# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/21 "2008-12-08T16:25:08Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > … > > And my favorite will always be “O Holy Night,” especially if the singer can nail that high note. I agree. I am partial to the classic religious songs even though I am not religious these days. Part of it is probably because I spent a few years in the church folk group and I just enjoyed singing these songs. Angels We Have Heard on High, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful), I can still remember most of the Latin words. Worst song: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer I’d probably also add Christmas Shoes, except I have had the great joy of never having heard it … so far. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/22 "2008-12-08T16:31:53Z")
I look a good deal of hristmas songs. I love the version of “God Rest ye Merry Gentleman” by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLoughlin… My least favorite- and this is probably only known to people up here in Oregon and Washington- and the rest of you should be extremely thankful- is a giant cheeseball of a song called “Christmas in the Northwest.” I shouldn’t hate it so much because I’m pretty sure the whole thing is a charity deal. But damn- this song is awful. To make matters worse- my wife loves it. \ _Christmas in the Northwest Is a gift god wrapped in greeeeen_ gaaaaah! ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfyre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfyre/32/9972_2.png) [@Shadowfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/23 "2008-12-08T16:34:59Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And my favorite will always be “O Holy Night,” especially if the singer can nail that high note. This. I don’t know how many versions I have of this song by so many different people. It always gives me goosebumps. As for the worst, I can’t believe no one has mentioned _Feliz Navidad_ by Jose Feliciano. The entire song is two phrases repeated over and over and over and over and over and… OMG! Does this song ever end? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/24 "2008-12-08T16:37:04Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And my favorite will always be “O Holy Night,” especially if the singer can nail that high note. [The singer of this version nails the high note like it’s a dockside hooker on the last night of shore leave.](http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2007/12/o-holy-night.html) (In other words, it’s herpetic and pustulent.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/25 "2008-12-08T16:39:49Z")
Since I first heard it sung by my high school glee club many years ago, I’ve always loved “Carol of the Bells” (“Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away…”) It has a lovely sense of, I don’t know, both urgency and yearning that immediately hooked me. Recently I’ve also fallen for “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey (I’m not a big MC fan, but she totally hits that song out of the park), and “We Three Kings” as sung by The Roches (with a bizarre but wonderful Tex-Mex/klezmer twang to it). Worst Christmas song? “Jingle Bells,” as barked by those damn dogs. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/26 "2008-12-08T16:48:56Z")
> [@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. It was a “funny-_once_” moment. As for Alvin, the under 8 set discover it anew each year and really enjoy it. It’s never to be played whenever someone under 8 is not raptly listening to it. Y0u have all listed many of my faves, but I add “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin, and for an entire album ; \*Claymation Christmas Celebration \* ---
**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, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/27 "2008-12-08T16:49:35Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Since I first heard it sung by my high school glee club many years ago, I’ve always loved “Carol of the Bells” (“Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away…”) Heh…you reminded me of one of my favorite Christmas song _spoofs_, Carol of the Old Ones… ---
**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 8, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/28 "2008-12-08T16:51:07Z")
Best religious – “Do You Hear With I Hear.” Second place: the Bowie/Crosby “Little Drummer Boy.” Best novelty – [“Ol’ Fatso”](http://poparchivesblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/augie-rios-ol-fatso-obscure-christmas.html) by Augie Rios, which hasn’t been heard on the radio in a couple of decades. Second place: my sig. Worst – hard to top Christmas Shoes. Even the very _concept_ of it wants to make me cringe. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/29 "2008-12-08T17:06:17Z")
Best - Toss up between _Do you Hear What I hear?_ from the CMT Christmas Album.Beverley Mahood, Jason McCoy, Michael Burgess, Adam Gregory & Julian Austin. It’s a great version and gives me goosebumps. Or _Silent Night_ - sung by my church’s band last Christmas. I actually got a little choked up. Funniest for me is _The Twelve Days of Christmas_ sung by the Muppets. I love Beaker’s part. Worst - one of our radio stations has a version of _Blue Christmas_ sung by Porky Pig. It’s funny the first time, but by the fifth… ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/30 "2008-12-08T17:13:45Z")
My best _and_ worst Christmas song starts and ends with O Holy Night. If it’s sung well, it is heavenly. Most of the time, though, it is someone screeching their way through ripping the soul out of that song. If I ever rule the world, there will be strict laws implimented on who is and is not allowed to sing that song. Most choirs and pop singers: verboten. Josh Groban: okay. Also good: Christmas Rapping, the Crosby/Bowie duo, that recent Jamaican redo of Mary’s Boy Child. Also bad: Grandma Got Run Over…, Christmas Shoes, Santa Baby, I Wanna Hippo…, Alvin & Chipmunks, barking dogs, That Old Lang Syne, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa, etc. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/31 "2008-12-08T17:16:39Z")
> [@The\_Tof](#): > > I love the version of “God Rest ye Merry Gentleman” by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLoughlin… This is one of my recent favorites. Because it’s not a bunch of flash, it’s actual singing. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “Carol of the Bells” (“Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away…”) It has a lovely sense of, I don’t know, both urgency and yearning that immediately hooked me. > > Recently I’ve also fallen for “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey (I’m not a big MC fan, but she totally hits that song out of the park) I love the “Carol of the Bells” too - and also one that my high school choir used to do, “Still, Still, Still” and “Sing Gloria” I love wonderful harmonies (probably why I love the GRYMG above as well.) And although I don’t like MC now, I do like this Christmas song. I consider this part of her original “before I believed in my own hype” catalog of good. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > the Bowie/Crosby “Little Drummer Boy.” I love duets - especially seeming contrasts. That’s why I loved so many of the Tony Bennett and Santana ones as well. As far as my favorite albums, I’m old school. Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams and Burl Ives. Cause when Burl Ives sings - he just sounds like he’s having a good time! ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/32 "2008-12-08T17:21:04Z")
ooh - and if I was going to recommend an album for anyone looking, I would suggest [The King’s Singers “A Little Christmas Music”](http://www.amazon.com/Little-Christmas-Music-Kanawa-Singers/dp/B000002RRF/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_b) (link is to their CD on Amazon) They are an acapella group that I find to be just amazing. I think you would enjoy them! ---
**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, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/33 "2008-12-08T17:21:57Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > that recent Jamaican redo of Mary’s Boy Child. [Sooo not recent!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary%27s_Boy_Child_-_Oh_My_Lord) Boney M released “Mary’s Boy Child/O My Lord” in 1978. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/34 "2008-12-08T17:32:37Z")
For a solid year, every night at bedtime my son required me to sing the same four songs, one of which was Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland. (For the curious, the others were Edelweiss, My Old Kentucky Home and Surrey with the Fringe on top. Hey, he was 4.) I consider it a testament to my love for Walking in a Winter Wonderland that I don’t detest this song. Actually, I hate none of the four … and now that I think about it, it must have been more than a year because I continuing singing it to him through the subsequent Christmas and on into the next year. :eek: Good thing I like to sing. Also love: Sleigh Ride, 12 Days of Christmas (seriously!) and O Holy Night. Not that I can nail the high notes. Hate: The Paul McCartney one (they play it once an hour on the satellite christmas station. Gah!) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/35 "2008-12-08T17:35:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Sooo not recent!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary%27s_Boy_Child_-_Oh_My_Lord) Boney M released “Mary’s Boy Child/O My Lord” in 1978. Hey, off topic, but do you remember that version of the Our Father from around this time? (Maybe earlier, like '74?) I think it was an Australian nun, remember? My children were astounded to learn it was Top-40. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/36 "2008-12-08T18:20:40Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Sooo not recent!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary%27s_Boy_Child_-_Oh_My_Lord) Boney M released “Mary’s Boy Child/O My Lord” in 1978. Well, what radio nitwit hadn’t been playing it until recently, then? Sheesh. Is it just me, or does that record cover pic look very “Xanadu”? ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/37 "2008-12-08T18:33:58Z")
Somewhat off topic, but I am working at a new place this year, and most of my co-workers love “Christmas Shoes”. “I can’t listen to that song without crying; it’s _so beautiful_!” And I’m all, “Yeah, because the guy who wrote it was trying to pluck every heartstring you have, and he did it on purpose. It’s the most manipulative piece of shit ever written, and you fell for it!” Only I, you know, don’t say it out loud because I really like working here and I don’t want everyone to start hating me. Can’t wait until we aren’t playing Chrismas carols at work anymore, and I’ll just have to hope that “Butterfly Kisses” never becomes a topic of conversation. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/38 "2008-12-08T18:34:12Z")
Best: [ul] [li]O Holy Night[/li][li]What Child is This?[/li][li]I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – I love the traditional arrangement, but **Casting Crowns** has a good arrangement, too.[/li][li]A-Soalin’ (I think) – Peter, Paul, and Mary song, maybe a version of an old English carol?[/li][/ul] Worst: [ul] [li]I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus[/li][/ul] I’ve never heard either the Christmas Shoes one or Dominic the Donkey. RR ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/39 "2008-12-08T18:40:41Z")
> [@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. It was too mean-spirited for Hee-Haw. It’s just a stupid stupid song. Definitely the worst, I can’t turn the station fast enough when it comes on. And they even made a cartoon out of it. ---
**Author:** ![ZenDenizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/fbc32d/32.png) [@ZenDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219/40 "2008-12-08T18:46:58Z")
The Eurythmics version of Winter Wonderland is a pretty good tune. I actually like Madonna’s version of Santa Baby, it has just the right hint of naughtiness. Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses is cute, too. I’ll never tried of [Last Christmas](http://zen-denizen.blogspot.com/2006/12/last-christmas.html) by Wham! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-songs-the-best-and-the-worst/476219.md?page=3)