Favorite Christmas Carol(s) or Songs

[eleanorigby]

The Holly and the Ivy: mostly because it's so old and has overlays of paganism. I like my Christmas to be a bit pagan.

White Christmas: duh. But only Bing can sing it. Sinatra's version is not my cup of tea.

The duet that Bing Crosby and David Bowie did (can't think of name)

In the Deep Midwinter: I have an instrumental version that is a marvel.

O Little Town of Bethlehem: fav as child. I tended to like melancholy songs.

Joy to the World: well, I do contain multitudes!

Ole Saint Nick (hohoho, who wouldn't know...)

Let It Snow: because I love snow.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland: good tune, easy to dance to. What's not to like?



I can't think of any more off the top of my head. As much as I like Xmas music, I do not listen to those radio stations who only play Xmas songs, starting right after Thanksgiving. Way to ruin a good thing, IMO.

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

[Dragonlady]

Amy Grants "Breath of Heaven".

Not a traditional song, but my favorite. Sung from the Virgin Marys perspective, including her doubts about being the correct vehicle for the birth of the Savior.
Even if you don't believe in the story, it has a strong ring of truth in a young woman wondering about her destiny.

ETA: "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus" for sheer enjoyment.

[Rebo]

The First Noel
Away in a Manger
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
The Chipmunk Song!!!
Up on the Housetop - that was my mom's favorite Christmas song. I wish there wasn't a commercial playing it so much! I'm getting sick of it.

[eleanorigby]

Up on the Housetop is my Ole Saint Nick! I don't think I ever knew the proper title for it.
Oh, and it's In the Bleak Midwinter. (sorry)

I haven't heard that Amy Grant song (that I know of. I might recognize it if I heard it). It sounds good.


Sarah McLachan has a great Xmas album from a few years ago. I like her version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. She's no Judy Garland, but then, who is? I even like her cover of Happy Xmas (Lennon).

[Dragonlady]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdLwZCprtkI

This is a youtube video. I'd link it for you, but I haven't a clue how!

ETA: I guess the Gweebo is smarter than me!

[Rebo]

[Dragonlady]

Originally Posted by Dolores Reborn

Thanks Rebo!

You're great!

[Khampelf]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

The duet that Bing Crosby and David Bowie did (can't think of name)

The little drummer boy?

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

I like "Christmas Rapping" by the Waitresses, and "Merry Christmas from the Family" by the Dixie Chicks.

[Sleeps With Butterflies]

Tori Amos' version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"




the video is just a scroll of the lyrics, feel free to ignore

[Dirx]

I love Carrie Underwood's rendition of Do You Hear What I Hear:




Also, just about any rendition of Carol of the Bells. My christmas mix cd has, I think, 8 different versions. I'm also partial to Silent Night.

[Sleeps With Butterflies]

Originally Posted by Dirx

Also, just about any rendition of Carol of the Bells.

Even Mr Mackey's? http://www.southparkstudios.com/clip...y-of-the-bells

[Rebo]

I loved that Carrie Underwood song.

[Dirx]

Originally Posted by Sleeps With Butterflies

Even Mr Mackey's? http://www.southparkstudios.com/clip...y-of-the-bells

You know what? That actually wasn't thad bad.

[Radical Edward]

Little Drummer Boy.

[zuma]

[Lungfish]

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by Khampelf

The little drummer boy?

Yes! I watched that on TV the year it came out. Love that version of Little Drummer Boy.

I would include Silent Night, but for me, it's not so much a Christmas Carol as a Christmas hymn. It's not one I want to hear on the radio casually. We sing it in church as we pass a flame from handheld candles--all the verses. It's a wonderful way to end the Christmas service. But I do love that song.


I'm also fond of Boney M's Christmas album. Zion's Daughter, When a Child is Born etc. Good songs. I even like their version of Feliz Navidad, a song I will turn off when heard on the radio.



WhenaChildIsBorn The video is weird as hell, but the song and rendition are fine (IMO).

Zion'sDaughter

[Lungfish]

[MarkF]

Oooo, good thread

When I used to dj years ago, this was always popular.

And, no doubt to the groans of a few, this one gets played to death every year, but for a very good reason. It's actually good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A8KT365wlA

[eleanorigby]

Ok, the song is fine (never heard it before), but the singer is a bit skeevy looking. Ah, the 70s, when hirsuteism was lauded. That is one of the worst "beards" I've ever seen.


It'd be interesting to see how popular carols differ in UK and Empire Outposts from USA.

[missred]

I love Christmas music!

My favorites tend to be the traditionals. I like a good string arrangemant of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Barbra Streisand's cover of Ave Maria (not necessarily Christmas, but included on many Christmas collections) and I'm with y'all on the Bing Crosby / David Bowie Little Drummer Boy. One that I'm not sure is traditional, but sure sounds like it, is The Cherry Tree Carol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYaFGSG_x80

My favorite, though, is Acappella's cover of Joy to the World. You could almost dance to it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKQRR09hdSg

Although I'm not religious, the harmonies for most of the traditionals is what I like.

[maplekiwi]

All time favourite - Silent Night (except for Stevies Nicks' version- shudder)

I love Deck the Halls
All I Want For Christmas is You
Good King Wencelas

[squarepeg]

We three kings
Good king wenceslas
Bowie bing drummer boy
Oh holy night by martina mcbride

[Kat]

Traditional songs/carols:
Angels We Have Heard on High
O Holy Night

"Modern" songs:
Santa Claus and Popcorn (Merle Haggard)
Good Old Fashioned County Christmas (Buck Owens)
Slow as Christmas (Clint Black)

Other:
Grandma's Homemade Christmas Card (Merle Haggard) - This technically is not a song, it's a spoken poem set to music; the tune of O Little Town of Bethlehem, in fact.

[Kat]

double post

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Kat

double post

Obviously a mod's fault.

[Solfy]

All the spooky and/or minor key ones.

O Holy Night
Noel Nouvelet (I've got Loreena McKennitt's version of this; I must learn lyrics for singing along)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Carol of the Bells (this one seems to be overplayed this year)
O Come, O Come Emanuel
I Wonder as I Wander
What Child Is This


On weekends I've been listening to the 40's channel on the satellite radio - they're doing all Christmas music, but it's all 40's - 60's. No Wham!, no Mariah Carey, none of the songs that make me want to claw my ears from my head.

[Taur]

For traditional songs, I love Jim Reeves' version of Silver Bells.

John and Yoko's Happy Christmas (War is Over) is as modern as I like my Christmas songs.