# Christmas songs that you like **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536 "2010-12-17T18:25:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@Chum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chum)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/21 "2010-12-17T22:38:26Z")
I tire of Christmas music pretty quickly, but I do have some lasting favorites: Wham’s “Last Christmas.” Seriously. I don’t know why. Sarah McLaughlan’s version of “Song for a Winter’s Night.” It’s lovely and occasionally gives me goosebumps. Amy Grant’s “Little Town.” I love her different melody. Bruce Springsteen’s “Merry Christmas Baby,” mostly for the nostalgia (my family played that Very Special Christmas tape over and over and over when I was little) and partly for the sassy saxophone. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/22 "2010-12-18T01:44:39Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > As sick as I am of Christmas music, and as silly as the stories are behind their rock operas, TSO’s music is awesome and they know how to put on a great concert. I go every year. > > That song was taken from a Savatage album called _Dead Winter Dead_ (about Christmastime in Sarajevo). Actually, lots of their songs and band members are from Savatage. If you like TSO’s Chrismas albums, you should check out Savatage for the rest of the year. WOW! just… wow. you were RIGHT. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/23 "2010-12-18T02:26:11Z")
I am mostly a traditionalist. I especially like Nat King Cole. I like Mindy Smith’s and Sufjan Steven’s Christmas albums, which contain some originals. I think I am the only person who actually likes Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. My favorite might be Merry Christmas From The Family by Robert Earl Keen. Finally, I recently discovered the world of Xmas mashups. The first one I heard was Roxanne vs. Rudolph (“Rudolph, you don’t have to turn on the red light…”) Utterly brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/24 "2010-12-18T02:46:29Z")
The Night Santa Went Crazy - ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic ---
**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 18, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/25 "2010-12-18T05:00:50Z")
Oh Holy Night. The first time I heard it sung by an operatic tenor it brought tears to my eyes. I’ve only had that reaction to a few voices. Also, O Come All Ye Faithful, Riu Riu Chiu (my cousin’s rendition), and Silver Bells because it reminds me of driving home from my grandparents house and seeing the city all lit up. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/26 "2010-12-18T09:31:07Z")
Lennon’s _Happy Xmas (War Is Over)_. It is about the only song I know of that manages both to be a true Christmas song, and still have some edge to it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/27 "2010-12-18T09:50:31Z")
[Putumayo World Music](http://www.putumayo.com/en/shop_catalog.php?category=46&submenu=S46) have an array of Christmas music with novel arrangements, unfamiliar instruments, world music songs that is a refreshing change. Even the boring old standards sound good. Listen to the track samples. I buy them for my sister-in-law. She is a school principal and plays them for the kids each year. ---
**Author:** ![Homo\_litoralis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homo\_litoralis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homo_litoralis)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/28 "2010-12-18T18:59:39Z")
[Christmas Wrapping](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyEztz6nY9Q&feature=related) by The Waitresses, 1981. That video link includes a relatively outrageous light display. The intricate lyrics make it an impossible sing-a-long, but it’s a thoroughly catchy pop-rock number, and the horn section is fantastic. The song starts off mildly cynical, but it’s actually a rambling love story. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/29 "2010-12-18T23:25:52Z")
Can I count the one about feeling like _“the only kid in town without a Christmas tree”_? Something about how _“you don’t need ‘Deck The Halls’ or ‘Jingle Bell Rock’…”_ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/30 "2010-12-19T00:29:07Z")
**[Christmas Time is Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ1Zu_vEBGs)**, as done by Dave Benoit **Carol of The Bells** , by most anybody **[Hey, Santa Claus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5zwHJ1Z4wI)**, by The Platters ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/31 "2010-12-19T00:38:59Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > The Night Santa Went Crazy - ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic If you like Weird Al, try **Christmas at Ground Zero**. My sister just sent me a link to the [Christmas Can Can](http://link.brightcove.com:80/services/player/bcpid1909243034?bctid=53156488001), and it’s a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/32 "2010-12-19T00:45:57Z")
[God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unVBTnJaQwA) by the Ian Anderson Band. mmm ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/33 "2010-12-20T19:20:17Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > [God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unVBTnJaQwA) by the Ian Anderson Band. I hard a live version of this by Tull on satellite radio (Deep Tracks, where else) the other night and loved it. Less flashy than the version you linked to. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/34 "2010-12-20T19:23:46Z")
[Christmas Must Be Tonight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8cwDqsqN2Q) by The Band. O Holy Night is good, but ONLY if sung by a male. (yes it’s sexist, but women can’t sing the song for crap). ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/35 "2010-12-20T19:34:53Z")
I’ll second “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses, and add everything from The Ventures [Christmas Album](http://www.amazon.com/Ventures-Christmas-Album/dp/B000002Z9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292873664&sr=1-1). Between the Ventures and [Tis The Season for Los Straightjackets](http://www.amazon.com/Tis-Season-Los-Straitjackets/dp/B00006JM99), my christmas cheer just comes bubbling up to the top. Also, John Lennon’s So this Is Christmas gets to me everytime I hear it. I absolutley love it, and can not listen to it all the way through withought tearing up. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/36 "2010-12-20T19:48:40Z")
I mostly go for non-traditional ones, like “Fairytale of New York,” both Weird Al X-Mas tunes, etc… Even the “traditional” ones I prefer to be a little off-kilter…I mean, everyone knows the single best Christmas album ever is John Denver and The Muppets. Rolf the Dog and John’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is damn near perfect…it captures a weird sadness and essence of loneliness…every time I hear it, I imagine an old soul, by himself on Christmas, staring into the fireplace and slowly sipping a scotch, wondering where all the time has gone and why everyone has passed him by. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/37 "2010-12-20T19:51:27Z")
I actually like most of them, new and traditional. About the only ones I don’t like are “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.” ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/38 "2010-12-20T20:01:28Z")
I rather liked Stephen Colbert’s “Another Christmas Song.” Very clever and cynical. And even though I’m not what you’d call much of a fan of rap music, Run-D.M.C.'s “Christmas in Hollis” has a nice groove to it. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/39 "2010-12-21T01:57:38Z")
[Answered here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13273013&postcount=9) ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536/40 "2010-12-21T03:57:03Z")
The Sufjan Stevens Christmas album, in particular his renditions of [O Come, O Come Emmanuel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UGaDcQcFKk)and [Hark the Herald Angels Sing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbNhgNTNWd8). I also like the [Christmas Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6LbNlUU5bk) by Dave Matthews and [Christmastime is Here (aka, the theme from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hajwg6kxpQ4) by Vince Guaraldi. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-that-you-like/564536.md?page=3)