Okay, so this local radio station that usually plays the hits of the “’80s, ’90s, and today” has been doing constant Christmas music since Thanksgiving. I love having that kind of thing around, especially while driving in the flower van. I commented to a coworker today that I am glad no one is in the van with me while the radio is playing. (Think Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle.)
My only complaint is that they only seem to play the same 20 Christmas songs on this station. Or maybe it’s twenty different versions of those 20 songs. Anyhow, it all runs together.
This has inspired me to make a couple of lists of my current favorite (and un-favorite) Christmas songs. (Warning: some of these are really cheesy.)
First…my un-favorites:
- “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney. Could someone please unplug that synthesizer on the delay??
- “Last Christmas” by Wham! I felt the same way about it, um, last Christmas.
- “Step Into Christmas” by Elton John. Honestly, it’s not the song itself; it’s the recording.
- “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon. Yeah, I’m probably gonna get in trouble for this one. But this song was so overplayed last year, and covered by so many artists, that I felt like my Christmas radio station was being hijacked by anti-war protesters. Sorry.
- “Jingle Bell Rock” by Hall and Oates. Pitch, baby! Pitch! Someone help that guy hit the high notes…
- “Christmas Vacation” by Mavis Staples. Just don’t get this one at all.
- Pretty much anything by Amy Grant. Oh, she sings fine, and all. Just way too much airplay. (There is one exception, listed below with the favorites.)
Okay, now for my current favorites (and again, some are cheesy, but oh, well):
- “Silent Night” by Mannheim Steamroller. One of the best versions I’ve ever heard.
- “Christmas Time Is Here” by Vince Gauraldi. Yep, from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
- “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo)” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Yeah, baby!
- “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses. Yeah, it’s cheesy, but it’s fun. I like it.
- “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevey. Yeah, whatev. It makes me laugh.
- “Run Rudolph Run” by Bryan Adams. (That’s Bryan, not Ryan. The veteran, not the newcomer.)
- “Twelve Days of Christmas” by the Muppets. Check Miss Piggy’s solo on the Five Golden Rings part.
- “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant. The only Amy song I don’t mind hearing right now. I was taken with that song the first time I heard it. It still moves me.
So…you have any faves? (Or un-faves?)
Wayward Son
Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo.
I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.
View all posts by Wayward Son →
pretty much all of Brian Setzer and his orchestra on “Christmas Rocks!”
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
In my family, it’s not Christmas without Johnny Mathis’s “Merry Christmas” and “Sounds of Christmas” and Bing Crosby’s “Merry Christmas” albums, er, CDs. Honestly, my grandparents listened to the same Bing Crosby songs on 78 RPM records collected in folders with bound-in sleeves for each record — true albums.
I am really bad about remembering artists, but the songs I like are:
“Mary, did you know?”
“Joesph’s song” (Michael Card)
“Yea, Lord we greet Thee”
“O, Holy Night”
“What Child is this?”
And tho it is an Advent song and not Christmas, I love
“Come, O Come Emmanuel”
I like:
Porky Pig’s “Blue Christmas”
“The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen”
“Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire”
🙂
Jeff,
Great topic! I share many of the same "favorites" in terms of Christmas music with you, also:
My Favorite Christmas Music
1. “Peace on Earth,” Casting Crowns – Their latest album released. Many good songs there.
2. “And Winter Came,” Enya – I’ve always loved Enya. This seasonal one doesn’t disappoint.
3. "Silent Night" by Mannheim Steamroller. One of the best versions I've ever heard.
4. "Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Gauraldi. From A Charlie Brown Christmas.
5. "Wintersong," Sarah McLachlan, This album is full of surprises, beginning with John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and ending with a duet with Diana Krall – and of course lots of beautiful singing.
6. "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo)" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
7. "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses. Yeah, it's cheesy, but it's fun. I like it.
8. "The Spirit of Christmas," Ray Charles, The R&B master at the height of his powers in the mid-80s sings mostly secular wintry chestnuts.
9. “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey. This one makes me laugh.
10. "Run Rudolph Run" by Bryan Adams. (That's Bryan, not Ryan. The veteran, not the newcomer.)
11. "Twelve Days of Christmas" by the Muppets. Check Miss Piggy's solo on the Five Golden Rings part.
12. "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant. The only Amy song I don't mind hearing right now. I was taken with
that song the first time I heard it. It still moves me.
13. "Holly & Ivy," Natalie Cole, The master's daughter takes a turn with a quietly hip set of classics.
14. "My Holiday," Mindy Smith, The Nashville up-and-comer combines country and cool in this collection from last year
15. "December," George Winston, The album that made Windham Hill synonymous with Yuletide.
Again, Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Blessings,
~Amy 🙂
http://amyiswalkinginthespirit.blogspot.com
Unfavorites:
o Any version of “Little Drummer Boy” by anybody, including the Dandy Warhols (which says a lot) and most especially Bob Seeger.
o Any version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” except the one by Straight No Chaser.
Faves:
o Anything off the Vince Guaraldi “A Charlie Brown Christmas” soundtrack.
o Sting, “Gabriel’s Message” (I don’t like Sting much any more, but I like this song).
o Run D.M.C., “Christmas in Hollis”.
o Brian Setzer Orchestra, “Boogie Woogie Christmas” album.
o Tony Bennett, “Snowfall” album.
This is one area where I am something of a traditionalist…
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O Holy Night
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
And definitely:
Hope of the Human Race
🙂
I like “The Hat I Got For Christmas Is Too Big.” 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewUFXOE9CAM
Merry Christmas!!!
Thanks, D. I’ll have to check out Brain Setzer. (Loved him on The Country Bears.) 🙂
Jimgrey,
When my son was a kid, he saw some 78s in the antique store and said, “Mom, look at the size of those CDs.” 🙂
M-I-T,
Come, O Come Emmanuel is one of my faves, too. Just no one I know sings it. 🙂
Co-heir,
🙂
Amy, thanks for the list. Some of them looked familiar…mmmm….
Jim,
They’ve been playing Straight No Chaser CONSTANTLY on the radio here.
Aaroneous,
1. Memories of trying to learn “O Come O Come Emmanuel” come flooding back:
“DISPERSE…” (sung in high falsetto)…
2. Awwww, thanks.
(For the other readers’ benefit…I wrote “Hope of the Human Race.”)
Heidi,
Very funny, senora. 🙂 Merry Christmas.
I was always amazed that when McCartney recorded “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” the sound actually stuck to the recording tape. You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs.