I would love to hear everyone's favorite Christmas songs and the reasons why. It could be a great memory with a loved one, your favorite gift received, your first memory of Christmas as a kid, etc... They could be serious songs or novelty songs it's all your choice! Either way - Buon Natale and let's have some fun with this! Who wants to go first?
When I was a kid my favorite was O Come All Ye Faithful -- I think because of the melody (and the fact I learned it on the organ).
Now my favorite is O Holy Night because the singer at church would always send shivers down my spine with her rendition -- besides, it's a beautiful song!
For a change of pace, here's Weezer rockin' them both:
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer Christmas in Hollis The Christmas Song
And my absolute favorite is I'll Be Home For Christmas. When I was little, The King Family used to do holiday specials on TV. On the Christmas special, one of the King women sang that song to her son's photo. He was stationed in Viet Nam at the time, and they surprised her by having him walk onto the set during her number.
I was pretty little, so I didn't understand the concept of reruns, and for several years, I would rush to the TV set to see if they allowed him to come home again.
O Holy Night. I am a baritone in the choir, and baritones don't get solos (Thank God!). At midnight mass there was a fellow in our choir - a tenor - who would sing the opening of each verse and then the choir would come in on "fall on your knees...etc" for each verse. We would sing three verses. He had a very pure tenor voice and would be right on every time. The first time I sang in the choir for midnight mass(30 years ago), when the choir part came, I couldn't sing, I was too choked up with emotion. So "O Holy Night" will always be my favorite.
Here's my favorite. Sung by Judy Garland, the original words were much "darker" and changed to a more "upbeat" song. Written during WWII this always reminds me of the greatest generation and the lines "Someday soon, we all will be together, If the fates allow, Until then, well have to muddle through somehow, So have yourself a merry little Christmas now", represents to me the families being split apart when loved ones went to war. Beautifully poignant and terrifically sung by Garland.
I think The Carpenters' "Merry Christmas, Darling" should be retitled "Music to Cut Your Own Throat by."
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LOL I don't know that I'd go as far as "throat cutting" BUT I get your drift. I never cared for the Carpenters at all.
My favorite spiritual is "Oh Holy Night". Otherwise, I gotta say, Elvis' "Blue Christmas" and John Lennons' Happy Christmas/War Is over.
Maybe it takes years to consider a song a real traditional Christmas classic, BUT I am really really getting to like Miriah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" and it's fast becoming on my Christmas favorite list. I even liked the version she did with Justin Beiber last year.
Maybe it takes years to consider a song a real traditional Christmas classic, BUT I am really really getting to like Miriah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" and it's fast becoming on my Christmas favorite list.
Maybe it takes years to consider a song a real traditional Christmas classic, BUT I am really really getting to like Miriah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" and it's fast becoming on my Christmas favorite list.
That song is twenty years old, Grandma .
You know I love ya, Tis!!
Really? 20 years? I guess I have to hear it a few times before it becomes a TIS classic cause I am just this year concluding it's on my favorite list.
Well, honestly, not quite twenty years. But close enough. It was recorded from December of 1993 through August of 1994, and the cd was released for the 1994 holiday season.
Well, honestly, not quite twenty years. But close enough. It was recorded from December of 1993 through August of 1994, and the cd was released for the 1994 holiday season.
As far as fifties era "swingy" Christmas songs, I love "The Man with the Bag," by Kay Starr. It reminds me of my Mom dancing around the kitchen on Christmas Eve. While I shucked clams .
I can't say I really remember that one. It must have been waaay before my time. Sounds so 50s though. I DO remember Kay Starr. Oh, and speaking of way back when, what about "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus?" AND trivia question, who had the hit on it? (I don't remember) Though I LOVE John Mellenkamp's version.
Oh, and speaking of way back when, what about "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus?" AND trivia question, who had the hit on it? (I don't remember) Though I LOVE John Mellenkamp's version.
Oh, and speaking of way back when, what about "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus?" AND trivia question, who had the hit on it? (I don't remember) Though I LOVE John Mellenkamp's version.
Jimmy Boyd had the original hit version.
Yea!!SC wins! Can't say I'd know Jimmy Boyd. One hit wonder?
Don't know if this is only popular here in CA, or if it's fairly new, because I don't remember my girls learning it in school. However, my grandkids had it in their Christmas program last week and have the last few years. It's called "Santa's Going Hollywood."
This is NOT a video from my grandkids. I just found it on-line.
That's Brenda Lee and I like that song too. Oh, and what about "Santa Baby." Love it.
TIS
Happy Holidays, everyone! Just popping in to drop off a couple of musical gifts. One is the sequel to "Santa Baby," which I didn't know existed until recently. It's not bad:
Thought I would resurrect this thread as we approach Christmas. I wanted to add this clip by the late great Whitney to my list. It's "I Love The Lord" and "Joy To The World" from "The Preacher's Wife". Definitely Whitney at her peak.
This is a longer version of "Joy To The World" and it's just fantastic. Very uplifting.
I've mentioned before that as a child, I always watched The King Family holiday specials. On their Christmas special, one of the moms sang "I'll Be Home For Christmas" to her son's picture. He was in the army, presumably deployed to Viet Nam. Halfway through her song, he surprised her by walking onstage. I was six years old when it first aired, and didn't understand the concept of reruns, so my best friend Kathleen and I would faithfully watch it year after year to see if they allowed him to come home again!
After years of looking, I finally found a clip. To this day, this song moves me to tears like no other.
Jingle Bell Rock sung by Bobby Helms, All I want for Christmas is You by Vince Vaughn and the Valiants, and SNL's Christmastime for the Jews.
Of course, I like most of the traditional Christmastime songs among which my favorite is Joy to the World.
Oh yea, Jingle Bell Rock is a classic. This morning I heard on the radio a REAL oldie that I barely remember "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer by Gene Autry. Why I was just a babe in arms. LOL
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Holly Jolly Christmas capture the festive spirit of the holiday. Of the classics I think Silent Night and O Holy Night are beautiful carols.
A more recent Christmas song,which is a little off-beat, but I still enjoy is Tim Minchin's White Wine in the Sun.
I just happened to see this just now. This kid is a 16 year old Canadian who does a fantastic Elvis singing "Blue Christmas" (actually one of my favorite Christmas songs.) The talking in the beginning/end is French but song isn't
I just happened to see this just now. This kid is a 16 year old Canadian who does a fantastic Elvis singing "Blue Christmas" (actually one of my favorite Christmas songs.) The talking in the beginning/end is French but song isn't
TIS, this kid just blew me away. 50 million Elvis impersonators scream over each other since the King died, and this sixteen year-old Canadian kid shut them all up.
As far as fifties era "swingy" Christmas songs, I love "The Man with the Bag," by Kay Starr. It reminds me of my Mom dancing around the kitchen on Christmas Eve. While I shucked clams .
I like my music to be SWINGING. It makes it better in some ways.
I just happened to see this just now. This kid is a 16 year old Canadian who does a fantastic Elvis singing "Blue Christmas" (actually one of my favorite Christmas songs.) The talking in the beginning/end is French but song isn't
TIS, this kid just blew me away. 50 million Elvis impersonators scream over each other since the King died, and this sixteen year-old Canadian kid shut them all up.
You & me both Kly. I am a huge Elvis fan and this kid HAS to be one of the best. He nails it, that's for sure.
Oli,
I saw the little girl video signing for her parents. How sweet.
Remember when you first heard these lyrics? I know they terrified the hell out of me. Who is this guy? Why is he free to roam around the December countryside terrifying little kids? You're damn right I couldn't sleep Christmas Eve; I wasn't gonna let that maniac get me!:
You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I'm telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list, Checking it twice; Gonna find out who's naughty or nice. Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake He knows if you've been bad or good So be good for goodness sake ... or else!
O Holy Night - someone sang it in church when I was young and it made a lasting impression on me. I really prefer the more religious ones, like O Come All Ye Faithful, Hark the Herald, Joy to the World, etc..
And I never tire of watching A Charlie Brown Christmas!
My favorite Christmas song is whatever my grand daughter Mia is singing when she comes into my house off the school bus or coming back from Religion class. I stop what ever I am doing to listen to her sing. I love her voice I can listen to her sing all day what a good little person she is.
The late Minnie Riperton's pop music career began in the 1960's with Rotary Connection, a psychedelic/R&B band in Chicago. This is called "Christmas Love" from the band's attempt at a Christmas album.
James Taylor is one of my musical heroes. On his website he gives lessons and other little ditties. James is one of the few singer-songwriters whose guitar playing is integral to his "sound".
My favorite Christmas song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Love the little bit you hear Johnny Fontane sing in The Godfather. Anyone happen to know whether Al Martino actually ever recorded that song or not?
“Christmas Time†from The BoDeans. According to the notes on the record, this was recorded during a sound check before a live show in Chicago. If I had to guess, based on the date of the show, the recording engineer and (his) mobile studio, I’d bet this was the WXRT Christmas for Kids concert that year.
I know that I listed this song in an earlier post, but it wasn’t available online anywhere to link at that time...and I present this here to you today...
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Can't say I'd know Jimmy Boyd. One hit wonder? 
Why I was just a babe in arms. LOL