# Christmas songs that don't need to be redone. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370 "2016-12-22T15:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/1 "2016-12-22T15:05:31Z")
Not because you’re tired of hearing them, but because someone did a definitive version that can’t be improved upon. For instance, “The Christmas Song” should never be performed by anyone other than the Chipmunks. Any other version is just _wrong._ What else? ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/2 "2016-12-23T02:26:23Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Not because you’re tired of hearing them, but because someone did a definitive version that can’t be improved upon. > > For instance, “The Christmas Song” should never be performed by anyone other than the Chipmunks. Any other version is just _wrong._ > > What else? Actually, while that is and will always be the definitive version, I never liked it. It’s way too gimmicky. Last week I heard Kacey Musgraves sing it her way on an NPR album review and I thought it was really sweet and if I’d never heard the chipmunks I would have thought it was a very nice song. Of course, YMMV. [ul] [li]Nat King Cole sings The Christmas Song.[/li][li]The Eagles sing Please Come Home for Christmas.[/li][li]U2 is good and all, but Darlene Love sings Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).[/li][li]Gene Autry sings Rudolph. Period.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/3 "2016-12-23T02:56:13Z")
_Jingle Bell Rock_. Bobby Helms did the definitive version. I’ve heard Hall & Oates and the Brian Setzer Orchestra perform it, but they sound like the original. They didn’t do anything unique to it, just a slavish soundalike. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/4 "2016-12-23T02:59:52Z")
Call me old-fashioned, but I think [Christmas with the Devil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWKN-EYFxbs) should only be done by _Spinal Tap_. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/5 "2016-12-23T06:34:25Z")
“Christmas Shoes” should never be recorded again. In fact, it should never have been recorded at all. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/6 "2016-12-23T12:02:48Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > “Christmas Shoes” should never be recorded again. In fact, it should never have been recorded at all. Ditto “Christmas in America.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/7 "2016-12-23T12:23:44Z")
I think some posters are missing the point of this thread. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Not because you’re tired of hearing them, but because someone did a definitive version that can’t be improved upon. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/8 "2016-12-23T12:54:12Z")
The only version of White Christmas that should be allowed to exist beside Bing Crosby’s is The Drifters. All other versions, hit the road. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/9 "2016-12-23T13:34:56Z")
I actually was going to say Christmas Wrapping could only be done by the Waitresses, but I did hear a decent version from the Glee cast. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/10 "2016-12-23T14:39:12Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > “Christmas Shoes” should never be recorded again. In fact, it should never have been recorded at all. > [@cochrane](#): > > I think some posters are missing the point of this thread. You have to admit, there’s no way “Christmas Shoes” could be done better. There’s also no way it could be done any worse. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/11 "2016-12-23T14:53:43Z")
Judy Garland did the definitive version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. She was singing it as a character in Meet Me in St Louis. There’s a certain bittersweet poignancy that fits perfectly with the movie plot. (Parents want to move the entire family away from her hometown to NY). I’ve heard other versions. But imho none did it as well. It’s unlikely they ever will because they aren’t performing in that movie. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/12 "2016-12-23T15:03:15Z")
When [Elmo & Patsy](http://heavens-gates.com/fifties/files2014/elmo-patsy2.jpg) recorded \* grandma run over by a reindeer\*, they did the definitive version. You don’t hear many covers because it was done right the first time. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/13 "2016-12-23T15:03:49Z")
Eartha Kitt doing “Santa Baby.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/14 "2016-12-23T15:32:41Z")
Another one: “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” has to be done by Spike Jones and His City Slickers. I also has to be done with a lisp; otherwise the song is pointless. I can understand why more modern singers don’t want to do that – it can be construed as cruel and mocking a speech issue – but if you don’t want to do it, then don’t sing the song. ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/15 "2016-12-23T15:44:04Z")
“Merry Christmas, Darling” by the Carpenters. ---
**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 23, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/16 "2016-12-23T16:14:42Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Eartha Kitt doing “Santa Baby.” This, definitely. Thurl Ravenscroft is the only one to do “You’re a mean One, Mr. Grinch”. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/17 "2016-12-23T16:34:27Z")
_Fairytale of New York_ by the Pogues. (C’mon, don’t tell me none of you weren’t thinking about it.) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/18 "2016-12-23T17:20:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Judy Garland did the definitive version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. She was singing it as a character in Meet Me in St Louis. There’s a certain bittersweet poignancy that fits perfectly with the movie plot. (Parents want to move the entire family away from her hometown to NY). > > I’ve heard other versions. But imho none did it as well. It’s unlikely they ever will because they aren’t performing in that movie. I rather like the Pretenders’ version. Chrissie Hynde does have a nice voice. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/19 "2016-12-23T18:35:22Z")
[This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4w0_x5huO0) version of _The Cherry Tree Carol_ pretty much closes the book on reasons to record it. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370/20 "2016-12-23T19:11:02Z")
I’ve never understood why any song or movie ever needed to be redone. Special mentions that comem to mind: Nat King Coles “Chestnuts” Sinatra’s “Have yourself a merry” Harry Simeones “Drummer Boy” One of the best by a currently pop artist made for the season that never got any airplay in later years was “Christmas in Dixie” by Alabama. A nice smooth, well produced arrangement . . . [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOGZJvNa8S4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-dont-need-to-be-redone/775370.md?page=2)