I’ll be singing a piece which combines two of my favorites on Christmas Eve with my church’s choir – Silent Night and O Holy Night. From the way last night’s choir rehearsal went, it will be lovely. Carol of the Bells is also high on my list. I had the chance to sing an intricately woven a capella version of it once that was wonderful!
Still, if I had to choose a favorite . . . . Hmmm . . . .
For classical, it’s got to be Handel’s Messiah, especially The Hallelujah Chorus, even though it’s not technically strictly Christmas.
I can’t pick one of the traditionals – it’s too close among Angels From the Realms of Glory, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Of the Father’s Love Begotten. My church starts the late night Christmas Eve service with half an hour of singing carols and if we do any of those 3 then or during the service, there’ll be a particularly happy alto in the choir!
Of the contemporary stuff, despite the comments of my fellow Dopers, I’m sticking with The Little Drummer Boy. I’m touched by the story of someone who has no more to offer than a song, but that being sufficient.
I always liked “Christmas Wrappings” by the Waitresses.
For a more traditional song, I’d pick “We Need a Little Christmas.” It gets extra credit for being originally performed in a scene (in “Mama”) that did not take place during the Christmas season.
Anything from the ** Broadway Christmas ** CD. The creme de la creme on the CD are “We Need a Little Christmas,” “I Don’t Remember Christmas” and “The Happy New Year Blues.” The last was written by Irving Berlin but never released until this CD. Vicky Lewis’s (yes, of News Radio) audition is awesome.
And of course, Urinetown’s rendition of “Little Davey Dinckle.”
I love John & Yoko’s “Merry Christmas/War is Over” (I think that’s the title) and Joni Mitchell’s “I wish I had A River” (if that’s correct). Not good on names of songs, but I love 'em.
I like “The Christmas Song”, probably the Johhny Mathis version the best.
I have to wonder though…the song states “And so, I’m offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two”. So if you’re a newborn, or older than 92, do you not merit a Merry Christmas?
There is a song that I heard for the first time at the Candlelight Processional at Epcot center (they do a wonderful ceremony). I’d never heard of it before, but now I have the CD and listen to the song over and over again - it is just wonderful. It’s called “Rejoice With Exceeding Great Joy” - and I just love it.
For my entire life, every member of my family has called our favorite song “You forgot cranberries too?” I have now put 2 and 2 together and discovered the real name of it, Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses. Thanks.
I just got Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Christmas Eve and other Stories and it’s awesome. I know the radio stations have been playing Christmas Eve, but there’s a lot of other songs on there that are equally good.
Breezy, how about the “Dradel Song” (Sp?) from the same South Park episode. (Mr. Hankies somthing or other) There’s some extremely talented people associated with that show.
