by Beth Andrews
I love the holidays and one of the things I love most is the music!
Some of my favorite Christmas songs are:
Carol of the Bells - Trans Siberian Orchestra (I'd love to see them live!)
White Christmas - Bing Crosby. We listen to Bing every Christmas morning. No substitutions! And I love both classic movies Holiday Inn and White Christmas. I'm going to force my family to watch them with me this year :-)
Baby It’s Cold Outside - Lee Ann Womack and Harry Connick Jr. Great version of this classic song.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bare Naked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan. So upbeat and fun and makes me want to dance *g*
And because I'm always behind the times, I just found out that Kristin Chenoweth has a Christmas CD which I would love to have. Along with Faith Hill's.
Some of the songs that make me want to stick my head in a very deep snowbank are:
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. Ugh. I hate even typing that because now it’ll be stuck in my head!
Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney. Don’t get me wrong, I love Paul during his Beatle days but this song? Not so much.
Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band Aid. Great idea to raise money for the world’s needy but after over twenty years of this song, I’ve had enough *g*
What are your favorite holiday songs? What songs could you happily go without hearing this year? Today one lucky commenter will win a copy of Tawny Weber’s SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE, the first of her new Undercover Operatives trilogy for Harlequin Blaze :-)
54 comments:
I love Carol of the Bells – especially because I’m Ukrainian and it’s a Ukrainian song (even if it was never supposed to be a Christmas song - it's for New Year!).
There’re few modern Christmas songs I enjoy – here in Australia we don’t have as much of a tradition of writing new ones, I think. Maybe I’m wrong!
I love The Nutcracker music at this time of the year too – especially the Snow Scene.
Beth, I agree that music is one of the best things about Christmas. I'm a huge Toby Keith fan, so I love his Christmas album.
Beth...I am totally with you on my dislike of Grandma.....see I can't even stand to type the whole title!!! Another song that tends to drive me around the bend is "Christmas Don't be Late" by the Chipmunks ~ it really the Chipmunks I can't stand to listen to not the song's words.
And even though I've very rarely seen a white Christmas I do love the song.
I also like O Holy Night, Have A Holly Jolly Christmas. And too many others to list.
drummer boy cuz it gets my body moving. Thanks for having the giveaway, looks like a really good read.
Julie
Last year I discovered the most delightful video of the Belfast Giant's hockey team dancing to "All I Want for Christmas is You." It's a very sweet and funny little video, perfect to perk up my mood.
See it on YouTube.
We have a neat CD that's a recording of a radio program Bing Crosby did during WWII. It includes lots of "contemporary" moments like commercials with mentions of ration points and a propaganda jingle. We always have that one on when we decorate the tree.
Here it is on Amazon.
If I never hear "Santa Baby" again, I won't mind one single bit.
I love Christmas carols, in general, but my ultimate favorite is "Oh, Holy Night", particularly as sung by Nat "King" Cole.
I could do without "I Farted on Santa's Lap" for the rest of my life, along with others like "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" and, perhaps less obviously, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." I know a lot of people like that one, but I think it's a little bit sick and perverse that a kid thinks he sees his mother kissing another man (even if it IS Santa Claus) and thinks it would have been funny if his father had seen it.
Ellen,
You're right. The Belfast Giants video is priceless!
Christmas books, Christmas songs, and Christmas decorations (not to mention the food) all get me in the mood. Sorry gang, but I even like "Grandma got run over...." I little laugh never hurts.
Hi Beth,
I like O Holy Night and Silent Night. I like the old school music - The Carperters, Andy Williams, Fred Waring, Bing Crosby and Nat king Cole. The song I dislike the most is The Christmas Shoes.
How about Bob Rivers, Who Put the Stump (up my rear)? - Sung as an angel on top of a Christmas tree.
You gotta love it or hate it
I have to agree with both your favorites and the ones that make you want to stab yourself in the eye with an icicle.
I also love Silent Night and Away in the Manger.
But what I hate, hate, hate are the commercials where they take a Christmas song and change to words to thier product.
I am a nut for Christmas music. I love Holly Jolly,Christmas, the Christmas Song, Silver Bells and many more.
There are very few Christmas songs that I hate. I just hate hearing the funny ones too often. However I hate with a passion when someone messes with the lyrics or music of an old favorite. Just sing the song as it was sung in the first place and if you can't make the high notes don't sing it for profit.
I'm Canadian and this is off topic but I hate it when some singer thinks they can improve on The Star Spangled Banner or Oh Canada. The extra bits they add in just send me bonkers.
My favorite is Oh Holy Night sung by just one voice that can hit all the proper notes. I sing it myself lots and I don't hit all the notes. I'm private when I'm singing it. My husband is tone deaf fortunately.
Hey, Sonya! My younger daughter absolutely loves Carol of the Bells.
I know it's not quite the same as the song but I get a huge kick out of those Garmin commercials. They crack me up :-) Here's a link for one of them on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P1YOFfNYXg&feature=relmfu
I'm not a fan of new Christmas music - I guess I'm just traditional *g* But my daughters love the Destiny's Child Christmas CD.
I haven't heard Toby Keith's Christmas album. I'll have to check it out.
I was really surprised when we went shopping on Black Friday that most of the stores weren't playing Christmas songs. Seems like a good way to get us all into the spending mood and they missed an opportunity :-)
Beth...I am totally with you on my dislike of Grandma.....see I can't even stand to type the whole title!!!
LOL, Ellen Too! You're smart not to type the whole thing. That song will stick in your head if you're not careful!
We used to listen to the Chipmunks when my kids were little but thankfully, those days are now over *g*
Hey, Julie! I think my favorite version of Little Drummer Boy is Bing Crosby and David Bowie *g*
As Tawny's critique partner, I can honestly say Sex, Lies and Mistletoe is an awesome read - and it starts off her new trilogy so more books are on the way :-)
Last year I discovered the most delightful video of the Belfast Giant's hockey team dancing to "All I Want for Christmas is You."
Ellen, I saw that last year, too. Love it! Puts a smile on my face, that's for sure :-)
That CD looks wonderful. I'll have to order a copy. We still listen to our old Bing Crosby cassettes but we're down to one tape player *g*
If I never hear "Santa Baby" again, I won't mind one single bit.
LOL! I said the exact same thing to my daughter yesterday when we were out shopping. I've heard it at least a dozen times over the weekend and have had enough.
JV, I'm not a fan of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" either. Also could live without "I'm Getting Nothing For Christmas".
Love "Oh, Holy Night" along with "Do You Hear What I hear?" and "Winter Wonderland" :-)
Hey, Gloria! You're right about a little laugh not hurting anyone *g*
I watched a Christmas episode of Family Ties the other night with my daughter. So funny and really brought back memories of how much I loved that show :-)
Tammy, we listen to The Carpenters, too. I need to get a few more CDs - lately we've been listening to Pandora which has a pretty good selection *g*
How about Bob Rivers, Who Put the Stump (up my rear)? - Sung as an angel on top of a Christmas tree.
ROFL, Rogenna! I've never heard this song. Sounds like I've been missing out :-)
Back again, Beth.
Bob River's The Twelve Pains of Christmas is a hoot. The rigging up the lights guy is my favorite.
And I liked all your choices too. Trans Siberian was just here 12/1. My friend went and loved the show. My husband refuses to go, but I think they are great.
Finally, I am reading A Marine for Christmas right now. What a wonderful story.
I like about all Christmas music! I can't say I have a favorite or one that I dislike!
I love "Christmas in Dixie" by Alabama. "Hard Candy Christmas" from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Dolly Parton) and "Santa Baby" - all those are fun songs.
Traditionally, I love "O' Come Emmanuel" and "The Christmas Song".
I pretty much despise "The Christmas Shoes" because like Nicholas Spark's books it wants to make me sad in a manipulative way. (Sorry to Nickolas Sparks fans). I don't like my emotions manipulated that way. You might as well go ahead and step on a kitten or something.
Fun topic, and I live Tawny :)
Ha, Ha! Meant I LOVE Tawny.
Although it might be fun to live like her.
Thought it was funny to see no one likes Santa Baby...maybe I should amend it. I like to sing it on karaoke in my best breathy Eartha Kitt voice.
The old Christmas songs are my favorite. Some of the new ones they come up with I can do without, but all in all, I enjoy most of them.
staniszeski3824@comcast.net
I really like Jingle Bells. It's really catchy and upbeat and I actually remember the lyrcis for it.
My favorite is Oh Holy Nigh!!! and i dnt think i hate any song in particular so i just go along the flow whenever christmas songs r playing. would love to win SEX, LIES & MISTLETOE by Tawny Weber!!! :)
My favorite is the soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas. The soundtrack from Elf is pretty good too!!!
I love Blue Christmas.
But what I hate, hate, hate are the commercials where they take a Christmas song and change to words to thier product.
LOL, Kristina! Don't watch the link I posted, then *g* I don't like when someone changes a traditional song (as far as the melody goes) but I don't have a problem with tweaking the lyrics :-)
My family loves them all, too, Crystal! Which is why I don't start listening to them until at least Dec 1 or I get sick of them before Christmas gets here *g*
I'm Canadian and this is off topic but I hate it when some singer thinks they can improve on The Star Spangled Banner or Oh Canada. The extra bits they add in just send me bonkers.
LOL, Kaelee! This is one of my husband's pet peeves, too. I agree with you both - I like those old favorites to sound traditional.
Bob River's The Twelve Pains of Christmas is a hoot. The rigging up the lights guy is my favorite.
Hey again, Tammy *g*
I do know of that song and I have laughed hearing it :-)
Finally, I am reading A Marine for Christmas right now. What a wonderful story.
Thank you so much! I'm thrilled you're enjoying the story!
Hey, Virginia!
It's hard to choose a favorite when there are so many good ones *g*
Liz, I've never heard "Christmas in Dixie" or "Hard Candy Christmas". I shall have to look them up *g*
Tawny's fabulous, isn't she? Though I wouldn't want to live like her (she stays up way too late for me *g*) I would love living next door to her!
The Eartha Kitt version of "Santa Baby" is the best one. And I wouldn't mind seeing your karoake version of it ;-)
Love most Christmas songs.
My Fav Christmas song - Natividad by June Van Harvie. Youtube has a copy. This was the most requested Christmas song until radios went digital. Never released as a tape or CD. Also like O Holy Night if the singer can hit the high notes... sigh... Christmas carolling singing Silent Night and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem under the stars on a dark crisp evening. And any children's choir singing Away in a Manger.
Beth,
Rocking Around the Christmas Tree gets me singing, but my all time favorite is Silent Night. I never get tired of it.
Some of the new ones they come up with I can do without, but all in all, I enjoy most of them
Hi, Dawn,
I'm not a fan of newer songs but I can understand why some people like them. After all, even all of our old favorites were new at one time *g*
Good point, Na! I'm usually spot on with lyrics for at least the first two verses and then I'm lost *g*
i just go along the flow whenever christmas songs r playing.
Hey, Zehra! That's a good way to be, I think - both with Christmas songs and in life :-)
Gwen, we love Elf! I don't have the soundtrack yet but I've been thinking about picking it up. It has some great songs *g*
Hey, runner10!
"Blue Christmas" is a great song :-)
And any children's choir singing Away in a Manger.
Linda, you're so right - love the sound of a children's choir singing this! And "Silent Night" *g*
We haven't had carolers in years. I do miss them!
Rocking Around the Christmas Tree gets me singing
Me, too, Linda! Our Dancing Santa plays it and we all love it :-)
Beth, I would really prefer never to hear again the Porky Pig version of Blue Christmas. Yikes. :-) I just finished reading Sex, Lies and Mistletoe and it was FABulous!!
O Holy Night is my all time favorite, but I love most Christmas carols that have to do with The Child being born. The funny one's are OK, but I don't like them played over and over again. I too hate the Christmas commercial lyrics set to real Christmas carols.
I love Christmas music :-) Any music, all music, anyone singing. I'm just a big gooey mess about the holidays.
And thank you, Beth, for sharing one of my books :-D You're a sweetie.
My favorite is 'It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,' because it was the recessional for Christmas Eve service. I sang in the choir in middle school and this came at the end of the pageant. After belting out five verses, we would go home and get ready for bed, ready for the total excitement of Christmas morning.
I'm a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas Carols. I love OH HOLY night best. It's incredibly beautiful.
Beth, I don't have a favorite song or movie. I do know I already cried this year when Clarence got his wings! Great post!
I'm guessing that if you don't like the "reindeer" song, you probably don't like Adam Sandler's "Chanuka (Hanukka) Song" either. I can handle it once a season and that's enough for me.
I am a traditionalist. I play my Bing Crosby Christmas CD several times a day, several days a week, leading up to Christmas. I also play Burl Ives' Christmas CD, including A Holly Jolly Christmas several times (but I skip his rendition of White Christmas, as it seems sacrilegious), and won't turn the channel away should I hear his voice on the "Rudolph" animated original movie.
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