# Carol of the Bells - new and different? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028 "2004-12-21T19:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/21 "2004-12-22T15:36:40Z")
The local radio stations play a version of this song (with an orchestral backup): [http://sherm.20megsfree.com/burgerking.swf](http://sherm.20megsfree.com/burgerking.swf) Unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/22 "2004-12-22T16:12:03Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Just about the only Christmas carol my son-in-law likes is the Carol of the Bells. My daughter suggested that for Christmas I could make him a compilation CD with a bunch of different versions of the song. I’m trying to figure out who’s done it, and I only came up with a few. Can anyone recommend any good versions? I’ll bet you can get him to dislike Carol of the Bells if you put the _South Park_ Mr. Mackey rendition on that CD. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/23 "2004-12-22T16:29:54Z")
[My Favorite](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/burgerking.html). Very moving. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/24 "2004-12-22T18:19:19Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Forget a capella and guitar versions, where can I find an all-bell version? Probably not what you have in mind, but on the video Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas (one of my personal faves) there’s an all-bell version. Quite nice, except for the wrong notes done for comedic effect. ---
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/25 "2004-12-22T19:02:32Z")
Also on iTunes, on the OC: Have a Very Merry Christmukkah, there is a guitar version by Phanton Planet that I enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/26 "2004-12-22T21:55:31Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Forget a capella and guitar versions, where can I find an all-bell version? [The Raleigh Ringers](http://www.rr.org/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi?page=cds.html) list “Catalonian Carol of the Bells” as one of the tracks on their Christmas CD. I’m not sure if that’s the same one or not, though. I have heard this group playing on the radio locally (including Carol of the Bells), and they’re excellent. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/27 "2004-12-23T01:26:34Z")
the don cossacks did carol of the bells many, many, years ago. my mum knew the group and i remember listening to the christmas album for years. i didn’t know there was an english version until 5th or 6th grade. the carol is on disc 2 track 6 it is called tchedrick. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001GL8/qid=1103764164/sr=1-3/ref=sr\_1\_3/002-1260017-0066453?v=glance&s=classical](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001GL8/qid=1103764164/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-1260017-0066453?v=glance&s=classical) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/28 "2004-12-23T16:30:33Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Probably not what you have in mind, but on the video Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas (one of my personal faves) there’s an all-bell version. Quite nice, except for the wrong notes done for comedic effect. I have **got** to get that on DVD. My videotape is just about worn out. I think that Claymation Christmas is fantastic. > [@MSUbulldogs101](#): > > My Favorite. Very moving. You’re a very sick person. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/29 "2004-12-23T16:41:42Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Forget a capella and guitar versions, where can I find an all-bell version? _A Claymation Christmas_ ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/30 "2004-12-23T16:43:44Z")
Dammit…I need to read everything before I post so I don’t end up looking like a dumbass. Again. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/31 "2004-12-24T18:17:53Z")
Thanks for the pointers on the all-bell version. ---
**Author:** ![Ooner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@Ooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ooner)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/32 "2004-12-24T23:49:58Z")
There is a version of Carol of the Bells by tomandandy on the Rules of Attraction soundtrack that is really edited to sound sort of backwards while still sounding like Carol of the Bells. A little hard to explain, but it’s a pretty interesting song. ---
**Author:** ![baronsabato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@baronsabato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baronsabato)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/33 "2004-12-25T02:17:15Z")
David Benoit does a super cool jazz piano version on [A GRP Christmas Collection](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000006L5L/103-2101382-2775829?v=glance) that I like a lot. “Carol of the Bells” is my favorite Christmas carol too by the way, and Dave Benoit’s interpretation, along with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra one, is my favorite version. ---
**Author:** ![baronsabato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@baronsabato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baronsabato)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/34 "2004-12-25T02:28:09Z")
Okay, so I checked and you can indeed get the Dave Benoit version of “Carol of the Bells” on iTunes. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/35 "2004-12-25T06:40:46Z")
As someone said, it’s a Ukrainian carol, originally in Russian. Our school choir just did it, with the original words. I don’t think it would be illegal for me to just send you an mp3 of us singing it. Not before Christmas, most likely, but maybe for next year… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/36 "2004-12-27T19:21:47Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > As someone said, it’s a Ukrainian carol, originally in Russian. Our school choir just did it, with the original words. I don’t think it would be illegal for me to just send you an mp3 of us singing it. Not before Christmas, most likely, but maybe for next year… That would be fantastic! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/37 "2004-12-28T06:14:13Z")
Okay, I’ll email it when I get home tomorrow night. Is the email in your SDMB profile still accurate? ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/38 "2004-12-28T06:54:44Z")
A Rubber Band Christmas did an all-plucked-rubber band version, about 1:30 long, very funny. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/39 "2004-12-29T02:39:22Z")
Erm. Nevermind about the email link. I’m bumping this thread too much, so IM me through AIM at “Kamikaze Hush” or email at dancinguy[at]linkline[dot]com - if you email put “Carol of the Bells” in the subject line so I don’t mistake you for spam. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028/40 "2004-12-29T06:18:13Z")
Go to [www.allmusic.com](http://www.allmusic.com) and put “carol of the bells” in the search box and choose “song” from the dropdown list. There’s 433 instances of the song with that title, plus dozens more under slightly variant titles. Should be a good list with genres listed for your assistance (to see genres, click on one of the “Carol of the Bells” links on the search results page). Did anyone mention the all-cat version? Not sure if the Guster reference above was that or what… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells-new-and-different/281028.md?page=1)