your favorite non-traditional Xmas songs

GlassJaw

Hero

• Nov 30, 2009

• #1

So a friend of mine is putting on a Christmas show in a few weeks and he's inviting anyone to jump up and sing a song. The band will be the same so it's kind of an open-mic kind of a thing.

Anyway, I'm trying to think of ideas. The leading candidate is
"Christmas Is the the Time to Say I Love You" by Billy Squier.

So what are your favorite non-traditional Christmas songs? Or traditional songs that have been covered in a cool way?

 

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Umbran

Mod Squad

Staff member

Supporter

• Nov 30, 2009

• #2

A best traditional song with a great cover is Bing Crosby and David Bowie, doing what we'd now call a mashup of "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Peace on Earth"

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMhSjDqvRs]YouTube - "Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby[/ame]

Not being Bowie and Crosby, I don't know if you can manage the same feel

A favorite non-traditional is Dar Williams "The Christians and the Pagans"

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_KiHRHwaAs]YouTube - The Christians and the Pagans - Dar Williams[/ame]
Lyrics: The Christians and the Pagans - Dar Williams (Lyrics and Chords)

There's also "Christmas in the Trenches" (about the X-mas truce in 1914) by John McCutcheon. It is long, but the sentiment is wonderful, and the folky style makes it easy for just about anyone to sing.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJi41RWaTCs]YouTube - Christmas in the Trenches - written and performed by John McCutcheon[/ame]
Lyrics Trenches on the Web - Special: Lyrics to "Christmas in the Trenches"

Can anyone see the theme running here?

 

Last edited: Nov 30, 2009

jaerdaph

#UkraineStrong

• Nov 30, 2009

• #3

John Lennon's So This is Christmas is one of my favorites.

I also really like Gabriel's Message by Sting from the charity album, A Very Special Christmas (as well as Christmas in Hollis by Run D.M.C. from the same album).

And in a warped sort of way, Fairytale of New York by the Pogues. If I were performing, that's what I'd sing.

 

Last edited: Nov 30, 2009

Pbartender

First Post

• Nov 30, 2009

• #4

Christmas at Ground Zero by "Weird" Al Yankovic.

 

GlassJaw

Hero

• Nov 30, 2009

• #5

Pbartender said:

Christmas at Ground Zero by "Weird" Al Yankovic.

Click to expand...

I found this earlier today. So awesome! This is a strong possibility...

 

T

Thunderfoot

Hero

• Nov 30, 2009

• #6

"Christmas Rapping" by The Waitresses

 

Deset Gled

.

• Dec 1, 2009

• #7

Theme from National Lampoon's "Christmas Vacation"

"We Just Go Nuts and Christmas Time" by They Might Be Giants

Songs from Coca Cola Xmas commercials

Of course, all of these could be difficult to cover. Good luck.

 

M

Mallus

Legend

• Dec 1, 2009

• #8

There can be only one.

Fairytale of New York

 

Wombat

First Post

• Dec 1, 2009

• #9

jaerdaph said:

John Lennon's So This is Christmas is one of my favorites.

Click to expand...

This.

Oh, there are others, but this one takes the cake.

 

Woas

First Post

• Dec 1, 2009

• #10

how's your Latin? I'll suggest Gaudete. It's my favorite Christmas song. You can hear the song through the link if you scroll down near the bottom.