# Christmas Songs: The Best And The Worst? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2008, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219 "2008-12-08T07:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/1 "2008-12-08T07:50:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/2 "2008-12-08T07:53:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/3 "2008-12-08T07:56:49Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > 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 still want a Hooola hooop ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/4 "2008-12-08T08:04:39Z")
_We can hardly stand the wait, please Christmas don’t be late_ Your welcome ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/5 "2008-12-08T08:05:16Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4AuQHmtgpM) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/6 "2008-12-08T08:10:41Z")
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. ---
**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 8, 2008, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/7 "2008-12-08T08:21:25Z")
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. ---
**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 8, 2008, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/8 "2008-12-08T08:22:04Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > 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. Jack Jones is responsible. His Christmas record was the first one that used _My Favorite Things_, with some jingle bells in the background. Sorry, I can’t find a cite. I heard it on the radio last Christmas. ---
**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 8, 2008, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/9 "2008-12-08T08:40:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/10 "2008-12-08T14:40:10Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Otherwise, _The Christmas Shoes_ is the worst. And _Green Chri$tma$_ is the best. _The Christmas Shoes_ is not simply the worst Christmas song. It is the worst song ever. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/11 "2008-12-08T14:42:38Z")
Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” is the worst. Shame on him for inflicting this dreck on the world. I’m partial to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” as well as Sarah McLachlan’s version of “River.” Neither of which are technically xmas songs. I also admit that I get a kick out of the barking dogs version of “Jingle Bells.” _ducks_ ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/12 "2008-12-08T14:50:19Z")
Worst-“Grandma got ran over by a reindeer” Ugh. Dumb novelty song that I thought would disappear the same year it came out. Sound like it came off a skit from Hee-Haw. yuk-yuk. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/13 "2008-12-08T15:03:04Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > _The Christmas Shoes_ is not simply the worst Christmas song. It is the worst song ever. I’m **jayjay** and I endorse this message. That’s the one song that will make me _voluntarily_ switch the channel from the 24-hour Christmas music station. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/14 "2008-12-08T15:40:25Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Worst-“Grandma got ran over by a reindeer” > > Ugh. Dumb novelty song that I thought would disappear the same year it came out. Sound like it came off a skit from Hee-Haw. yuk-yuk. 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! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/15 "2008-12-08T15:45:25Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” is the worst. Shame on him for inflicting this dreck on the world. John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” is not that great either. ---
**Author:** ![Sonnenstrahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/16 "2008-12-08T15:54:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/17 "2008-12-08T16:02:27Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/18 "2008-12-08T16:22:35Z")
My favorite: Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” My least favorite: I second (or third or fourth at this point) “Grandma got run over by a Reindeer.” Just garbage. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/19 "2008-12-08T16:23:35Z")
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 f_ck_r. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/20 "2008-12-08T16:23:49Z")
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](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/christmas-songs-christmas-carol-lyrics.html') 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219.md?page=2)