# Favorite/Least Favorite Christmas Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2001, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028 "2001-11-24T16:07:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/41 "2001-11-27T05:43:53Z")
Favorites: “Merry Christmas, Darling” by The Carpenters “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by John Mellencamp “Happy Xmas” by John Lennon “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney “Do They Know it’s Christmas” by Band-Aid “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Johnny Mathis Least favorites: Barking dogs Slow and sappy Too religious When I was a kid, we had a Christmas album by the SalSoul Orchestra. That was such a cool record. Can’t find it anymore; I’d love to have it on CD. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/42 "2001-11-27T14:09:14Z")
Absolutely love: “Carol of the Bells” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” - extra meaningful this year, don’cha think? “White Christmas” - but only if it’s Bing Crosby singing it “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” - U2’s version “Blue Christmas” by Elvis - purely for the entertainment and singalong value. Absolutely despise: “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney - what an asinine piece of CRAP! Paul, what were you thinking? Anything that Manheim Steamroller turns out…especially their annoying Muzak take on “Deck the Halls” “Have a Holly-Jolly Christmas” - Don’t get me started. “Blue Christmas” by anyone who’s not Elvis - it just turns sappy and annoying… ---
**Author:** ![waxteeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@waxteeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waxteeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/43 "2001-11-27T14:31:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\* > Felice Navidad by Feliciano > \*\* I’ll go with that one. It’s very catchy, I wanna wish you a merry Christmas… I wanna wish you a merry Christmas… Although it’s not a song I like that fruitcake recipe thing. “Take one cup of the best whisky you can find and drink it as fast as you can”. For a classic I’ll go with Silent Night. I also like Little rich boys? I think that’s it. “save all your toys for the little rich boys” ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/44 "2001-11-27T14:34:47Z")
Oh! Just remembered the one called I Am Santa Claus to the tune of Iron Man.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![waxteeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@waxteeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waxteeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/45 "2001-11-27T14:37:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\*I generally don’t like any Christmas carols. That I am Jewish has a lot to do with it, since I don’t particularly enjoy having a holiday forced on me. > > \*\* How about the Adam Sandler songs? Do you like them? “Put them both together, what a fine looking Jew” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/46 "2001-11-27T14:56:22Z")
Favorite: Do You Hear What I Hear? Adeste Fidelis The Little Drummer Boy Joy to the World Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Deck The Halls O Little Town of Bethlehem O Holy Night Carol of the Bells The Chipmunk Song but by Chip and Dale 🙂 Mary’s Boy Child Dislike: Grandma Got Run Over By A Raindeer Hands (Christmas Version) by Jewel. In fact, most of Jewel’s Christmas album sucks. I love Christmas Carols. As the years pass, music changes and I don’t recognise most of the artists or songs on the charts today - but Christmas Carols come back in fashion every December, and they’re always the same. Christmas is a direct link back to my childhood, same songs, same decorations, same family traditions. Christmas is like a time capsule. I guess I was well named. :)Carol:) ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/47 "2001-11-27T14:58:30Z")
**Favorite** “And the Glory of the Lord” “Unto Us A Child is Born” “He Shall Purify” and The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s _Messiah_ The Carol of the Bells “O Holy Night” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses “Father Christmas” by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by John and Yoko “2000 Miles” by the Pretenders “Christmas in Hell” from South Park “'Zat You, Santa Claus?” by Louis Armstrong “Five-pound Box of Money” by Pearl Bailey “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt (Madonna isn’t even in the running) “I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevey “A Christmas Carol” by Tom Lehrer **Most Hated** “Jingle Bell Rock”–God, do I loathe that song! “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”-Ewwww! “Jingle Bells” by the Singing Dogs It was cute the first time I heard it, now it makes a dentist drilling my teeth seem like an orgasm in comparison! I did like “Christmas at Ground Zero” by Weird Al Yankovic, but that song just isn’t as funny as it used to be. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/48 "2001-11-27T15:13:52Z")
Well, I don’t think I’ve made all that many enemies on this board, so I can probably safely say that if _Silent Night_ was outlawed tomorrow, I would not miss it. I once heard a version as originally scored, for voice and guitar, and it was lovely. Unfortunately I only heard that once, while I’ve heard the grand versions with the 300 piece orchestras and pipe organs and massive vocal stylings about twenty million times. Favorites: _Good King Wenceslas_, _Hark the Herald Angels Sing_ (particularly when the kids sing it at the end of _A Charlie Brown Christmas_), and _Angels We Have Heard on High_ with its wonderful “Gloria” refrain can make even this cynical old atheist sniffly and nostalgic. Oddly enough I’m not all that fond of most of the secular Christmas songs (although if you’re organizing a sing-along of _Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer_, I’ll be there), but Weird Al’s _Christmas at Ground Zero_ and Tom Lehrer’s _A Christmas Carol_ are honorable exceptions. Dissing Silent Night in favor of Weird Al. I am **so** going to hell 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/49 "2001-11-27T15:19:35Z")
Another one throwing in for the medieval carols. The Coventry Carol is my absolute favorite, especially because of that odd chord at the end of each verse. Me mum turned me on to that one. I’m trying to remember if I’ve heard the Wexford Carol before - I’m sure I have - but I’ll put it in there anyway because all the old English tunes rock. I’m more inclined to the traditional carols anyway, except if celebrities try to throw their own style onto it. Even then, they don’t try to do the really good ones, just the ones everybody knows. My absolute favorite Christmas album is _A Toolbox Christmas_ by Woody Phillips. I highly recommend it. Christmas carols are more fun if you can find 'em in different languages. “Jingle Bells” has a whole new life for me now that I have the words in Swedish around here somewhere. Novelty Christmas songs are _much_ more fun when you make up your own words. “Christmas, Christmas time is here! Time for whiskey, time for beer…” That kind of thing. Can’t think of any songs I absolutely hate, though. Even the Jingle Dogs song is funny the first time every season. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/50 "2001-11-27T15:26:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by waxteeth \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > > \*\*I generally don’t like any Christmas carols. That I am Jewish has a lot to do with it, since I don’t particularly enjoy having a holiday forced on me. > > > > \*\* > > How about the Adam Sandler songs? Do you like them? > “Put them both together, what a fine looking Jew” > 😃 \*\* Heck, I **LOOP** that one. 😃 Robin ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/51 "2001-11-27T15:46:30Z")
**MsRobyn** , There’s a great song, um, I think called Christmas Wrapping, by Save Ferris which is all about being Jewish and being overwhelmed by all the Christmas hype. It’s a punk song, but really mild (I don’t particularly like punk, but I love this song, it’s so much fun). Might be worth finding and listening to. ---
**Author:** ![Skerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Skerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skerri)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/52 "2001-11-27T15:49:07Z")
Oddly enough, I have a Christmas tape in my radio that has been there since last year. (I generally listen to cds at work.) **Favorite songs:** Christmas in Hollis- _Run DMC_ so bada$$ Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)- _U2_ I’ll Be Home for Christmas- Any version, always makes me cry. I Will Be Hating You for Christmas - _Everclear_ Carol of the Bells O Come All Ye Faithful- particularly in Latin Joy To The World Most comedic Christmas songs, like The 12 Days of Christmas (…and a beer…in a tree!:D) Do They Know It’s Christmas- _Band Aid_ Happy Xmas- _John Lennon_ Such a good song that I can even put up with Yoko’s singing for a little while. 🙂 The Hanukkah Song- _Adam Sandler_ Ok, so it’s not a Christmas song, but it kills me every time. **Least Favorite:** Blue Christmas- _Elvis_ I love Elvis, but I hate this song. Santa Baby- _Madonna_ I HATE this version. The First Noel- I hate this one simply for the fact that I had a friend named Noel that died, and this time of year always reminds me of him. (shallow, I know…) ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/53 "2001-11-27T15:59:49Z")
**Favs** _Happy Christmas(war is over)_ _Father Christmas_ _Fairytale of New York_ _Silent Night_ ( **Olentzero** is right about the foreign language thing. I’ve heard a version of this in Gaellic that is beautiful) _Joy to the World_ _Do they Know it’s Christmas?_ _We Three Kings_ And of course, the all-time classic _Little Drummer Boy_ as performed by Tonto, Tarzan, and Frankenstein. 😃 Don’t care for Madonna’s _Santa Baby_, the barking dogs song, and even _Grandma got run over…_ is getting pretty old. ---
**Author:** ![TelcontarStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@TelcontarStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TelcontarStorm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/54 "2001-11-27T16:27:12Z")
Classic Xmas or New Xmas? …CLASSIC… I’ll be home for Xmas. Have youself a merry Little Xmas. …NEW… The Emmerson.Lake,and Palmer thing Garth Brooks,The Gift … .I actually went out and bought the Barry Manilow Xmas thing.UG! Let me reiderate the previous post complaining about Jewish singers doing Xmas tunes…Summthin’ ain’t right there! .I love Stevie Nicks but what was she doing in the studio the day she recorded Silet Night?Let’s get this over with seems to say it all. .One of our local radio stations has already began playing non-stop holiday music. Thanks but I will stay off the River!It is too much for me. .When my battered copy of Muppets Xmas with John Denver went up in a fire a few years ago I was Wrackked! What is Xmas without Rolf singing "Have yourself a merry little Xmas? .Generaly anything that has gone the way of Muzak has got to go,as well as the well known singers who go into a studio and come out with something that sounds like pre-layed tracks from the Ray Coniff singers.Country singer Vince Gill could have done soooo much better.There is such a think as tooo much orchastration. . as a last remark. I didn’t get to hear Alice’s Resturant a longtime Thanksgiving favorite this year.an’ I am truly,truly,bummed. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/55 "2001-11-27T16:43:43Z")
I have a general rule that works with only rare exception: if it was composed before 1850, and sung in a style appropriate to its original composition, I will like it. A very large FEH! on anything else. I’m not picky about style or origin, as long as it’s acquired a patina of tradition. For European carols, I’m very fond of recordings made by The Alfred Deller Consort in the 1950s and 60s. Deller, a countertenor, possessed both an incredible voice and a passion for preserving early music. **The Boar’s Head Carol** The entire **Play of Daniel** , as performed by the New York Pro Musica Ditto re. the **Play of Herod** **Adeste Fidelis** (must-be-Latin!) **I Saw Three Ships** **Lullay My Liking** **Here We Come a-Wassailing** (_never, never, never_ “a-Caroling,” which is a Beastly Anachronism) **Children Go Where I Send Thee** (especially by Odetta) **The Cherry Tree Carol** (the only carol that lets Joseph be a human being - “And Joseph flew in anger, in anger flew he - ‘Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee!’” Also ascribes _in utero_ miracle to Jesus.) **Three Little Drummers** , by the Beers family (sixties-era folksingers) A quasi-exception: Britten’s **A Ceremony of Carols** , a modern composition heavily influenced by traditional caroling. A few real exceptions: **White Christmas** ain’t bad, but I loathe-loathe-loathe Bing Crosby and haven’t found a voice that properly balances the melancholy (Ella Fitzgerald’s version is too upbeat). **Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas** works with Garland, but not so well with Sintra or Fitzgerald. And there are always a few pop stars who manage genuinely interesting carol recordings, but usually I never hear their names! Stuff That Makes Me Gag: Country-western carols; “easy listening” carols (they’re easy to listen to, provided you’re deaf); most pop singers’ carols; _all_ opera singers’ carols (truly swatting fly with a sledgehammer); **Jingle Bells** ; parodies of **Jingle Bells** ; carols derived from **Jingle Bells** ; carols featuring the playing of real jingle bells, The Boston Pops (loathesome pablum for 364 days of the year, poisonously saccharine on the 365th); **Frosty the Snowman** , **Rudolph** …oh dear, I’ll stop now. But I’m not too much of a Grinch not to love Grinchly music. I even like the Whos’ carol. ---
**Author:** ![dtaylor404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc79bd/32.png) [@dtaylor404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtaylor404)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/56 "2001-11-27T17:12:52Z")
_ **Favorites:** _ **Christmas is Waiting** by Betty Buckley (I know, you’ve never heard of it. It was written by Rupert Holmes, and can only be heard on the “Remember WENN” Christmas show.) **Christmastime is Here** by Vince Guaraldi (for “A Charlie Brown Christmas”) **Frosty the Snowman** by the Roches _ **Dislikes:** _ **Little Drummer Boy** (Why does everyone feel obligated to attempt this wretched song?) **Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer** **I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus** **Wonderful Christmastime** by Paul McCartney _ **Guilty Pleasures:** _ **Walking 'Round in Women’s Underwear** **12 Days of Christmas** by the Mackenzie Brothers **White Christmas** ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/57 "2001-11-27T18:46:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dtaylor404 \* > **_Favorites:_ > Christmas is Waiting by Betty Buckley (I know, you’ve never heard of it. It was written by Rupert Holmes, and can only be heard on the “Remember WENN” Christmas show.)** I have. I love that song. Actually I love nearly all the songs they ever did on that show, but that’s a small digression… I really like Christmas (and holiday themed) music - most of it, in fact. Favorites: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day We Three Kings O Come O Come Emmanuel Little Drummer Boy (yes, it can be overdone and done badly - but I love this story. It’s a good story. Plus, I had the Ezra Jack Keats book when I was little and the pictures were amazing.) We Need a Little Christmas Mary, Did You Know? Do You Hear What I Hear? Dislikes: Away in a Manger Lo How a Rose Go Tell It on the Mountain (which is technically a good song, it’s just sung so badly, so often that I’d rather pass on it) The Friendly Beasts Any of those synthesizer things that last about 10 minutes each. Some Children See Him Some horrible song about Joseph that I’ve never been able to listen to more than two lines of - but I still hate it. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/58 "2001-11-27T19:51:09Z")
Favorites: **What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful Merry Christmas, Baby (I Don’t Want To Fight)** The Ramones **Father Christmas** The Kinks (sure, the Steve Austin reference is dated, but it’s still a cool song) **Homo Christmas** Pansy Division **You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.** Dislike: **Christmas Wrapping** The Waitresses. Wasn’t bad the first few times I heard it, but about 4 years ago it got played about every 2 hours on various radio stations, and I haven’t been able to listen to it since. Almost all parodies of the 12 days of Christmas. Loathe with every fiber of my being and will actually leave a store playing these songs: \*\*Wonderful Christmastime \*\*Paul McCartney [Simpsons comic book guy voice]Worst solo Beatle recording ever [/Simpsons CBG voice] **Santa Baby** Any version ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/59 "2001-11-27T19:51:12Z")
My Favorites: Good King Wenceslas Bring a Torch Janet Isabella Adeste Fideles Carol of the Bells God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen O Holy Night Do You Hear What I Hear? O Little Town of Bethlehem It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Go Where I Send Thee 'Zat You, Santa Claus? Five-pound Box of Money Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt’s) Least Favorites: Jingle Bells Modern Country Carols (I cannot abide calculated schmaltz!) Anything voiced by pets ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028/60 "2001-11-27T20:57:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by king of spain \* > \*\* > Least Favorite: > Feliz Navidad! God, the _pain_… \*\* Yes - my husband tortures me with this song each year… Off the top of my head… Favorite Carols: Oh Holy Night Carol of the Bells Silent Night Favorite Pop: Please Come Home for Christmas - Eagles/Don Henley Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You- Billy Squier Favorite Funny: Father Christmas - the Kinks South Park Christmas songs - O Holy Night (Cartman) & Three Ships (Shelly) most Bob Rivers/Twisted Christmas stuff [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-least-favorite-christmas-songs/95028.md?page=4)