Definitive versions of Christmas Songs

[burpo_the_wonder_mutt]

@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.

[Rick_Kitchen]

Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis, although I really love the version by The Ronettes

Huh uh, the original, by the Boston Pops and Arthur Fiedler.

Rolling Stone’s Top Rock Christmas Songs prefers the Christmas Waltz by She and Him.

[Lucas_Jackson]

@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.

[AHunter3]

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:

6. Angels We Have Heard on High — James McCracken
7. The Christmas Song — Julie Andrews
8. The Bells of Christmas — Julie Andrews
9. I Wonder as I Wander — Dorothy Kirsten

from the Goodyear Christmas albums:

10. Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine — New Christy Minstels
11. Ave Maria (Schubert ver) — Isaac Stern (on cello)
12. Do You Hear What I Hear? — Andy Williams
13. Go Tell it On The Mountain — Brothers Four

from the Rutter Christmas album:

14. The Wildwood Carol
15. The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
16. Sans Day Carol (Cherry Tree Carol)

Courtesy of the Cambridge Singers:

17. The Wassail Song (Vaughn-Williams)

York Minster Christmas Music album:

18. Coventry Carol
19. In Dulci Jubilo (Good Christian Men Rejoice)

from Christmas at Baylor, televised 2004:

20. Cradle Song
21. Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming
22. Good Christian Men / First Noel Medley
23. Estampie Natalis

from Jessye Norman’s Christmastide album:

24. O Come O Come Emmanuel

from Gloria Estefan’s Christmas Through Your Eyes:

25. I’ll Be Home for Christmas

[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.

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.

[G0sp3l]

Santa Claus is coming to Town - The Jackson 5

The Night Santa went Crazy - Weird Al Yankovic

Santa Baby - Eatha Kitt

[AHunter3]

@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

[Wallet]

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.

[BrotherCadfael]

@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.

[Thudlow_Boink]

@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.

[Eutychus]

Oh, Tannenbaum - Nat King Cole

[Antinor01]

@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.

[Telemark]

Is there a version of Jingle Bells that stands out? Maybe the Frank Sinatra version?

[jayjay]

@Telemark

Is there a version of Jingle Bells that stands out? Maybe the Frank Sinatra version?

That’s the J-I-N-G-L-E Bells version, right? Yeah, I’d accept that.

[rowrrbazzle]

O Tannenbaum - Men of the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers

Carol of the Bells - Robert Shaw Chorale

I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas - Stan Freberg/Karmatoons (click on the image, the .mov file may take a few seconds to load)

Go, Tell It on the Mountain - Mahalia Jackson

@running_coach

While not the definitive version, the video of Mary’s Boy Child/O My Lord by Boney M can’t be topped.

De Paur Chorus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-3dBmBfCCk

[TonySinclair]

@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.

[kaylasdad99]

@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

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.

[kaylasdad99]

@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.

[jayjay]

@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.

[Thudlow_Boink]

@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.