Worst and Best Christmas Music - Page 3

Chipper · 23 Dec 2005, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam Lachlan
I now cannot endure either Wham!'s "Last Christmas" or "Frosty the snowman" by the jackson 5 with a straight face, makes me nauseous thinking about them quite frankly!

I like the Ronnettes verzion of Frosty the Snowman as well as their version of Sleigh Ride. I used to be a DJ at a country station and played a version of Frosty the Snowman by Brady Bunch!

Some of my other favorites:
Christmas, Christmas - Darlene Love
Dominic the Donkey - Lou Monte
Mary's Boy Child - not sure of the artist
Marvelous Little Toy - also not sure of artist
Snoopy's Christmas - Royal Guardsman

And... not to start an on-line debate, but I also like Wham's "Last Christmas." -- however, I must also admit that I have not been in situations where I was subjected to hearing it overplayed. Speaking of overplayed, since I have decidedly and deliberately avoided radio stations that plays tons of Christmas music, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer has started to become a favorite of mine again.

Malc 44 · 23 Dec 2005, 05:22 PM

Last night on BBC1's Jonathan Ross show, he announced the result of the BBC website poll for best ever christmas record.

In 3rd place - Wizzard, 2nd place was Slade, and the winner was The Pogues & Kirst MacColl - Fairytale of New York.

The Pogues came on the show later to perform a new version of the song with Katie Melua (replacing the late Kirsty MacColl). Shane MacGowan was drunker than usual, and Katie Melua was clearly struggling through this awful performance which was saved only by the great musicians in the band.

At the end, MacGowan announced "it's in the shops tomorrow!" if that's true, I certainly won't be buying it!

Nice try Katie, but you should stick to what you're good at, Jazz.

_Malc

robert@fm · 24 Dec 2005, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Malc 44
Simon & Garfunkel - Silent Night/The Nine O'clock News

IIRC the correct title is 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night.  To my mind the most deeply ironic Christmas song I've ever heard — it starts with S&G singing Silent Night (à capella IIRC), but halfway through there is faded-in the vioce of a CBS newsreader doing a broadcast.

Another Christmas song which is an antidote to all the sickly-sweet rubbish, which is probably the reason why it never gets played, is A Christmas Song by Jethro Tull.

robert@fm · 24 Dec 2005, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chipper
Mary's Boy Child - not sure of the artist

Harry Bellafonte (sp?) or Boney M?

I usually parody I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day thus:

Quote:

And I wish it could be Christmas every da-ay,
With freezing cold and loads of bills to pa-ay;
Yes, I wish it could be Christmas every da-a-ay,
Let the tills ring out for Christmas.

Adam Lachlan · 24 Dec 2005, 03:19 AM

My favourite arrangment of Sleigh Ride is Air Supply's and another one (don't know the artist). The Ronettes' one is okay but what annoys me is that they slow down singing so they're singing off the beat.

Robert - nice parody! So, whnat do you think of Christmas is all around?

Malc 44 · 24 Dec 2005, 08:50 AM

[quote]Originally posted by robert@fm
IIRC the correct title is 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night

You're quite right Robert, and if it were played more I would have remembered the title accurately

_Malc

rmns2bseen · 25 Dec 2005, 03:26 AM

Best: Nat King Cole singing "The Christmas Song"

Worst: those Mannheim Steamroller things

to quote the former: "and so I'm offering this simple phrase/ to kids from one to ninety-two/ though it's been said many times, many ways/ Merry Christmas to youuuuu"

David · 25 Dec 2005, 03:53 AM

Let us not forget John Lennon's Christmas message and song

robert@fm · 16 Dec 2008, 12:00 AM

*bump*
filler

Malc 44 · 16 Dec 2008, 01:32 AM

Ok, I may as well stick this here as well, I can't believe that this was never thought of as a Christmas record:

Joy To The World - Three Dog Night

Dig those flares!

Adam Lachlan · 16 Dec 2008, 05:34 AM

One of my favourites at the moment is "25th December" by Everything But The Girl, which is a highly depressing song, but a good one. It was playing in Somerfield last year, possibly not the best choice of music for a supermarket!

nooby · 16 Dec 2008, 06:31 AM

When I first time heard The Pogues doing their most famous xmas hit I was so emotionally overwhelmed that tears flow and I shooked by the impact of the feelings. they did it so good. An evergreen indeed.

Are there anything even coming near what they did?

Malc 44 · 16 Dec 2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nooby

When I first time heard The Pogues doing their most famous xmas hit I was so emotionally overwhelmed that tears flow and I shooked by the impact of the feelings. they did it so good. An evergreen indeed.

Are there anything even coming near what they did?

Yes, Fairytale of New York is a favourite with many including myself, maybe because the lyrics reflect a darker side of Christmas that many can relate to.

_Malc

robert@fm · 17 Dec 2008, 01:27 AM

Another Christmas song reflecting the darker side of the season (and which sadly never seems to get played) is Jethro Tull's A Christmas Song.

Malc 44 · 17 Dec 2008, 07:41 AM

Yea, that is dark

Holly Holy - Neil Diamond

River - Joni Mitchell

A guy on BBC Radio 2 was playing a part of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells tonight as Christmas music. The part where Vivian Stanshall introduces all of the instruments. Ya know, I think it kind of fits.

I really must put together that alternative Christmas album! ...I love doing themed compilations (when I get time)

24 Dec 2005, 08:50 AM	#36
Malc 44 Essential Contributor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 365	Re: Re: Under-played Christmas music [quote]Originally posted by robert@fm IIRC the correct title is 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night You're quite right Robert, and if it were played more I would have remembered the title accurately _Malc

17 Dec 2008, 07:41 AM	#45
Malc 44 Essential Contributor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 365	Yea, that is dark Holly Holy - Neil Diamond River - Joni Mitchell A guy on BBC Radio 2 was playing a part of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells tonight as Christmas music. The part where Vivian Stanshall introduces all of the instruments. Ya know, I think it kind of fits. I really must put together that alternative Christmas album! ...I love doing themed compilations (when I get time) Last edited by Malc 44 : 17 Dec 2008 at 07:50 AM.

23 Dec 2005, 05:22 PM	#32
Malc 44 Essential Contributor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 365	Last night on BBC1's Jonathan Ross show, he announced the result of the BBC website poll for best ever christmas record. In 3rd place - Wizzard, 2nd place was Slade, and the winner was The Pogues & Kirst MacColl - Fairytale of New York. The Pogues came on the show later to perform a new version of the song with Katie Melua (replacing the late Kirsty MacColl). Shane MacGowan was drunker than usual, and Katie Melua was clearly struggling through this awful performance which was saved only by the great musicians in the band. At the end, MacGowan announced "it's in the shops tomorrow!" if that's true, I certainly won't be buying it! Nice try Katie, but you should stick to what you're good at, Jazz. _Malc

24 Dec 2005, 03:19 AM	#35
Adam Lachlan Master of the @ Join Date: May 2002 Location: UK Posts: 1,004	My favourite arrangment of Sleigh Ride is Air Supply's and another one (don't know the artist). The Ronettes' one is okay but what annoys me is that they slow down singing so they're singing off the beat. Robert - nice parody! So, whnat do you think of Christmas is all around?

25 Dec 2005, 03:26 AM	#37
rmns2bseen Master of the @ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,426	Best: Nat King Cole singing "The Christmas Song" Worst: those Mannheim Steamroller things to quote the former: "and so I'm offering this simple phrase/ to kids from one to ninety-two/ though it's been said many times, many ways/ Merry Christmas to youuuuu"

25 Dec 2005, 03:53 AM	#38
David Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canada. Posts: 10,355	Let us not forget John Lennon's Christmas message and song

16 Dec 2008, 12:00 AM	#39
robert@fm The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,681	bump filler

16 Dec 2008, 01:32 AM	#40
Malc 44 Essential Contributor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 365	Ok, I may as well stick this here as well, I can't believe that this was never thought of as a Christmas record: Joy To The World - Three Dog Night Dig those flares!

16 Dec 2008, 05:34 AM	#41
Adam Lachlan Master of the @ Join Date: May 2002 Location: UK Posts: 1,004	One of my favourites at the moment is "25th December" by Everything But The Girl, which is a highly depressing song, but a good one. It was playing in Somerfield last year, possibly not the best choice of music for a supermarket!

16 Dec 2008, 06:31 AM	#42
nooby Essential Contributor Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe Posts: 474	When I first time heard The Pogues doing their most famous xmas hit I was so emotionally overwhelmed that tears flow and I shooked by the impact of the feelings. they did it so good. An evergreen indeed. Are there anything even coming near what they did?

17 Dec 2008, 01:27 AM	#44
robert@fm The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,681	Another Christmas song reflecting the darker side of the season (and which sadly never seems to get played) is Jethro Tull's A Christmas Song.