# Christmas music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 19, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885 "2024-12-19T19:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/81 "2025-12-13T18:09:26Z")
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8QZJ_n1fgpA/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QZJ_n1fgpA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RD8QZJ_n1fgpA My favorite is this version of O Holy Night from Mom and Daddy. ---
**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 13, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/82 "2025-12-13T20:21:54Z")
Its that time of year when I and many others flog Tim Minchin’s _White wine in the Sun_ as the perfect Australian Christmas song and one of the most honest evocations of what its actually all about. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fCNvZqpa-7Q/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/fCNvZqpa-7Q?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDfCNvZqpa-7Q ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/83 "2025-12-13T20:35:17Z")
I really love Christmas music. My favorite piece, and perhaps my favorite piece of music, is from Handel’s Messiah “For unto Us a Child is Born:” ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/84 "2025-12-14T01:38:09Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > _White wine in the Sun_ When I first started listening it wasn’t what I expected but before I could click away, it hooked me. Good call. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/85 "2025-12-14T01:41:27Z")
_Night of Silence/Silent Night_ always beings me to tears. Maybe it’s simply the memories from when I sang it in choir so many years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/86 "2025-12-14T02:04:45Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > My hypothesis is that for a large majority of those that don’t like Christmas music, it’s the repetition / cliché that turns them off. Think of all those critics who say “it was a rehash of the original, so I give it a thumbs down” with regards to a sequel, even if they liked, or especially if they liked, the original. Those are probably the same people who don’t like Christmas music due to its repetition. I love actual Christmas music. There’s plenty of it that’s great. There’s enough that you could play nothing but great Christmas music for hours on end without ever repeating a song. I just hate the crap, mostly Boomer crap, that gets played nonstop this time of year just because it happens to mention a snowflake in passing. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Most of it is a cliche, the hate for “All I want for Christmas is You” seems to be based upon a marketing meme campaign. I don’t know anything about any marketing campaign, but all I can ever think when I hear that song is “That poor, poor man”. Because he’s probably going to think that she means it, and then he won’t even understand why he’s in the doghouse. And whether “My Favorite Things” is actually a Christmas song or not, at least it’s a good song, and the canonical version is by a good singer. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/87 "2025-12-14T03:16:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And whether “My Favorite Things” is actually a Christmas song or not, at least it’s a good song, and the canonical version is by a good singer. True, which is why I dont really mind hearing it during the season. ---
**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 14, 2025, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/88 "2025-12-14T04:55:57Z")
The Middle Aged Dad Jam Band does “Mr. Grinch”, and I love it. [GRINCH | Middle Aged Dad Jam Band feat. “Weird Al” Yankovic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLg38ZZJCP8) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/89 "2025-12-15T16:07:16Z")
Great version ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/90 "2025-12-15T17:44:21Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > That is one heck of a strange tune 🤣 I’m not sure if the tracks are still available for download anywhere but check out these compilations! _Holiday Freak-Out_ [![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-OVY3CKZCondKg8MBcJWKgKB0REHwL3ti4ffRbwqu114mqWksQTS_UGvtqX92t9CYFbLZ9iBqOeOL3r4u0-ip3FKx_NM-MFsBE5pRxPF5B4NUhA-uESXURN1cpcrit5OadTp5iQZjinV/s1600/holiday_freakout_2002_%2528otis_fodder%2529_-_B%255B2%255D.jpg) ](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-OVY3CKZCondKg8MBcJWKgKB0REHwL3ti4ffRbwqu114mqWksQTS_UGvtqX92t9CYFbLZ9iBqOeOL3r4u0-ip3FKx_NM-MFsBE5pRxPF5B4NUhA-uESXURN1cpcrit5OadTp5iQZjinV/s1600/holiday_freakout_2002_%2528otis_fodder%2529_-_B%255B2%255D.jpg) _Holiday Freak-In_ [![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C_eRkOeD8PUlJvePCKpIUWXtAuReXziQf0fAyprKeJUCR5JHB91jshXQYfv8muWAaH_r7Hcova5X630ud0uqqAk_tvab67tlrmZ92sTfedbH6mLmWBWbrqCsWL5gi7c7fi78trrC6BE7/s1600/holiday+freakin+2006+%2528otis+fodder%2529+-+B.jpg) ](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C_eRkOeD8PUlJvePCKpIUWXtAuReXziQf0fAyprKeJUCR5JHB91jshXQYfv8muWAaH_r7Hcova5X630ud0uqqAk_tvab67tlrmZ92sTfedbH6mLmWBWbrqCsWL5gi7c7fi78trrC6BE7/s1600/holiday+freakin+2006+%2528otis+fodder%2529+-+B.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/91 "2025-12-17T02:36:25Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > That is one heck of a strange tune 🤣 > > I’m not sure if the tracks are still available for download anywhere but check out these compilations! > > _Holiday Freak-Out_ > [https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-OVY3CKZCondKg8MBcJWKgKB0REHwL3ti4ffRbwqu114mqWksQTS\_UGvtqX92t9CYFbLZ9iBqOeOL3r4u0-ip3FKx\_NM-MFsBE5pRxPF5B4NUhA-uESXURN1cpcrit5OadTp5iQZjinV/s1600/holiday\_freakout\_2002\_%2528otis\_fodder%2529\_-\_B%255B2%255D.jpg](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-OVY3CKZCondKg8MBcJWKgKB0REHwL3ti4ffRbwqu114mqWksQTS_UGvtqX92t9CYFbLZ9iBqOeOL3r4u0-ip3FKx_NM-MFsBE5pRxPF5B4NUhA-uESXURN1cpcrit5OadTp5iQZjinV/s1600/holiday_freakout_2002_%2528otis_fodder%2529_-_B%255B2%255D.jpg) > > _Holiday Freak-In_ > [https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C\_eRkOeD8PUlJvePCKpIUWXtAuReXziQf0fAyprKeJUCR5JHB91jshXQYfv8muWAaH\_r7Hcova5X630ud0uqqAk\_tvab67tlrmZ92sTfedbH6mLmWBWbrqCsWL5gi7c7fi78trrC6BE7/s1600/holiday+freakin+2006+%2528otis+fodder%2529+-+B.jpg](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C_eRkOeD8PUlJvePCKpIUWXtAuReXziQf0fAyprKeJUCR5JHB91jshXQYfv8muWAaH_r7Hcova5X630ud0uqqAk_tvab67tlrmZ92sTfedbH6mLmWBWbrqCsWL5gi7c7fi78trrC6BE7/s1600/holiday+freakin+2006+%2528otis+fodder%2529+-+B.jpg) I know a few of these already. Some of them sound absolutely bizarre. I’ll have to explore this list over the holidays ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/92 "2025-12-17T15:27:07Z")
For transgressive Christmas music, you can’t beat [Lux Interior’s Christmas playlist.](https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZY1ytTG5KLniWaLo99ko4E9Ck66lw2nn) ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/93 "2025-12-17T15:41:19Z")
Thank you! Christmas is not complete without that, or without Fred Waring\* and the Pennsylvanians: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4gZ4poehCQ0/maxresdefault.jpg "'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gZ4poehCQ0) and [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FwM_E3rMh_s/maxresdefault.jpg "Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians – A Caroling We Go - Vinyl to Digital Recording") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwM_E3rMh_s) \*Fun fact: the bandleader is the inventor of the Waring Blendor. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/94 "2025-12-17T21:47:17Z")
Cthulhu! ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Dn3kSdEno3s/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dn3kSdEno3s?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDMMaRSMZmxR5cs ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/95 "2025-12-17T21:50:45Z")
That’s a video unavailable, for me. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/96 "2025-12-18T01:21:23Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Fred Waring\* and the Pennsylvanians: I only know of them from the Allan Sherman song _No One’s Perfect_. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/97 "2025-12-18T05:35:09Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Fred Waring\* and the Pennsylvanians: I didn’t have my glasses on and I read that as Fair Warning, and thought, ‘Van Halen has a Christmas record!? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/98 "2025-12-18T06:18:39Z")
I used to wrap presents for a Christmas project, and the people who ran it had a CD with a great song I’ve never heard before or since. It’s a female singer with a very deep contralto voice, and the lyrics that I remember were “Yes, it’s Christmas time / Oh, yes, it’s Christmas time! / (la la la la la la la la la I couldn’t understand that) / Oh, yes, it’s Christmas time!” Does that ring anyone else’s bell, no pun intended? Speaking of terrible music, one evening, a bunch of teenagers showed up to wrap gifts, and they put on a hard rock Christmas album that was AWFUL. I finally went to them and said something when I overheard a person at the next table say they were going to leave if the music wasn’t changed, and the people in charge admitted that they didn’t like it either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/99 "2025-12-18T21:12:25Z")
On “The Santa Clause” soundtrack. Loreena sings a lovely little song, full of wonder- The Bells of Christmas. Sadly, that recording is not available on any Mckennitt CD I can find, and the soundtrack CD is also hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885/100 "2025-12-20T19:45:07Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Fred Waring\* and the Pennsylvanians: I only know of them from the Allan Sherman song _No One’s Perfect_. I thought the same. “…and the Ray Charles Singers, who were made famous by their frequent appearances on the Perry Como show, and the Mormon Tablernacle Choir….”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/1011885.md?page=6)