Okay, help me put together a nice, eclectic holiday mix that doesn’t sound like the ones currently blaring from every mall’s sound system. So far I’ve got:
Alvin and the Chipmunks- The Christmas Song
Ramones- Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight)- this one I listen to year 'round
The Darkness- Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)
Marilyn Monroe-Santa Baby
I’m looking for anything unconventional (or conventional and beautifully done e.g. some really nice choir music). So gimme your best.
Blitzkrieg’s Santa, though it’s about a pedophile santa.
There’s also Tales from the Crypt Christmas album if you want some songs with new lyrics set to classic songs. I can’t wait to get this out for this year.
Jethro Tull - ‘Ring Out Solstice Bells’ Steeleye Span - ‘The Miseltoe Bough’ and ‘The Unconquered Sun’ (Both from their Christmas album ‘Winter’. What the hell - Buy the album.)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: The Carpenters version. One of the local stations has started playing Christmas music non-stop, and I’ve willingingly suffered through the usual caroling crap just to hear this absolutely gorgeous song. But only this version, or the original.
O Holy Night. Beautiful song if you can catch someone singing it straightforwardly; ie, without any of that stupid melisma shit. And no copping out on the high note at the end.
Carol of the Bells by Mannheim Steamroller.
Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton. I don’t care if it’s really a Christmas carol, I want to hear it!
**No Place Like Home For The Holidays ** - Karen Carpenter
**Wonderful Christmas Time ** - Paul McCartney The Chipmunk’s Christmas Song
from The Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
**Christmas All Over Again ** - Tom Petty
**Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree ** - Peggy Lee
all the Boby Rivers Troupe stuff: 12 Pains Of Christmas Walkin’ 'round in Women’s Underware The Chimney Song The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen
both of Adam Sandler’s Chanukah Songs
and many many others
Can anyone recommend a version of “Silent Night” sung in the original German (“Stille Nacht”)? Choral version is fine, but I am curious if there are any definitive solo versions sung by German-speaking artists?
For sheer lungpower, you can’t beat the Mormon Tabernacle Choir doing O, Come All Ye Faithful.
For goosebumpy, thrilling beauty, try EmmyLou Harris singing Light In The Stable.
For good old classic feelgood, Bing Crosby is the touchstone of White Christmas. He also has a fine Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) with the Andrews Sisters singing backup.
I’d better stop, or I’ll be here all day. I have at least 40 Christmas music albums.
It gets plenty of play in the New Orleans area during the holidays. I’m not positive if it will have universal appeal. But even if the New Orleanian in-jokes are unfamiliar, the way the song is performed is like a little play in itself – the characters and their deliveries are hoots.
I’m another who only likes traditional Christmas carols.
I like Gaudete (Rejoice), which is a Latin carol from the Renaissance. It’s very traditional and chorus-y, or at least it is on the version I have. I’d never heard it before until a few days ago. It’s nice to listen something that hasn’t been played to death.
I also like O Holy Night, We Three Kings, and What Child Is This.