It's Christmas Time again. And again it is time to enjoy
Christmas music. I enjoy Christmas music. I have a rather large collection
of it, from Rock & Roll Christmas, to all sorts of Christmas humor, to
Country, instrumental, and older-times Christmas music (the 'YOur Hit
Parade Days').
Got any Christmas favorites? Been out to the stores to buy
any this year? Any you could live without?
108 responses total.
I'm not much of a Christmas-music person.. Singing carols with the family is fun but listening to recordings of them doesn't evoke the same holiday spirit. I enjoy Vince Guaraldi's music for "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and George Winston's "December" in moderate doses..
I would rather listen to 400 hours of Pachebels canon, played at 110db over ambient than be subjected to christmas carols, over and over and over again. I only have one favorite carol. O holy night. Played once.
With the exception of Carol of the Bells, and some of the Baroque church music, I can't stand Christmas music either.
With posting an item like this on a BBS for some years now, it's amazing how the 'hate Christmas music' responses always seem to be the first.
I too am annoyed by X-mas music, particularly because of its cheesiness, overabundance, mixture of horrid and peaceful messages, and cheeriness.
i'm mostly annoyed by the general assumption that everyone wants to hear this music exclusively (during the season). there are a few christmas tunes i particularly like, however. tori amos' little drummer boy... sarah mclachlan's cover of xtc's dear god <smirk>...
Well, I used to like Christmas music and I still like singing carols with my family, perhaps one day if I have kids I'll enjoy passing the songs along to them.. But really I've been overexposed to Christmas music in settings that really don't have much connection, IMHO, to the better parts of Christmas, and at times it almost seems like the ever-present vapid and inoffensive versions of beloved traditional songs blend into a maddening droning that starts at 12:00:01 AM the day after Thanksgiving and continues until Christmas day, inundating the unwilling with offensively insincere holiday wishes for so long as the unfortunate victim lingers within earshot of any place where commerce might occur. If I can rewrite my definition to exclude the above from the catgory of "Christmas music" then, sure, I love Christmas music.. Favorite carols: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear", "Adeste Fideles", "Angels We Have Heard on High", and "Good king Wenceslas" (when I can remember more than the first verse..) Least favorite: Frosty, Rudolph, and their ilk..
My favorite carol has always been Joy to the World. It's the only song I can begin to play on the piano.
For all of you who truly hate Christmas music, may I suggest the Pogue's "Fairytale of (in?) New York. Unlike any christmas song you've ever heard; its a song sung by a couple who seem to really hate each other and love each other at the same timem (and isn't that what christmas in America is all about?) Anyway, check it out. The catchy Irish music combined with the twisted lyrics still sends chills down my spine when I hear it . . .
Two words: Manheim Steamroller. There is a song by Paul McCartney, "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime", which I love. I may hear it on the radio twice during the season. Also, the rock station here plays the Cheech & Chong Christmas diatribe, which is hilarious. Donde esta Santa Claus, the guy with the hair on his jaws?
((( Fall Agora #111 <---> Music #103 )))
I admit that I have the Cheech and Chong X-mas thing on tape. It was
my brother's, and he left it here long ago... it's very odd... talks about
what Santa and his elves do and basically mocks all that cheesy X-mas stuff.
I kinda like it.... I think it also talks about Santa and his "magic dust".
The John Lennon Collection has a song called "Happy Xmas (The war is over)"
on it...I like that one... especially the following lines:
"So this is Xmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun"
Okay, so it's not so cheery and the message is a bit different than the
typical...that's why I like it...
Just a few minutes ago, I heard "The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville and the Chipmunks for the first of what might be several times this year.
Dr. Demento will usually have some wacky carols like The Singing Dogs and Cheech and Chong's Santa and his ol lady. Still want the Jingle Cats CD. I'm not evil, I'm just twisted.
RE #14 Dr. Demento will have a Christmas theme for his next three shows (December 7, 14, & 21).
cool. btw, do you have the new url for the website. The old one doesn't work any longer.
(Where could I find that version of 'little drummer boy' by Tori Amos?)
It's the Cheech and Chong bit that I can only take about once a year. Other than that, It gets old, real fast. But then again I don't like to hear narrative comedy as often as I like to hear musical comedy. Also, because, when I talk about funny Christmas stuff, that Cheech & Chong thing is the first out of someone's mouth, and about all they know. Few know of gems like Stan Freberg's "Green Chri$tma$". I could easily make four 90minute tapes of Christmas comedy. I already have two made, icluding tunes made at Michigan Technological University.
Oooh and also the McKenzie Brother's 12 Days of Christmas! "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me... a beer!" Thank you. And welcome to day 12. My fave Christmas hymn is "Angels We Have Heard On High". Just the lyrics stir me. "Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly sining o'er the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains Gloria, in exelsis deo!"
my favorite xmas carols/songs are "carol of the bells" (instrumental versions particularly) and jethro tull's "a christmas song." i'll hold off on my usual "i despise xmas" diatribe as long as i can this year.
I like music, and I've always enjoyed the holidays, and I don't get much of a chance to celebrate them, these days, so the charm hasn't worn off on me, completely. Hands down, my favorite Christmas album is _Yuletunes_, a 1991 Black Vinyl Records compilation of off-beat original holiday rock ditties from artists like Matthew Sweet, Material Issue, Shoes, Marti Jones and Don Dixon, and Spooner. The best thing about this album is that it has a lot of unexpected treats, like a charming song about sticky yellow goo done by one guy from Shoes and (I can only assume) his little kid. Next to that, I like A&M's _Soul Christmas_, with plenty of greats like Otis Redding, The Drifters, and Carla Thomas. And, another favorite is the Boris Karloff narration of Dr. Seuss's _How the Grinch Stole Christmas_.
Oh, and another really nice one I like to listen to is Palestrina's _Missa Assumpta est Maria_ done by the Tallis Scholars -- a wonderful choral Rennaissance piece.
oh, and i forgot...i'd love to get a recording of the david bowie/bing crosby version of "the little drummer boy."
being so uncomfortably close to the U.P., I think I might choke someone the next time I hear "Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer" X-mas humor at its hick worst. I do like choir sung carols though, like O Holy Night And O little Town of Bethlehem. (iczer wonders how many x-mas carols start with "O")
There was also a parody of "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" a few years ago called "New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer," which lambasted New Kids On The Block.
I prefer twisted Xmas Carols. NPR played one while I was parking my
car last week. I don't remember much of it, except this:
(to the tune of Feliciano's "Felice Navidad")
Police made me stop
Police made me stop
Police made me stop,
Show my licence, (etc)
Hmmm.. I guess I always knew there had to be people who liked those novelty Christmas songs but I can't stand 'em more than once or twice.
my favorite twisted xmas carol goes like this: you'd better not shout, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout, i'm telling you why: santa claus is dead.
I enjoy Christmas, and I enjoy Christmas carols. My favorite that can be sung by anyone is "Little Drummer Boy". My favorite that cannot is "Jungle Bell Rock". (I don't know which version it is that I like so much, but it's a female singer, it sounds very "choppy" and cheerful, and I like it a lot.)
Crank up the volume on these:
Sleigh Ride - Phil Spector Rock & Roll version
Sleigh Ride - Arthur Feidler & Boston Pops (the one with the
the real whip cracks--sound even better on CD)
Father Christmas - Greg Lake or Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Nutrocker - ELP again
Rock & Roll Christmas - Gary Glitter (great rocking tune
totaly ignored by American radio)
Sad to listen to this year
John Denver & the Muppets
the Tiny Tim Christmas album (just out last year)
I've made it thru about a foot of Christmas CDs now, more
to listen to.
On the shopping list:
Christmas tunes on power tools
The new Special Olymipics CD. The first one had Bob Seger
with Little Drummer Boy & a Bryan Adams rocker.
Last Year, karaoke was slim on Christmas tunes, so I sang
"Little Town of Bethlaham" to "House of the Rising Sun". It works.
Santa Claus is dead... I love it. :) I recall the New Kids Got Runover song... "New Kids got run over by a reindeer No more little brats for me to mock No more loud annoying high falsettos Now there's no more New Kids on the block" I do love Spector's "Sleigh Ride" song.
Re #29: That would be Barbara Streisand's version of Jingle Bells.
Hark! The herald Angels sing. Hark the herald. Angels sing! Hark the herald angels. Sing! Which is correct? :-)
"hark! the herald angels sing," i think. :)
yep, the herald angels are singing "Hark!"
Oh, I thought we were being ordered to hark, in order to hear the herald Angels sing. In other words "Hark! The herald Angels sing," not "'Hark,' the herald angels sing"
that too.
Oh, go hark yourself.
No, it's the first one... "Hark! The herald tribune sings...Avertising Wondrous things!" Advertising,sorry.
re 32 re 29: 'Jingle Bell Rock' 's singer sounds a lot like
Teresa Brewer, who has a poppy, perky kind of voice.
Ok, I hope someone here can help me. about two years ago late at night on WEMU they played a christmas song that was sort of jazzy and I never called to find out what it was. It was a vocal tune and the lyrics were about a woman lying naked underneath the Christmas tree for Santa. I don't think it was Earth Kitt (although it could be). Can anyone help me find this?
Might it have been called "Santa Baby"?
I think it may be Eartha Kitt, and I'm sure I've heard it on Dr. Demento.
re41: New a couple of years was a single by Sarah Taylor &
Bill Mumy; "I've Got Some Presents for Santa" (CD single that is).
Sounds closer to what your where descrbing than Eartha Kitt's (or
Madonnas) "Santa Baby".
Yep, that Bill Mumy. The Robinson boy, Lenier, one of them
Barnes.
I thought it was "Hark, Harold the angel sings!" :-)
A woman lying nude under the tree for Santa? Hmmmm....okay... Anyone heard Jorge Jorgeson's Christmas tunes? He's that Scandinavian character that sings "Yingle Bells," "Santa Claus at the PTA," "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas," to name the Christmas songs I can think of.
Yeah, it's Yogi Jorgesson. A character voice of Harry Stewart. He did a variety of 'caratiture' voices, including Harry Kari (I think) with Yogi being his most remembered. He did most of his work in the 50's. One of our favorite Detroit DJs, Dick Purtan, starting playing "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" on WKeeNeR 13 around about 1966-1968 reviving our memory of the tune, helping to re-popularizing it. He still enjoys playing it a Christmast time to this day.
How old IS Dick Purtan anyways? Has it been that long? I remember Keener, but since I lived on the lower east side, I didn't get a good signal. I remember when he was at CKLW for a while, and I remember that song, too.
Dick Purtan was probably in his mid-20's when he arrived in the Detroit market in 1965. My oldest Keener 13 music guide with Dick Purtan's picture on the back is dated October 6, 1965.
I have now made it thru two feet of Christmas music CDs since
December 1st. Listening to Dr. Elmo's Twisted Christmas CD now. It
contains a couple of follow ups to his & Patsys "Grandma Got Run Over
by a Reindeer".
It all started with "I want a Hippotamus for Christmas" by
Gayla Peevey as my first Christmas 45.
I might be compiling a Christmas music collection, if I have enough time to get around to it. I'll describe my selections, and if anyone's interested, let me know. Another possibility is putting one together based on suggestions, here, which would be kinda fun. I'd probably need to team up with a few people to make it happen, though. If there's enough time and interest, let me know.
That sounds like fun. I'll contribute selections from my Jimmy Buffett Christmas album if they would be welcome.
Who's the girl group that sings "Let It Snow" in the GAP commercial?
Isn't it Luscious Jackson?
Yes, it's Luscious Jackson. I love that commercial.
Mark C. -- Jimmy Buffet would always be welcome!
Ok, let me know if it;s a go and I'll drop it off.
Luscious Jackson. Gatta remember that one. Every time someone in our house sees that GAP commercial starting, they yell, "It's on!" and we all come running.
Hey Tim, wanna go in on putting together an xmas album? Sounds like you've got a lot of tunes. I can get ahold of a mixer...
I heard The Kinks' "Father Christmas, give us some money!" on the radio today, and now it's stuck in my brain.
I like John Fahey's Christmas albums. The Alfred Deller Consort had a wonderful album back in the 1950s which I think Vanguard has rereleased now. For the *ultimate* 1950s Christmas experience, of course, you need Jackie Gleason's "Merry Christmas" album.
Mark, I could probably help you with that. As it is, I got 4 90 minute tapes of Rock & Roll Christmast (with some Rock & Soul) ranging from oldies artists to artists from 80's & 90's. I got 2 90 minute tape of Christmas Comedy. But then again I've been lazy at updating those with selections from recent years CD purchases.
I heard a remake of 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' driving back to Kennewick today. Same artist-- I forget her name. She sings it exactly the way she used to, except she's lost much of that 'girly' sound (think Cindy Lauper, Donna Lewis, etc.).
RE #63 Brenda Lee recorded "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" in 1960. BTW, the song also appeared in the first "Home Alone" movie (in the scene with the mock Christmas party and the Michael Jordan cutout figure as a guest).
Brenda Lee's version is the one I referred to in an earlier response as being my favorite. I love that song, and the way she sings it.
What-- didn't Brenda Lee do the remake as well? Whoever it was sang it exactly the same, save the few vocal quirks I mentioned.
Tim- cool. At the very least, it would be fun to have a holiday tune listening session!
Think I'll make it to three feet of Christmas CDs listened to since Thanksgiving by the time Dr. Demento comes on WIQB tonight at 11pm.
It is really interesting to listen to The River out of Toledo right now. All Christmas music all th time until Christmas. Lot of strange renditions of some classics out there.
The River on 93.9? That's from Windsor, ON, Can. CIDR-FM.
Probably another station calling itself "The River", then, 'cause I don't think CIDR's playing all-Christmas-music-all-the-time..
No, they certainly aren't...
We would be lucky if CIDR played one Christmas Tune before
Christmas. Scrooge city over there.
<tpryan is hoping someone is ego-scanning the web for talk about them>
So, what the frequency, Kenneth for the Toledo River?
101.3 In toledo, I think. Interesting note. Kool 107.1 in A2 is an oldies station. Kool 101.7 in Columbus is an oldies station.
Chuck Gatica is on 95.5 in Detroit
Chuck Gatica is on 94.7 in Columbus
New Christmas album (1997) by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is quite enjoyable. Good for a number of re-listens.
His name is Gaitica, not Gatica. I don't mean to nitpick but I just couldn't help myself this time. ;)
105.1 in Detroit is the latest radio turnover
101.5 in Toledo is the latest radio turnover
(to a different format/music).
Ray Stevens has put out a Christmas CD. All funny stuff. Something on it will tickle your funnybone. for instance "I'm giving guilt for Christmas".
I'll bet "Santa Claus Is Watching You" is on it, too :)
Hehehehehe...just heard the Dr. Demento show, tonight. As always, quite amusing, especially during the holidays...
So, anyone hear that new Hanson Christmas album, yet?
No, and I don't want to, thanks.
Has anyone heard the "Red-Neck Cristmas" song?
?The new Redneck Christmas song by Ray Stevens or the one on the Jeff Foxworthy music CD?
re #83: 'Snowed Out,' eh? Well, again, compared to someone like myself, just the fact they've made it is amazing 'cuz the music biz is viciously cutthroat. But they are rather cheezy, that's true.. I wouldn't be surprised if they go the way of Kris Kross..
Made it thru about all 6 feet of Christmas CDs. Still
listening today, but mostly to things that are unquie, as opposed
the the variety of rock/oldie type CDs still not listened to--I
heard all the songs anyway.
Did listen to the Bing Crosby CD today. My Dad first
purchased this album when it truely could be called an Album:
5 78s in individual protective sleeves, bound together with
cover and back. Albums where rare in the days of 78s. I also
have this 10 song collection on a 10 inch LP. I also have the
vinyl 12 inch version with the two additional songs on it that
we all have know as this album for the past 40 plus years.
Several on the why bother listenng to CDs include
Harry the Hippster and Mojo Nixon.
Some folks are lucky. Even though many of you are tired of the Cheech and Chong monologue where Cheech explains to Chong who Santa Claus is, I thought I'd share that I loved hearing it. I was returning home from work as Santa in the mall Christmas Eve, and I heard it for the first time. I laughed and guffawed almost through the entire spiel.
How lucky you are to ony hear it once in your lifetime.
How unlucky you are that the radio station you heard it on
is so uncaring about Christmas music that they think that is the
'thing' to play on Christmas Eve. Bet no other Christmas type
songs followed.
I didn't actually get around to listening to much Christmas music, this year. I unearthed a box of albums that I hadn't heard in a while, so I was listening to those, instead...
re #90: it was on the hard rock station.
re:85 I dunno, I just heard it on a country music station...
I love the holidays...I just got back from spending X-mas week with my parents, up in Maryland. My mom did her traditional annual rendition of _I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus_, in her best (and loudest) Etel Merman voice. My dad proceeded to chase her around the house with the egg beater until she stopped. I almost laughed myself unconcious. Then my brother came over and the 4 of us played Bridge for 11 hours.....I love the holidays. (er, that was Ethel).
Whoa. If your familly is like this all the time, then they're even wierder than mine...
Heh...we're out there. My dad was a french major in college, which I think has something to do with the fact that we've always had snails for Thanksgiving.
Wow. That's neat. Can't really say I'd like snails for thanksgiving, but if you do, that's neat.
Oh, they're delicious. I cook them, myself. The thing is that they are fairly expensive, so its a rare treat. If I ever go to a pot luck, I try to bring them. They're always a hit. I'll make you some. By the way, I apologize for the major drift. I've forgotten the subject of this item.
Since the subject is Christmas music and it's the middle of May I can't see anyone particularly resenting a little bit of item drift.
I would, but I really can't be bothered. If'n you feel like fixing me snails, I won't object. Wot Wot?
I'm sure there's an obvious connection between Christmas music and snails.
<Today on Donahue: people who get hungry for snails when hearing "Jingle Bells"!>
RE #101 Donahue went off the air last year. Remember?
No kidding? Boy, I'm I ever out of it. Change it to "Today on Jerry Springer, 'You're mother ate my snails and I'm angry!'"
Wow, Phil's gone?
Today on Geraldo, "You failed to use proper grammer in talking about my mother, and I'm none too happy either"
Don't be such a grammer 'b`tch.
It's Christmas in July time! All those ads are coming our way. What Christmas music would you be hungry to hear at this time of year?
"Grandma got ran over by a reindeer"..."It's Chrismas at Ground Zero"...
You have several choices: