My very busy, important, famous-author friend, Stephen, wrote a blog post about popular Christmas songs. He admitted to his liking “Fairytale Of New York” by The Pogues and “Don’t Let The Bells End” by The Darkness (plus a nod to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is Yoooooooouuuuuu”).
This set me to thinking: what are my favorites? I’d mostly considered the ones I don’t like, since the radio’s inundated with any artist who’s produced anything with “Christmas” or “gifts” in the name in order to get some air time. (By the way, that includes “Christmas Shoes.” I liked it the first time; ONLY the first time.)
Favorites, though? Hmmm. I’m a traditionalist, so I really like The Nutcracker or Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” I’ll get jazzier with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (Brenda Lee) but prefer the instrumental version of “Sleigh Ride.”
And then there’s my complete deviation from those with Manheim Steamroller’s “Los Peces En El Rio” and Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Carol of the Bells.” What can I say? My Christmas playlist is about as varied as my everyday one.
Still (still still), I’ll return, anytime, for an excellent choral version of any Christian Christmas carol.
What about you? What are your favorite musical numbers at Christmastime?
©2020 Chelsea Owens
My all time favorite is any Gospel version of Oh Holy Night…that song is so beautiful when done right 🙂
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I love that one, too!
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My all-time favorite is “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, but not the Johnny Marks arrangement of it. For a popular song, I’d choose the Karen Carpenter’s “Merry Christmas, Darling”.
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I’ve heard a few renditions of “I Heard the Bells;” pretty lyrics but some of the music chosen is better than others. 🔔 I also like The Carpenters.
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I like the musical arrangement used in the LDS hymn book. Johnny Marks versino makes it too slow and downbeat for me.
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The hymnbook version is even a bit too dirge-ish for me! I’m ready to stop after one verse.
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I’m not a musician, but I think I heard that it’s written in a minor key, which is part of why it sounds “dirge-ish”. The other part is how energetically the organist/pianist plays it and many do drag it along instead of pushing it forward.
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True! Liven it up, organists!
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My favourite “old” carol is “O Holy Night” – especially the version sung by Patti Smith at the Vatican Christmas Concert.
And a more modern favourite carol would be “Mary Did You Know?” especially the version sung by Dolly Parton:
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Both beautiful choices.
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Probably the song “Choreography” from White Christmas.
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Really?
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Why not?
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😀 Well… sometimes you’re a little … you know, say… sarcastic… 😀
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Really?… but actually I do love that song. White Christmas is a beautiful movie.
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🙂 Oh, good. I agree; so many of the classics are good!
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That said, I have no desire to wash my face in snow.
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That’s good to clarify that point.
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Silent Night – the harmonies it’s a lullaby.
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I love “Silent Night.”
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O Tannenbaum in German. it gives it that grandeur it lacks in english, somehow. ‘Merry Christmas Baby’,
Chuck Berry version. He sounds so contentedly toasted. Also I do have a lot of respect for ‘Christmas Morning,’ Loudon Wainwright, though it is less than traditional fare.
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I agree about, “O Tannenbaum;” I was singing that just tonight to my baby! It’s silly, I know, but I prefer many in their original language.
I’ll look up the others!
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I’m not sure which carols would be my favourites. I like so many. There is one that I seem to start singing to myself throughout the year, but wouldn’t you know, I can’t think which one it is at the moment. Bing Crosby anyway.
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😀 I was doing the same thing while I wrote the post, Norah! That’s why I ended with “any choral piece.” I still can’t put my finger on the one I keep humming.
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The one I sing to myself is a strange choice – about staying inside because it cold outside. It still escapes me though. 🙂 It’s never cold here.
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I love Jim Reeves, Chelsea, and this is my favourite song:
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Very catchy! I hadn’t heard it before. 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. I like the empathy of it too.
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When a child is born…..Johnny Mathis?
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Another good one!
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My all time favorite, even as a kid, “The Little Drummer Boy”. My favorite Christmas album is the artist Bony M. and on it the song, “Mary’s Boy Child”.
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I love “Little Drummer Boy,” too! I’ll look up your other one.
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I love James Taylor at Christmas album and Vince Guaraldi Trio Charlie Brown soundtrack.
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🙂 Excellent numbers! 🎹
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Our very own Drakensburg boys choir!! https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1603256709822275
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That was amazing! 🎄
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I’ve always been a sucker for Greg Lake’s I believe in Father Christmas (https://youtu.be/yfY4b1NszpY), or Gaudete by Steeleye Span (https://youtu.be/lN9AJj9rtlk) or, going back to my school days, I loved it when the choir sung Oh Come All Ye Faithful in Latin – Adeste Fidelis – some thing splendid about hearing it in that ancient language that still brings me out in goosebumps (https://youtu.be/Xq8IbdWdFAQ). Have a great one with all your many men, Chelsea!!
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Ooh! I liked all of those. Thank you, Geoff!
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Lovely post. I like Annie Lennox’s version of “Winter Wonderland”. Happy Holidays!
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Thanks! I like that one, too!
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Rockin around the zchristmas Tree, last Christmas, River, chestnuts roasting on an open fire nat king cole, sugar plum fairy, Bruce fdoung Santa Claus is coming to town….
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All good!
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Silent Night for me.
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🌙 I love that one.
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Fondly favoring Piano Guys holiday tunes—nice blend of hymns and standard secular.
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I remember you like them! I’ll have to send them to your house one of these days. 😉
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I better keep the piano tuned for Jon.
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You should!
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