Bandsplain HOLIDAY SONG DRAFT with Amanda Dobbins and Rob Mahoney
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Dec 18, 2025 Join music journalist Amanda Dobbins and writer Rob Mahoney as they engage in a spirited draft to create the ultimate holiday playlist. Amanda shares her rich background in Christmas performances while they dive into the emotional nuances of holiday music. Highlights include Rob's pick of 'Fairytale of New York,' Amanda's heartfelt selection of 'Baby Please Come Home,' and Yasi's quirky choice, 'Christmas Wrapping.' They even tackle CVS-core nostalgia with Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' and discuss funny holiday mishaps. It's a festive blend of music and laughter!
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Classical Holiday Roots
- Amanda describes growing up performing in choirs, ballet Nutcracker, and school music programs which rooted her in Christmas standards.
- She credits that background for her deep, emotional connection to carols and holiday arrangements.
A Useful Framework For Holiday Picks
- Yasi outlines draft categories that structure how people think about holiday music and curation.
- The categories (original, CVS-core, cover, unlikely genre, wild card) reveal different cultural roles songs play.
Lead With Your Heart When Drafting
- Yasi advises picking what means most to you first in a draft instead of strategizing for wins.
- She emphasizes authenticity over game theory when curating holiday lists.