# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/41 "2015-12-01T23:04:59Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 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. The version by Barry Manilow and KT Oslin is not bad, but the version by Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel ain’t good. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/42 "2015-12-01T23:13:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis, although I really love the version by The Ronettes Huh uh, the [original, by the Boston Pops and Arthur Fiedler.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9jKyI6N9rg) [Rolling Stone’s Top Rock Christmas Songs](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/the-greatest-rock-and-roll-christmas-songs-20101216) prefers the [Christmas Waltz by She and Him](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVaFoAIVzok). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/43 "2015-12-01T23:16:16Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I’d say Dean Martin owns **Baby, It’s Cold Outside**. 100% agree. There many great versions of this song but Dean’s is the best. ---
**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 1, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/44 "2015-12-01T23:56:04Z")
Y’all don’t listen to the same Christmas music that I do, apparently. from Harry Belafonte’s _We Wish You a Merry Christmas_: 1. A Star in the East 2. The Gifts They Gave 3. Jehovah, Hallelujah, the Lord Will Provide 4. Mary Had a Little Baby (Glory Be to the Newborn King) 5. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day from the Firestone Vol 4 Christmas album: 1. Angels We Have Heard on High — James McCracken 2. The Christmas Song — Julie Andrews 3. The Bells of Christmas — Julie Andrews 4. I Wonder as I Wander — Dorothy Kirsten from the Goodyear Christmas albums: 1. Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine — New Christy Minstels 2. Ave Maria (Schubert ver) — Isaac Stern (on cello) 3. Do You Hear What I Hear? — Andy Williams 4. Go Tell it On The Mountain — Brothers Four from the Rutter Christmas album: 1. The Wildwood Carol 2. The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol 3. Sans Day Carol (Cherry Tree Carol) Courtesy of the Cambridge Singers: 1. The Wassail Song (Vaughn-Williams) York Minster Christmas Music album: 1. Coventry Carol 2. In Dulci Jubilo (Good Christian Men Rejoice) from Christmas at Baylor, televised 2004: 1. Cradle Song 2. Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming 3. Good Christian Men / First Noel Medley 4. Estampie Natalis from Jessye Norman’s _Christmastide_ album: 1. O Come O Come Emmanuel from Gloria Estefan’s _Christmas Through Your Eyes_: 1. I’ll Be Home for Christmas ---
**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/45 "2015-12-02T00:06:38Z")
I know it isn’t a true Christmas song, but growing up through the 50s to 70s, Christmas time was the only time I remember hearing “Ave Maria”, so I associate it with the holidays. Many people have done it well, but around my house, it was never really officially Christmas until we heard Perry Como sing it on his annual Christmas specials. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/46 "2015-12-02T00:18:28Z")
_Santa Claus is coming to Town_ - The Jackson 5 _The Night Santa went Crazy_ - Weird Al Yankovic _Santa Baby_ - Eatha Kitt ---
**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 2, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/47 "2015-12-02T00:23:27Z")
> [@stanger](#): > > I know it isn’t a true Christmas song, but growing up through the 50s to 70s, Christmas time was the only time I remember hearing “Ave Maria”, so I associate it with the holidays. Yeah, me too. Well, it’s Christmassy enough if my Latin is correctly interpreting it. It’s what Mary was told when God sent the angel to explain that He’d gotten her knocked up\* and stuff, right? - with himself, no less. that’s gotta play serious havoc with family history charts ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/48 "2015-12-02T01:12:30Z")
Mary, Did You Know - Pentatonix (I'm also partial to Hayley Westen's version) A haunting song, gives me goose bumps whenever it's played. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/49 "2015-12-02T13:34:46Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I’d say Dean Martin owns **Baby, It’s Cold Outside**. > [@White SIFL](#): > > 100% agree. There many great versions of this song but Dean’s is the best. The song’s smooth, smarmy, womanizing vibe was a perfect match for Dino’s Rat Pack personality. Sort of like how well the drunken playboy Tony Stark character was a perfect match for Robert Downey Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/50 "2015-12-02T13:38:23Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Yeah, me too. Well, it’s Christmassy enough if my Latin is correctly interpreting it. It’s what Mary was told when God sent the angel to explain that He’d gotten her knocked up\* and stuff, right? That’d make it a lot more Christmasy than some of these other songs whose only connection to Christmas is that they’re about snow or cold weather. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/51 "2015-12-02T19:26:10Z")
Oh, Tannenbaum - Nat King Cole ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/52 "2015-12-04T15:46:18Z")
> [@ace21496](#): > > White Christmas - The Drifters (Bing’s is a close 2nd) > O Holy Night - John Berry O Holy Night for me will always mean Luciano Pavarotti. ---
**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 4, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/53 "2015-12-04T17:11:33Z")
Is there a version of Jingle Bells that stands out? Maybe the [Frank Sinatra](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gT7yBqdBZw) version? ---
**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 4, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/54 "2015-12-04T17:26:52Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Is there a version of Jingle Bells that stands out? Maybe the [Frank Sinatra](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gT7yBqdBZw) version? That’s the J-I-N-G-L-E Bells version, right? Yeah, I’d accept that. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/55 "2015-12-06T06:52:36Z")
O Tannenbaum - [Men of the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt1IOz6IeqA) Carol of the Bells - [Robert Shaw Chorale](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40lRfPrHn-s) I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas - [Stan Freberg/Karmatoons](http://www.karmatoons.com/christmas/xmas09.htm) (click on the image, the .mov file may take a few seconds to load) Go, Tell It on the Mountain - [Mahalia Jackson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq5aEwtvdRI) > [@running\_coach](#): > > While not the definitive version, the video of [_Mary’s Boy Child/O My Lord_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxm1FlLSfe4) by Boney M can’t be topped. De Paur Chorus [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-3dBmBfCCk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-3dBmBfCCk) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/56 "2015-12-06T07:03:34Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > **Christmas (Baby please come home)** - Darlene Love Anybody know if Colbert is going to continue the tradition? I think it’s one of the great moments on TV each year. ---
**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 6, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/57 "2015-12-06T12:52:28Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > 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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1m--UmRngY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1m--UmRngY) Thank you for providing the link to her version; it saves me the trouble of doing it myself. Hers is a perfect example of singing the song WRONG. Note that at the end of each verse, she repeats the previous couplet. This is WRONG, and should not be countenanced. The only right way to sing this song is by ending each verse with _Hark! The herald angels sing/Glory to the new-born King._ No flogging issued. ---
**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 6, 2015, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/58 "2015-12-06T13:26:33Z")
> [@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. And thank YOU for the word “necruduet.” I’m busting that one out the next time Cyndi Lauper and Sinatra sing _Santa Claus is Coming to Town_. ---
**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 6, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/59 "2015-12-06T18:17:13Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > And thank YOU for the word “necruduet.” I’m busting that one out the next time Cyndi Lauper and Sinatra sing _Santa Claus is Coming to Town_. Strictly speaking, that one’s not a necroduet. The Sinatra part of the song is (most likely…I can’t find a definitive answer) from an older recording, but Sinatra was still alive when the song was released on the A Very Special Christmas 2 album in 1992. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088/60 "2015-12-06T18:33:57Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Thank you for providing the link to her version; it saves me the trouble of doing it myself. Hers is a perfect example of singing the song WRONG. Note that at the end of each verse, she repeats the previous couplet. > > This is WRONG, and should not be countenanced. The only right way to sing this song is by ending each verse with _Hark! The herald angels sing/Glory to the new-born King._ Oof. I see what you mean. It’s not a “definitive version” of a song if it gets the lyrics and/or melody wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-versions-of-christmas-songs/739088.md?page=4)