Favourite Christmas Songs.

[Glennsallnighter]

We were doing a few Christmas songs in guitar class tonight, and I was just wondering if you guys have a favourite Christmas song or Christmas carol. Or perhaps one with a particular significance or story attached to it that they'd like to share. If so let us know.

For the record, my favourite song is the 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty McColl. I just love the rhythms, the way the different sections of the song are sung at different tempo's and the earlier sentiments of the song
"You're handsome, you're pretty, Queen of NY city"
"This Years for me and You"
"I can see a better time when all our dreams come true"
to mention a few

And the chorus is very uplifting. You can see the NYPD choir singing and nearly hear the bells.

It was also one a lot of Irish people could relate to at the time. It was a very cold winter that year
"The wind goes right through you..."
And also a time when there was a deep recession. Emigration (to the States) was high and people could relate to the hope of a better time when all their dreams came true.

Its also poignant in that Kirsty McColl is no longer with us.

My favourite carol is 'Oh Holy Night'. Quite simply I remember it being sung at Christmas church and carol services from a time when I was very young and anytime I hear it it brings back all that old magic and helps remind me of what Christmas is about.

But they're just mine! I'm dying to hear everyone elses. Hope I didn't bore anyone!

[sodascouts]

As some of you might have guessed, lol, I love the Christmas season - and I love Christmas music!

"O Holy Night" is my all-time favorite. It brings tears to my eyes when it's done right. Such a powerful, moving song.

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" also moves me, especially in a time of war. It gives me hope. The best version I ever heard of it took a bit beyond the normal hymn structure by taking the last verse up a notch - it was so uplifting. The singer of that version was Kate Smith.

"Do You Hear What I Hear" also is very dramatic and powerful, I think. As you can see, I love the carols that build to a crescendo!

"Sleigh Ride" always makes me smile really big, as does "Winter Wonderland." "Let It Snow" is also lots of fun.

Those standards "White Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" are also lovely.

And, as a child of the eighties, I have to admit that I love Wham's "Last Christmas"!

[DonFan]

I love Christmas carols too!

I love Please Come Home for Christmas (naturally!), The Carpenters' Merry Christmas Darling, Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys, Blue Christmas by Elvis, and Bing Crosby's White Christmas. I also like a new one by Harry Connick Jr called It Must Have Been Ol' Santa Claus that ends with Harry singing "Happy Ho-Ho-Ho to you!"

Classic favorites: Do You Hear What I Hear, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

[Glennsallnighter]

Thanks DF! Even listening to the names of some of those songs and carols brings back great memories and bring a smile to my face. And 'O Holy Night' done well is one of the most moving carols ever to listen to in my opinion.

[EasyFeeling]

I can't say much to this because I guess you're not familiar with the classic German Christmas songs. :wink: But we have Silent Night, in German of course. :wink:

I have to say I don't like our songs very much my favourites are the English songs like Wham's Last Christmas, Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea (I love that song), All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey.
As for the classics my favourites are Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Winter Wonderland, Rudolph, The Rednosed Reindeer, Let It Snow.

[Mrs Frey]

What a lovely topic, GA!

Well, I've never really thought about my favourite Christmas songs before, as I tend to haul out my Christmas albums during this time and generally enjoy everything.

"Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley would probably rank as my favourite, as it's the one I tend to sing and play more than any others. After that, I love "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon, three more Elvis songs in "Here Comes Santa Claus", "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" (a real raucous rocker!) and "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (love Elvis' version, too, surprise, surprise :blush: ).

I've just purchased The Eagles' "Very Best Of" double CD, and heard "Please Come Home For Christmas" for the first time. I love it, and I already rank it as a favourite. Don's vocal is fantastic!

As for traditional Christmas carols, I love "Silent Night" (it's the first song I ever learnt to play on the guitar), and "O Holy Night" is beautiful. I love the French version as done by the Belgian singer Helmut Lotti.

[tbs fanatic]

GA - I love The Pogues :D Are they still together?

I'm not sure what my fav Christmas song is. I REALLY have to be in the mood to listen to a Christmas song. I suppose the classic White Christmas would be among the top ones - sort of cheesy and cool at the same time - Ha!

[rcknalwys]

One of my favorites is Please Come Home for Christmas of course. But my very favorite is It Came Upon a Midnight Clear because my Dad used to sing it to me when I was a little girl. Now I sing it to my granddaughter along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Up on the House Top. She just loves them, so they always bring a smile to my face, especially since I sang them with my daughters and son when they were growing up too. I can still remember those little voices going "ho ho ho" and the huge smiles on their faces. To be able to pass it on through 4 generations has made them special for all us.

[DonFan]

I've just purchased The Eagles' "Very Best Of" double CD, and heard "Please Come Home For Christmas" for the first time. I love it, and I already rank it as a favourite. Don's vocal is fantastic!


You just heard this for the first time? Wow. :shock:
The Christmas season doesn't really begin for me until I have heard that familiar Bong-Bong-Bong-Bong and Don's voice croons "Bells will be ringing...." :heart:
My favorite classic rock station played that song just yesterday while I was running errands, and it brought a giant smile to my face as I listened!

While we are on this topic, you really should listen to the Eagles' song Funky New Year, too. It's not a classic like Please Come Home for Christmas :wink: , but it is worth it to me to hear Don's groans at the beginning of the song 8) and then to hear him say, "My hair hurts," and "Nurse, I'm worse," and "Whose shoes are these?" :drunk: :laugh:

[Brooke]

Great idea, Ga! I love most all the Christmas songs, but there are a few at the top of my list.

Of course, Please Come Home For Christmas by you know who reigns as most favorite! I do love it. It was great hearing it in a store a couple weeks ago and instantly made me smile.

I also love White Christmas by Bing Crosby, Go Tell It On The Mountain and Do You Hear What I Hear by our own church choir (they are really good and it's a small country church-attendance around 90).

I always think of my beloved Grandma when I hear Silent Night. It was her favorite and she passed away the day before Christmas Eve 12 years ago and I still miss her lots.

My Mom always said Silver Bells was her favorite and it's one of mine, too.

The Christmas Song (chestnuts roasting on an open fire) by Dean Martin or Karen Carpenter ranks way up there and also, Elvis' Blue Christmas.

Whenever I hear We Three Kings it makes me remember my 2nd grade Christmas program at school. During rehearsal me and 3 friends were swaying back and forth rather energetically during the "ooooh oooh, star of wonder, star of night, star of royal beauty bright" and our teacher came up and tapped each of us on the top of the head with her pen and said "Girls, straighten up!" :roll: We were having way too much fun!

And one more, when my kids were small we played a John Denver Christmas album that had a song on it called Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas! They thought it was hilarious and just loved it and laughed while singing along!

And who can forget The Chipmunks Christmas Song and Elmer Fudd's?! :lol:

Uh oh, you've set me off! As you can tell, I love Christmas! :D

[Freypower]

I am with GA on the Pogues' Fairytale of New York. It is THE classic Chirstmas song. They split up several years ago now.

My other Christmas favourites are the Pretenders' 2000 Miles, Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody and John Lennon's Happy Xmas (War Is Over). I'm afraid that I am one of the people for whom Please Come Home For Christmas does not work at all.

The only favourite carols I have are Hark The Herald Angels Sing and O Come All Ye Faithful. I'm sorry, but I'm not really that way inclined.

[DonFan]

Is there a link somewhere to the Pogues' song? I've never heard of it.

[Freypower]

These are the lyrics, but be warned, they are not for everyone.

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pogues/fairytale+of+new+york_20109730.html

This is a performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

[Maleah]

Well obviously I have to include Please Come Home For Christmas because...well.....Don is just fabulous on it!

Oh Holy Night - probably my favorite! There are several versions that I like, but Russ Lee's version is my favorite!

Silent Night - Such a pretty song when sang the right way! Russ Lee's version is again my fav.

I also like Go Tell It On The Mountain and Joy to the World (both of which have Russ Lee's as my favorite version as well hehe....yes...he did a Christmas album LOL)

[Molly]

I just went crazy on ITunes downloading my favorites this past weekend!

O Holy Night is probably my favorite traditional. Josh Groban's version is my favorite. Little Drummer Boy and Silent night, also.

I love Bing Crosby's White Christmas, but I think I like the Drifters version even more (the one that's in the movie "Home Alone").

Chuck Berry's "Run Run Rudolph" is fun. Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".

I love Feliz Navidad because it brings back memories of my then 4 year old son singing louder than the rest of his pre-school class at his Christmas concert "Feliz La-di-da!!"

[Freypower]

I would have thought Go Tell It On The Mountain was more just a straight gospel song rather than being associated with Christmas?

I know Feliz Navidad from hearing it everywhere I went in the US over Christmas 1988 in Los Angeles and San Antonio. There is also the German song O Tannenbaum (otherwise known as Oh Christmas Tree).

I do like We Three Kings, Oh Holy Night and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem - but all the stuff about snow like Winter Wonderland doesn't cut much ice (pun intended) in the middle of an Australian summer.

[DonFan]

I would have thought Go Tell It On The Mountain was more just a straight gospel song rather than being associated with Christmas?
"Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born..." sounds like Christmas to me.

Thanks for the link to the Pogues. You're right, that song isn't for everyone.

[sodascouts]

Some people make fun of Celine Dion, but the woman does have an amazing voice. Here she is doing "O Holy Night" - at 4:28 I just get chills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jr-2eyRtV4

[Maleah]

In my neck of the woods "Go Tell It On The Mountain" was always considered a Christmas song...I guess I just assumed. Like DF said, it does talk about Jesus Christ being born, in fact....the entire song is about the birth.....which is what Christmas was originally intended to be about anyway

I would never make fun of Celine Dion Soda.....I think she is one of the most amazing vocalists I've ever heard! She was fantastic on the American Music Awards!

[sodascouts]

Yes, Go Tell It on the Mountain was originally a Christmas song - it just got so popular as a spiritual it became fun for folks to sing it year-round. Nothing wrong with that. ;)

Have you guys heard the way BNL does "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" with Sarah McLachlan? I LOVE it! Here is a version of it - ignore the poor video and just listen to the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unLYrtx8aKA

[Glennsallnighter]

GA - I love The Pogues :D Are they still together?

I'm not sure what my fav Christmas song is. I REALLY have to be in the mood to listen to a Christmas song. I suppose the classic White Christmas would be among the top ones - sort of cheesy and cool at the same time - Ha!

Well they played last Christmas at the Point so I presume they still are, or at least get together for 'specials' occasionally.

Yes I agree the lyrics aren't for all. I try to sanitise them in front of the 6 year old but she has a very musical ear!!

[Mrs Frey]

I've just purchased The Eagles' "Very Best Of" double CD, and heard "Please Come Home For Christmas" for the first time. I love it, and I already rank it as a favourite. Don's vocal is fantastic!


You just heard this for the first time? Wow. :shock:
The Christmas season doesn't really begin for me until I have heard that familiar Bong-Bong-Bong-Bong and Don's voice croons "Bells will be ringing...." :heart:
My favorite classic rock station played that song just yesterday while I was running errands, and it brought a giant smile to my face as I listened!

While we are on this topic, you really should listen to the Eagles' song Funky New Year, too. It's not a classic like Please Come Home for Christmas :wink: , but it is worth it to me to hear Don's groans at the beginning of the song 8) and then to hear him say, "My hair hurts," and "Nurse, I'm worse," and "Whose shoes are these?" :drunk: :laugh:

Thanks for this, DF, but I don't know where to find the song. It sounds like fun, though!

I can imagine how you felt when you heard PCHFC on the radio! 8)

[Mrs Frey]

I would have thought Go Tell It On The Mountain was more just a straight gospel song rather than being associated with Christmas?

I know Feliz Navidad from hearing it everywhere I went in the US over Christmas 1988 in Los Angeles and San Antonio. There is also the German song O Tannenbaum (otherwise known as Oh Christmas Tree).

I do like We Three Kings, Oh Holy Night and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem - but all the stuff about snow like Winter Wonderland doesn't cut much ice (pun intended) in the middle of an Australian summer.

I actually heard "Go Tell It On The Mountain" for the first time on Helmut Lotti's Christmas album from 1998. Therefore I see it as a Christmas song. He also does "O Tannenbaum" on the album. He isn't well-known all over the world, but he's an excellent singer. He's credited his wanting to enter the music business to Elvis Presley, and this is particularly obvious when he sings GTIOTM.

I can understand your not being able to identify with the wintry references in many Christmas songs, since it's summer in South Africa in December too. I still enjoy those songs, though.

I wish Glenn :heart: had recorded a Christmas song!

[Mrs Frey]

The Christmas Song (chestnuts roasting on an open fire) by Dean Martin or Karen Carpenter ranks way up there and also, Elvis' Blue Christmas.



Thank you, Brooke! When I put in my first post yesterday under this topic, I just couldn't get to the name of "The Christmas Song" (and it's so obvious - LOL!), so I left it out! :blush: Now that you've reminded me of the title, I have to include Nat 'King' Cole's version of it as among my favourites. It was one of my mom's favourites, too - she loved anything by Nat 'King' Cole. I'm glad you also like "Blue Christmas"! 8)

[DonFan]

Mrs F, Funky New Year is the B side on Please Come Home for Christmas, and I think the boxed sets are only places you can hear it. It was included in the black Eagles box set last year, and there is another live version that was recorded at the Eagles' Millennium shows in the Selected Works box set.

[sodascouts]

Here's a live version from a Las Vegas Millennium show (not the officially released one):

http://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/multimedia/FunkyNewYearLasVegas99.mp3

[tbs fanatic]

These are the lyrics, but be warned, they are not for everyone.

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pogues/fairytale+of+new+york_20109730.html

This is a performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

To be off subject for a second - While watching the video I noticed the Pogues - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda - my fav, fav, fav Pogues song.

[DonFan]

Thanks for putting the Funky New Year clip up, Soda. It is one of my fondest wishes that they will eventually release the entire Millennium show on video someday.

While I like Don's cute little "broke up, got back together" comments on this version, I must admit I like his adlibs at the end of the original version better! 8)

[Perfect Little Sister]

I would have thought Go Tell It On The Mountain was more just a straight gospel song rather than being associated with Christmas?

I know Feliz Navidad from hearing it everywhere I went in the US over Christmas 1988 in Los Angeles and San Antonio. There is also the German song O Tannenbaum (otherwise known as Oh Christmas Tree).

I do like We Three Kings, Oh Holy Night and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem - but all the stuff about snow like Winter Wonderland doesn't cut much ice (pun intended) in the middle of an Australian summer.

I actually heard "Go Tell It On The Mountain" for the first time on Helmut Lotti's Christmas album from 1998. Therefore I see it as a Christmas song. He also does "O Tannenbaum" on the album. He isn't well-known all over the world, but he's an excellent singer. He's credited his wanting to enter the music business to Elvis Presley, and this is particularly obvious when he sings GTIOTM.

I can understand your not being able to identify with the wintry references in many Christmas songs, since it's summer in South Africa in December too. I still enjoy those songs, though.

I wish Glenn :heart: had recorded a Christmas song!


I spent my teen years in Arizona. We have a pic of my dad on Christmas day lying in the sun (in just a pair of shorts) with a jar of sun tea brewing next to him. lol I've lived the rest of my life in the California Bay Area so I've never had a white Christmas either. :shrug:

[Brooke]

Go Tell It On The Mountain has always been a Christmas song to me. That's the only time of year I ever hear it. Our choir also likes to do Tell Me The Old Old Story at Christmas time too. My first thought was it wasn't a Christmas song, but after listening to the lyrics, yes, it is.

I've always lived where I have all four seasons, so I can't imagine a warm/sandy Christmas!

[Freypower]

These are the lyrics, but be warned, they are not for everyone.

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pogues/fairytale+of+new+york_20109730.html

This is a performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

To be off subject for a second - While watching the video I noticed the Pogues - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda - my fav, fav, fav Pogues song.

Is it reallly? Then I guess you can understand how Australians feel about that song. I love thier version too. My favourite song by them though is Thousands Are Sailing.

OK, back to Christmas songs. :blush:

[Brooke]

Finally got to listen to the Pogues!

I think I can live without it! :lol:

[sodascouts]

Thanks for putting the Funky New Year clip up, Soda. It is one of my fondest wishes that they will eventually release the entire Millennium show on video someday.

While I like Don's cute little "broke up, got back together" comments on this version, I must admit I like his adlibs at the end of the original version better! 8)

Those crack me up, too!

I'm afraid the Pogues song is not for me either, but to each her own.

[glenneaglesfan]

I love the Pogues song - it must be the Celt in me. I can't help but like Slade as well, and Springsteen's version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town, especially a live version I heard last year. The Band Aid song is fun to pick out the voices. Jethro Tull's Ring Out Solstice Bells, though not exactly a Christmas song, is a good one on my compilation disc.

Of the traditional carols, I like most of the traditional favourites such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Once In Royal David's City, O Little Town of Bethlehem. I used to sing in a choir so enjoy cracking out the descants if no one is listening. I think my favourite, though, is In The Bleak Midwinter, the version by Harold Darke. I you don't know it, there is a version here:
http://www.coronostro.com/recordings.htm
(Scroll down to Music for Christmas 2005)

[sodascouts]

Hey, Lucy Walsh is getting in on the action! If you go to her MySpace, you can hear her rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy."

http://www.myspace.com/lucywalsh