Who does your favorite Christmas songs?

[Judith]

Since I'm finding it impossible to get into the grinchy spirit this year, I've been downloading Christmas songs. I wanted to know what those of you, who regularly get into the Christmas spirit, like to listen too. I'm trying to avoid any of the recent pop stuff, however, I don't mind Christmas carols sung by Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, pr even by Willie Nelson or Elvis. I also like some of the more classical stuff. Since all the christmas records I listened to as a kid are long gone (as well as the record player) I was wondering if anyone could offer any suggestions. Who do you like? Which renditions say "Christmas" to you?

[Selena]

I really like the Michael W. Smith Christmas album and then there's that great Christmas song City on a Hill. Also like Amy Grant - Tennessee Christmas and others that she has recorded. I heard a wonderful group of Christmas carols sung by Michael Crawford (Phantom of the Opera fame) the other day that were simply breathtaking. And then there are quite a few songs by Third Day, David Meece, Point of Grace, Petra and Sonic Flood and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra does some spectacular music (no singing). And finally Boney M, (yes that group from the 80s) has one of the best verions of the Little Drummer Boy I have ever heard.
I have a compilation on my favorites from the above that I drag out for Christmas.

[StarsGoBlue]

I just heard a fabulous version of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' by Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan. I want it!!


*****Stars :groove:

[Selena]

The other day my local radio station was playing the Chipmunk's Christmas song and they followed it up with ...
Deck the Stalls with oats and barley,
Moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo!
Then, they later played We Wish You a Merry Christmas (woofed by dogs) but the cat version of Jingle Bells did not go over well at all.

[samati75]

Hmmm, Harry Connick, Chanticleer, Bing Crosby.

[JadedLegend3]

Well, as we all know, I dislike Christmas music most of the time. I do like it Christmas day, however. On that day, I like to listen to Mr. Crosby, Harry Connick Jr., Kathy Mattea, Madonna's version of "Santa Baby," and there is a really cute song by Clint Black that I can't think of the name of. Also, I like Jeff Foxworthy's "12 Redneck Days of Christmas."


Jacqui :love:

[StarsGoBlue]

*sings*

fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive onion rings
four calling cards
three french toasts
two turtlenecks

and a :beer: !


Ooops... sorry, that ain't redneck, that's Canadian! :rollin:


*****Stars :beergood:

[Harveylives]

Tran-siberian orchestra. Their just amazing.

U2 Baby, its christmas time Please come home.

[Antrobus]

See my Chrsitmas faves here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/2LXGDDLD14S14/ref=cm_aya_av.lm_more/103-3971705-6763804) :)

[Daffy]

Christmas drives me crazy - it brings the scrooge in me out.
But when I hear 'The Little Drummer Boy' - my Christmas spirit is restored.

daffy ;)

[Defect9]

I've got to agree with Harveylives on Trans-siberian orchestra (no, its not a bunch of crossdressers from siberia. Its a side project including members of the band Savatage). I also have to go with AC/DC for their "Mistress for Christmas" song.

-J

[Scarran Raptor]

Wierd Al Yankovic

*sings*
It's Christmas at ground zero,
there's panic in the crowd
we can dodge debris
while we trim the tree
underneath the mushroom cloud

[grinner]

I like this one... from UserFriendly

[grinner]

and this...
http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/69/6e/134857-resized200.jpg

[VBKatLou]

I love Nat King Cole, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, John Lennon - So This is Christmas, Emerson Lake & Palmer - I Believe in Father Christmas........and oh yeah, I can't really start getting into the Christmas spirit until I hear the dogs barking Jingle Bells.

[Nicola]

St. Paul's Cathedral Choir does an amazing job of the old standards. The carols sound fresh and vibrant each time I hear them. Makes me forget all the old tired renditions that I endure each Christmas.

Two thumbs up!

[UTChick]

Yeah, I'm an old fashioned girl - love Mormon Tabernacle Choir & the Philly Orch., Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas. There is one album, that I can't find updated that my father had. It was Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians, Twas the night before Christmas. It has one of the funniest versions of Rudolph - I adored it as kid & my kids adore it now. It also has the longest version of Jingle bells, sung in several styles. It ain't the Christmas season until we play that album. My husband finally recorded it to CD to preserve the album which is 40 years old.

[Alexxia]

I :love: Manheim Steamroller. It's another classical-type group along the same lines as Trans-Siberian. Their version of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies is awesome (IM not so HO)!

[BrowderChick]

Originally posted by Harveylives
Tran-siberian orchestra. Their just amazing.

.


I have that playing as we post. I am happy that someone else likes them as much as I do. Saw the concert last year. It was GREAT.

[BrowderChick]

Originally posted by Alexxia
I :love: Manheim Steamroller. It's another classical-type group along the same lines as Trans-Siberian. Their version of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies is awesome (IM not so HO)!


My thoughts exactly. I have all the Manheim cds for Christmas. Awesome.

[Alexxia]

Ooh! And I forgot to add that I :love2: Josh Groban's version of O Holy Night...*WARNING: SHAMELESS JOSH GROBAN PLUG*...anything he sings is worth listening to if you like the classical-type voices. Shameless plug? Where? :innocent:

[Third EYe]

Any Who recording is my favorite xmas album.

[BrowderChick]

:)

I think I like to listen to any recording that doesn't try to butcher the recordings. If they have a good voice and the music is good then it's worth listening to. But when a band trys to alter it and ends up completely changing it, then I wont listen to it.

[BrowderChick]

I remember on Christmas morning my mom used to put the tv on a channel that only showed a burning log and played music. I always laughed at that. When we were kids, the house we lived in had a fireplace at one time so she wanted to make that happen again. Not quite the same though.

[DentArthurDent]

George Winston, December. Elvis is always good too.

[BrowderChick]

Classic

[harveywhispers]

I like the classics;

Bing;
Frank;
Dean Martin;
Nat King Cole;
Burle Ives;
Elvis.

[Judith]

Originally posted by harveywhispers
I like the classics;

Bing;
Frank;
Dean Martin;
Nat King Cole;
Burle Ives;
Elvis.

Was Burl Ives the snowman in the Rudolph Christmas Special?

(By the way...it was on the other day, and I sat down to watch it, and the phone kept ringing. But I couldn't turn it off cause I love that show. So I put it on mute. The misfit toys are INCREDIBLY creepy when taken out of context).

[harveywhispers]

Yes, Burle Ives is the Snowman. For a long time, I have considered Rudolph to be one of the most mean spirited holiday specials.

*The Misfit Toys are creepy when taken in context.

[Judith]

Originally posted by harveywhispers
Yes, Burle Ives is the Snowman. For a long time, I have considered Rudolph to be one of the most mean spirited holiday specials.



REALLY? WHY?

Actually, I don't know what I'm talking about. It was my favorite when I was a kid...but haven't seen it since then, and then got home the other day and...well...I got to watch it, but I really didn't get to hear it. I think there a few points I'm a little vague on.

I think there's an elf, who wants to be a dentist, and then he has to hang with the misfit toys because he doesn't fit in and they don't fit in, and Rudolph hangs out with them too, cause no one likes him, and then they have to team and and fight the abdominal snow monster and then everyone's happy?

[fermicat]

This will sound really corny and stupid, but ever since I moved up to New England from Georgia 11 years ago Christmas In Dixie by Alabama has been my favorite Christmas song. Reminds me of home.

I also like to play the Charlie Brown Christmas CD, Narada Nutcracker, and Elvis Presley.