone can enjoy are a no-brainer. In addition, pace your playlist with the timing of your event. Unobtrusive background music, like greatest hits through the decades, creates an atmosphere for greetings and giddy jokes as guests begin to arrive. Light-hearted, faster-paced music like pop, country or rock music are great for appetizers and aperitifs. Quieter music like jazz or classical music would be best enjoyed during the meal so that guests can reminisce and swap stories.

Finally, depending on how you would like to end your evening, turn up popular tunes loud and dance through the tryptophan, or, settle down with some pie and coffee and turn on some throwback oldies from Aretha Franklin or Earth, Wind And Fire.

Finally, if you’re planning on clocking hours in the kitchen for cooking, you’re going to want a playlist for that, too.

If you’re truly in no mood for sorting through songs, visit streaming sites like Spotify and Pandora to find a playlist or station to listen to. Otherwise, pour a glass of wine, start cooking, and get to compiling.

Here are some songs that can work well on Thanksgiving.

1. “Give Thanks & Praises” by Bob Marley & The Wailers

2. “Good to Be Back Home” by Charles Bradley

3. “We’re Going To Be Friends” by The White Stripes

4. “This Must Be The Place” by The Talking Heads

5. “Chicago” by Sufjan Stephens

6. “I’ve Got the World On A String” by Bing Crosby

7. “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” by Arlo Guthrie

8. “Dear Mama" by 2Pac

9. “Sweet Potato Pie” by Ray Charles featuring James Taylor

10. “Turkey Chase” by Bob Dylan