Do you hear what I hear: 15 underplayed Christmas songs

You can't run, you can't hide; wherever you turn this December, you're going to hear Christmas music.

Yes, Christmas is the only holiday with its own genre worth of songs. Yet each year, we tend to hear the same handful of them-- Mariah, Springsteen, you know who you are.

So in the spirit of sharing the wealth, here are 15 lesser-known Christmas songs we think deserve a listen:

1. The Pogues: "Fairytale of New York" (1987)

This Irish folk ballad about Christmas "in the drunk tank" is a classic in the U.K. It tells the story of Irish immigrants trying to make it in the unforgiving city, and was the Pogues' attempt to write a non-tacky Christmas song. Mission accomplished:

2. Kanye West: "Christmas In Harlem" (2011)

'Ye and his crew travel uptown to Harlem for this Christmas tune, which is presumably a homage to Run DMC's "Christmas in Hollis" (more on that later). This track features an all-star rap lineup, from Pusha T and Big Sean to Cam'Ron:

3. The Killers: "Don't Shoot Me Santa" (2007)

The Killers' dark yet catchy holiday tune will definitely turn some heads if you sneak it on your Christmas playlist. The Las Vegas-based band brings the party out to the desert in their music video:

4. "Saturday Night Live": "Christmas For the Jews" (2005)

Ever wonder where the Jewish tradition of Chinese food and a movie on Christmas came from? This classic 2005 "SNL" sketch is to blame. Since, Jews from the tri-state area to Boca Raton have had their own Christmas mission statement:

5. Fitz & The Tantrums: "Santa Stole My Lady" (2010)

Here's a Christmas groove from Fitz & The Tantrums that's catchy enough to listen to all year 'round:

6. Run DMC: "Christmas In Hollis" (1998)

Referring to the Queens neighborhood where Run DMC grew up, "Christmas In Hollis" has become a sort of cult Christmas song. The track hit No. 78 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts in 2000, 13 years after its original release:

7. No Doubt: "Oi to the World" (2003)

This punk Christmas song -- if that much weren't clear from the title -- was originally recorded by The Vandals in 1996. But it's hard to resist No Doubt's ska twist:

8. The Flaming Lips: "Christmas At the Zoo" (1995)

How do the Flaming Lips do Christmas? By singing about breaking into the zoo and freeing the animals, of course:

9. The New Pornographers: "Joseph, Who Understood" (2007)

The New Pornographers make the nativity story feel like "Juno" on this song, which is about Joseph wondering if Mary's baby is his:

10. Weird Al: "The Night Santa Went Crazy"

As far as funny Christmas songs go, this Weird Al song is far, far superior to "Grandma Got Over By A Reindeer":

11. The Carpenters: "Merry Christmas, Darling" (1970)

The Carpenters and Christmas go together like chestnuts and an open fire. "Merry Christmas, Darling" is, as you'd expect, a charming tune from one of the most charming groups of the '70s:

12. Ludacris:" Ludacrismas" (2007)

Yes. Ludacrismas. This song -- with possibly the greatest title in rap history -- first appeared in (gulp) the movie "Fred Claus":

13. Masked Intruder: "Under the Mistletoe"(2013)

Sleigh bells and punk rock go surprisingly well together! Masked Intruder, a punk band whose members wear ski masks on stage and sing criminally-charged songs like "25-to-Life," do Christmas right on this track:

14. Bob Dylan: "Must Be Santa" (2009)

"Bizarre career turn" is a good way to sum up Bob Dylan's Christmas polka. The call-and-response tune was released in 2009, and to be honest, it's not clear if Dylan is mocking Christmas music or just losing his way. But it's worth a mention!

15. Sufjan Stevens: "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (2012)

One thing super-ambitious songwriter Sufjan Stevens loves singing about, aside from various U.S. states, is Christmas. He's released two Christmas albums, this track being a highlight:

What are your favorite underplayed Holiday songs? Share in the comments section below!