We're waist-deep in the christmas season now, and as a result one of my favorite (and at the same time one of the most annoying) annual occurances is happening: The exact same set of christmas songs are playing on the radio EVERYWHERE you go. While sitting at work I was listening to the radio online, and was frequently finding myself thinking about how much I liked or disliked certain seasonal tunes, and so I decided to put together my top 5's in each category.
Favorites: (in no particular order)
1- "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)" performed by Nat "King" Cole
What a voice! I don't know who originally worte this song, but Nat absolutely perfected it!
2- "Little Drummer Boy" performed by Bing Crosby and David Bowie
I love this version of this song! Sure, Bing's past his prime and not at his best here, but David IS, and together they sound fabulous!
3- "Merry Christmas, Darling" by The Carpenters
Such a pretty song by such a skinny woman!
4- "Sleigh Ride" performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra
Possibly my favorite Christmas song, nothing gets me more in the Christmas mood than hearing the orchestral version of this classc.
5- "Christmastime is Here" by Vince Guaraldi
A great jazzy little tune from one of my favorite Christmas Shows ("Charlie Brown's Christmas").
Runners up: "The Night Before Christmas" by Amy Grant, "This Christmas I Spend With You" by Robert Goulet.
LEAST Favorites: (again, in no particular order)
1- "Sleigh Ride" performed by Johnny Mathis
I really, really dislike Johnny Mathis' voice, and in this song he accentuates everything I dislike about it. From his sliding to pretty much every note to his astoundingly annoying "Giddy-YUP"s, I just can't stand this stinker.
2- "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley
WHY?!? Who told Elvis he could sing slow? Come on, fess up to it! Yeesh...just awful.
3- "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid
The British Music Performers sad attempt to duplicate the awesomeness of "We Are The World", this song was thrown together in one 24-hour recording session, and with lyrics like "Tonight thank God it's them instead of you", it shows.
4- "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" performed by The Beach Boys
I could just have easily put "Little St. Nick" or "Santa's Beard" in here, which are each about the same level of annoying as this one, but the combination of bizzare circus music in the background the pretty awful-sounding solo voice who sings most of the song just push this one over the top for me.
5- "Baby It's Cold Outisde" performed by Dean Martin
Okay, now I actually really like duet-ness of this song, but the Dean Martin version just kinda creeps me out. The dude sounds like a predator!! Leave her alone, man! "No" means "no"!!
Runners up: "Jingle Bells Boogie" by The Jingle Dogs...This extends to any christmas song comprised of nothing but meows and barks or other sound effects.
What songs can you not wait for and what ones do you dread this time of year?
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4 comments:
I have a few Christmas songs I really like. One would be
"Baby it's cold outside" I don't know who sings the version I like, but if I heard it I would know. I agree with you that any song sung by any type of animal is not a good thing.
Any Nat King Cole. To me that is Christmas. Followed very closely by anything Josh Groban. (Oh Holy Night most particularly).
But I have to say, a lot of Christmas music I randomly hear around town and on the radio makes my skin crawl. I love Christmas music, but am kind of picky.
Merry Christmas.
I have the same phenomenon...there are Christmas songs that I LOVE and there are others that I want to hit a hidden "DELETE" button on my radio.
To me true Christmas has a unique sound. When I hear Roger Whitaker sing "Darcy the Dragon" and "The Governor's Dream," the understanding that it is really Christmas sinks into my soul and I start getting VERY excited.
I also look forward to anything that the Carpenters sing, Barbra Streisand's "Jingle Bells," any version of "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella," and "Still, Still, Still."
I'm not a fan of "The Christmas Song" (Chestnut's Roasting), sung by anyone. I don't know why, but the words of that song just rub me the wrong way.
And the ultimate dreading is for Mannheim Steamroller. My family LOVES them, I can only stand about 30 seconds of synthesized music and then I'm done for days. The only problem...their songs are really long, and they are EVERYWHERE at Christmas time. Maybe someday I can work up a tolerance.
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