What's your favorite Christmas song, sung by whom?

[Onlooker]

I've been playing Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You (which in my atheist houshold is likely all I'll get). But, I love the way she sings the song. What's your favorite?

[Mad_Dem_X]

1. If I had to pick one,

it would be "Silent Night," sung by anyone who has a good voice. :)

[Bear down under]

30. If you love 'Silent Night'....

it's worth any trouble to find Kathleen Ferrier's 1948 recording with the Boyd Neel Orchestra. The recording itself isn't all that wonderful, but she is.

[Hugin]

2. Anything by Burl Ives...

Seriously.

[Ryano42]

3. I believe in Father Christmas

by Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Quite fitting in this day and age:

I Believe In Father Christmas

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.

[yewberry]

19. Wanna listen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLazZ5Efnr8

(It's my favorite, too, so I had it bookmarked.)

[BOSSHOG]

4. Candle in the Window by Alabama

When I joined the Navy in October 1972, my mother put an electric Christmas Candle in my bedroom window so I could always find my way home. Mom died in 89 and I asked Dad if I could have that candle. He said no, you take it when I pass on, I'll leave it in "your" room so you will always know where home is just like Mom intended. Dad died in 04 and that candle is now in a window in our home. I put it on during Christmas so Mom and Dad know where we are. I don't know if there is any religiousity to the song but it "tears" me up everytime I hear it.

[Hugin]

5. Nice story...

Good reason to like a song.

:)

[azmouse]

6. The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole

"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)"

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

So I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you

So I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you

[LA lady]

10. I love that too

Funny, it was written by a Jewish singer/composer. Mel Torme.:)

[Auggie]

12. Ironically, Mel Torme and Bob Wells wrote that song during a summer

heat wave in L.A. In about 45 minutes.

[acmavm]

42. Oh Holy Night by practically anybody and Little Altar Boy sung

by Karen Carpenter.

[KatyaR]

50. I'm partial to Mel's version myself, but I do love Nat King Cole.

Mel could have sung the Yellow Pages and I would have sat through every verse.

Lately I've become fond of "Mary Do You Know" by Kathy Mattea.

[PADemD]

27. My favorite, too.

[NewWaveChick1981]

65. Definitely my favorite!

And when I was a kid, I thought the opening lines were, "Jack Frost roasting on an open fire....Chestnuts nipping at your nose..." :rofl: :hi:

[carly denise pt deux]

7. little st nick by the Beach Boys n/f

Carly

[L A Woman]

8. O' Come All Ye Faithful by Luther Vandross n/t

[leftofthedial]

9. I hate to admit it, but

Robert Goulet's version of "Let It Snow"

[Coventina]

11. "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" sung by a choir

Infant holy, infant lowly,
For his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing
Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
Nowells ringing, tidings bringing.
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new;
Saw the glory, heard the story,
Tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
Praises voicing, greet the morrow,
Christ the babe was born for you!


It's my current favorite Christmas carol.

Words and music are traditional, from Poland.

[Guava Jelly]

13. Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas

as sung by
Chrissie Hynde

I cant locate it on youtube
But I found this one
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Inma6Xz_PvM
2000 miles

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Just about anything sung by a European choir

:-)

You get some unfamiliar carols beautifully sung.

[InvisibleTouch]

15. Probably "Blue Christmas" by Elvis.

And as with so many other songs, I have my own personalized version of it that I like even better. :)

[u4ic]

18. I like Porky Pig's version

:P

[CTyankee]

16. The Cambridge Singers "Gloria in Excelsis Deo"

and "Ding Dong Merrily on High."

[u4ic]

17. Kissing by the Mistletoe - Aretha Franklin

I've had it since I was a kid, and it's a very fun, upbeat song.

My all time favourite is Carol of the Bells.

[hyphenate]

20. Silver Bells

sung by Bing Crosby

Even though I'm now atheistic, I grew up Catholic, and even now enjoy some of the more religious carols. If they're sung well, they are still inspiring. "Oh Holy Night" is one of my favorites, as is "Silent Night."

[WritingIsMyReligion]

21. "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole.

Harry Connick Jr's rendition of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

"Sleigh Ride" by the Boston Pops.

"Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt.

"Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney.

"Last Christmas" by WHAM!

"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby.

"White Christmas" by the Drifters.

And so on.

[av8rdave]

22. My favs are a little bizzarre....

I love "Merry Christmas Alabama" by Jimmy Buffett

When I'm in a strange mood, I like Leon Redbone's version of "No Place Like Home for the Holidays"

And who can top John Lennon's "Happy Christmas?"

[femmocrat]

23. "Home for the Holidays" by Perry Como

It just has a lot of good memories that got along with it.

[wain]

24. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas - Bing Crosby

n/t

[bertha katzenengel]

25. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming - by any well-tuned chorus. eom

[kwassa]

28. My favorite, too, along with Coventry Carol and O Come Emmanuel

I don't like 20th century pop Christmas songs. They don't hold a candle to older songs.

[Magrittes Pipe]

26. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

As sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis.

[catmandu57]

29. Damn, there's 180

back to the subject. Santa Clause is smoking reefer by the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

[Guava Jelly]

39. Here it is on you tube she does it beautifully

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z8WCHt60Kzs
Enjoy and merry christmas

[StanD_by_You]

31. Handel's Messiah 11 of 14 - Hallelujah with audience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00MJ2fQP_F4

really bad camera work and audio.
but hearing this live is so. so undescribaly beautiful.

[LaurenG]

32. This is one I really like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ26Ao8Ffhs&mode=related&search=

[Orsino]

33. Maybe Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song"? n/t

[Evergreen Emerald]

34. The Eagles

Bells will be ringing.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

35. Cantiqe de Noel

on the CD "Noel", Joan Baez, 1966 (moldy oldie)




or, anything with "wassail" in it.

[rug]

47. I had that album.

If I recall the liner notes she descrbed Jesus as someone "who could not, would not, for any reason, kill his brother."

Left a strong impression as Vietnam was heating up.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

63. Yes. I believe that's O Holy Night

That album was produced by Peter Schickele, who is better known as PDQ Bach.

Joan Baez has a gorgeous voice.

The guy who wrote O Holy Night also wrote the ballet Giselle. Adolphe Adam. Trivia.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

66. Thanks for the extra info

produced by "PDQ Bach"? That explains the JSBach-like little 5-second pieces between songs on the recording.

And yes, it's O Holy Night. I guess they called it something else on the record because she sang it in French.

It's the first CD I play when starting to set up the Christmas tree every year. It doesn't get old.

Regards.

[YankeyMCC]

36. John Lennon- And So This Is Christmas

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=10774&mesg_id=10774

[LostinVA]

37. "Merry Christmas Darling, " Karen Carpenter

[begin_within]

38. I'm not a huge fan of her, but Celine Dion did a knockout version of "O Holy Night"

[Ava]

41. I prefer Martina McBride's version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Ivax0pGzU

[Ava]

40. Anything by Bing Crosby

Just started another thread about this... I'm a sucker for any Christmas song sung by Bing Crosby - especially "White Christmas" and "I'll be Home for Christmas." Christmas just isn't Christmas without Bing Crosby. ;)

[mopinko]

56. ever here chris isaak (sp?) sing white christmas?

i saw his christmas special last year, and when they did this, he said "just like bing did it" and damned if it wasn't.

[Penndems]

43. Too many to pick just one

1. "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole. Nobody can touch his version of that song.

2. "Christmas in Dixie" by Alabama.

3. "Merry Christmas, Darling" by The Carpenters.

4. "Let There Be Peace On Earth" by Vince Gill.

5. "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby.

6. The Temptations' version of "The Little Drummer Boy".

[melv]

44. U2 - Baby Please Come Home

Brenda Lee- Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

Mackenzie Brothers - 12 days of Christmas

[grace0418]

45. Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses

I love that song!

[blockhead]

46. Little Drummer Boy

Bob Seger

[graywarrior]

48. This one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qE4sg1ygTqg

[SPKrazy]

67. You Are Bad!

that's pretty funny Gray

:toast:

[graywarrior]

68. It's true....but not as bad as reality,

[SPKrazy]

69. True!

reality bites!

:pals:

[bmbmd]

49. Try these guys-Ricky Skaggs and James Taylor

"New Star Shining".

http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/skaggs_ricky/artist.jhtml

You have to scroll down a little tofind the link.

[wickerwoman]

51. Carol of the Bells

sung by just about anyone.

Handel's Messiah or Gloria in Excelsius Deo are close seconds.

[juajen]

52. Mary Did you Know by Clay Aiken

N/T

[Fox Mulder]

53. "Christmas Canon" by the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

[michreject]

54. Oh Holy Night

Celine Dion.

Gives a chill down my spine.

[Jade Fox]

55. The second verse of that song....

is so great.

Chains shall he break
for the slave he is our brother
and in his name all oppression shall cease.

Yes! Now that's some Christianity I can get behind.

[mopinko]

59. there is another carole with the same tune.

there was a lady who used to sing it at midnight mass when i was a kid. she had a beautiful voice, perfect for the song. i never heard it anywhere but there. i can't even remember any of the words. but the sound of it is still clear in my mind nearly 50 years later.

[Jade Fox]

57. Feed the World by various mid-eighties rock stars.

I love that one, and wish it was played more.

Also:

The Rebel Jesus-Jackson Browne
Cry of a Tiny Babe-Bruce Cockburn
Royal David's City-traditional but rarely heard (in the US) Christmas Carol


And for those Scrooge moments:

St. Stevens Day Murders-Elvis Costello


Special mention:

Hanuka Song-Adam Sandler, because ours is NOT a Christian country!

[ThatsMyBarack]

58. "Wreck the Malls"

It's a punk/new-wave/'80s Xmas song sung by The Waitresses.

[bikebloke]

60. Hey Santa

by Kevin Bloody Wilson

[speedoo]

61. "Santa Claus" by Sonny Boy Williamson

GREAT blues. And fun, too.

[MrSlayer]

62. "Christmas with the Devil" Spinal Tap

"No Presents for Christmas" King Diamond.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

64. Merry Xmas/War is Over by John Lennon

have a very merry Xmas
and a Happy new Year

Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

[tinfoilinfor2005]

70. I love them all but especially the old ones:

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
Greensleeves.
Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella.
Good King Wencezlas.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Oh Tannenbaum.
Low How a Rose Er Blooming.
Here We Come A Wassailing.
Mary's Boy Child.

I also love all the songs on Buffett's Christmas Album.

[BarenakedLady]

71. Elf's Lament by Barenaked Ladies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qixiv080feg

[Left Is Write]

72. Go Tell It On The Mountain by Bing & Frank

[MassLiberal]

73. I love 'em all

One favorite is "Children Go Where I Send Thee," performed live by Peter, Paul & Mary on their "Holiday Celebration" CD.

The Mariah Carey song is a big favorite, too--my daughter and I crank it every time it comes on the radio, and my friend and I spontaneously danced to it in the kitchen last night at my Christmas Eve party. :party: