# Best/worst Christmas Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 18, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016 "2019-12-18T02:31:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/81 "2019-12-27T17:01:17Z")
Best - [“Other People’s Children”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbJTzKwTF44) by Meg Davis. Worst - [“Angels We Have Heard On High Rap”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=87&v=j0PIT8pkCfQ&feature=emb_logo) from Kirk Cameron’s movie "Saving Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/82 "2020-12-16T04:49:09Z")
Maybe the best and the worst? I just found out it existed a few days ago. The Fall performing _Hark! the Herald Angels Sing_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qU4dLGwfsqY/hqdefault.jpg "THE FALL - HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU4dLGwfsqY) It totally fits with the adage: Every Fall record sounds completely different, but every Fall record sounds undeniably like a Fall record. PS: Yes, Discord, I wanna bump it. Christmas comes but once a year! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/83 "2020-12-16T15:45:18Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > What, no loathing and contempt for “Christmas Don’t Be Late”, especially as sung(?) by the Chipmunks? Christmas music is more divisive than even A Horse With No Name! I love the Chipmunks! ALVIN! O-kay. Our local classical music station is playing orchestrated versions of a lot of modern songs (Rudolph as if it were composed by Mozart, that sort of thing), and they even did a version of Christmas Don’t be Late. That was…weird. There are several “worst” songs that are on my short list of favorites, and some favorites here that should be piurged from our collective memory. (Springsteen? Seriously? That song sucks so bad, even Bruce is laughing at how bad it is). It all probably depends on where you were or what your mood was when you first heard them. I still sing all the classics with the parody lyrics we made up in grade school. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/84 "2020-12-16T15:52:40Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Maybe the best and the worst? I just found out it existed a few days ago. The Fall performing _Hark! the Herald Angels Sing_ Holy crap, I love me some Fall, but that was tough sledding. > [@AHunter3](#): > > I tend to prefer the ones that don’t get a lot of airplay, the ones you don’t hear so often, more than the same-old played-999-times carols. > > Some of the GOOD… > > …Gaudete Christus Natus Est… … which actually got plenty of airplay back in Xmas of '73 in the UK. That rarest of things - [a hit single in Latin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mLGFLdsjFQ). j ---
**Author:** ![Neo-Calredic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@Neo-Calredic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neo-Calredic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/85 "2020-12-17T21:27:03Z")
Christmas Shoes is not only the worst Christmas song ever made, it’s a strong contender for the worst song ever recorded. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/86 "2020-12-20T21:13:17Z")
TBH I can’t stand most Christmas songs but for me the absolute worst is “Wonderful Christmas Time”. I do, however, like Joni Mitchell’s “River” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne” and I love Vince Guaraldi’s music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/88 "2020-12-21T07:48:19Z")
Two brilliant Christmas songs that make it almost seem okay: [White wine in the sun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q) - Tim Minchin [How to make gravy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYqIF2XkqKU) - Paul Kelly And today has become an unofficial Gravy Day, for people who like the song. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/89 "2020-12-22T11:34:02Z")
I am a chorister, so I tend to like something with a bit of harmony. My favourites: Choral: Bethlehem Down Shepherd’s Carol (not the Shepherds’ Farewell though that is great too) Other carols: In the Bleak Midwinter It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Christmas popular songs: Driving Home for Christmas 2000 miles Fairytale of New York Stop the Cavalry ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/90 "2020-12-22T11:59:49Z")
actually my favorite xmas album is by bad religion…when i bought it for my nephew i totally expected nothing but mr graffins talent for snark and parody to dominate … but they played the lyrics straight (except american jesus) … its all just done to hardcore punk music > **[Christmas Songs (Bad Religion EP)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Songs_(Bad_Religion_EP))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Christmas Songs is the third EP album by California punk rock band Bad Religion, released October 29, 2013 on Epitaph Records. It is their first full-length Christmas album, featuring eight covers of seasonal songs and an "Andy Wallace mix" version of "American Jesus". This is also the first Bad Religion album not to feature Greg Hetson on guitar since 1983's Into the Unknown, although he appears on "American Jesus", and the first time they record... ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/91 "2020-12-23T22:02:29Z")
[Night of Silence / Silent Night](https://youtu.be/YVvJ7MdbU5c?t=58) ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/92 "2020-12-23T22:07:38Z")
Worst: Twelve Days of Christmas Best: O Holy Night Favorite: [Frosty the Bluesman](https://youtu.be/zi-gaNjeVvk) ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/93 "2020-12-23T23:19:13Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > [White wine in the sun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q) - Tim Minchin Kate Miller-Hideke’s version is superior IMO. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PLp2DfsW5Cw/hqdefault.jpg "Kate Miller-Heidke - White Wine in the Sun") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLp2DfsW5Cw) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/94 "2020-12-23T23:45:44Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > TBH I can’t stand most Christmas songs but for me the absolute worst is “Wonderful Christmas Time”. > > I do, however, like Joni Mitchell’s “River” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne” > and I love Vince Guaraldi’s music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Hi Velo, Joni and Guaraldi are very nice, and a weekend ago I would have had no problem with your disdain for _Wonderful Christmas Time_. But. Two days ago my 26 y.o. daughter (who is a Beatles fan) asked me if I liked that song. I shook my head and said, Nah, too simplistic, too repetitive, doo doo doo doo wonderful Christmas time, doo doo doo doo wonderful Christmas time. And apparently she had been listening to it recently: “The keyboards are interesting.” So, a few hours later I [visited Youtube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=94Ye-3C1FC8) and gave a listen. The keyboards were 80s-ish synths, but they did have several fun bits during the song. The bridge sequence about, “The choir of children sing” was another bit of fun. I can still understand why someone views it as a net negative, but for the time being I’m seeing it as a net positive. B’god it’s a Christmas miracle. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/95 "2020-12-24T04:40:04Z")
Best: The Holly and the Ivy Carol of the Bells Good King Wenceslas We Three Kings Worst: Do they know it’s Christmas ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2020, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/96 "2020-12-24T05:18:56Z")
Thanks. That version was gorgeous! There’s also no substitute for “Adeste Fideles”, which is “O Come All Ye Faithful” in Latin, especially if Pavarotti was singing. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2020, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/97 "2020-12-24T12:03:22Z")
From King’s: Best version of _In the Bleak Midwinter_ [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPpy3XSk6c0) Best version of _Ding Dong Merrily on High_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZfX_2KiRFnQ/hqdefault.jpg "King's College Cambridge 2014 #14 Ding Dong Merrily on High arr Mack Wilberg") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfX_2KiRFnQ) ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/98 "2020-12-24T14:37:27Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > I can still understand why someone views it as a net negative, but for the time being I’m seeing it as a net positive. B’god it’s a Christmas miracle That is definitely something I will have to check out sometime Baal, bearing in mind that I got lambasted in another thread in which I said that I don’t like Paul McCartney’s singing (it didn’t go over well at all)😁 ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/99 "2020-12-24T17:27:22Z")
Probably my [favorite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdalBvgNAxI), it amuses me when I hear it in the stores, and most folks don’t have a clue what it’s saying. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/100 "2020-12-25T00:38:47Z")
My candidate for worst Christmas song is one not yet mentioned, and one I (thankfully) never heard until about five years ago, even though it’s from 1957. Even Frank Sinatra can’t save the utterly insipid “[Mistletoe And Holly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtSUTIc8TM4)”. This song has the awful rhyme: _Oh by gosh, by golly_ _It’s time for mistletoe and holly_ Which is topped by the even worse rhyme in the next stanza: _Oh by gosh by Jingle_ _It’s time for carols and Kris Kringle_ These crap lyrics are delivered by Frank in a slow, lugubrious manner. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016/101 "2020-12-25T03:47:37Z")
Another vote for “I believe in Father Christmas” by ELP as one of the best. The other is “Grandma got run over by a reindeer”. Honorable mention for “walking 'round in women’s underwear”. Worst: “I’ve got some presents for Santa”. Too trashy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016.md?page=6)