You know how everyone thinks they have the best music taste? Well, I actually do. Kidding (kind of). Everyone has very different tastes in music, and I do take pride in mine. So, I’d like to share some of my favorite songs with you all. In honor of Thanksgiving coming up, I’ve listed some favorite and classic Thanksgiving dishes and picked a song that fits each dish. I know you’re wondering, ‘What song goes well with green beans?’ but just trust me. So, find your favorite dish and jam out to my carefully curated song suggestion for you!
Turkey
Turkey is the most popular Thanksgiving dish. From what I’ve heard from my dad, it’s pretty frustrating to make. I mean, it’s a massive bird that you put in the oven for hours to make sure it’s cooked all the way through. The song I chose for this main dish is inspired by my dad, who is someone I get a lot of my music inspiration from. If turkey is your favorite, I recommend listening to “Take It Easy” by the Eagles.
Mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a comfort meal for many. I wanted something that is soft, slow, and pillowy like mashed potatoes, so I chose my favorite cloudy day song: “These Days” by Nico. The smooth strumming of the guitar and her soft vocals really make the song a comforting tune.
Stuffing
I originally chose a slow song for stuffing. But I’m no stuffing connoisseur like my mom. After consulting with her, she said that stuffing was more upbeat. So, I went with “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here” by She & Him. This song is stuffed with great musical beats, instrumentals, and vocals from my favorite actress, Zooey Deschanel.
Gravy
Gravy is a staple during the holidays. It goes well with anything that is put on the table, such as turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing—you name it. I wanted to give a song suggestion that is smooth and delicate, just like gravy. If your favorite dish is gravy, you’re probably the peacemaker at your Thanksgiving table. My song suggestion to you is “Me & Magdalena” by The Monkees. The song is about a pairing, and since gravy is the ultimate pairing to any Thanksgiving dish, I felt as though it was fitting.
Salad
Salad is definitely not the showstopper of Thanksgiving and I doubt this is actually anyone’s favorite dish. But, I still think it deserved a spot on the list. I think the main reason behind my song choice for salad was because of its title. But it’s still a truly lovely song, and it reminds me of going on walks during the fall. The song reminds me of the blooming of the plants that go into the making of a salad. For salad, your song suggestion is “Bloom” by The Paper Kites.
Fruit Pie- apple, blueberry, etc
I decided to split up the pie into three sections because each kind has such a different vibe. It would be impossible to group them all into one. For fruit pies, I wanted a song that I inherited from my sister, as she is my other source for all of my favorite songs. Her favorite pie is blueberry, and she showed me this song, which is one of my favorites. For fruit pies, I chose “Mykonos” by Fleet Foxes.
Pumpkin Pie
I chose “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young as the song for pumpkin pie. Pumpkin is the signature flavor of the fall season, and the harvest moon is the most iconic full moon in the autumn. Therefore, this Neil Young hit is most certainly the perfect fit for pumpkin pie!
Cream pies- lemon meringue, key lime, coconut cream, chocolate cream, etc
These pies are super fun, but aren’t the most popular pies on the Thanksgiving table. If these pies were a song, they would definitely be upbeat and have a lot of personality. So, obviously I had to pick the song with as much personality as possible. If cream pies are your favorite Thanksgiving dish, try “Polyester Bride” by Liz Phair.
Scalloped potatoes/potatoes au gratin
If this dish is your favorite, you are automatically my favorite person ever. This unpopular dish is the absolute best part of my family’s Thanksgiving meal. If you don’t know what this is, it’s similar to lasagna. It has layers of thinly-sliced potatos, onions, and cheese. It takes forever to cook, but once it’s done and the top is nice and crispy, it will instantly become the tastiest thing on everyone’s plate. In honor of this being my favorite Thanksgiving dish, I suggest to you my all-time favorite song: “Eye In The Sky” by The Alan Parsons Project.
Bread rolls
Again, I don’t really have an explanation for bread. I just love the song as much as I love bread. If your favorite dish is bread rolls, your song is “Slide” by The Goo Goo Dolls. You can use the bread rolls to make little slider sandwiches, or you can slide butter onto the bread. My explanation isn’t so great, but I promise you the song is.
Cranberry sauce
You might have thought that a good song for cranberry sauce would be one by The Cranberries. They’re a fabulous band, but their songs don’t exactly remind me of cranberry sauce. Though I’m not a huge fan of cranberry sauce, the song I chose really reminds me of all the spices that go into making it. I also think the title is perfect for it because when I was younger, I would watch my mom make her signature cranberry sauce every year, and it was mesmerizing. If your favorite dish is cranberry sauce, your song is “Watch Me” by Labi Siffre.
Mac and Cheese
Mac and Cheese is a dish that makes you feel warm and cozy. It’s something we would all eat as kids, and it is a dish that personally reminds me of my family. I chose a song that reflects that feeling. If your favorite dish is mac and cheese, your song is “Crowded Table” by The Highwomen.
Green Beans
Like I mentioned before, it was really hard to find a song for green beans. But I think I came up with a good one. Green beans remind me a little bit of being at my grandparents’ house, and so does this song: “You Got It” by Roy Orbison.
Not on the list
If your favorite dish didn’t end up on this list, don’t worry, I won’t leave you out. I’m sure many of us have watched our parents stress out in the kitchen every Thanksgiving, or maybe even have experienced this stress firsthand. For this last category, I suggest to you the song that represents this Thanksgiving stress: “My Stove’s On Fire” by Robert Lester Folsom.
I’ve linked the playlist of all the songs below in case you feel so inclined to listen to all of them. I hope you all enjoy your song, and I hope all of you who celebrate it have a happy Thanksgiving. Happy holidays :)