# Definitive versions of Christmas Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088 "2015-12-01T03:00:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 1, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/21 "2015-12-01T17:30:52Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The real definitive version is by [John Denver and the Muppets](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MX43ynMvm0) > [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Nope - [Allan Sherman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jOG52PoZs0) What, no love for Bob Rivers’ “The12 Pains of Christmas”? ---
**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 1, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/22 "2015-12-01T17:32:13Z")
Well, Silver Bells is obviously Johnny Mathis. ---
**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 1, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/23 "2015-12-01T17:40:12Z")
[Hey Santa Claus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aETPuygYpMM), by The Moonglows [Christmas Vacation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK0dLH8HxPA), Mavis Staples [The Little Drummer Boy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT1fA59oH7Q), The Harry Simeon Chorale (there are a shitload of versions, but this is the one that was a hit) [Stille, Stille, Stille](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VcDms_tI40), Vienna Boys’ Choir ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/24 "2015-12-01T18:59:24Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Damn you, **cochrane**! For the rest of the day now I’m going to be singing: > OH! Come all ye FAITH FUL > JOY! > -ful and tri-uuuuuum-phant! Yeah, thanks a lot. Can’t un-hear that now! 😃 I’m prepared to be flogged for this but… Hark! The Herald Angels Sing- the Amy Grant version…love it. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h1m--UmRngY/hqdefault.jpg "Amy Grant - Hark ! The Herald Angels Sing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1m--UmRngY) ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/25 "2015-12-01T19:20:53Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > **The Christmas Song** –Nat King Cole Not Mel Torme? I’d say Dean Martin owns **Baby, It’s Cold Outside**. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/26 "2015-12-01T19:22:52Z")
A Marshmallow World - [Johnny Mathis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGslULtt70s) ---
**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 1, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/27 "2015-12-01T19:29:05Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I’d say Dean Martin owns **Baby, It’s Cold Outside**. I hate to call that one, though. If only because he doesn’t actually have a “name” female singer as his counterpart, but a chorus of nameless women (the Golddiggers?). Except for the Martina McBride necroduet, which I hate just for it being a necroduet. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/28 "2015-12-01T19:37:54Z")
[Frank Sinatra - The Christmas Waltz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaPDWMzYGw) – my all-time favorite! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/29 "2015-12-01T19:40:51Z")
> [@Southpaw](#): > > Sleigh Ride - Boston Pops instrumental version I used to think that but now find I prefer the original by Leroy Anderson. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/30 "2015-12-01T19:49:11Z")
[Elvis Presley Merry Christmas Baby (Full Length)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdhcFrPrzGE) – Favorite #2! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/31 "2015-12-01T19:51:32Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I’d say Dean Martin owns **Baby, It’s Cold Outside**. I disagree. I go with Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer. I’d actually love to hear Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett do the whole song. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/32 "2015-12-01T19:53:34Z")
Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley. ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/33 "2015-12-01T19:54:24Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > We’re missing these: > > Let it Snow > Santa Claus is Coming to Town > Deck the Halls > Here Comes Santa Claus > Baby It’s Cold Outside > Silver Bells > Hark the Herald Angels Sing > I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus > Carol of the Bells For Carol of the Bells, George Winston. Loreena McKennitt’s God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is fascinating, in a kind of Isis-Around- the-Christmas-Tree sort of way ---
**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 1, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/34 "2015-12-01T20:12:16Z")
It’s relatively new (the album only came out last year, I think), but Pentatonix’s Hark The Herald Angels Sing is one that stands out, probably right behind the one from Charlie Brown Christmas. HTHAS is one of those carols that doesn’t have a ton of commercial recordings. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/35 "2015-12-01T20:19:14Z")
> [@CT\_Damsel](#): > > A Marshmallow World - [Johnny Mathis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGslULtt70s) Myself, I’d go with the Darlene Love version on that one. ---
**Author:** ![ace21496](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@ace21496](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ace21496)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/36 "2015-12-01T20:24:47Z")
Silver Bells - Burl Ives or Perry Como it’s a toss up on that one for me I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - John Mellencamp - crazy but that’s the one I love Baby it’s Cold Outside - Ray Charles and Betty Carter Yes I have very eclectic taste in music. ---
**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 1, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/37 "2015-12-01T20:42:13Z")
[Deck Us All With Boston Charlie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46u50qJY0GM) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/38 "2015-12-01T21:39:04Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I hate to call that one, though. If only because he doesn’t actually have a “name” female singer as his counterpart, but a chorus of nameless women (the Golddiggers?). Except for the Martina McBride necroduet, which I hate just for it being a necroduet. That’s my objection to the Dean Martin version as well, the definitive version should have a single female voice. ---
**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 1, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/39 "2015-12-01T22:59:00Z")
I haven’t heard too many other versions, but I like the version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Brian Setzer and Ann-Margret. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/40 "2015-12-01T23:02:27Z")
Mele Kalikimaka – der Bingle, yet again [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088.md?page=3)