favorite holiday songs

[Nothingman]

Well now I don't know what holiday song thread to post in. Eany, Meany, Miney,... Mo! Anyway, last year Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 released a song called "New York Christmas" to benifit the Sidewalk Angels Foundation and a NYC Childrens Hospital. All poceeds of the song go to those charities. But regardless, this is an amazing song and easily one of the best holiday songs I've ever heard. I suggest you all give it a listen.

You can listen to a live version here.
http://www.y98.com/n_downloads.shtml
The studio version is better, but this will give you the idea.

[Loz_179]

Anything from the Muppet Christmas Carol, my favourite Christmas movie. I just love that little rabbit that comes carolling on Scrooge's doorstep singing:
"Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the Feast of Stephen"
in his cute bunny voice.

And Kermit singing "It's in the singing of the church corner choir, it's coming home and gettin warm by the fire, where ever you find love it Feels like Christ-mas" with Robin going "tra la la".

[sirhansirhan]

How about "Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland" by Grandaddy?

[Megs]

Where are you, Christmas? I think Faith Hill sings it. Isn't it from the Grinch? I love that song.

[lance]

Lets see...

My two favorite Christmas songs are:

"Thank God its Christmas" by Queen

and "Baby its Cold Outside" done by various artists over the years.

-LanceMan

[starbug]

"Baby its Cold Outside" done by various artists over the years.

I think Tom Jones did that recently with Cerys Matthews... I quite liked their version.

My favourite is Bjorks 'It's nice and quiet' song.... I don't think it's a christmas song really but I have definitely come to associate it with the festivities.

White Christmas is one timeless classic I've always liked, as is 'Santa Baby'.

[SanDeE*]

I like that Harry Conick (sp?) Jr. song ---- I don't know the name, but it goes "happy ho ho ho to you" at the end. It's a New Orleans style jazz tune.

[Nothingman]

Some of the "funny" christmas songs grow annoying very fast, but there is at least one that is a classic for me. It's a version of Silver Bells by Paul Simon and Steve Martin. I guess it's more of a christmas monologue than a song since it only does the first verse of Silver Bells. Either way, it's a rehersal for a SNL sketch.

Here's the link to read the monologue, it's classic Martin:
http://www.whysanity.net/monos/silver.html

[TomSpeed]

I like the classics: Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas," Nat King Cole singing the chestnuts roasting on an open fire song (the actual name of the song escapes me), etc. Alvin and the Chipmunks' Christmas song (again, I don't remember the name, maybe it is the "Christmas Song," but you would know it if you heard it) has a special place in my heart. You can hear the song in the beginning of Almost Famous.

[Natasha (candygirl)]

I had the whole Chipmunks Christmas album on tape until the last time I moved. Fortunately, we still have the cartoon episode at my mom's house.

[fnordboy]

I had the whole Chipmunks Christmas album on tape until the last time I moved. Fortunately, we still have the cartoon episode at my mom's house.

It's quite possible I have that one on 8-track somewhere. I know I had a few Alvin & the Chipmunks 8-tracks. <shudder>

[starbug]

See, I wasn't surprised at CG having Chipmunks merchandise (don't know why).

But you, Fnord...? I almost fell of my chair in shock.

[Natasha (candygirl)]

I still stand by my original Billboard Family Christmas Classics CD, but Now That's What I Call Christmas (the original 2001 version) is also awesome and there is a minimal amount of double dipping!

This CD was in my car when it (my car, that is) was stolen. I totally forgot about it until the holiday season rolled around and I half-heartedly searched for it and then remembered DAMN, I have to go buy that CD again!

Disc: 1
1. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
2. White Christmas - Bing Crosby ** (also on BFCC)
3. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Xmas - Frank Sinatra
5. Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett
6. Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
7. Let It Snow - Dean Martin
8. Home For The Holidays - Perry Como
9. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Johnny Mathis
10. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives ** (also on BFCC)
11. Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
12. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy
13. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
14. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
15. Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
16. Merry Christmas Darling - Carpenters
17. Christmas Collage - Kathy Mattea
18. Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie/Bing Crosby

Disc: 2
1. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen
3. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
4. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Sorry, but I had to stop the copy and paste right here. Once Michael Bolton makes an appearance, it's all over. You could make a strong argument that I should have stopped when I got to Paul McCartney, but that song is so cheesy that it makes me laugh. The synthesizers crack me up. It sounds like they recorded that song in a bathtub.

[emmie]

wow, natasha, that is definitely a good christmas cd, I'll have to get that one myself for next year!!

[Brunkster]

I’ll start with two entire albums:

The Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
Mannheim Steamroller – A Fresh Aire Christmas

As for the traditional carols, I always enjoy hearing “O Tannenbaum” and “The Little Drummer Boy.”

What really irks me is when musicians of the moment ruin a perfectly good holiday song! It's akin to when a vocalist makes the national anthem almost unrecognizable at a sporting event. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now!