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The greatest Christmas song ever

post #1 of 47
11/24/08 at 12:04pm
Thread Starter 
What has been the greatest Christmas song ever?

John Lennon, Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Fairytale Of New York, The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Bruce Springsteen, Do They Know Its Christmas, Band Aid or something else?

This Day in Music have launched a poll to find out what your favourite Christmas songs are.

What song would you pick? You can see a full list of songs and vote on This Day in Music.com
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post #2 of 47
11/24/08 at 3:11pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

IMO? Blue Christmas by Porky Pig.....
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post #3 of 47
11/24/08 at 3:39pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

I'm with Chris G.

I'd have to think about the best, but I do know that any by former Beatles are gag-inducing, IMO. I have to switch channels or turn off the radio whenever I hear Lennon's Happy Xmas or McCartney's Wonderful Christmas Time preparing to assault my eardrums.

I've always kind of liked "We Need a Little Christmas" by Johnny Mathis.
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post #4 of 47
11/24/08 at 4:16pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole

Do They Know It's Christmas - Band-Aid
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post #5 of 47
11/24/08 at 5:16pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Oh, come on, this is no contest - Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" is clearly the greatest Christmas song of all time, with 50 millions copies sold of the Bing Crosby original recording alone (which makes it the biggest selling single of all time) - not to mention it has been recorded by just about every artist (encompassing all genres) who ever made a holiday record.

The only competition would be Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)", which BMI claims to be the most-performed Christmas song. As Keven mentioned, the best-known version of this was by Nat King Cole.
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post #6 of 47
11/24/08 at 5:23pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Nat King Cole's version of The Christmas Song, is my pick. It's my all time favorite.
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post #7 of 47
11/24/08 at 5:28pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters has always been a favorite. It's surprising how often it's played in malls, etc. this time of year.
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post #8 of 47
11/24/08 at 5:46pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

I don't know what the greatest Christmas song ever is, but I really do like Brenda Lee's rendition (1958) of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.
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post #9 of 47
11/24/08 at 6:38pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

I don't think I could pick a favorite, but I tend to prefer the Bing Crosby/Nat King Cole era. Probably because of fond memories as a child. But I've always loved Bruce Sprinsteen's version of Santa Clause Is Coming To Town.
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post #10 of 47
11/24/08 at 7:36pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

My two favorite versions of that song are by Tori Amos and Chrissie Hynde.

And just about any Christmas song by Ella Fitzgerald.
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post #11 of 47
11/24/08 at 11:47pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole

Do They Know It's Christmas - Band-Aid

Can't disagree with the first two. For the latter, but for its significance charity-wise and politically, as a song it just doesn't do it for me.

One that is always played to death is Wham's Last Christmas, and not necessarily for the better, as IMHO the song is rather dated, being a very obviously 80s pop song. I still enjoy Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody, though that song is even older.
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post #12 of 47
11/25/08 at 12:11am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Don't like the almost completely secular list. I would say something majestic like O Holy Night is the greatest Christmas song, with the Nat Cole version serving as a top example. Also, the Vince Guaraldi version of What Child Is This, along with the secular but wonderful Christmas Time Is Here.
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post #13 of 47
11/25/08 at 5:10am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

There are a ton of great ones, but the greatest, IMO, is

Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You - Billy Squier
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post #14 of 47
11/25/08 at 5:17am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Anything off the Charlie Brown Christmas special!

Jay
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post #15 of 47
11/25/08 at 5:29am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

I'm partial to Fairytale of New York by the Pogues, but that's only because I'm a hopeless romantic.

Seriously, I agree that the list is too secular, and if I can't have Nat King Cole's O' Holy Night, then it has to be The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) by the same.
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post #16 of 47
11/25/08 at 6:16am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

"I Believe In Father Christmas" -- ELP
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post #17 of 47
11/25/08 at 6:50am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

YouTube - "Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby
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post #18 of 47
11/25/08 at 8:32am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Religious:
Once in Royal David’s City
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Oh Holy Night


Secular:
The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)

And as mentioned, anything by Ella.

Not exactly a song and not completely focused on Christmas, but I always listen to Messiah during this time—and at Easter.
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post #19 of 47
11/25/08 at 10:30am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Snoopy's Christmas
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post #20 of 47
11/25/08 at 10:56am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

"Santa, Baby", by Eartha Kitt (which I think is the original).
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post #21 of 47
11/25/08 at 11:33am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Oi To the World by the Vandals
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post #22 of 47
11/25/08 at 12:02pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

I like many on here, but for me, it's....

Silent Night.
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post #23 of 47
11/25/08 at 1:07pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Low - Just Like Christmas
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post #24 of 47
11/25/08 at 1:27pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Looks of good ones mentioned. Some of mine are:

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) - Al Jarreau
Merry Christmas, Darling - The Carpenters
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Springsteen, The Crystals
Christmas Auld Lang Syne - Bobby Darin

Something different:

Sleigh Ride - The Ventures
Snoopy's Christmas - The Royal Guardsmen
The Nutcracker Suite - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24 - Trans Siberian Orchestra
Santa & His Old Lady - Cheech & Chong (guilty pleasure )
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post #25 of 47
11/25/08 at 2:56pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

I also love Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses. I can't help it. I'm a child of the 80s.
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post #26 of 47
11/25/08 at 11:17pm

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Few songs inspire as much warmth and comfort in me than Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song.

It has a profound peacefulness to it that sets it far apart from any other Christmas song for me.

Slightly off topic, on the flipside, no other Christmas song fills me with as much fury and eye-gouging hatred as A Wonerful Christmas Time by The Beatles.

It's wierd (that bizaar outer space music in the beginning) and extremely unpleasant sounding.
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post #27 of 47
11/26/08 at 6:59am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inspector Hammer!
Slightly off topic, on the flipside, no other Christmas song fills me with as much fury and eye-gouging hatred as A Wonerful Christmas Time by The Beatles.

It's wierd (that bizaar outer space music in the beginning) and extremely unpleasant sounding.

Isn't this just by Paul MacCartney solo during his Wings days? I honestly don't think that the rest of the Beatles would allow their names to be attached to the song if it was written during the 60s.

Personally, I kind of like it......then again, I don't hear it very often.

A favourite of mine is Bob & Doug Mackenzie's rendition of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'. Always brings a few chuckles.
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post #28 of 47
11/26/08 at 7:35am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joseph J.D
Isn't this just by Paul MacCartney solo during his Wings days? I honestly don't think that the rest of the Beatles would allow their names to be attached to the song if it was written during the 60s.

Personally, I kind of like it......then again, I don't hear it very often.

A favourite of mine is Bob & Doug Mackenzie's rendition of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'. Always brings a few chuckles.
Joseph,

Correct. It's post-Beatles (by several years). It was released also on the Wings album Back to the Egg (Hollywood, Calif.: Capitol, p1989) as a bonus track.

Tracks: Reception -- Getting closer -- We're open tonight -- Spin it on -- Again and again and again / Denny Laine -- Old Siam, Sir -- Arrow through me -- Rockestra theme -- To you -- After the ball/Million miles -- Winter rose/Love awake -- The broadcast -- So glad to see you here -- Baby's request -- Daytime nightime suffering -- Wonderful Christmastime -- Rudolph the Red Nose Raggae / Johnny Marks.

I do like the Christmas album(s) put out by the Fabs while they were still together. They were among the most difficult for me to obtain several years ago, and are among my most treasured LPs.
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post #29 of 47
11/26/08 at 8:07am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

Willie Nelson - Pretty Paper

And oddly, I am not a fan of his in the least - but this song is Christmas to me.
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post #30 of 47
11/26/08 at 9:38am

Re: The greatest Christmas song ever

I like I'll Be Home for Christmas, and there are several good versions, but I like the Don Hendly version. On Harry Connick JR.'s Christmas album he does Ave Maria, don't even think that is a Christmas song, but it makes me think of it.
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