Listening to Christmas music on digital cable today, while putting up the tree and decorations, I was once again aware of how some Christmas songs are really good and others, well, aren’t.
From what I heard today:
BEST CHRISTMAS SONG: White Christmas by Bing Crosby - just the right touch of melancholy, yet brings back happy memories of Christmases past.
WORST CHRISTMAS SONG: The Chipmunk Song by Alvin and the Chipmunks was funny, once, when I was about 4 years old. It has been annoying ever since.
I have many favorites, so with permission I’m going to leave that off.
But my vote for worst is My Favorite Things - how the hell did that even become a Christmas song in the first place? In it’s original incarnation it was a song Julie Andrews sung to the children on a stormy night in the movie The Sound Of Music - not a damn thing to do with Christmas.
I’m partial to Do They Know It’s Christmas. I know there’s generally a hate around here for the more “secular” tunes, but I like that one for some reason. I’ve onyl heard two versions, only one of which I’ve likes (the Barenaked Ladies one), but it has a really nice tune… I don’t know something draws me to it. Still haven’t heard the original though.
(Also on my top list has to be Elf’s Lament by BNL as well, don’t mind the video, the song is hilarious).
Worst: Eh, White Christmas gets me homicidal, but I’m not feeling particularly venomous at the moment, I’m sure something will come to me eventually.
I like a lot of Christmas songs, but even the best song can get burned out by overplaying it.
The worst is when novelty Christmas songs get heavy rotation. The local Christmas station plays “Dominic the Donkey” at least three times each and every day between 8 and 5. It makes me very, very angry.
The one I personally loathe is “Hard Candy Christmas,” originally from *The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. *The basic message of the song is: “Ho hum, guess I won’t commit suicide this year after all.”
And my favorite will always be “O Holy Night,” especially if the singer can nail that high note.
Are we talkng best and worst songs, or best and worst recordings?
One of my favorite Christmas albums is by The Singers Unlimited. And one of my favorite cuts on that album is Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Gloria Estefan must have enjoyed their performance, too. Because when she went into the studio to lay down the same song, she paid the Singers Unlimited to perform the backing vocals.
I suspect that Gene Puerling and the gang laid down their track ahead of time, and Gloria recorded her part in the studio after the fact. Big mistake. Because she couldn’t keep the pitch for bupkes. I know deep in my soul that if Gene, Stan, Len, and Bonnie had heard her trying to match her vocals to theirs, they would have either refused to leave until she got it right, or they would have pulled themselves from the project.
Consequently, in my view, Have Yourself A Merry Litle Christmas is arguably both the best and the worst Christmas song of them all.
Otherwise, The Christmas Shoes is the worst. And Green Chri$tma$ is the best.
Absolutely. It has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever and the actual title is completely morbid and creepy, especially the first Christmas after your grandma’s death. I would give up a lot to ensure that this song was never heard again!
I love Fairytale of New York, though I had an argument with my roommate over whether it was a Christmas song (she also thought it originally came from the P.S. I Love You soundtrack… shudders).
Other than that, give me old-fashioned Christmas hymns. A recording that gets tons of airtime on the classical station I listen to is Loreena McKennitt’s Good King Wenceslas. Despite the over-saturation, I really like it.
I’ll give the fucking Christmas Shoes the worst ever title. It’s so obvious, though. Maybe the hippo song? Or I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Don’t know why, but that one makes me leave the store asap.
Heh…I’m beginning to think there’s something wrong with me. I LOVE the cheesy, corny stuff like I Want a Hippopotamus and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and Grandma Got Run Over and the barking dogs Jingle Bells and Dominic the Donkey!
I find “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause” to be truly morally reprehensible.
On one hand, I assume we’re supposed to understand that Daddy is dressed up as Santa to fool the kid & he’s getting a little smooch-time with Mommy thinking they’re alone. Kinda kinky but OK.
BUT as far as the kid knows, Mom’s getting it on with the Personification of the Spirit of Christmas & he thinks it’s a hoot! Especially IF Dad finds out! That is one twisted little fckr.
This atheist’s favorite Christmas song is God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen – I’ve just always liked it. Close second, Here Comes Santa Claus. Again, I just like it.
Worst? The Christmas Shoes is certainly a contender. I’d say, though, that glurge-wise the country song, Christmas Carol is even worse. here are the lyrics in case you don’t believe me.
However, for pure irritation power, I’ve got to say that fucking Santa Baby is the very worse fucking Christmas song ever.