Favorite Christmas Music?

[Rel]

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together

Fond memories listening to this every year since I was a kid. Now my son loves it too.

Ditto. Best. Christmas. Album. EVAR! I'll never forget the year that my dad and I confronted each other, excited, both saying, "Guess what I got on CD!" Good laugh.

I also recommend Emmylou Harris' "Light of the Stable". In particular her version of The First Noel and Beautiful Star of Bethlehem make me happy in my heart.

 

[diaglo]

not really a Christmas song but one i hear often around this time of year:

Judy Collin's version of Amazing Grace

 

[Wombat]

I run all sorts of ways around on Xmas music...

I have a great fondness plainchant, old Gregorian chants, pre-polyphonic. I have several recordings in this style and simply love it!

Then there is Joan Baez's album Noel -- her voice is so singularly beautiful on that album that it brings me to tears.

I also love the Harry Belafonte rendition of 'There's A Star In The East" -- just makes me tremble at the sound.

Then there is the album The Clancy Brothers' Christmas -- this goes back and forth between weepy and sentimental on the one hand and wildly racous on the other -- you have not lived until you've heard their crazed rendition of "Jingle Bells" in Gaelic! And "Christmas in Carrick" just does it for me: "Who cares of a-for tomorrow, now's the time to spread good cheer, pass the whiskey round in tumblers, Christmas come but once a year!"

And then any time I can get together with a group of folks and simply sing old tunes, I am happy!

As for Mannheim Steamroller ... the less said the better

 

[frankthedm]

Trans-Siberian'sChristmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 . Best Christ-Mass song ever.

It used to get a LOT of play at movie theaters during the 'between shows' sections.

 

[Desdichado]

Last Christmas, by Wham

Chorus:

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby do you recognise me?
Well it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me

(Happy Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying "I Love You" I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kissed me now I know you'd fool me again

Chorus

(Oooh. Oooh Baby)

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes
I'm hiding from you and your soul of ice
My God I thought you were someone to rely on
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Oooh Oooh
Now I've found a real love you'll never fool me again

Chorus

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
(Gave you my heart)
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Next year
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
special
someone
someone
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
who'll give me something in return
I'll give it to someone
hold my heart and watch it burn
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone special
I've got you here to stay
I can love you for a day
I thought you were someone special
gave you my heart
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone
last christmas I gave you my heart
you gave it away
I'll give it to someone, I'll give it to someone

Actually, I'm very conservative in my Christmas music tastes. Give me Bing Crosby for vocal Christmas. In a pinch, I'll take Andy Williams.

My favorite carols are the really old, traditional, darker Catholic ones. Stuff like "O Come, O Come Emmanual" and "O Holy Night" and "What Child is This?" and whatnot. I've got some good instrumental versions of those as "Celtic" christmas songs.

 

[nakia]

Already got the Wham song on some "Rockin Christmas" CD.

 

[reveal]

Last Christmas, by Wham

Every time that comes on the radio, I crank it up and sing. My wife just groans.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I heard an Everclear cover of "Santa Baby" the other day on the radio... I nearly died laughing. Made my day.

 

[Desdichado]

Every time that comes on the radio, I crank it up and sing. My wife just groans.

Replace you with me, and your wife with my wife, and we replay that exact same scenario several times each holiday.

 

[Crothian]

Fanboy Christmas by Luke Ski

The 12 Days of Christmas by the guys from Strange Brew and SCTV

Harry Connick Jr and the HP Lovecraft Choir are also personal favorites.