What are your favorite Christmas songs/tunes?

I'm doing a total of 20 hours DJing over the Christmas period and have already got quite a lot of Christmas tunes. I'm always up for suggestions, though...


Edit: to add my current fave...

The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVe-5JrmckM

"Light of the Stable" -- sung by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Neil Young, and no, I'm not making that up.

"Good King Wenceslas"

Gordon Lightfoot's "Circle of Steel"

"7:00 O'Clock News / Silent Night" by Simon and Garfunkel.

And a Spanish carol, "Gifts for the Child," only not in the major key it's written in, but in the relative minor.

Emerson Lake and Palmer - "I Believe in Father Christmas" Rock

Handle's Messiah. - Classical

Sung in the dulcet tones of Mr. Garrison.

I heard there is no Christmas
In the silly Middle East
No trees, no snow, no Santa Claus
They have different religious beliefs

They believe in Muhammad
And not in our holiday
And so every December
I go to the Middle East and say...

"Hey there Mr. Muslim
Merry fucking Christmas
Put down that book the Koran
And hear some holiday wishes.

In case you haven't noticed
It's Jesus's birthday.
So get off your heathen Muslim ass
and fucking celebrate.

There is no holiday season in India I've heard
They don't hang up their stockings
And that is just absurd!

They've never read a Christmas story.
They don't know what Rudolph is about
And that is why in December
I'll go to India and shout...

Hey there Mr. Hinduist
Merry fucking Christmas
Drink eggnog and eat some beef
And pass it to the missus.

In case you haven't noticed
It's Jesus's birthday
So get off your heathen Hindu ass
and fucking celebrate!

Now I heard that in Japan
Everyone just lives in sin
They pray to several gods
And put needles in their skin.

On December 25th
All they do is eat a cake
And that is why I go to Japan
And walk around and say...

Hey there Mr. Shintoist
Merry fucking Christmas
God is going to kick your ass
You infidelic pagan scum.

In case you haven't noticed
There's festive things to do
So lets all rejoice for Jesus
And Merry fucking Christmas to you.

On Christmas day I travel `round the world and say,
Taoists, Krishnas, Buddhists, and all you atheists too,
Merry Fucking Christmas, To You!

(Clapping)

Thank you Mr. hat

It usually brings a tear to my eye. The song was written during the last depression, and seems especially timely this year.

... that and "I am Santa Claus" by Bob Rivers.

but these are very nice:

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Cannon Rock

Jennifer Knapp - Sing, Mary Sing

Rita McNeil - Now The Bells Ring

Boney M - Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord

I loves me some Trans-Siberian Orchestra! :loveya:

n/t

The one that is made fun of on the radio. "Fine, if you you know so much about it, you rig up the lights." :rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WU7g8Psq3o

Christmas in Hollis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juBEue3L4LE

Christmas Wrapping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDwWXpju77Q&feature=related

The Spirit of Giving
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3AcDXkE_H0

I don't know the name but the lyrics start out with, "Long ago in Bethlehem so the holy Bible say, Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ was born on Chrisamas Day."

I heard Christmas Wrapping on the radio, great pop song!

i loved that show as a little kid and it still has a special place in my heart.

I bought the tape and still play it every year.

What Child Is This, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Adeste Fideles, Of the Father's Love Begotten.

They are simulcasting the NYE show
http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=446

sold out. And it's even at the freakin' Pepsi Center and it sold out that fast. Normally I don't bother with concerts at The Can. But for Panic I would have. They're fantastic at Red Rocks.

Thanks for that link, too. We'll undoubetedly have that streaming on at least 3 computers in the house. I haven't hooked a computer up to the new HDL TV yet but this sure gives me reason to do that.

Wow. Just WOW. I get to see it now!!!! Thank you!

We had extra tickets. We are on the floor for the 30th and 100 level for the 31st. Our other tickets came from mail order that were in the 300 level.

Papa Noel, by Brenda Lee

on edit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7B6IfPlDMg

See how sentimental I can be? :evilgrin:

The version by Jewel is beautiful.

"Feels like Christmas" by Cyndi Lauper is my favorite non-traditional song.

I cry every time I hear it.

On edit: I looked up the correct title and changed it in the subject line.

Happy Solstice!
sw

The Beatles Fan Club Christmas messages are my favorite holiday songs, next to A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi.

Stevie Wonder. You hardly ever hear it

One of my favorites, too.

or songs even older, like What Child Is This?

(If I am forced to listen to Christmas music, that is.) I believe there is one called The Coventry Carol that is quite ancient. And then there's "Wohlkum Jol" for those whose celebrations go back even further in time. Don't know anything more about the piece-it was one my high school chorus sang this time of year (and that was 40 years ago), and it was in Old/Middle English.

Barbra Streisand singing in Latin. What a fabulous voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZv25EpBbRo

I strongly prefer the Bach-Gounod ... but it requires an extraordinary voice with range. (Yes, Barbra has that.)

Imagine taking a little bit of heaven and sticking it on a CD. I wish you could hear it.

The Christmas Waltz and Do You Hear What I Hear?

I don't think the Christmas Waltz gets nearly enough play. But if it did, I probably wouldn't like it as much.

Must-see TV for me! I love Love!

:applause:

It's my fave. So stay away from my house and my car for the next couple weeks. :)

:hi:

Its got some beautiful renditions of some old classics and some James Brown funk originals.

And Christmas isn't Christmas for me without Darlene Love's version of Christmas(Baby please come home) off the Phil Specter 'A Christmas Gift For You' album.

The Holidays are Here and We're Still at War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j84cCjtLrr8&feature=PlayList&p=8F9F179DB75A6BF9&playnext=1&index=31

Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth? by Willie Nelson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1aByaCfms

Peace Salaam Shalom by Emma's Revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FETbuMdnthI&feature=Play...

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff3aoSyYOVs

Christmas in Capetown by Randy Newman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqsFfILSLgA&feature=Play...

Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ1-duv_zNk


And from my Xmas comedy mix: NOT FOR CHILDREN!!

Walkin Round in Women's Underwear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRtkN9V2MXg&feature=Play...

The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JisXZrY6Hn0

There's a Santa Who Looks a Lot Like Elvis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgweoOxGNhI&feature=rela...

Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRiRL41oqu0

Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0yyITRyvM4

Grandma Got Dismembered by a Chainsaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9GjHZUMct8&feature=rela...

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem - (very clever!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phF8-kSzvIU&feature=Play...

But "O Holy Night" and "What Child is This" are great belt-them-out-in the-car-as-tears-well-up-in-your-eyes tunes for the tone deaf. :)

Runners-up --

• John Prine: "Christmas in Prison"
• Captain Sensible: "There Ain't No Sanity Clause"
• Pansy Division: "Homo Christmas" [I dare you to play this one for your evangelical relatives on Xmas Eve]
• Trey Parker (as South Park's Mr. Garrison): "Merry F$#@ing Christmas" [never has a song captured the O'Reilly/FReeper mindset so well]
• Dennis Linde: "Christmas Eve Can Kill You"
• Joey Ramone: "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)"
• Akim with The Teddy Vann Production Company: "Santa Claus Is A Black Man!"

Okay, so kill me -- but then, this comes from a guy whose favorite Christmas movie is "Bad[der] Santa"!

For those seeking something more traditional -- but off the beaten path (and strictly secular) -- check out this early electrical recording (one of the first such Christmas 78s) from ca.1927.

Spinal Tap's Christmas with the Devil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sixsHSheV4g

A heartwarming holiday classic!

spell edit

But for "real" carols, I like:

The Holy City

Last night I lay a-sleeping
There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang,
Me thought the voice of angels
From heaven in answer rang.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And then me thought my dream was changed,
The streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was changed;
New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o'er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna for evermore!

"Traditions of Christmas" by Mannheim Steamroller. I've played it in high school band every year, and I just like the melodies. It's also not as hackneyed as many other songs.

"Sleigh Ride" by the Boston Pops Orchestra (or any non-vocal orchestral version). Leroy Anderson is one of favorite composers of light classical music, and this is his best.

In addition, I also have three versions of the Nutcracker Suite: the original Tchaikovsky composition done by orchestras, an arrangement written by Duke Ellington, and an arrangement done by the Glenn Miller's ghost band. The original is sweet and traditional. The two jazz versions are silly, but good.

I Want A Blow-Up Doll For Christmas

I want a blow-up doll for Christmas.
I want a girl I can inflate.
I saw one like I want in a girlie magazine --
The one that I hide between my mattress and box springs.
I want a blow-up doll for Christmas.
Hurry up, Santa, I can't wait!
I want a blow-up doll for Christmas,
'Cause I know that she'll be the perfect mate.

She must be heavy-duty to resist wear and tear.
She'll come with a special set of sexy underwear.
I'll dress her like a hooker, then dress her for the prom,
Then let her air out, fold her up and hide her from my Mom.

She won't talk so I won't have to call her on the phone.
I won't have to comb her hair because it's printed on.
Her lips will be shaped like an "O" and painted ruby red.
I'll have to hide her from my friends -- she'll be a real airhead.

Oh, I want a blow-up doll for Christmas.
I want a girl with vinyl flesh.
She must have a pretty face up above her neck.
The rest of her body must be anatomically correct.
I want a blow-up doll for Christmas.
I think I'll call her Judy or Beth.
I want a blow-up doll for Christmas,
'Cause real girls, they scare me half to death!

-- Arnie Aardvark

They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin's birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas Tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire

They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a Silent Night
And they told me a fairy story
'Till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise

I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
Hallelujah Noel be it Heaven or Hell
The Christmas you get you deserve

edit: I still believe in the Israelite. With all my heart. I just don't think that we understand that he hasn't failed us. We've failed him. If we lived like he told us to live, there would be Peace on Earth!

Sorry for not replying earlier, I've been downloading like crazy since I started this thread (3 gigs so far).

Thanks again and I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.