Christmas is almost here, and that means Christmas music being played ad naseum.
What are the best/worst Christmas songs, in your opinion?
Worst-Christmas Shoes
Best: “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses.
I loved the song when it first came out in 1981. But it was very obscure and not heard all that often. But slowly, it began to become popular and now I hear it being used in commercials and elsewhere.
Worst is harder. It’s a toss up between “Last Christmas” and Madonna’s version of “Santa Baby” (Eartha Kitt, OTOH…)
Best- Gary Hoey’s rendition of “You’re a mean one Mr.Grinch”
The worst - and I hate to even bring it up, as it will infest the brains of all who read this - is that nastiest of earworms; that disgusting bit of treacle that pervades every shopping mall and retail outlet; yes, I’m talking about none other than…
FELIZ NAVIDAD!
Best: Silent Night
Worst: We Need A Little Christmas
I have a hard time coming up with best, but worst has to be Dominick the Donkey. Or maybe Christmas Shoes.
Best: All Alone on Christmas by Darlene Love
Santa Claus and His Old Lady by Cheech and Chong
Worst: Tough to say, none of them bother me.
You misspelled Thurl Ravenscroft.
Best: Fairy Tale Of New York. Worst: everything else.
Never heard of it.
And on your “recommendation”, I won’t be looking it up. 
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My people! I loathe this song. If I could buy up and destroy every trace of it, I would.
Best: I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake.
I loathe 98% of Christmas music played on pop radio this time of year, or in the stores. Most of it is excessively saccharine or annoyingly cheerful. Ugh.
But I can think of a couple of exceptions.
“Something about December” by Christina Perri.
More melancholy than sweet, with a beautiful, gentle piano melody.
“River” by Joni Mitchell. Very sad. A perfect antidote to the schmaltz of the season.
And I’ll probably get crucified for this one: “Do they Know It’s Christmas Time” by Band-Aid. I appreciate the mournful tone, especially at the beginning of the song. There’s some decent lines, including:
‘There’s a world outside your window
And it’s a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you’
OK, it’s not Dylan quality, but I appreciate the sentiment.
Worst: Last christmas, by Wham
Best: O holy night
Specifically-Jennifer Nettles.
This, x1000. The kid’s mother is on her death bed, and instead of being by her side, he’s out buying fuck-me pumps for her meeting with Jesus. And you just know he’s gonna take the money and buy drugs.
I love Christmas music.
My best:
Silent Night
I Wonder As I Wander
Panis Angelicus
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Bozrah (Who Is This That Comes From Far)
Carol of the Bells
Sleigh Ride
Worst: Christmas Shoes
I too have a hard time picking a favorite, but since several of the ones I’m partial to have been named, I’m going to piss everyone off (or earn their pity) by naming All I Want for Christmas is You < ducks and shields head from flying tomatoes>. It’s unadulterated, commercial Pop at its finest and I love it. It also helps that it’s the song being sung at the climax of one of my favorite movies. . . Love Actually.
The songs I hate are the popular ones aimed at children, i.e. Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, goddamn Holly Jolly Christmas :mad: But nothing, and I mean nothing makes me homicidal like the abomination that is some little twat singing about how she wants a hippopotamus for Christmas. I heard it for the first time a couple of years ago, though I understand it was made in the '50s(?). I think maybe it reared it’s ugly head in a commercial. I’ve never heard this Christmas Shoes that gets so much vitriol around hear but I’ll see your shoes and reaise you one hippo.
Worst: All of it. I fucking LOATHE Christmas music.
Not as bad as the rest:
Silent Night
Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake. Specifically this version.
My Worst with the Best follow-up is The Little Drummer Boy with The Annoying Drummer Boy
I wish it could be Christmas every day.
But my favourites are probably Merry Christmas Everybodyby Slade and Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea.