Holiday Songs (Pop Culture 5)
Posted: December 2nd, 2009 | Filed under: Pop Culture | 191 Comments »
For reasons I cannot begin to understand, much less explain, I get sentimental about holiday music. I really don’t know why. I should be cynical about it … holiday music seems like a good thing to be cynical about. But I’m not. I love it. I have a holiday playlist on my iPhone that I add to every year … and I love listening to music in the car this time of year.
For some reason, I feel like I probably should not have revealed that piece of information about myself.
Anyway: Here you go, the Top 10 Holiday Songs (with a few just missed on the bottom). And we’ll try to throw a little little factoid to go along with each one. And with that: good night to all, and to all a good night.
11. You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, Thurl Ravenscroft
Many people believe it was sung by Boris Karloff, the narrator of The Grinch, because Ravenscroft’s name was left off the original credits. But it was indeed Ravenscroft’s voice … and if you listen carefully you can tell that the voice in the song is quite different from Karloff’s voice as narrator.
10. Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto, James Brown.
James Brown actually released three different Christmas albums … “Funky Christmas,” “A Soulful Christmas” and “James Brown Sings Christmas Songs.” My favorite lyrics of Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto: “Never thought I realized I’ll be singing a song with one of you why!” No idea what that means, but it means something.
9. All I Want For Christmas, Mariah Carey
Factoid: According to Wikipedia — and if you can’t trust Wikipedia, who can you trust? — Mariah Carey is adapting her Merry Christmas album into a movie. All I Want for Christmas is a lot of fun, and my daughters’ favorite Christmas song at the moment.
8. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Ella Fitzgerald
This comes from “Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas” which was recorded in 1960 and is, in my humble view, the greatest Christmas album ever made. … It used to be said that it was sad that Ella Fitzgerald, one of the giants of American music, was probably best known for her Memorex commercials when she sang the high note that made the glass break. But you know what? At least she was remembered then. That commercial ran three decades ago … few remember even that commercial now.
7. Christmastime is Here, Vince Guaraldi
The better known “Linus and Lucy” is on the same album — A Charlie Brown Christmas — but it seems to me that’s not really a Christmas song. Guaraldi was a jazz musician of moderate success when Peanuts executive producer Lee Mendelson heard one of his songs and thought he had the right sound for Charlie Brown and the gang. Two weeks later, Guaraldi reportedly played a version of “Linus and Lucy” over the phone for Mendelson and they knew they had some magic going. “Christmastime is Here” is available both with vocals and as an instrumental … I prefer the instrumental.
6. The Glow-Worm, Mel Torme
Not to ruin this for you but: Mel Torme wrote the No. 1 song on our list … The Christmas Song. Torme’s version of that song is not the classic … but his version of Glow Worm, with his own Christmas lyrics, is fabulous.
Glow little glow worm
intermingle
Fly right along side
Ol’ Kris Kringle
Pay no attention
If you’re shooed-off
You know that you’re a
Pint sized Rudolph
5. White Christmas, Bing Crosby
I remember once seeing a true/false question that went like so: “True of false — the most popular Christmas song ever was written by a Jewish songwriter.” It’s true. The legend is Irving Berlin wrote White Christmas while lounging by the pool in Phoenix, Arizona. The story goes that on Jan. 8, 1940, Irving Berlin handed his musical secretary the song and said, “I want you take down a song I wrote over the weekend. Not only is it the best song I ever wrote, it’s the best song anybody ever wrote.” I mention this because it just adds to the glory of Jan. 8 — the birthday of Elvis Presley (he was 5 on that day in 1940), David Bowie (1947), Dave Eggers (1970)* and … yes, yours truly.
*You might remember the post when I met Dave Eggers and had absolutely nothing to say to him. I didn’t know about us sharing a birthday then. Just think, I could have said: “Hey, you and I were born on the same day, you know, three years apart!” Yeah, that would have sparked some conversation.
4. Fairytale of New York, The Pogues. I cannot tell you how much I love this song. And I still believe that these words — more than New York, New York, more than New York Serenade — capture the city better than just about anything ever written:
They got cars big as bars
They got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It’s no place for the old
When you first took my hand on a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me Broadway was waiting for me
You were handsome. You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing they yelled out for more
Sinatra was swinging
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner then danced through the night.
And the boys from the NYPD choir were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out for Christmas Day.
Beautiful. It gives me chills it’s so beautiful.
3. Winter Wonderland, Ray Charles
Speaking of chills: Winter Wonderland really isn’t that great a song. But Ray Charles, in my mind, was always at his best taking familiar songs and making them chill-inducing. His version of “America the Beautiful” is, in my mind, the most patriotic song we have as a nation. The song “You Don’t Know Me” — a country song first recorded by Eddy Arnold and then Jerry Vale — became filled with impossible pain when Ray Charles sang it. And his version of Winter Wonderland — which you may remember from the Christmas tree scene in “When Harry Met Sally” — is perfection.
2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band
“It’s all cold down on the beach … the wind’s whipping down the boardwalk … Hey band! … You guys know what time it is? … What time is it? … What? … Oh, Christmas time. … You guys all, you guys all been good and practicing real hard? Yeah? Clarence you’ve been rehearsing real hard now so Santa’ll bring you a new saxophone? Everybody out there been good or what? Aw that’s not many, not many, you guys are in trouble out here. … You better watch out, you better not cry ….”
1. The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole
Mel Torme would say he and Bob Wells wrote the song on a hot summer day in an effort to keep cool. Apparently Wells was just writing down cool thoughts — Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost, Yuletide Carols, eskimos and so on. … Nat King Cole would say in his introduction to the song that it was a great gift to him from his dear friend Mel Torme. And it’s true that The Nat King Cole Trio and Nat King Cole himself recorded the song before Mel Torme did. Since then, the song has been recorded hundreds of times by artists from Aaliyah to Wynonna. But it’s Nat King Cole’s song even 63 years after he recorded it.
Just missed: Christmas in Hollis, Run-DMC; Blue Christmas, Elvis Presley; Happy Christmas (War is Over), John Lennon; Do They Know It’s Christmas, Band Aid; Merry Christmas Baby, Bruce Springsteen; Baby It’s Cold Outside, Various Artists; Last Christmas, Wham; Father Christmas, The Kinks; The Chipmunk Song; The Chanukah Song, Adam Sandler; Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee; The Night Santa Went Crazy, Weird Al.
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I know it’s just my pet peeve, but I hate it when people make lists of Christmas songs and they’re really all Holiday/Winter songs. My list is: 4. There’s Something Going on in Bethlehem; 3. O Holy Night; 2. O Little Town of Bethlehem; 1. Silent Night
I do think “O Holy Night” needs to be on there–one weird caveat I have regarding the song is that it cannot be sung by a man…it has to be done by children or a woman (Josh Groban’s version, for example, just doesn’t cut it). For my money, best rendition I’ve heard is by Angelis.
See, I think there should be a word for when you *say* that something is embarrassing, but you actually wear it as a badge of honor. For instance, Joe, you act embarrassed about loving Christmas music, but everyone likes Christmas music, especially in the car. Another common example would be saying how uncool you are because you don’t use this new Twitter thing and whatever else the kids are doing—what you’re really saying is that you ARE cool because you don’t do those “cool” things. Eh?
How do you do that, Joe? Even when I disagree, I can’t REALLY disagree, especially when you slip in what I would have included in the top ten in the “just missed”.
by the way — the version of “All I Want For Christmas” in the film “Love, Actually” is awesome — if your eight-year-old ahsn’t seen it, she should, she’ll love it. All kinds of fun is right.
Great list, lots of classics. But for some reason, nothing embodies Christmas to me more than listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas.
I had a feeling you would put Springsteen on the list. Sorry, but I can’t get through that whole song without feeling exhausted. The man sounds like he’s about to keel over on stage, trying to sing in between breaths. Good song, but that performance drives me nuts.
Also, please tell me you have a Christmas Movie list in the works. I can probably guess what your #1 would be, but I want to see if I’m right.
“Christmas Time is Here” also gets bonus points for being used for excellent comedic effect on “Arrested Development.”
Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby will always be #1 on my list thanks to Christmas Vacation.
Also born on Jan 8th….Rachel Nichols. The actress, not the ESPN journalist. Yes, I’ll admit it. I just watched G.I. Joe.
Good list. “2000 Miles” by the Pretenders. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Judy Garland. Why do most people edit out the part about “well just have to muddle through somehow” and put “hang a shining star upon the highest bough.” The original retains the melancholy feel of the song (which makes it a great Christmas song, the tinge of sadness).
Something else you could have said to Dave Eggers, based on your previous post, “I was one of the 38 people who went to a theater and saw the movie you wrote.”
I was curious how you felt about that “Santa Claus is coming to town” version Joe.
Every time I hear it on the radio I wonder how the people in the audience at that show(it sounds like it was recorded live.)
On the one hand, you get to hear Bruce rock out on “Santa Claus is coming to town.”
On the other hand, you probably paid a pretty penny for the duckets and he’s playing this instead of “Born to Run?”
I love “Father Christmas” by Greg Lake and (even though some don’t think it is a Holiday song) “2,000 Miles” by The Pretenders.
And I always look forward to “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses every year. I know, I know…
“Frosty the Snowman” by The Ronnettes. Memorably used in, of all movies, GoodFellas.
Completely missed my list (not suprising – mine is very short).
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Christmas/Sarajevo, Wizards in Winter)
Gary Hoey (Carol of the Bells)
Garth Brooks (The Gift)
and of course
Straight No Chaser (12 Days of Christmas)
I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with you more, Joe (or at all). But I hate Xmas songs. It could be that I’m a Jewish atheist type, but I think the real reason is that they start playing October and are absolutely inescapable for two months. We’re bombarded with the same songs, most of which totally suck, over and over again.
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Bob & Dough McKenzie! All I can remember off the top of my head is “Three French toast, Two turtlenecks, and a beer.” (Coincidentally or not, the only part of the original I remember is the same 3,2,1 countdown.) Since I was probably seven years old, that has been number one on my list.
As for “Do they Know it’s Christmas?” – perhaps the greatest piece of unintentional comedy ever written. Christmas-related. or not.
To list over 20 songs and not have a single one about the true meaning of the season is actually kind of depressing.
Here are a few of my favorites:
The Little Drummer Boy
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
The First Noel
Oh, Come All Ye Faithful
Joy to the World
1) Baby Its Cold Outside – I know it just missed your list – but if you heard his version with Betty Carter you may revise that list. In my mind, this version is the sexiest song ever recorded.
2) Back Door Santa – Clarence Carter – This is the original that Run DMC sampled for “Christmas in Hollis”. And the lyrics are fantastic!!
** His version being Ray Charles (with Betty Carter)
This Christmas – Donny Hathaway
I firmly recommend Bob Seger and the Last Heard’s “Sock It To Me Santa.” The baseline just touches something primal in me.
In December 2002, I saw Springsteen at Mellon Arena. We were going to get a foot of snow that night, and people were getting into the Christmas spirit. They kept throwing Santa hats on to the stage. After eight songs of an encore, he picked up one of the hats and put it on. The rest of the band did the same. The Professor started tickling the ivories and they went into “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”
I thought they were going to tear the arena down that night.
Joe – I LOVE James Brown and “Santa Clause Go Straight To The Ghetto”, but I think you have the lyrics wrong. The actual words are:
“Never thought I’d realize, I’d be singing a song with water in my eyes.”
I’ve always thought that line was actually quite touching.
In case you didn’t know, Thurl Ravenscroft , the man who sings “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, was also the voice of Tony the Tiger.
Just a fun holiday fact for you.
Some of my favorites that did not make the list:
Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”, Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”, The Eagles’ “Please Come Home For Christmas”, The Drifters’ “White Christmas”, Prince’s “Another Lonely Christmas”, The Ventures’ “Sleigh Ride”, Jackson 5 “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
1) Can’t handle the Bruce. It just gets to be too much. About Dec. 20 or so I always want to take the Big Man’s sax and ram it down Bruce’s throat. It’s not Bruce’s fault, it’s just overplayed, but I still can’t stand that song.
2) “Alice’s Restaurant” is still the best holiday song, but that’s partly because Thanksgiving is the best holiday.
3) Do yourself a favor this Christmas and pick up “Snow Angels” by Over The Rhine. Perhaps the best Christmas album consisting entirely of originals ever cut.
See, I am completely cynical about Christmas music (or at least, the type of Christmas music you list here, which, as a previous poster mentioned, is actually just winter music). I can’t stand the campy, schlocky, contrived holiday crap.
I do enjoy some Christmas music that’s actually about the birth of Christ (O Holy Night being my favorite), but even that doesn’t get me that excited.
Bah. Humbug.
My favorite Christmas album is Wynton Marsalis’ Crescent City Christmas. Wonderfully fresh arrangements of some classics. A close second is The Bells of Dublin by the Chieftains. It’s nice to get Christmassy music that feels fresh. As great as The Christmas Song is (and I do love NKC’s version), fresh it is not.
Can’t stand Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bruce or the Jackson 5. It feels like I’m being yelled at. And I love the Boss.
I would need to give a lot of thought to come up with my actual top 10 Christmas songs, but off the top of my head, Father Christmas (I thought it was by ELP but some here have said its by Greg Lake solo)…I know it is on an ELP double album I have…Snoopy’s Christmas by the Royal Guardsmen (“The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights, he reached for the trigger to pull it up tight, why he didn’t shoot well…we’ll never know, or was it the bells from the village below?”)
And of course, Eric Cartman’s version of O Holy Night, whilst Kyle pokes him with a cattle prod when he screws up the lyrics.
No love for Cartman’s “O Holy Night”?
And, O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s b-b-b-birth.
O holy night! The something something distant
It is the night with the Christmas trees and pie.
Jesus was born and so I get presents.
Thank you, Jesus for being born.
I love that James Brown song too. But I was hoping you’d leave Bruce off the list. Imagine my disappointment when he shows up at #2. Where’s the objectivity? I mean, you love Duane Kuiper, but you aren’t gonna vote him for the HOF.
No love for the Beach Boys? Really wonderful Christmas album featuring a bunch of originals, and classic Brian Wilson arrangements…
I may be Grinchy as well, but I don’t like Christmas songs either.
1. They start playing on Thanksgiving night. The radio stations can’t even wait until the next day…or you know, December.
2. The radio stations play the same songs over and over. Joe, I did not recognize about half of the songs you named. I know I’m rather young at 20 and some of these songs are from before I was born, but I feel that I hear the same 15 songs. Sure, they may be by different artists, but the lyrics and the music still sound the same.
I do understand that some songs are timeless, but to me, it’s like Hollywood now. So many movies are based off books, or are sequels to another movie, or use the same jokes (groin shot courtesy of Robin Williams, anyone?), it makes me feel like either all of the ideas have been used up, or no one is bold enough to try something new. Similarly, many artists are content to cover a classic Christmas song, rather than act daring and write their own. It’s this reason why I like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Wizards of Winter” so much…it’s bold, new, and sounds nothing like the classics.* It still sounds Christmasy, but tweaks it enough that I can actually enjoy it.
* I tend to like the things that society doesn’t view as being “popular.” It might be that I’m subconsciously rebellious, or that I truly don’t find their appeal, or maybe I don’t like being told that I should like something because most people like it.
3. My mom LOVES Christmas music, which means that whenever you’re riding in a car with her between Thanksgiving night and somewhere between Christmas and New Year’s, I’m going to hear it. It’s ruined the specialness of this time of year. Thank god I’m in college now…except for my girlfriend’s upcoming concert, I won’t have to hear this music again until winter break.
All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth Spike Jones & His City Slickers
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Gene Autry
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) Alvin & the Chipmunks
The Little Drummer Boy Harry Simeone Chorale
Baby’s First Christmas Connie Francis
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Brenda Lee
(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays Perry Como
Feliz Navidad José Feliciano
Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer Elmo & Patsy
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Jimmy Boyd
Funny you’d mention that great album, Zap.
I met Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) at a party one time, and asked her what was the favorite of her father’s songs. She answered “Little Saint Nick.”
One of my favorites too.
Try “The Chipmunk Song” with Jaci Velasquez singing along. For me, it turns an intolerable song into one of my favorites.
Peter, Paul & Mary’s “A Holiday Celebration” is my favorite Christmas album. My current favorite song is Bare Naked Ladies (with Sarah MacLachlan)’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.
I concur with KC Refugee, Ricky, and Daniel’s comments regarding holiday/winter songs vs. Christmas songs, not one song on Joe’s list indicating/mentioning the true meaning of Christmas, and how most of the music is not very exciting.
It’s a shame what we have done to Christmas. Preach on, Linus, preach on.
Yeah, I’m a Grinch, I don’t like Christmas songs at all except for the traditional carols that you sing in church during the midnight service (“Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” etc.)
One exception: The funniest Christmas song ever, “Merry Christmas from the Family” by Robert Earl Keen. The video’s on YouTube. You’ve got to check it out if you’ve never heard it.
re: I Believe in Father Christmas:
The version most people are familiar with was the Emerson, Lake and Palmer version from Works Vol. 2 and The Best of. However, the original version, with orchestra, had been released by Lake solo a couple of years earlier as a Christmas single, and the ELP version — just as the other material on Works Vol. 2 — had been recorded for Works Vol. 1. That release, a two-disc set, had been released with one side containing “group performances” and the other three sides spotlighting a member of the band with varying levels of participation from the other two bandmates; IBiFC was one of the Greg Lake “solo” contributions to those sessions.
So even though the ELP version is more familiar (to American audiences, at least), it’s more accurate to credit Lake alone.
And it’s definitely one of the best Christmas songs ever.
No mention of the Muppets Christmas with John Denver? It’s probably my favorite Christmas album of all-time as there’s something about soothing Denver that meshed perfectly with the manic muppets. Rowlf and Denver’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is perhaps my favorite holiday song of all-time.
I also have to admit to liking N’Sync’s “O’ Holy Night.” I’m not a boyband fan by any means, but it’s a fairly beautiful a capella version of a fantastic song.
And speaking of a capella, I abhor the “Straight No Chaser” version of the song mostly because they stole the arrangement and to this day have never given any credit (that I know of) to the original arrangers and artists. The a capella group at my university was doing the same song some 15 years prior, so for a random group to be lauded so fervently just because they had the advantage of YouTube is a little silly.
Happily, my numbers 1 and 2 are the same as Joe’s numbers 1 and 2. My number 3 I’m surprised not to find even among the honorable mentions: José Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad.
“Merry Christmas From The Family” by Robert Earl Keen. Brilliant.
“Christmas Is Interesting” by Jonathan Coulton. Even more brilliant.
Although I love Joe’s writings about baseball, I’ve never cared much for his taste in music. Although I am the same age as Joe, I never much cared for Bruce Springsteen or most of the other bands he’s mentioned. But now he mentions old faves of mine in two straight posts (The Embarrassment and the Pogues) and as a bonus, mentions my favorite Christmas song–Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis.” I realize that it didn’t make Joe’s top ten, but that’s only because he didn’t grow up in Queens.
I married my husband partly because he’s the only other person I’d ever met who knew Fairytale of New York. That and he also liked Ishtar. I guess it’s probably also why I read you daily, even though I’m not what one would describe as a baseball fanatic.
Maaaan, now I gotta go digging for my Pogues’ CD’s.
Is Wham’s Last Christmas really a Christmas song? I know Christmas is in the title and all the radio stations play it and all, but is a song about a depressed stalker still moping about getting dumped a year before really, you know, in the holiday spirit?
Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
One more nominee:
Tom Waits “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.” Niko Case has a decente version of this tune, but Waits’ piano rendition is cool.
Well, I like that it’s basically a secular list (thanks for including the Pogues; definitely one of the great NYC songs ever written) but if we are talking about explicitly religious songs I have to give my nod to O Come All Ye Faithful. Really one of the most stirring pieces of music I’ve ever heard.
When you go to Midnight Mass and that song is the processional, and in my experience it always is, you really feel like the entire Christian world is coming together in peace in this moment. It’s awe-inspiring.
Joe, I knew you’d have the Bruce version of Merry Christmas Baby if it made the list at all, but I’m partial to Otis Redding’s version. Have you heard it?
Also, I’d nominate Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney.
Christmas music makes me homicidal.
Maybe I missed it in the comments, but no love for the very awesome Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”?
Man, am I glad you didn’t mention that awful, awful, awful Paul McCartney Christmas song, “Wonderful Christmastime.” Awful.
You can tell it was a throw away song for him, but now the Christmas stations have put it in their regular rotation. Awful.
Eddy Arnold was also the writer of “You Don’t Know Me.”
Favorites:
O Holy Night, Mahalia Jackson
Little Drummer Boy, Stevie Wonder
It’s Another Joyful Elvis Presley Christmas, The Serious Brothers
Joe,
your #9 is my #1. All I Want For Christmas is a great song. I like the Mariah Carey version just fine. That said, Teddy Geiger’s version on the Snow Blankets the Night EP is a simpler, more intimate take on the song.
As commenter #4 already mentioned, the version in “Love Actually” is also awesome.
I love “Little Saint Nick.” Only Brian Wilson could write a car song about Santa’s sleigh.
Joe, I think you missed the boat on the Guaraldi song. “Christmastime is Here” is good, but for my money the best two songs are “Skating,” with Guaraldi’s piano evoking the image of softly falling snowflakes, and “Christmas is Coming.”
Whoever mentioned the Harry Simeone Chorale, thank you. The definitive “Little Drummer Boy.” Along those lines, I think nobody has ever topped the original instrumental “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson. I also enjoy the fifties-style crooner versions of the traditional hymns done by Russ Taff on his Christmas Album – “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” are the best.
I’d also like to mention “The Lord’s Bright Blessing,” from, of all things, the Mr. Magoo version of A Christmas Carol. I wouldn’t put it in my top ten but it always makes me smile when I hear it.
The headline is “Holiday Songs (Pop Culture 5)” and the first paragraph mentions “holiday” music about 6 times, so I don’t think there’s any reason to be upset for/about Jesus. Holiday. Pop. Culture.
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!
Whereas the version of “All I Want for Xmas” in “Love, Actually” is great and the movie is also great, I must disagree with the poster @#4 that Joe’s 8 year old daughter should watch it. I have an 8 year daughter too and I am pretty sure there is a lot in that movie that she wouldn’t understand and certainly a lot in that movie that I wouldn’t want her to see. Wait until she is a teenager, and then it might be something you wouldn’t want to watch with her (unless you get embarrassed less easily than me)
Quite a number of years ago, Jimmy Buffett released a Christmas album that I like mostly because it is Jimmy. On that album, there is a song called ‘A Sailors Christmas’ that has become one of my very favorites, although possibly just because it is Jimmy.
A lot of people seem to be confusing the difference between “Holiday Songs” and “Christmas Carols”. Holiday songs are pop culture and not religious in nature.
It seems like every October they take the same 15 or 20 songs and put them on rotate for the next two months. It’s too much.
I’m conflicted over Christmas music. It is over played. It is played “too early”. It is often the same songs over and over. However, all of those things are avoidable if you take them in small doses. I like both holidy and Christmas music about Jesus – not really sure why, but I do.
I really like the Crosby/Bowie version of Little Drummer boy. I remember seeing that “live” on tv.
For fun songs, the Veggie Tales Christmas can be entertaining (and I usually hate signing veggies).
I should find that Pogues song – I like them generally.
There is a cat/mouse song about the cat keeping a mouse alive in the cold on Christmas eve that gets played on one of the stations here (The Current – a great station) every year (or maybe it is no cities 97) that would get anyone that likes the sappy stuff.
The Fats Domino album “Christmas Gumbo” and Booker T and the MGs overlooked “In the Christmas Spirit” are two great Christmas albums (especially for people like me who tire of holiday music rather quickly). On the hip hop front, you can’t go wrong with Snoop Dogg’s update of “Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto” or Ghosface Killah’s “Ghostface Christmas” which samples the “Carol of the Bells.”
People tired of “Wonderful Christmastime” should check out the covers by Tom McRae and June. McRae’s is a soft, solo piano reading and June’s gives it the power pop/punk treatment.
Hehhh! That’s a James Brown lyric…he wrote that shit man. That was some real meaningful shit to James.
Ray Charles. Again. “Little Drummer Boy”. I am a poor boy too, pa-rup-a-pa-pum.
Just great.
Tamp Mike @ 57: You’re right that there’s a difference, but I don’t think people are confusing them. Nobody has called the pop songs they love Christmas Carols. They’ve referred to them as Christmas songs. I think Christmas songs simply covers both categories.
And I would probably add to my top 10 “Christmas” songs, Adam Sandler’s original version of The Hanukah Song (or whatever the title is “Paul Newman’s 1/2 Jewish, Goldie Hawn’s 1/2 too, put them together, what a fine-looking Jew”). That song still cracks me up. Maybe he was the funniest man in the world.
You can’t help but love Fairytale of New York.
One of the rare songs where lines like “You’re a bum, you’re a punk. You’re an old slut on junk” come off as affectionate.
My brother knows all the words to “The Night Santa Went Crazy” and regularly performs it for friends, family and strangers alike over the holidays. I used to find it annoying but now I can’t wait for him to come home. I’ll be the first one egging him on.
Of course the best Christmas video is “Little Drummer Boy” with David bowie and Bing. I love the way they Bowie comes over like he and Bing are old buddies, like bing has been supplying him blow.
Sonics have a couple good ones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbIdCfqyvJk&feature=related
Whenever I think of the holidays, I think of this song. A true classic.
http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000570.php
Good list, Joe, but two of my favorites haven’t been mentioned:
Bizarre Christmas Incident – Ben Folds
When My Heart Finds Christmas – Harry Connick
The Ben Folds song is exactly what you’d expect: fun, catchy, and completely inappropriate.
58. Mike in MN: I was wondering when someone would finally mention Bowie and Crosby’s Little Drummer Boy.
Religious one not mentioned. Maybe not as well known, but loved it as a kid. “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
White Christmas was written by Berlin in homage to his son who had died earlier. It is one of the most bittersweet songs ever written.
And that’s the rest of that story…
“Fairytale of New York” is one of the best songs ever written, save for the fact that there is no “NYPD Choir”…though thinking about it, how can there *not* be?
Good list, especially number 1.
However, 2 songs I need to hear once and only once each holiday season are:
1. Grandma got run over by a reindeer
2. Dogs barking Jingle bells
I’ll toss out a few of my favorites, starting with two I mentioned in another thread around here.
I, too, love the grinch. But I prefer the version by the Whirling Dervishes. Awesome rendition.
Another favorite of mine that I haven’t seen mentioned yet is “Christmas on the Block” by Alan Mann. I don’t know if the song is ever played outside of this area, though.
Some others, in no particular order:
“Snoopy’s Christmas” by the Royal Guardsman. I’m not a particularly sappy sort of person, but every time I hear the “Why he didn’t shoot we’ll never know…” line, I get a bit verklempt.
“The Little Drummer Boy” is one of my favorite songs. I very much like the Bob Seger version, although there’s plenty of great options out there.
“I Believe in Father Christmas” by ELP has been mentioned a lot, but it’s worth mentioning again.
“The 12 Pains of Christmas” by Bob Rivers amuses me every time I hear it.
“Linus and Lucy” isn’t really a Christmas song in the traditional sense, but whenever I hear it I have warm memories of childhood, drinking hot cocoa and watching holiday shows on TV with my parents.
We have the Muppets and John Denver Christmas album that was mentioned earlier. It’s definitely an awesomely good time.
“Father Christmas” by the Kinks is also a great song, and one I’ve used to help teach my kids about being charitable, all year and not just around the holidays.
Mike in MN: Do you have anything else to go on for that cat & mouse song? An artist, a title, something? I’d love to track it down and give it a listen.
*
I generally agree that Christmas music is overplayed. There’s a station here in Philly that typically starts playing it 24/7 sometime in early November. This year, they “waited” until the day before Thanksgiving to start. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
Meant to also add…
“Silent Night” by Stevie Nicks is absolutely beautiful.
The Brenda Lee song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was forever ruined by a radio morning show about 5 years ago. They noted that the verse “later we’ll have some pumpkin pie” sounds an awful lot like “later we’ll have some f_____ pie” and played it over and over and over.
Now, I sing that lyric much to the embarassment of my wife.
Kill me now…seriously, bludgeon me in the head.
I would rather watch “Butician and the Beast” than listen to Christmas Music.
Joe, you need to have a listen to that guy from the Stray Cats, Brian Setzer(sp) he has a holiday album that might have a song that would break into your top ten list, I’m sure you would add a few songs to your Ipod, Ho ho ho!
“O Magnum Mysterium”, great choral piece by Morten Lauridsen.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/12/20_newsroom_classicaltracks/
whoops, forgot the actual audio of the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjIWwLFdI94
I think this is it:
http://www.catcarol.com/
However, they don’t appear to have a snippet so I can tell if it is the version I’m thinking of.
Yes, the Stray Cats stuff is great.
Cities 97 streams (I think) and their day of christmas music is one of the better ones out there. Lots of diversity (though little hip hop unfortunately), including traditional, modern, cynical, instrument, and the occassion foreign language songs.
If you like Choral type performances (I certainly see none of those on Joe’s list), either the St. Olaf Choir or Magnum Chorum have great CDs available.
Sorry, one more thing. Amazon is, once again, giving away 25 Christmas songs this year on their mp3 page. I download them all, delete the ones I hate, and keep the rest. I think there are a few Christmas CDs in this month’s list of CDs for $5 also, though I don’t recall.
No one likes Johnny Cash’s delightfully atonal version of The Little Drummer Boy?
What about “Christmas” by Blues Traveler
This is embarrassing, but no love for John Hughes? “Somewhere in my Memory” by John Williams (music, not lyrics) from the Home Alone soundtrack has to be on the list! We need a poll.
I’m learning to play The Christmas Song on the piano for a Christmas recital. Can’t get Nat King Cole’s voice out of my head when I play.
Played Linus and Lucy two Christmases ago, so I’ll have to try Christmastime is here. It sounds a whole lot easier.
Radio stations and stores that start playing Christmas music in late October have ruined it for me. Now when I hear a Christmas song, even in December, I find myself recoiling in disgust. Thanks holiday spoilers who have to jump the gun an a misguided and ineffective grasp to make an extra buck…you have killed Christmas
Might have been mentioned already, but Sufjan Steven’s Christmas Album is pretty much just four discs of musical win. He took a lot of the traditional Christmas hymns – songs I had burned out on after growing up Catholic – and made them listenable again.
Mike in MN: Thanks. The site has the lyrics, and holy cow are they sad! I’ll buy the MP3 and give it a listen, though. I also didn’t know about the Amazon thing, so thanks for that, too.
I know it’s just my pet peeve, but I hate it when people make lists of Christmas songs and they’re really all Holiday/Winter songs.
They are Christmas songs. They are songs of the secular Christmas holiday, rather than the Christian Christmas holiday. There are two different Christmases, you know. Lots of us celebrate the secular Christmas but not the Christian one.
+100 for the listing of “Fairy Tale of New York” and the way it evokes NYC. Just reading the lyrics there gives me the chills. Looking forward to hearing it again this month.
I don’t mind the secular anthems as much as some, in particular the great classic, “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.” And of course as a 12-year old I managed to get my hands on the New Kids on the Block Christmas Album. Yeah.
But in general, I prefer the religious hymns, especially “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “For Unto Us a Child Is Born.” And my favorite Advent hymn (naturally) is “O Come O Come Emmanuel.”
Anything by Trans Siberian Orchestra, especially anything off The Lost Christmas Eve album.
Everything else is a distant 2nd.
Sorry Joe but have to agree with the earlier poster that after the 1st playing of Springsteen’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town it just makes me want to hit somebody.
Mistress for Christmas by AC/DC gets my vote “I want a woman in red at the bottom of my bed”
5! That was my count for those that do not care for Christmas/Holiday/Winter music. In (at the time) 91 comments, only 5 can’t take it? Seems low.
I am the 6th, and will also throw in Halloween and any affiliations as another on my list of annoyances. (If you trick-or-treat w/ no kids past age 7, you need to reconsider.)
There are 2 holidays worth a flip: 4th of July and Thanksgiving. Anything else has been killed by hype and money.
Great list, and I could only add Stevie Nicks’ Silent Night, possibly U2 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). Knew it would be there, but I’m glad to see 2 Springsteen ones. And Father Christmas! Awesome! But I’m now going to be too busy downloading the listed ones I don’t have. I’m a sucker.
94 comments and not one mention of Lou Monte’s “Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey”? I can’t be the only Italian out there whose family listens to this all December…
I’m glad I’m not the only semi-serious music fan around who actually likes Christmas music. I’ll admit that it’s mostly because everything about the holiday season just brings out the sap in me…I’m a total sucker for it. I can’t help it, I always have been. And there are a good number of Christmas songs (particularly recent ones) that I don’t like, such as “Do They Know it’s Christmas.” That song is terrible.
OTOH, Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is one of two Springsteen songs that I actually like (it’s odd, my taste in music isn’t TOO far from Joe’s, with the very notable exception of the fact that I generally cannot stand Springsteen. Maybe it’s an age thing?).
How about non-Christmas songs that make you think of Christmas? “Alec Eiffel” by the Pixies for some reason puts me in the holiday spirit.
Good list, good factoids, good discussion. ” i
Ella’s disc is indeed a classic, and like Joe, I love the instrumental version of “Christmastime is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas. I like to play it and “Skating” and then “Linus and Lucy” back to back to back.
I also feel exhausted after hearing Bruce on #2.
I work at Kansas Public Radio (doing mostly jazz and a wide ranging folk and beyond show) and I like our approach-just a very light dusting of seasonal music this week, somewhat next week, about 50/50 the week after that, and then all holiday music the week of Christmas.
Some things I love that are a bit offbeat:
Dar Williams “The Christians and the Pagans”, Jackson Browne’s “Rebel Jesus”,
Rufus Wainwright, “Spotlight on Christmas.” Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer “American Noel.”
“Cool Yule”, written by Steve Allen, made famous by Louis Armstrong, and a killer version by Kurt Elling.
For you holiday cynics: Miles Davis w/ Bob Dorough vocal “Blue Xmas”
THE best jazz Christmas compilation: Jingle Bell Jazz” , with Dexter Gordon’s “Have Yourself a merry Little Christmas” especially wonderful.
I also do love two someone else mentioned: Wynton Marsalis Crescent City Christmas Card and The Chieftans Bells of Dublin. My favorite Irish Christmas CD, though, by far is The Soul of Christmas, produced by the great late Johnny Cunningham.
A number of people have done Joni Mitchell’s River–I really love Peter Mulvey’s version.
For a rocking, swaying, glorious gospel sound, check out Blind Boys of Alabama w/ Mavis Staples “Born in Bethlehem.”
I’ve always had a fond spot for “Silver Bells’, especially Joe Williams’ version on an excellent jazz vocal CD by him, That Holiday Feeling (which has KC’s own Bobby Watson in the band). And a factoid about Silver Bells: Introduced by Bob Hope in a cool little movie called The Lemon Drop Kid. Based on a Damon Runyan story, The Lemon Drop Kid (played by Bob Hope) is a small time con artist who gets himself in a jam-and among his schemes to make money to pay off a gangster, he plays a fake Santa (ummm, aren’t they all fakes) collecting for charity. This used to get shown on TV in this season, but I haven’t seen it in ages.
Scott @88:
I think you missed a key word in the OP’s sentiment (that you quoted), which was the word ALL.
Joe’s list is a great list, but some people (including me) think a list of the best 10 Winter Holidy songs should include at least one religious song (“Silent Night” would be my personal choice)
Good news for Brent @98 (and KC Refugee @1, Ricky @17, Daniel @26, Damon Rutherford @34, and everyone else who’s infecting Joe’s lovely post with their Jesusy crankiness) — there’s a place on the Internet that those lovable losers at “Focus on the Family” have created just for YOU!:
http://standforchristmas.com/
Go, have at it to your heart’s content. But, um, you know, let’s get back to having Jesus-free fun here at Joe Poz’s. Mmkay?
The Christmas Song nearly any version is my favorite but I agree with Joe, Nat King Cole’s is the best.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is my other most favorite.
My favorite novelty song is Lovely Christmas. You can hear it here—
http://store.yeproc.com/album.php?id=12629
Father Christmas (The Kinks) above all.
At least for this Jewish New Yorker. (Also I hate Springsteen)
Number 1 on my list will always be Darlene Love’s “Christmas, Baby Please Come Home.” U2’s poor imitation can’t touch the wall of sound.
“Santa Claus Likes Rich Kids Better” by Young and Sexy -
For anyone not into the holly-jolly, there’s “364 Days” from the Murder City Devils, a song about the lonely existence of Santa Claus.
St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas, at the North Pole
364 days spent all alone
Take off your boots, pour a drink
Try not to cry, try not to think
Yay.
Here’s a link to Robert Earl Keen’s* “Merry Christmas from the Family.” This should work.
*No E on the end of Keen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg
Thank you John R @102. I had been shocked that no one was mentioning Darlene Love’s “Christmas, Baby Please Come Home.” It’s from Phil Spector’s Christmas album, also the home of the Crystal’s version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town which is the source of Bruce’s version.
Years ago Paul Shaffer started playing the Darlene Love song on Letterman’s show, and now every year around this time they get the real Darlene Love to come in and sing it. She still sounds great, but the original Spector version is absolutely stunning.
Joe – looks like you misused the word “factoid” – it actually “is a questionable or spurious—unverified, incorrect, or fabricated—statement formed and asserted as a fact, but with no veracity.” Essentially a factoid is a statement that is presented as fact that is in reality not a fact.
Would generally not bother calling you out on this, but after your fascinating “begs the question” post, I thought that the incorrect use of the word “factoid” should be noted. Similar to “begs the question”, the incorrect use of factoid (a small, little, quick fact) is reaching the point where it may overtake the correct definition of the term and ultimately come to mean what is currently does/should not.
Holly Jolly Christmas (thought it might be #2 for you after Bruce)
This World – Twila Paris
Carol of the Bells
Hallelujah Chorus
O Holy Night
Jingle Bell Rock – Geoff Moore
Do You Hear What I Hear – Burl Ives
I’m glad others noticed the lack of Christ in your Christmas song list. I found it disheartening. Maybe it’s just refreshing honesty, I don’t think there is any benefit to pretending their is spiritual significance to Christmas to you if there is not. Many complain about the secularization of Christmas but I think it is worse to pretend we are all a Christian nation, when clearly we are not. That said I love that Linus explains exactly what Christmas is about to Charlie Brown by quoting Luke 2. This is probably the most actual scripture the world receives with any regularity.
Couldn’t agree more with #86. I would also throw in Father Christmas by the Kinks, too.
#57 said:
A lot of people seem to be confusing the difference between “Holiday Songs” and “Christmas Carols”. Holiday songs are pop culture and not religious in nature.
Holiday = Holy Day. Not religious. I don’t think so.
Marty (#110): July 4th is a holiday. Memorial Day is a holiday. Labor Day is a holiday. Arbor Day is holiday. Are you telling me these are religious celebrations?
I dug out my copy of “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas” and am listening to it as I type. It really is great. Thanks for reminding me.
I agree with you that Nat Cole’s “The Christmas Song” is the best.
Try listening to (if you can find them)
Nancy Lamont’s “Just in Time for Christmas” cd. Pure joy! A great singer who died too young.
Lewt me also recommend “Home for Christmas” by Anne Sofie von Otter. A rare
popular treat from a concert/opera singer.
No Use for a Name’s* version of “Fairytale of New York” is the boobs.
“Baby it’s Cold Outside” is perfect on a cold night with a few friends and lots of hot Irish coffee.
“Carol of the Bells” is an excellent Christmas car song, especially on the highway in the middle of the night. Keep me awake as the holiday spirit courses through my veins.
I don’t know if it is exactly a Christmas song, but Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” melts my face. I could eat steel beam listening to it.
*As a high school kid in the late 90s, some west coast melodic punk was mellifluous to my ears. Unfortunately, it has been replaced by Emo whiny tight-pantsed high school pop or screaming terds like Pinkin Park.
As a KC native, I’m surprised no one included Shooting Star’s “Christmas Together”… I remember their “Best of” CD in the late ’80s that included “Christmas Together” was the first time I had a chance to hear their music beyond the KC radio staples, mainly because their cassettes were long out of print by that time…
To bad The Rainmakers never put out a Christmas single… LOL
**Trivia note: “Touch Me Tonight: The Best of Shooting Star” was the first “album” to reach Billboard’s Top 100 albums without actually being available on vinyl…
Several years spent managing a record store left me with a (perhaps permanent) loathing for Christmas in general, but certainly for Christmas music. But your list is pretty good; you even got my favorite, “Fairytale of New York”! You did miss Spinal Tap’s “Christmas with the Devil”, though.
One quick story from my retail days: we used to have a five disk changer for our instore play, which we would set on shuffle, which would play track 1 of disk 1, then track 1 of disk 2, and so on. Anyway, one Christmas we had a cd of the great standards (several of which were on your list), including (I believe) “Silent Night” sung by the great gospel singer Mahala Jackson. Right after that cd we had Jewel’s Christmas album, which was new that year, and as luck would have it, her version of “Silent Night” would come on right after the other. And man, was Jewel exposed. It was like watching a show on Broadway, then watching your kid’s school class do the same show the next day. Just awful. Cracked me up every time.
@110:
You realize there is more than one religion practiced in this country, and more than one holiday observed at this time of year, right? And that there are also some people who do not observe religion at all? And that the post used the words “Holiday Songs” in the title?
My favorite Christmas album right now is Christmas Songs by Jars of Clay.
John @#111 says:
Marty (#110): July 4th is a holiday. Memorial Day is a holiday. Labor Day is a holiday. Arbor Day is holiday. Are you telling me these are religious celebrations?
I’m telling you what the derivation of Holiday is. To use it to differentiate religious from secular is a poor choice in my mind.
Are you sure 7/4 is a holiday? Maybe people call it that, but is it? In thinking about it holy is I believe linguistically related to sanctified which means “set apart” In that sense we (as a nation) set apart certain days, make them unique, celebrate on those days, they are holy to the nation.
Still holy sounds pretty religious to me.
@116 says:
@110: You realize there is more than one religion practiced in this country, and more than one holiday observed at this time of year, right? And that there are also some people who do not observe religion at all? And that the post used the words “Holiday Songs” in the title?
I have a strong opinion as to which religion is true/right but I only said that holy day is religious, I did not say which religion holy-day might refer to. If you don’t have a religion I think you should not have a holy-day. Or maybe you do have a religion and just don’t realize it. Maybe you should just have a day.
I’m just saying if it is holy-day music there ought to be religious content to the song, or else they are seasonal songs or some such designation.
Great job on the inclusion of Springsteen on the list. It’s one of my all-time favorites. I even like the sax solo. That Peanuts one though, man that’s awful.
Marty #118/119: dictionary.com does define “holiday” as, ” a religious feast day.” However, that’s the 4th definition of the word. The primary definition, according to that source at least, is, “a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.”
This discussion about the meaning of the world “holiday” reminds me of my old job where the department “Christmas Party” was changed to a “Holiday Party”, and then a few years later to the “Employee Recognition Luncheon”. Didn’t bother me, though, as long as they had those little cocktail weinies. They came with this delicious dipping sauce. It looked like ketchup. Tasted like ketchup. But, brother, it wasn’t ketchup!
@121-John
Whatever the dictionary definition of the word is the etymology of the word is “holy day”
I’ll grant you that we trample all over words and make them mean whatever we want them to mean and in the end majority vote wins, no matter how stupid. You end up getting inflammable and flammable, irregardless, and I could care less.
Sigh: There is a difference between derivation and definition.
Holiday (from the online etymology dictionary): O.E. haligdæg, from halig “holy” + dæg “day;” in 14c. meaning both “religious festival” and “day of recreation,” but pronunciation and sense diverged 16c.
Now, as noted, the current definition has in fact diverged from the original, but as Marty W. points out, originally, holiday did mean holy day.
And Marty’s point that those that want to take religion out of Xmas songs by calling them Holiday songs don’t really understand the original derivation of the word holiday. *
*Reminds me a Jewish friend of mine who named her son Kristopher, explaining that by changing the C to a K she wasn’t really using Christ in his name.
His suggestion that they be called seasonal songs is well taken.
@124 Brent
Thanks. I can’t help pointing out as you mention Xmas. There are many who complain of “taking the Christ out of Christmas” when Xmas is used. X is the Greek letter “Chi” also known as the first letter of Christ. So it’s an abbreviation. If you have ever seen the “car fish” with IXOYE in them the I=Jesus, the X=Christ, O=God(theta/theo), Y=Son, E=Savior(sigma). Same thing there.
why do all fun discussions turn into arguments on the interwebs? It was a post about what music people like at this time of the year……not about what is right or wrong about how you do or do not celebrate whatever you do or do not celebrate at this time of the year. A fun post about music…that’s all this was.
every commenter above is right on about Darlene Love and Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). Bruce played it at Asbury Park Christmas shows (‘00, ‘01, ‘03) with Darlene, at least once or twice. Great Brucelegs from those shows.
And I have a soft spot for McLachlan/BnL’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” even if it’s a little too uptempo.
Mike in MN @126: Because the interwebs are serious business.
We’re all wrong – we omitted Tom Lehrer.
@IdahoMariner-
Somebody may have already said this, I didn’t want to read thru all the comments, but “Love, actually” probably shouldn’t be seen by an 8 year old. I know I wouldn’t want my kids to see it that young. It was a really good movie but it earns its “R” rating.
To omit Burl Ives’ 1965 Christmas Album with “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” is a crime. Joe, you are under arrest for not including Burl Ives!
For what it is worth, folks @ Amazon rate it FIVE STARS (5 out of 5!). And, it sounds even better with a strong egg nog in hand…
Burl Ives….What a singer! (and actor too!)
Ah you missed Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” Love that song. To be honest, anything Paul McCartney writes/performs is amazing.
Good point, Tampa Mike, concerning holiday songs vs. Christmas carols.
Bill C @ #62 – What I meant was all the people complaining that religious songs were not on the list i.e. O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night
Marty @125: But what about the derivation of “holy crap”? Is it just an interjection, or does it literally indicate feces that is holy (e.g., Ezekiel 4:12). Inquiring minds want to know!
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Andrew @99:
It’s called CHRISTmas, dude. Excuse me for dragging Jesus into a discussion about the best songs associated with the holiday that, I don’t know, COMMEMORATES THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
@Brent #55: you are right and I should have been more clear — I think Joe’s daughter should watch JUST the song, not the movie…although the movie is it’s own little brand of awesomeness, I won’t be letting my daughter watch it until she’s at least 11 or 12. But the song? Awesome.
Ricky @137: *facepalm*
The whole point of this thread is that lots of people — regardless of how much they appreciate your magical invisible friend Jesus — can enjoy Christmas.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is: chill out a little bit about “Christmas in Hollis,” okay?
Or, if that’s too much to ask for, and you just *can’t* dial down your frothy, Jesusy rage to a more tolerant simmer for some reason — well, at least do the rest of us a favor and go find a bunch of other cranky religious nuts and complain to *them* instead. Okay?
Yet another vote for Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” as the best ever (and I heartily concur with Joe’s Vince Guaraldi selection). One of my fave Christmas albums ever is “Christmas Time” by Chris Stamey and Friends (Stamey founded the great band the dB’s, and they appear). This guy is posting mp3s of great and obscure holiday songs every day:
http://therealbigrockcandymountain.blogspot.com/
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Has anyone compiled the list of all these songs posted here yet?
Needs something by The Yobs.
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – The Beatles
Andrew-
To state the obvious, at a certain level of intelligence and scientific understanding, believing in Christ or any other “magical invisible friend” becomes rather difficult. Hence the concept of faith.
Fave Christmas song–Kathy Mattea’s “Christmas Collage” in a photo finish over “Christmas in Hollis.” Fave CD–”Silent Night–A Christmas in Rome.” Everyone’s heard Run-DMC but if you like great Christmas music (no Andrew, they’re not for you because they do smack of the whole “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” vibe that really gets your goat) check ‘em out.
Linus @145–
I think you’ve misunderstood, and it might be my fault — so let me try and be clear.
Your post is great. (I happen to like plenty of Jesusy Christmas songs, by the way.) The whole *point* of Joe’s post here was to encourage people to come on and discuss the holiday songs they like best.
But that wasn’t good enough for Ricky (and Brent, KC Refugee, Daniel, Damon Rutherford). These people had to come on and complain that the songs *we* picked out weren’t good enough, because they weren’t Jesusy enough.
Do you understand the difference?
If you haven’t picked up or heard Bob Dylan’s Christmas album I suggest you do so-post haste!
Greatest. Xmas. Album. Ever.
Andrew,
I do not see where you listed any favorite songs. Or discussed others favorite songs. You’re just ranting on about our ranting. At least we (or most of us dissenters) listed some of our favorites. You seem to be missing the whole *point*.
Also, using “Mmkay” in #99 just makes me think you’re a pompous ass.
Also, where is stated that Poz threads need to be Jesus free? I think threads discussing Holiday/Winter/Christmas songs are entitled to “Remember the Reason for the Season!” posts/rants/tirades. What the USA (and perhaps) the world has done to Christmas is a major pet peeve of mine. It’s hard for me to bite my tongue. My apologies if this is ruining the thread for you. Feel free to ignore it and start discussing favorite songs.
One more great one for the season by my friend, Chuck Brodsky, who by the way has a great album of baseball songs (even a song about Moe Berg): “For Christmas we got nothing (cause we were Jews)”
Andrew @ 139:
Thing is, you’re projecting rage onto me that simply doesn’t exist. You, on the other hand, actually seem kind of angry.
One of my other favorite holiday songs is Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry. Am I allowed to like that one?
Damon @ 148:
Well said.
Wow – someone actually mentioned Dexter Gordon’s recording of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. In my house Christmas music only works if it is in one of two genre’s – jazz or blues. There was a long tradition of blues artists writing and recording Christmas-themed songs. Among the best:
Merry Christmas Baby by Charles Brown
Christmas Tears – Freddy King
Lonesome Christmas – Lowell Fulson
B.B. King put out a fine Christmas CD a few years back.
Andrew @ 146:
Where did I complain about the songs that anyone else picked? I said it was somewhat depressing to me that Joe’s rather large list didn’t include even one traditional song. That doesn’t mean he listed bad songs – or that I dislike the songs he picked. I actually like several of them a great deal. I just happened to find the list incomplete and offered up a few Christ-based songs.
Then you stereotyped me as an “intolerant, cranky, religious nut.” But, hey, the good thing about being Christian is that I don’t mind. You have a great holiday season.
Liked ‘Christmas Island’ by Leon Redbone, pretty solid overall. Really liked Chris Isaak’s ‘Christmas.’ He actually wrote a few originals (most notably ‘Washington Square’) that set it apart from most other holiday releases.
Seems to me that the Bing Crosby and David Bowie collaboration, ‘Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy,’ was on the radio and TV alot about 20-25 years ago. Liked it then, like it now. Here’s a story about that fairly odd coupling:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121901260.html
As an agnostic, it bothers me when other non-believers take a, well, holier-than-thou stance. Arrogance and condescension aren’t going to win us any allies, guys. I can see the point of some believers who see their holy day exploited and commercialized beyond recognition. And while it seems nit-picky to me to note that Joe’s list of holiday songs are pretty light on religious significance, it is technically accurate. And not worth arguing about, really.
Aaron Neville’s Soulful Christmas has several beautiful versions of classics, mixed in with a few fun originals.
“Carol of the Bells”- August Burns Red
I love Fairytale of New York too, but you forgot to mention the late great Kirsty MacColl as the co-collaborator. Her distinctive voice was sublime.
Though they may not be the best songs technically, listening to Streisand sing highly melodic songs like Silver Bells or Have yourself a Merry Christmas is just pure joy. What a voice.
As for the fun stuff, there is a song I hear just about every year lately that is Black Sabbath’s Iron Man parodied as I am Santa Claus that cracks me up.
As for The Christmas song, I certainly love Nat King Cole but have to at least mention Johny Mathis’ version as well.
White Christmas probably is the best song ever written
From the ‘Just Missed’ list:
Happy Christmas (War is Over), John Lennon;
Do They Know It’s Christmas, Band Aid;
Last Christmas, Wham
Wow, I abhor these songs. The station gets turned when they come on.
Sarah McLachlan’s album “Wintersong” is fabulous. And if you’ve ever lost anyone close to you, then Wintersong (the song) will rip your heart out in that really good way.
Karyn @154: “As an agnostic, it bothers me when other non-believers take a, well, holier-than-thou stance. Arrogance and condescension aren’t going to win us any allies, guys. I can see the point of some believers who see their holy day exploited and commercialized beyond recognition. And while it seems nit-picky to me to note that Joe’s list of holiday songs are pretty light on religious significance, it is technically accurate. And not worth arguing about, really.”
You’re completely right, of course, Karyn. I fully intended to come on this morning and apologize for being a bit of a douche yesterday; Karyn nailed exactly why. So…
Joe: I apologize for acting like a douche on your site. And for those I may have offended yesterday, I also apologize.
*
Cardinal Mike @157: “As for the fun stuff, there is a song I hear just about every year lately that is Black Sabbath’s Iron Man parodied as I am Santa Claus that cracks me up.”
I absolutely need to track down this song!
“I am Santa Clause”? I need to hear that one.
“Ella Wishes You a Swingin’ Christmas” is one of the top 50 albums of all time, not just holiday albums. It is simply amazing.
I’m throwing my vote in for James Taylor’s “Have yourself a merry little Christmas.” That’s when I know it’s time to listen to Christmas songs for three weeks.
RON, you need to join the group on Facebook, “One Million Strong against Paul McCartney’s Abomination.” You are not alone!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OFfnWvoOb0
The sound quality is pretty bad on this one but it will give you the idea of how I am Santa Claus sounds. Parodied by Bob Rivers
Oh and Ella is simply one of the best ever.
Perhaps my best weekend ever involved seeing little Stevie Wonder (he really was little then) one night at the Copa and then seeing Ella at the Waldorf on another. Oh and Louis Armstrong got up and joined Ella for a couple numbers. Simply an amazing musical weekend
I lot of great ones mentioned. Two I didn’t see:”A Christmas Song” by Jethro Tull, and Roy Orbison doing “Pretty Paper”.
Joe, check out “Jesus Christ” by the criminally forgotten band Big Star. I think it’s overlooked because it’s on the band’s posthumous third album, that was released some years after it was recorded because of the breakdown of the band and the singer’s psyche, Brian Wilson style. But it’s a triumph of a song, even if it’s not clear how sincere Alex Chilton is in it.
It’s not Christmas until I hear Shane MacGowan warbling about the drunk tank.
They filmed the video in a police station with Matt Dillon as the cop. Problem was Dillon tried to go drink for drink with MacGowan, and simply by the time they got halfway through the shooting everyone was drunk out of their minds. So the video was a fake live show instead of a narrative.
Joe, no Elvis? Are you kidding me? It begins and ends with his XMAS album. Blue Christmas????
Big Star’s “The Ballad of El Goodo” also seems to be kinda jesus-y. It’s also pretty damn amazing.
I have the opposite sentiment about O Holy Night as the one of those first posters. I think it needs to be sung by a man, preferably a bass. I would agree about Josh Groban. I like a good female vocal for it, but a high tenor or children is not powerful enough, and a good bass/baritone can really drive it home.
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“Christmas in Prison” by John Prine.
@172
Check out Pavarotti’s version.
He sings first using the English lyrics, really good but phrasing is a little stilted.
He then repeats the first verse in Italian (his native language). Sublime.
I’ll second Charles Brown’s “Merry Christmas,Baby”; great blues song, great Christmas song.
You and Dave Eggers are among my favorite writers. I think it’s very cool you share a birthday.
The song that probably defines the season for me, gets me pumped for it, is “Holly Jolly Christmas”.
The Christmas Song-Johnny Mathis
Christmas is a time to say I love you_Billy Squier
(There’s Nothing Like) Christmas Together-Shooting Star
Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer-Burl Ives
The Heatmiser/Snow Miser song-?
The Little Drummer Boy- The Ray Connif Singers
O Holy Night- Many Versions (It is a true singers song-anyone who has the voice to do it justice)
The Grinch
Please come home for Christmas- The Eagles
White Christmas- Bing Crosby
Funny you should mention The Chipmunks, Joe. For my dissertation, I plan to explore Alvin, Simon, and Theodore as nuanced manifestations of the ego, superego, and id. I’ll be following up with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as evidenced in Kung Fu Panda.
Well, Joe intentionally did not call them Christmas songs, which is good, since none are about he incarnation of Christ. He did call them Holiday songs, which is unfortunate, since none of them are about anything Holy, or a Holy day.
For a real treat, listen to Sara McLachlan’s “Song for a Winter’s Night”, which is absolutely sublime, though it really isn’t a Christmas song.
The New Pornographers have a gem of a song about the birth of Jesus called “Joseph, Who Understood”. Probably my favorite X-mas tune ever.
Agree with BigSteve (comment 106). I’m no fan of Christmas songs in general but Phil Spector’s Christmas album is fantastic – particularly Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). She also sang the SNL parody song “Christmastime for the Jews” which is excellent.
I put up my tree yesterday and spent a few hours on a cable-supplied Christmas music channel. I could not help but turn cynical as I heard song after song from the likes of ‘N Sync and Debbie Gibson.
I now have a hypothesis that you can tell how much of a sellout any artist is by how much Christmas music they’ve recorded.
I live in Australia, but we still get all the northern hemisphere Christmas songs. It’s 96 degrees in Sydney today, but the department stores are still playing “Winter Wonderland”. Weird.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra.
Ella Fitzgerald and Burl Ives ought to start and end this discussion.
“Feliz Navidad” is a fascinating cultural artifact. It’s sung half in Spanish, released in 1970, still; almost every American adult knows the song.
The best religious Christmas carol is Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd singing, “Mary, Did You Know?” Don’t laugh at the names; listen to the music. The duet sings simply and reverently.
Can’t pass up Whitney Houston’s version of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” either. Funny what’s happened to her: she once was one of the biggest stars in the media world (within my lifetime!), but she has fallen off of most people’s radar.
Heard a fantastic version of “Fairytale of New York” by some unknown Irish cover band in the Excaliber in Vegas on Monday night.
Literally wept tears of joy, such is the power of that song.
I respect a man who isn’t afraid to like Wham’s “Last Christmas.” I bet The Most Interesting Man in The World also likes that song.
“2000 Miles”, by The Pretenders — Love Chrissie Hynde, love The Pretenders, and I love this song.
This and “Happy Christmas” from John and Yoko are the first two Xmas songs I think of that aren’t from the classic “Silent Night”/”Deck the Halls”/”Jingle Bells”/etc. collection.
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