Christmas Music....Well, Mostly.

[badstar]

Overall, I can't stand the stuff. My idea of really great Christmas music?

The Chinese Dance from the Nutcracker. (Well, just about anything from the Nutcracker, but I especially love the Chinese Dance)

I like a few of the humorous songs- like Bob Rivers's The Chimney Song...and of course the Twelve Pains Of Christmas.

Oh, and then there's the Christmas version of Snoopy and the Red Baron by the Royal Guardsmen. Awesome song.

But other songs, like Santa Baby? Loathe it. When I was in 11th grade, worked in a store that had a single Christmas tape, an hour to a side...and that song was on BOTH SIDES. (No other song appeared twice)

And any Christmas song sang by the Beach Boys should be banned. Along with that song with the chorus that goes "hoop de doo and dickory dock and don't forget to hang up your sock"- I've had that stuck in my head for roughly a week now and I want to gouge out the part of my brain that remembers random song clips and loops them like a defective tape player.

Then there's Carol of the Bells. Ick. And the Manhein Steamroller, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I could do without those.

One song that I really do like is War Is Over by John Lennon...I always thought that was a cool song. I've also heard some really decent versions of traditional Christmas carols....for instance, I've heard a couple of amazing arrangements of Do you Hear What I Hear, taking great advantage of the sequential structure of the song to start it out soft and light, and build into some really powerful music.

There's only one other Christmas song that I really really like, and for a long time I didn't know what it was, I just know that I used to hear it sometimes when my mom was still listening to the Christian radio stations, and maybe two or three times, I've heard it in stores. I knew a few random phrases, and over the last few years I've tried googling the lyrics several times, but always turned up nothing.

I decided to try it again a little while and on the first try...blammo, there it was.

*looks around warily*

Okay, after that, I'm sure at least a few of you want to know what song it is. No doubt I'm going to get razzed at least from a few people. Hmm...ok....*braces self*

I didn't even known until tonight who sang the song, but it's Love Has Come by Amy Grant.

Ah well, it really is a great song. I went and downloaded it from iTunes. *dances*

Yes folks, the crazy pagan does like the occasional Christian song. I've got a couple others, plus a couple of non-religious songs by a Christian group or three....like Squad Five-o, The Innocence Mission- didja know they're from Lancaster and went to my mom's high school?- yup, they did.

Holy random iTunes findings...Oh my god, they have Laura Love's Octoroon. Which contains a cover of Nirvana's Come As You Are, plus (speaking of Christian music) the only version of the song Amazing Grace that I really like. Okay, I'm just getting those two tracks for now...

Edited cause I remembered more Christmas music to ban...that one with the little kid singing about the shoes. That and Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton. Which may very well be The Most Depressing Song In The World- even more depressing than Dust In The Wind! (Well...maybe second, after Come Sweet Death, which is additionally twisted because if you're not listening to the words, it's kinda happy sounding). Hearing that song just makes me want to commit myself to a psychiatric hospital because it's so depressing that I'm afraid it's going to make me start cutting myself or something.

Comments

[heartofmoon.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend recently introduced me to the horror that is "Christmas with a capital C" sung by a Christian boy band, and all about how people shouldn't say "Happy Holidays." Unfortunately, it's quite catchy.

I like the Christmas songs that don't go on and on about baby Jesus. Those get a bit sickening.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend recently introduced me to the horror that is "Christmas with a capital C" sung by a Christian boy band, and all about how people shouldn't say "Happy Holidays." Unfortunately, it's quite catchy.

Whaaaaat???

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. Gods. 0.o

I kind of want to hurt you for sharing that (although, strangely, another part of me wants to hear it just for a laugh).

[seaya.livejournal.com]

I like the one about the woman thinking she will be alone on Christmas and forgetting the cranberry sauce.

[brcmapgirl.livejournal.com]

The Waitresses' Christmas Song. Classic. I love it. I can't hear it enough during the holidays.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

huh...I don't know that one.

[fervid-dryfire.livejournal.com]

I thought I was the only one who didn't (/never) like(/d) Mannheim Steamroller. Glad to know I'm not alone.

On the other hand, I love Carol of the Bells. Ah well.

[half-double.livejournal.com]

Santa Baby? Loathe it.

For me, that song is all about what version you've got. Some of the more recent ones just sound like bratty little girls being whiny and demanding. But Eartha Kitt's version? Ohhhhh. ::shivers:: That one sounds like, if Santa is very good with the presents, he will get sex out of the deal. And that is awesome.

The Bob and Doug version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" makes my entire December, when I can find it. "And a beer...in a tree." Heh.

[luciaofthegrove.livejournal.com]

Actually there are alot of christmas music that I like too *nod* but I have to agree with you on the popular religious christmas music *gag* and some of the more stupid santa-y ones.

Nutcracker Suite rocks. I used to see the ballet every year when I was a kid so it also brings alot of fond memories listening to it. It is a shame I am always so broke when the ballet is put on here locally.. I would have liked to take Cara to see it.

[linzbinz.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* This is the complete opposite of any post I'd ever make. Do you know what my favorite song in the whole entire WORLD is? Not just my favorite Christmas song, but my favorite song EVER EVER EVER? Santa Baby! But it has to be the original Ertha Kitt version. ;) I love ALL Christmas music! Ok, no, that's a lie. I loathe one song. LOOOOATHE! *Shakes fist* Hearing "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is enough to make me TOTALLLY break down and start sobbing my brains out no matter where I am.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

LOL....I've heard quite a few versions of the song but I don't know that I've heard that one.

[leiacat.livejournal.com]

I generally like explicitly Christian ones far more than novelty, Santa and winter. I'm yet to meet a "God rest ye merry gentlemen" I don't like. I adore Gaudete, especially the Medieval Baebes version. For sheer musicality, Silent Night is nice.

Song I utterly hate: the drummer boy one.

Lately, I've been hearing more and more swing versions of assorted traditionals, and I've found that just about any Christmas standards, no matter how inane, are made better by a good arrangement.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

I generally like explicitly Christian ones far more than novelty, Santa and winter.

Yeah...I agree with this, I find the blatantly religious songs generally to be a lot more bearable than the secular ones. I don't mind the Little Drummer Boy, as long as I don't hear it too many times- the "rum pa pum pum" part can get on my nerves pretty quickly...

[apeiron-gaia.livejournal.com]

I LOVE The Gift by Aselin Debison, but radios NEVER play it.

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

Amy Grant? Oh dear gods. And you still think I got the better deal out of this room mate situation. :-P

[fuego.livejournal.com]

It's one song and it's not like i'm playing it in the house.

Oh, and as long as I'm the one doing a majority of the cooking, catbox scooping and computer-guts-messing-around. yeah, you're definitely getting the better end of the deal. You've got nothing to bitch about :-P

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

I can't tell if this is supposed to be testy or not. You want more help with the one thing on that list I'm capable of, you need only ask. Or you could let me play on the computer as long as you don't care if it ever works again.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

I don't normally put tongue-sticky-outy faces with serious comments. so, no. not serious.

[sunneyone.livejournal.com]

I love the Snoopy Christmas song!!! I agree that there are a lot of inane songs out there. And it sucks that most "traditional" songs have been sung by 1000 people, because radio stations doing all Christmas music play the same song over and over, it's just sung by different people. I do like Beyonce's version of the Carol of the Bells. And the Chris Issak version of Mele Kalikimaka. I also love U2's Christmas song. And Christmas in Hollis by RunDMC.
I HATE that John Lennon Christmas song. I think that song TRIES to depress you.

[dcnblus.livejournal.com]

I dunno... my all-time favourite is still Weird Al's "Christmas at Ground Zero." Had a very different connotation before 2001...

I'm opting not to see TSO this year, but they have some awesome music. But you've not heard 'The Carol of the Bells' until you've actually heard it on bells -- Cast in Bronze has a version that is played on the Carillon :) I'll have to get you a copy of that. Not that it'll change your mind, but it does sound great (even better live)

Of course, there is Enya singing Silent Night...
Sting and his variant of 'Gloria'
anything by Medieaval Baebes (tho, Mistletoe & Wine seems to be their holiday recording)
'What Would Satan Want For Christmas' performed by Hey Nunnie Nunnie
Donal Hinely playing midwinter carols on glasses
Bowie & Crosby's holiday tune

I gave all my 'traditional' holiday CDs to my mother; I just have the oddball stuff :) Somewhere around I have my Christmas compilation CD...