What Christmas carols could you do without?
posted at 11:00 am on December 24, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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In this joyous time of year, when Christmas carols ringing from every speaker and cell phone in every retail shop, few of us would voice complaints about the incessantly repeated songs that find our laaaaast nerve … and stomp all over it. Don’t get me wrong — I love Christmas carols, but not every one is a gem, and the worst seem to get the most airplay. I’d be thrilled if I didn’t get to hear the following songs for, well, the rest of my life:
- Santa Baby (Madonna version): I love the Eartha Kitt original. It’s a cute and satirical look at the most utilitarian look at Christmas. Madonna’s version makes my skin crawl. It replaces cute and kittenish with screechiness and about as much subtlety as one would see on the streets of Las Vegas.
- Happy Christmas (War Is Over), aka And So This Is Christmas: Without the War Is Over chorus, it’s a weakly-written poetic attempt at a Hallmark card level. When it veers into War Is Over If You Want It and talk about “the yellow and red ones” [correction provided by the Llama Butchers], it becomes a preachy political chant, and a mindlessly naive one at that, no surprise from John Lennon, who “Imagine”d an end to religion. War isn’t over just because we want it, as 9/11 proved. Sorry, but there are people in the world that want to kill other people, and believing that all we need to do is wish war away is stupid beyond belief.
- Last Christmas: Wham? This breathy jilted-love ballad hardly fits the Christmas spirit, and its upbeat pace makes it a terrible ballad even without Christmas. The enduring life of this dance-hall downer is absolutely inexplicable.
- Wonderful Christmastime (had it originally as “Simply Christmastime”): I’ll spread the love, such as it is, to another Beatle. Paul McCartney’s dully repetitive paen to secular celebration isn’t terrible on the first listen, but by the time you’ve heard it three or four times, you’ll wish it was simply New Year’s Day.
- Christmas Bride – Ray Coniff produced a slew of Christmas classics, so he’s allowed a clunker — and this was it. I’ve only heard it once, and that was enough to send the FM and me into gales of laughter. Someone should get that couple into communications counseling.
I’m more a fan of classics, but I did find one relatively new version of a traditional carol that I really enjoyed. Barenaked Ladies teamed with Sarah McLachlan on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and gave it a folk-rock treatment that actually works very well. Have a listen:
What carols can you do without, and which are absolute essentials?
Update: A couple of corrections, as noted above. Comments thread is great — be sure to read them all.
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Thank you for those lyrics!! I’ve searched for them for years.
oldleprechaun on December 24, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Love:
Fairy Tale of New York – The Pogues and Kristy McColl
Breath of Heaven – Amy Grant
Merry Christmas, Darling – The Carpenters
Merry Christmas From the Family – The Montgomery-Gentry version
Love Came Gently – Sharon White/Skaggs Family
Hate:
Both McCartney and Lennon Christmas songs
Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree
Especially Hate:
All I Want For Christmas is for Mariah Carey to develop vocal cord polyps.
damececily on December 24, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Don’t know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but I have always been partial to the whole Twisted Christmas album from Twisted Sister, especially their rousing version of O Come All Ye Faithful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De47fjH6RKY
Ganryu on December 24, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Dirty:
I saw mama doinking Santa Clause
Kini on December 24, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Heh. You said First Mate. Just like old times.
platypus on December 24, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Sounds political to me. Sorta like Chicago.
platypus on December 24, 2008 at 6:03 PM
You’re right. That was excellent.
I wish I didn’t have to start hearing Christmas songs starting the day after Halloween.
Classic favs:
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Angels We Have Heard On High
What Child Is This?
New favs:
Sarah McLachlan – Wintersong, River & God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
U2 – Christmas, Baby Please Come Home
Hate:
Grandma Got Run Over
Jingle Bell Rock (esp. Hall & Oates version)
TechieNotTrekkie on December 24, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Favorite: “Mary, Did You Know?” (So pretty…)
Least favorite: “And So This is Christmas”, or whatever else it’s called…(So depressing…)
uncivilized on December 24, 2008 at 6:09 PM
You’re right. That was excellent.
I wish I didn’t have to start hearing Christmas songs starting the day after Halloween.
Classic favs:
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Angels We Have Heard On High
What Child Is This?
New favs:
Sarah McLachlan – Wintersong, River & God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
U2 – Christmas, Baby Please Come Home
Hate:
Grandma Got Run Over
Jingle Bell Rock (esp. Hall & Oates version)
TechieNotTrekkie on December 24, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Hear hear (or rather, not hear not hear) the comment on that McCartney mess. Heard it twice today. Radios are off rather than risk a third exposure.
curved space on December 24, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Look,I am a sucker for “Joy to the World”.
Simplistic but effective.
The songs Allah listed are pretty pathetic.
I wish I could say “but they tried” and “at least they have the spirit” but I can’t.
Those songs absolutely suck.
“White Christmas” and “Silent night” still bring me back to the sharing and togetherness of Christmas.
Baxter Greene on December 24, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Loreena McKinnett has 2 great albums for this season, and these I consider my Christmas Music essentials: A Midwinter Night’s Dream and To Drive the Cold Winter Away. If you like Celtic-oriented music, there are really excellent.
My lease favorite is “Do They Know its Christmas”, for reasons already described most thoroughly by other posters.
I basically shut the radio off this month and listen to my collection, so I haven’t heard some of the other losers described. I will consider myself lucky.
Mutnodjmet on December 24, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Best Classic:
“White Christmas” – Bing Crosby
“Silent Night” by any Choir
Best New Christmas Song:
“What I Want For Christmas” – LEMON
sinsing on December 24, 2008 at 7:15 PM
Worst: “Christmas Wrapping” – The Waitresses Ugh!
boingo_tx on December 24, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Thanks Ed, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is my very favorite carol and that is a very good arrangment. When it comes to carols I far prefer the Christmas hymns to the more contemporary Christmas songs.
goat on December 24, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Worst Part 2: Gary Glitter – “Another Rock & Roll christmas” ; “So this is christmas” – Melissa Etheridge ; Brian Adams – “Christmas Time”
Best: The Smithereens – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” ; Brave Combo – “Must Be Santa” (for all you Polka nuts) ; The Tractors – “Santa claus Is Coming In A Boogie Woogie Choo choo Train” ; The Mavericks – “Santa Claus Is Back In town”
boingo_tx on December 24, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Beautiful.
Tanya on December 24, 2008 at 7:56 PM
I love Christmas Wrapping. And Cactus Christmas by Brian Setzer Orchestra. And Christmas Day by Dido and Christmas by Blues Traveler. And Fairy Tale of New York by the Pogues. And Oi To The World.
I love the traditional songs too, especially We Three Kings and Children Go Where I Send Thee, and Breath of Heaven. But the newer stuff really gets me back into the spirit when I’m grumpy and sick to death of all the early darkness and ice storms.
Tanya on December 24, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Michael Jackson’s version of Little Drummer Boy is creepy, for obvious reasons.
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Love anything from any of the Manheim Steamroller Christmas Albums, the standard songs by Sinatra, Crosby, Nat King Cole. Also, if you saw the group on FNF this am. Straight No Chaser. Loved their 12 days of Christmas. Can’t abide any of the Beatles and Dominick the Donkey Hee-haw, hee-haw!
clinker46 on December 24, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Dan Folgelberg trashes the spirit of Christmas with a perennial favorite that glorifies adultery.
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 8:46 PM
The late communist & atheist John Lennon adds this irony to goofiness by singing a Christmas song with inaccuracies such as Christmas starts a new year, with his wife Yoko Oh-No contributing backup screeches.
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Heaven is to hear this choir sing O Holy Night, or any of the classics. Awesome choir, awesome Christmas services.
Buy Danish on December 24, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Anything sung by small childred makes me want to shove pointy objects deep in my ears to make it stop. Sorry, parents, but children’s voices are just plain annoying.
Hollowpoint on December 24, 2008 at 9:24 PM
I feel a lot like Scrooge this year, so if I hear another Christmas song between now and 2009, I’ll blow a gasket.
Having said that, the one Christmas song I cannot stand, regardless of what mood I am in, is I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas. My favorite Christmas song: Because It’s Christmas (For All The Children).
eaglescout1998 on December 24, 2008 at 9:31 PM
No mention of “Mistress for Christmas” by AC/DC? “Jingle Hells Bells” from Bob Rivers?
Hollowpoint on December 24, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Yikes! I just learned that the Betty Boop vibed version of Santa Baby is by Madonna.
Mannheim Steamroller is on my iPod, along with Pavarotti (sp?), Norman, various Celtic artists, There’s even a Neil Diamond cd I have to add tonight.
Add “Stop the Cavalry” to the never to be played list.
Flar on December 24, 2008 at 9:35 PM
Yeah, I like that one too, though it was already in poor taste before 9/11. Nowadays, woe unto any radio station that dares play it.
(For those not familiar with the song, it has nothing to do with 9/11. Predates it by about 15 years in fact.)
I hope it’s not too obscure, but The Roches did a great job on “We Three Kings” and a bunch of others on their Christmas album.
My very least favorite is “I saw Daddy Kissing Santa Cluas,” by Kip Adotta.
And as much as I love Elvis’ “Blue Christmas,” is about how much I dislike the Elvis and Martina McBride, “Blue Christmas.”
Pretty cynical take there McBride.
DuffBeer on December 24, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Where is the less talented half of Wham these days? I could have sworn I was in Andrews cab last week on the lower east side. That being said is it ELP that does the song with the lyrics ” you get the christmas you deserve” and “they sold me a silent night” as well asd “i saw right through santas disguise” Always struck me as a beautifully arranged and performed song that when you listen to the words gives a sharp elbow to the real spirot of Christmas, a snarky little SP poke at those jebus folks.
merryprankster23 on December 24, 2008 at 9:43 PM
You’re going to have to be more specific.
Hollowpoint on December 24, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Old loves:
I’ll be home for Christmas by Bing
Christmas Blues by Dean Martin
All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey makes me want to drink too much, dance wildly and kiss every guy at the party. I love it.
Also like Diana Krall’s what are you doing New Years Eve
I HATE Madonna’s Santa Baby, any Manheim Steamroller (It makes me feel like I’m on speed and about to have a stroke)
and anything where children sing about some tragedy that has befallen their families.
Donde esta Santa Claus is so ridiculous I have to laugh…
Maura O on December 24, 2008 at 10:09 PM
I Like:
Pretty much any traditional song by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Here is their version of Carol of the Bells.
I Run Screaming From:
That horrid caterwauling by “The Boss”. (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town)
hillbillyjim on December 24, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Best new Christmas song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AJI3QXwg-M
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Best modern rock Christmas song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpPxKmrzCW8&feature=email
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Best female vocalist Christmas song (you’d never guess):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j3EU5p4Xys
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 10:30 PM
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is doing their annual Christmas concert tonight on PBS, one of the best choirs there is. When it comes to Christmas music I think of choirs not individuals. Like many many have said here, I would be perfectly happy if I never heard anything written by a Beatle ever again, the most over-rated group of cockroaches ever.
I would say the greatest Christmas music ever written is Handel’s “Messiah” though Bach and Vivaldi wrote some awesome stuff too
goat on December 24, 2008 at 10:31 PM
This is a nice version of O Holy Night.
hillbillyjim on December 24, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Best Male Vocalist Christmas Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTgMe5demPc
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Best glam-rock Christmas song (sans Spandex):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjrtAtduk6s
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Amen!
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 10:44 PM
There is a a female European vocalist that goes by one name that I wish I could remember, best classical voice I have heard in years. I guess I have to dig through my archives, dang I wish I had used labels.
goat on December 24, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Jgap, I liked that version of my favorite carol as well.
goat on December 24, 2008 at 10:51 PM
My brother died a few days before Christmas and ever since I just can’t listen to Christmas music. Don’t know why, of all the trappings of the season, that’s the one thing I can’t take. Except The Carol of the Bells. For some reason that one song really works for me though I don’t want to hear it sung. I just want to listen to the instruments play it.
Rip Ford on December 24, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Good..
Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1950s through early 60s. Best choral Christmas music evar!
Corelli – “Christmas Concerto”
Vince Guaraldi – “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (entire album)
Tchaikovsky – “The Nutcracker” (Andre Previn/London Symphonic)(entire album, not just the suite)
Bad..
Any contemporary POS.
Ugly..
Bruce Springsteen – “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
Feliz Navidad, etc.
Coronagold on December 24, 2008 at 10:54 PM
However I still do like “Ding Fries Are Done”.
Coronagold on December 24, 2008 at 10:54 PM
My least favorite of ones I can stand at all is “Feliz Navidad”. Once or twice a season is enough.
I don’t like excessively glurgey songs, like “Christmas Shoes”. Hearing that once is plenty. For a whole life!
I can’t say I have one favorite Christmas song. I like the Robert Shaw albums “Songs of Angels” and “Angels on High” a lot. A capella, mostly basic choral versions, with some good arrangements.
Joan Sutherland also did a Christmas CD. It has a lovely version of “What Child is This”, a baroque-ish arrangement of “Good King Wenceslaus”, and a playful version of “12 Days of Christmas”.
For those who like “Carol of the Bells”, here’s a well-performed basic choral version (Amazon). Only $0.45 to download! Cheap!
I’ve collected a number of versions of “The Little Drummer Boy”, including one by the von Trapp Family Singers and one by Marlene Dietrich!
JimC on December 24, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Found it, she performed last year with the MTC, Sissel Kyrkjebo.
goat on December 24, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Jose Feliciano’s version was fine the first time I heard it, but I’m weary of the endless repetition since then.
jgapinoy on December 24, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Songs newer than 1970-
I heard Vanessa Williams’s jazzy version of “What Child Is This” today and it still sounds pretty good.
George Winston’s “December” is timeless. Every song is a piano solo.
Anyone else like the Bing Crosby / Ziggy Stardust duet?
shuzilla on December 24, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Uh, every George Winston album is composed of piano solos. He’s a pianist.
Coronagold on December 24, 2008 at 11:18 PM
hillbillyjim
O Holy Night is the quintessential classic Christmas song but it really needs a male voice, illustrated pretty well here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gemjzIzsek
CarolynM on December 24, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Uh, everyone might not know that.
shuzilla on December 24, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Grandma getting ran over by the reindeer was maybe a little funny maybe the 133rd time I heard it. Bury that song.
johnnyU on December 24, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Afrikaans – Geseende Kerfees en ‘n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian – Gézuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!
Amharic – Melkam Yelidet Beaal
Arabic – I’D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida
Aramaic- Edo bri’cho o rish d’shato brich’to!
Argentine -Feliz Navidad
Armenian – Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Aromunian – Crãciunu hãriosu shi unu anu nãu, bunu!
Azeri – Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia – Selamat Hari Natal
Basque – Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali – Shuvo Baro Din – Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Bohemian – Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian – Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Breton – Nedeleg laouen na bloav ezh mat
Bulgarian – Vasel Koleda; Tchestita nova godina!
Catalan – Bon nadal i feliç any nou!
Cantonese -Seng Dan Fai Lok, Sang Nian Fai Lok
Chile Feliz Navidad
Chinese (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw – Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Cornish -Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsican – Bon Natale e Bon capu d’ annu
Crazanian – Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree – Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Creek – Afvcke Nettvcakorakko
Czech Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Croatian – Sretan BozicCzech – Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish – Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
Duri – Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch – Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! Egyptian – Colo sana wintom tiebeen
Egyptian Colo sana wintom tiebeen
English – Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Eskimo – Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto – Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian – Rõõmsaid jõulupühi
Euskera – Zorionak eta Urte Berri On Faeroese – Gledhilig jól og eydnurikt n?ggjár!
Farsi – Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish – Hyvää Joulua or Hauskaa Joulua
Flemish – Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French – Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
Frisian – Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Friulian – Bon Nadâl e Bon An Gnûf
Gaelic -Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur!
Galician – Bon Nadal e Bo Ani Novo
German – Frohliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Greek – Kala Christougenna Kieftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos
Greenlandic – Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit
Hausa – Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian – Mele Kalikimaka a me Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew – Mo’adim Lesimkha. Shana Tova
Hindi – Aapko Christh Janam Din ki badhai
Hungarian -Hungarian -Merry Christmas=Kellemes karacsonyi unnepeket
happy new year = Kellemes karacsonyi unnepeket es boldog uj evet
Icelandic – Gle?ileg Jól og Farsaelt Komandi ár!
Indonesian -Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi – Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish -Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian – Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
Japanese -Merry Christmas=MERII KURISUMASU
Happy New Year=SHINNEN AKEMASHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU (Formal-writing)
Jèrriais – Bouan Noué et Bouanne Année
Karelian – Rastawanke Sinun, Uvven Vuvenke Sinun
Korean – Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Krio – Appi Krismes en Appi Niu Yaa
Kurdish – Seva piroz sahibe u sersala te piroz be
Ladin – Bon Nadel y Bon Ann Nuef
Lappic – Buorit Juovllat ja Buorre Oddajahki
Latin – Natale hilare et Annum Nuovo!
Latvian – Prieci’gus Ziemsve’tkus un Laimi’gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian – Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lithuanian – Linksmu Kaledu ir laimingu Nauju metu
Livian – Riiemlizi Talspividi ja pagin vonno udaigastos
Low Saxon -Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar
Luxemburgish – Schéi Krëschtdeeg an e Schéint Néi Joer
Macedonian -Streken Bozhik
Malagasy: ARAHABA TRATRA NY KRISMASY
Malay – Selamat Hari Natal
Malayalam – Puthuvalsara Aashamsakal
Maltese – Nixtieklek Milied tajjeb u is-sena t-tabja!
Mandarin – Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan or Sheng dan Kuai Le
Manx – Nollick ghennal as blein vie noaMaori -Meri Kirihimete
Marathi – Shub Naya Varsh
Maori – Meri Kirihimete
Mongolian – Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye
Monogasque – Festusu Natale e Bona ana noeva
Norwegian -God Jul og Godt Nyttår
Occitan -Polit nadal e bona annada
Oriya -Sukhamaya christmass ebang khusibhara naba barsa
Papiamento – Bon Pasco y un Feliz Aña Nobo
Papua New Guinea – Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Philippines Maligayang Pasco at Manigong Bagong Taon
Pashto – De Christmas akhtar de bakhtawar au newai kal de mubarak sha.
Pennsylvania German – En frehlicher Grischtdaag unen hallich Nei Yaahr!
Polish – Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese – Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi – Nave sal di mubaraka
Pushto – Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Raeto-Ramance – Bella Festas da zNadal ed in Ventiravel Onn Nov
Rapa-Nui – Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian – Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche – Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Romani (GYPSY) – Bachtalo krecunu Thaj Bachtalo Nevo Bers
Romanian – Hristos s-a Nascut si Anul Nou Fericit
Russian – Pozdravlyau s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i c Novym Godom
Sami – Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan – Manuia le Kerisimasi ma le Tausaga Fou
Sardian – Felize Nadale e Bonu Cabuannu
Sardinian -Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Scots Gaelic -Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serbian -Hristos se rodi
Surinamese (SRANANTONGO):Wan Santa Bedaki
Croatian – Sretan BozicCzech – Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Singhalese – Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Sorbian – Wjesole hody a strowe Nowe leto.
Somali – ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican.
Slovakian – Vesele Vianoce a stastny novy rok
Slovak – Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene – Vesele bozicne praznike in srecno novo leto
Sorbian – Wjesole hody a strowe Nowe leto
Spanish – Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Swahili – ºKrismas Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swedish – God Jul och Gott Nytt År and S Rozhdestvom Kristovym
Serbian -HRISTOS SE RODI! SRECNA NOVA GODINA!
Sudanese – Wilujeng Natal Sareng Warsa Enggal
Tagalog – Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon
Tamil – Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Thai – Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai
Tok Pisin – Meri Krismas & Hepi Nu Yia
Tongan – Kilisimasi Fiefia & Ta’u fo’ou monu ia
Trukeese – Neekirissimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Tswana – Keresemose o monate le masego a ngwaga o montsha
Turkish – Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian – Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku!
Urdu – Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vanina Bon Natale a Tutti
Vepsi – Rastvoidenke i Udenke Vodenke
Vietnamese – Chuc Mung Giang Sinh – Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Welsh – Nadolig LLawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Xhosa – Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi EmnandI Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo Namathamsanqa
Yayeya – Krisema
Yiddish – Gute Vaynakhtn un a Gut Nay Yor
Yoruba – E ku odun, e hu iye’ dun!
Zulu – Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo
Kini on December 24, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Rockin around the Christmas Tree makes me want to break things
clnurnberg on December 25, 2008 at 12:03 AM
I would REALLY love to get rid of “We wish you a Happy Holidays”.
The PC Police at school changed the words around for the “Winter concert”
HarryStar on December 25, 2008 at 12:30 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juBEue3L4LE
score, best ever.
superdave on December 25, 2008 at 12:41 AM
I hate that Christmas song, “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath. To me, it never sounded very Christmasy.
Kevin M on December 25, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Hate Feliz Navidad, Last Christmas, Do They Know Its Christmas?
Hate the Maria Carey “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” but LOVE the Vince Vance and the Valiants version.
Love “Happy Birthday Jesus
Love O, Holy Night. Mannheim Steamroller’s “Stille Nacht.”
ToddonCapeCod on December 25, 2008 at 1:29 AM
I would never invite to a cocktail party the bonehead who thinks he’s soooo cool that he just has to put down Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas. Can’t stand the woman personally, but can recognize the song is brilliantly crafted pop.
No one is as boring and phony as someone who is afraid to be a cheesy dork once in awhile. Especially with his music choices.
John the Libertarian on December 25, 2008 at 1:30 AM
Love: Roger Whitaker (apologize for spelling errors if any). His Christmas music is extremely original and reminds me of something like a grandfather telling Christmas stories to his grand children or talking about the good times and cheer Christmas often brings. One of my favorite songs he sings; Country Christmas. which reminds me a bit of going to my grandparents on my fathers side, who used to live in a small town/rural area, or traveling up to PA’s Lancaster County around Christmas time
Greatly enjoy: Trans-Siberian Orchastra. These, guys, like Chip Davis and the Mannheim Steamrollers, did one of the hardest things you can ever do with music based on a holiday filled with long standing traditions. Mix the old with the new and make it sound awesome. The other amazing thing, is how they blend it. You can go from listening to a rock version of a Christmas classic, and then listen to a song they created with a 4 part choir that overlaps, but not over power each other with different verses and keeps clear what each section is singing. The other thing I greatly enjoy, is that in general, their music also keeps to a theme, one still focused on the Birth of Christ.
Mannheim Steam Rollers: Another one of my favorite Christmas music groups, like Trans-Siberrian, they blend the old with the new. Overall like this group
Razgriez on December 25, 2008 at 2:53 AM
Captain Ed,
BNL and Sarah McLachlan is a keeper. Super!!
One of my favorites is from a special by David Foster back around ‘93 or so. Vanessa Williams singing Mary Had A Baby/Go Tell It On The Mountain (backed by a gospel choir).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpPxKmrzCW8
poodlemom on December 25, 2008 at 6:20 AM
Current Favorite: Even Squeaky Fromme Loves Christmas
Least Favorite: Do They Know It’s Christmas
The Ugly American on December 25, 2008 at 6:26 AM
Number one on my hate list is “Grandma Got Runned Over By A Reindeer” by Elmo and Patsy. One hearing was enough.
abcurtis on December 25, 2008 at 6:32 AM
How about Porky’s Blue Christmas?
abcurtis on December 25, 2008 at 6:38 AM
Unless it’s done by Brenda Lee.
abcurtis on December 25, 2008 at 6:39 AM
Hallelujah Chorus by Handel. Top, top of the “like-it” list.
abcurtis on December 25, 2008 at 6:43 AM
A Christmas song should be HAPPY. I love this brand new one:
Rosie Thomas – Why can´t it be Christmastime all year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYtR-a356Mg
el gordo on December 25, 2008 at 6:56 AM
I just thought of another to bury:
“Grown-up Christmas list”
by anyone who sings it.
It’s simply stupid.
drjohn on December 25, 2008 at 8:02 AM
Very different…but cool.
jgapinoy on December 25, 2008 at 9:13 AM
Good point. That one’s painful to listen to. (I had a more colorful metaphor, but today is Christmas so I’ll keep it to myself)
Cheers,
DuffBeer on December 25, 2008 at 9:26 AM
Best: White Christmas, Louis Armstrong
docshund on December 25, 2008 at 9:42 AM
My favorites are Do You Hear What I Hear by Johnny Mathis and anything by Burl Ives. Burl Ives and Bob Seger are the only people who can take a bad song like the Little Drummer Boy and make it great.
But at the other end of the Christmas song list is Grandma Got Run Over. I want to destroy things when I hear that Christmas travesty.
thekingtut on December 25, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Silent Night by Mahalia Jackson.
Dig it.
thegreatbeast on December 25, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I recommend The Brian Stzer Orchestra if you want a truly rockin’ Christmas. And I just heard Carol Of The Bells by Trans Siberian Orchestra. And all I have to say is, Damn, that was incredible!
thekingtut on December 25, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Brandenburg Concerto #5 in D Major (1050) – J.S. Bach
It wasn’t written as a Christmas concerto, but it makes me think of Christmas as much or more than anything I’ve ever heard.
whitetop on December 25, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Also Ave Maria, both Schubert and Bach versions. Celtic Woman does a real nice version of the latter.
whitetop on December 25, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Wake me up before you ho ho ho, cause I don’t feel like going solo, wake me up before you ho ho ho, don’t leave me hanging on like a stocking, wake me up before you ho ho ho,
it’s time for a reindeer flight.
eaglewingz08 on December 25, 2008 at 12:43 PM
I have a MASSIVE collection of Christmas music and could swallow up a good bit of bandwidth on the topic… but I’ll spare all of us… only to say…
I will never understand the fascination with Mannheim Steamroller. Take a horribly techno 80s Tone-Bank and play a some Christmas songs throwing in a few jazz (read: wrong) notes and somehow you have a classic?
The greatest: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland)
Andy Williams, Vince Guaraldi, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Burl Ives, Jim Neighbors, Johnny Mathis, Robert Shaw… now that’s what I call Christmas!
Oh, and Vito Carlucci…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmdXMSPJaVg
mankai on December 25, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Of the lesser-known artists, I really like The Burns Sisters Christmas album (particularly O Come O Come Emmanuel and What Child Is This).
Sample here:
http://www.burnssisters.com/music/tradition/index.html
mankai on December 25, 2008 at 1:46 PM
There is a Christmas song that I’ve heard for years, but don’t know the name of it. I can’t even remember much about it. It’s an English girl and it’s a catchy little tune. She sings about going to the the store and she’s run into the guy she’s singing from about last Christmas. They are in the store both buying (I believe) sweet potatoes. Does this sound familiar to anyone. I can’t make up my mind if I like it or not.
amynorw on December 25, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Ray Conniff Singers Ring Christmas Bells is a great take on Carol of the Bells.
BKennedy on December 25, 2008 at 2:46 PM
WHAT A FANTASTIC POST!!
Bubba Redneck on December 25, 2008 at 3:00 PM
I like Carol of the Bells, and you tube has a version with Julie Andrews and a Welsh Men’s Choir (it’s a minute or two into the video).
The shoes song makes me furious, because it makes me cry even while I know it’s schlock and dreck.
Not a carol, but I always have to listen to Dylan Thomas’ read his A Child’s Christmas in Wales on CD. We also love Mannheim STeamroller and TransSiberian Orchestra.
Other favorites: The Holly & The Ivy, The Clare College Choir of Cambridge, with John Rutter
The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.
Andre Rieu, The Christmas I Love
One Wintry NIght, Jerry Read Smith and Lisa Maria Smith
Bright Day STar, Music for the Yuletide Season by The Baltimore Console
Charlotte Church’s Dream a Dream.
In the Bleak MIdwinter by Loreena McKennit
Blackmoore’s Night has a Christmas album I like.
DeputyHeadmistress on December 25, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Rip Ford, sorry about your brother. Loss hits us all different ways, but I think not being able to listen to the music of Christmas must be one of the saddest.
DeputyHeadmistress on December 25, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Johnny Mathis , Nat King Cole , Brenda Lee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBFXAEhWsio&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JBz14mekfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cubgWvBfs24&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cubgWvBfs24&feature=related
Texyank on December 25, 2008 at 4:18 PM
NEW FAVORITE!
Classic favorites:
1–White Christmas–it is never Christmas w/o Der Bingle
2–Holly Jolly Christmas–taken from my favorite XMAS TV special
3–Santa Claus Is Coming to town–The Boss–A Jersey Shore Christmas I call it, though the song was recorded on Long Island at CW Post Univ.
4–Rudolph–The Singing Cowboy himself Gene Autry
5–The Little Drummer Boy–Bing Crosby/David Bowie. The pairing sounds odd, but it works.
COULD DO WITHOUT/JUKEBOX FROM HELL–everything else–ESPECIALLY GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER.
By the way, you can thank or blame the people of NE PA for giving us (other than Clueless about the Constitution Joe Biden) hearing Christmas music on the air in the first place.
Those emotions can be made for radio station WLSH in Lansford, PA. From the profile on their website:
BobAnthony on December 25, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Best Christmas song………… evah!!!
Seven Percent Solution on December 25, 2008 at 5:15 PM
It pains me to say this, but the Catwoman has growled her last growl. Eartha Kitt died at age 81.
Well, add Eartha Kitt to James Brown and Dean Martin who have died on Christmas.
BobAnthony on December 25, 2008 at 6:46 PM
There are waaaaaaaaaaay too many bad, bad Xmas songs (IMO, the only time it’s acceptable to use “Xmas” is when refering to this sort of dreck) put out by Madonna, barking dogs, assorted barnyard beasts, chipmunks, etc.
.
I prefer to look at my personal faves.
.
O Holy Night: When it’s done well, it’s amazing.
.
Breath Of Heaven: An amazing song that imagines Mary’s thoughts some 9 months after she said, “Let it be done, according to Your word.”
.
One Small Child: The lyric, “See His mother praising His Father. See His tiny eyelids fall” never fails to send chills up my spine.
least1 on December 25, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Cranberries. That’s Christmas Wrapping, by the Waitresses. It’s been listed as both best and worst on here. It’s one of my personal favorites.
Tanya on December 25, 2008 at 7:53 PM
I recommend The Brian Setzer Orchestra: Christmas Extravaganza! DVD. Its got a lot of fun tunes(Your a mean one Mr. Grinch, Dig that Crazy Santa Claus) and a great rendition of The Nutcracker Suite too.
Lunkinator on December 25, 2008 at 8:14 PM
We had a local fav last year called Christmas in the Northwest, which had like 30 seconds worth of words and tune in a 4+ minute song. Beyond Boring. Seems to have fallen by the wayside this year. Good.
Songs that will make me leave the room include Carol of the Bells, Simply Having…, and Little Drummer Boy. Repetitive and uninteresting at first, and chinese water torture after a while.
Songs I Love include the BNL/SMcL version of God Rest Ye Merry, and anything by Tish Hinojosa. I also have a little guilty pleasure in Mele Kalikimaka by Jimmy Buffet.
All time fav is It Came Upon the Midnight Clear by Jars of Clay. This is a -wonderful- song about the availability of grace. Look up the rest of the verses.
wkgdyw on December 25, 2008 at 8:27 PM
other good stuff: Birthday of a King, by any competent baritone.
wkgdyw on December 25, 2008 at 8:33 PM
My favorite Christmas song lyric is from What Child Is This?:
the virgin sings a lullaby
jgapinoy on December 25, 2008 at 8:49 PM
How about getting rid of all of the “seasonal” songs and keeping Christmas songs focused Christ? I’m not sure what a jolly fat guy in a red coat or a three-tiered snowball or mammals with antlers have to do with the birth of God-incarnate, but songs focused on these things have got to go.
Send_Me on December 25, 2008 at 9:14 PM
There ain’t no way that this is gonna happen when the prevailing view of Christmas is that it’s all about family and friends and being nice – and a vague “Rodney King” peace samehow arises during this season.
As long as those views have prominence, the real Reason for this season and His peace will remain veiled.
least1 on December 25, 2008 at 9:43 PM
I think we ought to be grateful that most of the Western World–& much of the East–celebrates Christmas. Sure, most don’t appreciate the real meaning, but their celebrations & accompanying emotions often open doors of opportunity for you & me to share that real meaning with them.
jgapinoy on December 25, 2008 at 9:49 PM
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