# Favorite And Not-So-Favorite Christmas Songs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 3, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699 "2003-12-03T12:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/1 "2003-12-03T12:55:33Z")
So the season is upon us, and the Christmas songs are upon me like locusts. Really this is my favorite time of year, and since there is an individual genre of music devoted to Christmas, I tend to judge the Christmas songs more than I would other wise. This is partcularly true when I cannot seem to escape them. My favorite Christmas song of all times is Greensleeves. You may also know this as the instrumental version of What Child Is This. I will randomly find myself humming this song to myself, say, in the middle of June. I love it. I want to be buried to it. My second favorite Christmas song is from the Carpenter’s Christmas Album. Best. Christmas. Album. Ever. But for the life of me I cannot remember the title of the song right now. If I do remember it, I will post it. My least favorite Christmas song is Paul McCartney’s All The Children Sing. It may actually go by a different title. It is the tediously annoying song with the children in the background. Yuck. Despite being a huge Beatles fan, this song was obviously done by Paul because he lost some sort of bet. And, you know what? My second least favorite song is actually Felix Navidad. I know, I know. It’s classic. It’s ingrained. I just happen to find it annoying. Honorable Mention: So This Is Christmas by John Lennon. It always makes me pause when I hear the opening bars of the song. ---
**Author:** ![Titan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Titan2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Titan2)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/2 "2003-12-03T14:33:03Z")
Oh Holy Night.Sung by a tenor who doesn’t cheat on the high notes. Least favorite,either Jingle bell Rock (hate that one-from when it first came out) or Richie Petrie singing “Little Drummer Boy” in the DVD christmas show.His singing talents matched his acting shrieks. ---
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/3 "2003-12-03T14:55:39Z")
By the way, I have to correct a typo. It’s Feliz Navidad, not Felix Navidad. I have no idea if the cat actually likes Christmas or not. Oooo, Little Drummer Boy. Good tune. Good choice. I am as of yet undecided on Merry Christmas Serajevo (sp?). Part of me thinks it is cool, but another part of me thinks it is a huge blasphemization of the original song. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/4 "2003-12-03T15:05:20Z")
Favorites: White Christmas and Winter Wonderland(? not sure if that’s the title). Least: Grandma got run over by a reindeer. I kind of liked this the first 1,342,831 times I heard it, but now I just want to put a pen through my eardrums. ---
**Author:** ![myrnajean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@myrnajean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myrnajean)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/5 "2003-12-03T16:34:40Z")
Rusty Chevrolet. Lyrics here: [http://www.hugelyrics.com/lyrics/100218/Da\_Yoopers/Rusty\_Chevrolet/](http://www.hugelyrics.com/lyrics/100218/Da_Yoopers/Rusty_Chevrolet/) ---
**Author:** ![Bucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/6 "2003-12-03T16:45:29Z")
Chicago, “Greensleeves” is not an instrumental version; it has lyrics. But it is lovely. “O, Holy Night” (with a baritone, thanks) is one of my faves. EVIL LUMP-O-COAL SONGS “Sleigh Ride” in the recent “snappy” version–who recorded this? “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”–arrgh! “Jingle Bell Rock”–Die already!!! ANY and ALL parodies of “The 12 Days of Christmas” (with the exception of Bob and Doug). Most recent recordings of any good old song. Grrr! P.S. As a lad, I thought that “Feliz Navidad” was about a very snobby dog. May you have the snobbiest dog EVER! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/7 "2003-12-03T16:46:28Z")
Ella Fitzgerald singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” or George Pinelli singing “O Holy Night.” BTW, George is a member of my church and every year at midnight service I try to get right in front of him - the man can really sing. Just beautiful. If I never hear the barking dogs doing “Jingle Bells” again, I’ll be OK with that. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/8 "2003-12-03T17:02:55Z")
Favorites: [ul] [li] **God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman** (Mannheim Steamroller’s rendition really kicks)[/li][li] **O Holy Night** [/li][li] **Deck the Halls** [/li][li] **Silent Night** (Mannheim Steamroller also does this one really nicely)[/li][li] **Winter Wonderland** [/li][li]Sleigh Ride[/li][/ul] Least favorites: [ul] [li] **All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth** [/li][li] **Little Town of Bethlehem** This song has never sounded “Christmas-y” to me and just doesn’t fit the genre.[/li][li] **Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.** Christmas can be a depressing time for people who are alone and not with family. This song just seems to intensify that particular mood.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![vsquist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/58956e/32.png) [@vsquist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vsquist)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/9 "2003-12-03T17:10:47Z")
I have too many favorites to choose just one. The top three are: O Come, O Come Emmanuel, O Holy Night, and White Christmas. Though I will say that the Muppets’ version of The Twelve Days of Christmas should be mentioned. Beaker’s “me-me-me-me-me-me” is priceless. Least favorite: “Daddy, Please Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas” by John Denver. I have no idea what he was thinking! ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/10 "2003-12-03T17:30:27Z")
Joan Baez did a Christmas album entitled “Noel”. Quite excellent, very tasteful. Mmy biggest complaint about most secular (and more than a few religeous) Christmas songs is just how tasteless and tacky they are – The Carol of the Bells is almost the only decent secular carol. ---
**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 3, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/11 "2003-12-03T18:00:30Z")
Faves: “Christmas Time is Here” (David Benoit’s version), and “Stille, Stille, Stille” by the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Least: any novelty song, particularly ones based on “The 12 Days of Christmas”. ---
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/12 "2003-12-03T18:04:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bucky \* > \*\*Chicago, “Greensleeves” is not an instrumental version; it has lyrics. But it is lovely. > \*\* How right you are. I never realized it, but the original title to the song was, “A new Northern Dittye of the Lady Green-Sleeves.” The lyrics are quite not a Christmas song at all. The lyrics actually come from a different source called, “A Handful of Pleasant Delights.” It was given new lyrics and renamed to, “What Child is This,” after the Civil War by William Chatterton Dix. I guess you learn something new everyday. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/13 "2003-12-03T18:33:39Z")
Favorites: 1. The Little Drummer Boy (David Bowie and Bing Crosby version) 2. Leroy the Redneck Reindeer 3. Dominick the Donkey (2 and 3 are just cute, they make me laugh) 4. The Ukranian Bell Carol (I’ve heard it called many things. This is the one that sticks in my mind) 5. Anything by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Least Favorites: 1. Those annoying Christmas love songs that all artists feel this strange urge to do. 2. Jingle Bells (the real version and the annoying ones kids make up) 3. Feliz Navidad ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/14 "2003-12-03T19:00:21Z")
Most Favorite Christmas Songs: 1. Gabriel’s Message by Sting, it is almost accapella, the only instrument is a drum, and Sting’s voice is so good and haunting in that song, it shows his talent for singing. 2. White Christmas by Bing Crosby, 3. So This Is Christmas, original by John Lennon, also covered by Melissa Etheridge. Honorable Mention - The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole Least Favorite Christmas Songs: 1. Any of the Novelty Songs, 2. The Waitress’ Christmas Song - I don’t even know the title, 3. The Little Drummer Boy by Bing Crosby and David Bowie, yea it is beautiful and they harmonize well, but couldn’t David Bowie just sing the song, and not make up something else, and overshadow Bing Crosby. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/15 "2003-12-03T19:14:12Z")
Favorites: **Carol of the Bells** - performed by Gary Hoey **Winter Wonderland** - Sung by Dean Martin. Actually not a Christmas song but it’s still part of the season. Deano sounds every bit the lounge lizard throughout the song. It reminds me of good times. **Silent Night** - by Mannhiem Steamroller **White Christmas** - Bing \*\*The Hat I got for Christmas is to Big \*\*-Mel Blanc **Little Drummer Boy** - Anybody Worst List **Barking Dog Jingle Bells** - Am I the _first_ to bring this up? **I’m gettin nuttin fer Christmas** - Don’t care who sings it **Grandma Got Runned Over** ---
**Author:** ![look\_hergo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85e7bf/32.png) [@look\_hergo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_hergo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/16 "2003-12-03T21:16:18Z")
I love “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”. There are lots of wonderful phrases and big words in that song: Joyful all ye nations rise. Hail the incarnate diety. Damn. Whoever wrote that gets a shiny star to put on their chart! I absolutely loathe “The Little Drummer Boy”. Awful awful awful. And all the novelty songs should be doused in cheap brandy and set aflame. I also hate “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” and “The Latke Song”, two Hanukkah tunes that somehow stick themselves into my head and refuse to leave, usually when I’m baking cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/17 "2003-12-03T23:46:01Z")
**Favorites:** - “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” especially in choral arrangements - “Carol of the Bells,” especially instrumental versions - “Joy to the World” - “O Come, All Ye Faithful” - “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” - “Winter Wonderland” - “Silent Night” - “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” by Darlene Love. She sings this every year on Dave Letterman. **Would Be Happy to Never Hear Again:** - “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (Gah! The repetition!) - “Jingle Bell Rock” ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/18 "2003-12-04T02:55:11Z")
Favorites: Oh Holy Night Hallelujah Chorus Songs I loathe: Any song having to do with snowmen, Santa, anything jingling or any song wondering about whether or not poor countries know it’s Christmas time at all. The #1 song I hate, though, and I am using the word “hate” here, is that stupidass song about the Christmas shoes. It’s some swarmy whinefest about how some guy was watching this little kid trying to buy shoes for his dying mother, who has to buy new shoes because she’s going to meet Jesus that night, and the kid doesn’t have enough money so the singer gives him the rest of the money he needs to buy the shoes. I doubt very seriously Jesus would give a rat’s hiney about Mommy’s footwear when she crosses the River Jordan. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/19 "2003-12-04T03:21:37Z")
Favourite: Santa Claus has Got the AIDS This Year - Tiny Tim HatehatehateHATEKILLDIESMASHDESTROY: The Little Drummer Boy I’ve left full shopping trolleys to leave a store when this one came over the muzak. It’s funny - the whole Christmas thing seems to motivate me to do a whole lot more shopping online at this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Bellestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b19c9b/32.png) [@Bellestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bellestar)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699/20 "2003-12-04T04:49:38Z")
I’m don’t typically get all into the Christmas spirit and don’t particularly care for most Christmas music, but there is one song that I could listen to all year long: All I Want for Christmas is You – by Vince Vance and the Valiants I can also appreciate a lot of instrumental Christmas music, which seems to be a favorite in my family. There’s only one more that I can truely tolerate… but I’m a little embarrassed to admit it. Okay, I’ll tell – The Christmas Song (don’t remember the real name) sung by Alvin and the Chipmunks. I think I’ll go into hiding now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-and-not-so-favorite-christmas-songs/216699.md?page=2)