What's your favorite Christmas song?

Category: Jam Session

Post 1 by Jasmin (Account disabled) on Thursday, 30-Nov-2006 15:55:41

Hey all,
I just thought of something to talk about since I haven't posted on here in a while. I don't mean to sound like I'm discriminating about religion or anything, but christmas is coming up soon and there's so many Christmas songs out there, i just wondered which are people's favorites? I'm not against Hanakah or anything else, but I don't know those songs very well. So if you want to reply to this and let me know, that would be cool. I guess my favorites are, the holly and the ivy, silver bels, home for the holidays, and Rocking around the Christmas Tree. Anyway, let me know what yours are.
Talk soon,
Jasmin

Post 2 by nikos (English words from a Greek thinking brain) on Thursday, 30-Nov-2006 16:26:32

Hi.
My favorite Christmas songs are gaudete which is a song in Latin with a lot of variations. The chorus is the same but there are a lot versions of the verce.
Also i like the song walking in the air which i think is from a movie called the snowman.
Also i don't know why but i like the twelve days of Christmas as well lol.

Post 3 by bozmagic (The rottie's your best friend if you want him/her to be, lol.) on Thursday, 30-Nov-2006 16:36:20

Hmmm! Well, I have several favourite Christmas carols. The Coventry Carol, the Sheperd's Pipe carol, the Sansday carol, O Little one sweet, the Candle Light Carol and Away In A Manger.

Post 4 by redgirl34 (Scottish) on Thursday, 30-Nov-2006 17:35:00

My favourite christmas carols are the 12 days of christmas in Spanish. it helps me with my numbers in Spanish. I also like silent night in English, and one I used to sing as a child is Little Donkey.

Post 5 by tnydancer (Generic Zoner) on Thursday, 30-Nov-2006 19:01:41

My fav is Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters.

Post 6 by krisme (Ancient Zoner) on Friday, 01-Dec-2006 1:31:34

Whoa, way too many to list here. The thing with me is that I only like specific versions of some songs. These include O Holy Night (the Josh Groban version), Happy Christmas: War is Over (both the original and an excellent live version by Melisa Etheridge), Sleigh Ride (the original instrumental one and the one by the Ronettes), and Bruce Springsteen's version of Santa Cluas is Comin to Town. As for originals, I love Dominic the Donkey, the Christmas Shoes (almost always cry when I hear that one), and I Believe in Father Christmas by Emmerson Lake and Palmer. There are a lot of other ones too, so maybe I'll post again later.

Post 7 by laced-unlaced (Account disabled) on Friday, 01-Dec-2006 6:38:50

rocking around the christmas tree, santa clause is coming to town, winter's tale and when a child is born

Post 8 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 02-Dec-2006 4:45:48

Dan, its interesting the songs you metioned. I found all those songs on a christmas album by the Moody Blues a few years ago. I ageree withthe post earlier about specific versions of some carols. This was a great topic, as I've heard of several songs/carols that are native to the various countries from which we all hail. Now to try and answer the question. I really liek Father Christmas, the English tune to Oh Little Town of Bethlehem. By the way, you can sing the lyrics to the last to the tune of House of the Rising Sun. I also like Christmas Dinner by Peter, Paul, and Mary. I like Still Still Still. I better stop before I hog up the servers here.

Lou

Post 9 by bozmagic (The rottie's your best friend if you want him/her to be, lol.) on Saturday, 02-Dec-2006 10:27:17

Aw'ww Lou, but you get all those songs Dan mentioned on any Christmas album you buy these days. I have Now Christmas, which has all those songs on it, and "the best Christmas album in the world, ever" which has them all on it, but they're all different variations of those songs. O, I forgot still, still, still. Sorry Aled Jones. You sing it brilliantly and it's so beautiful it makes me bloody cry.

Post 10 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 02-Dec-2006 11:53:48

Interesting you say what you did. I hadn't heard Winter's Tale until I bought the moody blues album. That's an example of songs being popular in various countries. Also, I hadn't heard of Little One Sweet, and another one you mentioned.

Post 11 by NoahsMommy (guide dog girl) on Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006 23:40:12

I like lots but esp. god rest ye mary gentlemen and mary did you know

Post 12 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 07-Dec-2006 0:56:48

I love Christmas with the devil by spinal tap. it's hillarious.

Post 13 by Godzilla-On-Toast (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 07-Dec-2006 6:07:14

Most of my tastes go for the unusual and especially novelty tunes. One of the better Christmas novelty records is one called "The Chickens are In the Chimes." I wish I knew where it could be had on CD, but I've got it in mp3. It's a hilarious and chaotic take on the "Twelve Days of Christmas." Also, like some others here, it's not the particular carol overall, but maybe a given performance of a song. I've got a version of "Jingle Bells" by Les Paul that I like. I like the Drifters' version of "White Christmas" as well as the Darlene Love recording of it, but I can't stand most other recordings of the song. I'm not much of an Enya fan, just because she got way overplayed and overexposed, but her version of "Silent Night" is just about the prettiest thing you ever heard in my opinion. She uses some different chords to start with, and she sings the song in Gaelic which also makes it different. Most recordings of "Silent Night" are OK but kind of undistinguished, I guess because a lot of artists want to play things by the book in the name of reverence or whatnot. Just a few examples for you.

Post 14 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 07-Dec-2006 9:58:33

Yeah. There was an AC DC paridy song one year called jingle hells bells i think. very funny stuff! the redneck 12 days of Christmas is good as well.

Post 15 by Jasmin (Account disabled) on Sunday, 10-Dec-2006 15:38:26

Oh wow, so many replies, and good ones to. I was going to ask if anyone liked Christmas Comedy. I know Bob Rivers does some good stuff that I've got on my computer, and so does Bob and Tom. I've got some other comedy stuff to. Has anyone ever heard the Beatles version of Silent Night? It goes to the tune of Lucy in the sky with diamonds. A few other Beatles songs are like that, their original songs to Christmas tunes. It's really interesting. I've been recently looking for a cappella groups like rockappella or the blenders or King Singers, as examples doing Christmas songs, and now I've got 45 songs so far, but I want more, If anyone has anything good, let me know. I think this is a great thing to talk about, too bad we all can't talk about it on skype or messenger. lol. Well I will probably write back again soon, but I thought I'd say what good posts there were since I didn't know what the outcome of this would be so I'm glad that everyone loves Christmas as much as i do. Anyway, I'll talk to you guys later.
Jasmin

Post 16 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 10-Dec-2006 16:19:35

Oh wow! You strucka nerve! There's lots of really good ocapella stuff out there. If you can find it, there's an old album by a group called the Singers' Unlimmitted. Manhattan Transfer has just released a new album. There are two albums called An Evening In December volumes one and two. I hope they aren't out of print, because frankly, they are some of the best arrangements of Christmas music I've heard. The guy behind them is named David Maddox. I hope I spelled his name right. I think my absolute favorite Bob Rivers is Rocker Rummy Boy. The setup is that someone who sounds an awful lot like Phil Collins when he talks is out in the cold and knocks on Bing Crosby's door. To make a long story short, the two of them are drinking together, and the Phil Collins guy gets wasted. If you remember the Bing and David Bowie duet of Little Drummer Boy, they rewrote the lyrics and the results crack me up every time.


Lou

Post 17 by redgirl34 (Scottish) on Sunday, 10-Dec-2006 16:37:52

I heard Aled Jones and Haley Westernra a couple of days ago sing Silent night on the radio. I loved it. It is on Aled's new album called The best of you raise me up.

Post 18 by Godzilla-On-Toast (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 10-Dec-2006 19:07:38

Hmmm, the only Christmas stuff I know the Beatles recorded were the Christmas messages to their fan club. Never heard any Silent Night that sounded like Lucy in the Sky. Must ahve been a sound-alike.

Post 19 by sparkie (the hilljack) on Sunday, 10-Dec-2006 19:39:00

Here goes:
Santa claws is coming to town sung by Bruce Springsteen
grandma got ran over by a reindeer
and porkey pig blue christmas

Post 20 by Jasmin (Account disabled) on Sunday, 10-Dec-2006 23:57:49

lol, the porky pig one was hilarious. I loved the guy laughing in the background. God that made me laugh because he couldn't stop laughing and such a high pitched laugh and the guy studdering like porky pig was funny to. I'll have to look up those a cappella groups that were mentioned to. This is so fun. Grin.

Post 21 by redgirl34 (Scottish) on Monday, 11-Dec-2006 8:18:22

That's the name of the album not the song.

Post 22 by Rune Knight (Ancient Demon - Darkness will always conquer Light!) on Monday, 11-Dec-2006 8:30:23

I like the "grandma got ran over by a reindeer" one.

Post 23 by japanimangel1 (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 13-Dec-2006 11:57:18

I really like Oh holey night, it's one of my favorites. Silent nigh is an other. Rockin around the christmas tree, the old version that you hear in movies all the time, is a good one. For the comical ones, bob and doug mackensie's 12 days of christmas. It's halarious! I like fodxworthy's redneck christmas one to.

Post 24 by silly_singer (The girl who's always lost in a melody) on Thursday, 14-Dec-2006 0:57:24

I like just about everything mentioned here so far!
One song that always makes me stop and think, and then eventually cry is Amy Grant's "Grown up Christmas list." She also does a really nice song called "breath of Heaven" BTW, her Husband Vince Gil re-worded it to be sung from Josiph's perspective, and that too is lovely.
On the wacky side of things, The 12 pains of Christmas is awsome, and also I think this can be found on the Dr. demento CD "It's Christmas and I Wonder where I am!"
I'll most likely be back with more!
If I didn't have to worry about bein' commited, I'd play this stuff year round! :-)

Post 25 by Liz (The Original) on Thursday, 14-Dec-2006 1:06:24

I love Trans Siberian Orchestra's randition of "Oh Holy Night". The guitar solo in that is just amazing!...but then, I think all of their stuff is.

Post 26 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 14-Dec-2006 5:50:16

Silly Singer, you'll have to stand in line. I don't know if it was here or on another topic, but I have no problems with pulling out a couple CD's every few months and blasting them. Concerning Transsiberian Orchestra, I didn't like the stuff when I first heard it, but for some reason, this year, it kinda grew on me. Most of what I hear has a really driving, almost demonic kind of energy with all their songs, but like I say, I'm kinda growing to appreciate it.

Lou

Post 27 by krisme (Ancient Zoner) on Thursday, 14-Dec-2006 19:47:04

One song that I've gotten to like this year is "The River" (I wish I had a river, I could skate away on ...) It's not the most uplifting of Christmas songs and I used to always change the station when it came on, but I really like the version Sarah McClachlan just put out. She has a really pretty voice and I think her rendition of the song is the best one I've heard so far.

Post 28 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Thursday, 05-Apr-2007 4:24:26

I love the song "The Christmas Shoes," and Bob River's version of "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland," ojnly his version is entitled, "Walkin' 'round in Womens' Underwear." makes me laugh every time I wish I had that last song, bud I don't know what the CD is called.

Post 29 by changedheart421 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Thursday, 12-Apr-2007 16:33:51

I saw three ships

Post 30 by Nick6489 (11 years a Zoner) on Monday, 17-Dec-2007 13:30:32

Hmmm...

Post 31 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 18-Dec-2007 9:32:45

My favorite Christmas song of all time is Silent Night. It's so pretty, almost because of its simplicity. There's a version of it that Manheim Steamroller does, and it's the only Manheim Steamroller song I like. Bob Rivers is hilarious. I hadn't heard a lot of his stuff till this year, a few days ago, actually. Or I should say, I heard a few of his things, but didn't realize who it was till recently. He's got a great Christmas parody of Affroman's Cuz I Got High. Transiberian Orchestra rocks, literally. They put such a new and awesome spin on what are so often recorded as mellow songs.

Post 32 by Austin's Angel (move over school!) on Tuesday, 18-Dec-2007 11:14:31

i love the christmas shoes
transybarian orchestra is totally awsome, they come to austin every year. i'll get a chance to catch their concert someday.
and i'm a celine dion fan, and i love her whole christmas album, especially her version of avae maria

Post 33 by DancingAfterDark (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 18-Dec-2007 13:55:51

I love christmas music! But I'm really picky about it--I don't usually listen to covers. I prefer the original versions where most things are concerned. My favorites: Do You Hear what I Hear, The Christmas Shoes, and Jingle Bell Rock. I also really like the hippopotamus song, although most other people seem to hate it, and the chipmunks song that's always played on the radio around this time.
And I hate most comical Christmas stuff, but especially the Redneck Twelve Days of Christmas.

Post 34 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Wednesday, 19-Dec-2007 4:15:20

What is Celine dion's christmas CD called, and would I be able to find it anywhere?

Post 35 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 26-Dec-2007 12:52:55

I like/love several different Christmas songs, but one of my absolute favorites is Oh Holy Night. I think that song is pretty. I thought Christina Aguilera did a really good version of that song.

Post 36 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Saturday, 01-Mar-2008 5:37:14

I like all christmas songs, but I have 4 favorites. I've always loved silent night since I was 3. I like christmas shoes, and o holy night. I also can't forget the first noel.

Post 37 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Monday, 03-Mar-2008 2:02:18

Josh groban's version of Silent Night is beautiful.

Post 38 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 03-Mar-2008 8:39:59

I like Josh's Oh Holy Night, but I'm kinda disappointed in David Foster, who produced the album. He borrowed the arrangement of it he did for Michael Crawford many, many years ago, and lowered it from D to B for Josh. If you ever get to hear the orriginal, you might appreciate the power it has compared to Josh's. Again, I'm not knocking Josh's performance, just expressing disappointment at someone who is basically an excelent producer.


Lou