NFR -- Christmas Music

[timmyg]

What is everyone thoughts on the subject (for those that celebrate it)? My biggest complaint that there's actually quite a bit of songs about the holiday, but only 10-12 receive any airplay. And those are pretty bad.

This year I've been getting into several different albums (e.g. Christmas with Johnny Cash), but Garrison Keillor's Now it is Christmas Again stands head and shoulders above any other I've heard. There's still time to check it out, so be sure to do.

[The Bronsons]

Nothing has or ever will come close to the South Park Christmas songs...

(Warning, not for the faint-hearted.)

Christmas songs - South Park - Oh Holy Night by Cartman

Some More Very Funny Christmas Songs!!! (SouthPark Special)

[finnster01]

Well, we have to be political correct and also include Hanukkah for those that celebrate that:
Adam Sandler original Chanukah (Hanukkah) Song

[Chopper]

Maybe not that surprisingly I've done top 5 xmas albums and xmas singles on Chop's Top Fives.

Top 5 Christmas Albums

1. Various "A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector" (1963)
Classic compilation of Christmas songs recorded by Spector's roster of Artists. Darlene Love, The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and of course the wonderful Ronettes.

2. Low "Christmas EP" (1999)
So, officially, this is an E.P. but these eight tracks are a genuine contrast to the standard Christmas fare. Low's characteristic restrained and sparse style provide the perfect theme for the end of a long Christmas day. When everyone has gone home and you're left putting away the crockery and finding places to store all the new toys.

3. Jethro Tull "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album" (2003)
A compilation of Tull's best known Christmas songs (re-recorded), bulked out with some new songs and traditional covers.

4. Vince Guaraldi Trio "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965)
The soundtrack to the television special of the same name. I'm not a big Jazz fan but this is music that takes me back to my childhood and a point when Christmas was the most exciting time of the year.

5. The Ventures "The Ventures' Christmas Album" (1965)
Sixties surf instrumentalists take on the Christmas song in their own inimitable style. Versions of their own hits segue (almost) seamlessly into Crimbo classics.

Top 5 Christmas Songs

1. Low "Just Like Christmas" - From their simply wonderful "Christmas E.P." this just evokes that long forgotten feeling of what Christmas was all about when you were little. For a band who specialise in quiet, sparse music this is an incredibly upbeat and joyful tune.

2. The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl "Fairytale of New York" - Another tune evocative of cold and snowy Christmas nights, drinking your way round the back streets of New York City ... or Shepperton. The contrast between MacGowan and MacColl's voices is fabulous and some cracking lyrics from Shane at his best.

3. Half-Man Half-Biscuit "All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit" - As perfect a recreation of my childhood as I am ever likely to see in song. Possibly not strictly a genuine Christmas song failing, as it does, to mention Christmas anywhere other than in its title. Transformer problems with my Scalextric and amassing the biggest collection of Subbutteo teams occupied much of my pre-teen thoughts. The Dukla Prague away kit is also one of the greatest football shirts in history.

4. Slade "Merry Christmas Everybody" - A song as universal as Happy Birthday but one that seems to retain it's charm. It's not Kerr-ris-mas until you've heard this song for the first time.

5. The Pretenders "2000 Miles" - From the "Learning to Crawl" album that seemed rubbish when I first heard it but somehow found it's way into my heart. For some reason the lyric "2000 Miles, Is very far through the snow" always give me a little chuckle.

[WHITEwitch]

Still Greg Lake for me - never been bettered.

The Christmas we get we deserve.

[FatFreddysCat]

Bah humbug , christamas music drives me mental, every shop you go in same old crap  :046:

[HatterDon]

Every year, we try to watch at least 2 or 3 versions of The Christmas Carol -- musical and not. We have a dozen or so, ranging from the Alistair Sim one  I grew up with to bill Murray's Scrooged.

Tonight we watched the Mr. Magoo version. Of all the versions that leave Scrooge's nephew out, this is the only one I really like, and that's because of the music. Here's the best song of the bunch.

We're Despicable (Plunderer's March)

[FC Silver Fox]

For a Christmas music feel good 5 minutes, you can't beat this

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

[nevzter]

Christmas Time Is Here is brilliant by the Vince Guaraldi Trio as mentioned above.

Nobody enjoys Grandma Got Remixed by a Reindeer ????  My grandfather loved that song, and I still cannot figure out why (maybe the grandma being run over part  :015:)

The Kinks' "Father Christmas":  father christmas music video kinks awesome

Good show to finnster01 as well.

Happy Holidays and Merry Festivus!!!

[duffbeer]

Timmy, I agree about the poor selection on the radio, but ours here in Cleveland actually got better this year.  There's a different repetoire (sp?) for different times of the day.  My favorite Christmas songs are:

Fairytale of New York by the Pogues as chopper said.  Has a sense of humor and a great Christmas feel to it.

The Rebel Jesus by the Chieftans and Jackson Browne.  Great lyrics and music. Addresses what Christmas should be about versus what it is in our society without being a downer.

Christmas is Coming - by the Payolas

When a child is born - A spanish christmas carol; the versions sung by Johnny Mathis or the Moody Blues are good.  One of the most beautiful christmas carols and I have yet to hear anyone play it in the states.  

Thank God it's Christmas - by Queen, a classic for me.  

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas - the Judy Garland version is the only one for me

Honorable metions are Merry Christmas, I dont want to fight by the Ramones, December Will be Magic - by Kate Bush (some typical weirdness by Kate but has a great christmas sound), 2000 Miles by the Pretenders

A good alternative album is The Edge of Christmas

[duffbeer]

Nevzter you reminded me of this:

Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (Snoopy's Christmas) (CC)

[TonyGilroy]

Don't know how to copy youtube but below is the link to the Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers "Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn" featuring Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon who was far from sanctified personally.




Cotton Top Sanctified Singers Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn.wmv


* It seems actually that I do. A fine recording.

[Burt]

For a Christmas music feel good 5 minutes, you can't beat this

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Brilliant!

[The Equalizer]

RUN-DMC - Christmas In Hollis

Vaughn Monroe: Let It Snow

Guess the movie.

[Peyton]

I am sick and tired of hearing the same tired old Christmas songs in every shop that I go into. Worse still is in some of the cheapskate shops where its not even the original artists. Bah Humbug!

My son works part time in Tesco and is now actually turning violent at the merest sound of a Christmas song having heard them non-stop for the last month. God help Cliff Richard if he should bump into my lad. He'd show Cliff where to put his mistletoe and wine!

The only two I dont mind hearing every year are the Pogues & Kirsty MacColl and the Greg Lake one. These are in my opinion good songs in their own right and could be played at any time of year and still sound good. 

[WhiteJC]

I like this...

Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

...and this..
Chris De Burgh, A spaceman came travelling,1976.

[FatFreddysCat]

For a Christmas music feel good 5 minutes, you can't beat this

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

I'd trust them lot to look after my kids even less than a Catholic priest  :046: . Sorry Frenchie but what a weird load of freaks  :032:

[FatFreddysCat]

Obviously that last bit was a bit of a wind up otherwise having looked back i'd delete it, i understand only 75% of them are fiddlers  :hook:  (Sorry). I just hate that whole flash mob thing, but i'm thinking of doing a flash mob meth drinking thing down the road from Qphas gound on Shephards Bush Green........ What do you mean they do that every day anyhow  :beer:

[BB]

Xmas.. my @rse

http://youtu.be/fIM6Sfrp1Ok



Bah Humbug!!

[HatterDon]

Ag and Steveorino will tell you that this is a real Texas Christmas day.

Robert Earl Keen - Merry Christmas From The Family

Merry Christmas from the (Texas) family