Best and Worst holiday songs — Page 2

I didn't say he was a POPULAR lyricist

Until you've taught Elementary School Vocal music, you have no idea the amount of truly awful holiday music out there for example:

They Test You, Merry Gentlemen (God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen);
Our Good Principal Looked Out (Good King Wenceslas);
Clean The Halls (Deck The Hall);
Why Can't You Just Sit Still? (Still, Still, Still);
Joy To The World, My Shopping's Done! (Joy To The World);
Rap On The Rooftop (Up On The Housetop).
Sleepin' on the Floor This Christmas,
Love That Martha Stewart,
Will the Real Santa Claus Stand Up?,
Slippers Again for Christmas,
Touchdown in the Kitchen

And these are all from those bad "Christmas Musicals" that they push on elementary school music people.

And then you get stuff like "Santa's Ho Ho Hoedown" and "Rock a Hula Reindeer" and "North Pole, North Pole" (which is supposed to be a take off of "New York, New York".

It is truly a challenge to find music for my concerts that has some musical value. Soooooo much of it out there is pure shlock and cheese!

Adam Sandler's Hannukah Song rocks my world.

Best:
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Merry Christmas - Boston Pops

Worst:
Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis
Jingle Dogs

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my fav: Bing Crosby's White christmas

my least fav: that one about the christmas shoes or whatever

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MY favorite is Christmas Bells from RENT!!!! Does that count??? IF it doesn't, my favorite is Rockin Around The Christmas Tree.

Here's a sample, Geek:

THE CHRISTMAS SHOES

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

You can finish reading the rest here:

http://www.lyricsstyle.com/n/newsong/thechristmasshoes.html

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Updated On: 11/26/06 at 04:33 PM

Some favourite american/english christmas songs:

White Christmas, Jingle Bells, Christmas Song, Have yourself a marry little christmas, Let it snow, We wish you a marry Christmas, Ding dong merrily on high. Update: Happy Xmas (War is over) by John Lennon

German and French: Silent night, O holy night

The classic swedish christmas songs are often more solemn and old fashioned and they make a good compliment to the american classiscs.

Jul Jul strålande jul, (Yule Yule Shining Yule)
Gläns över sjö och strand (Shine over sea and shore) alternativly the star of Betlehem)
A star is shining
Bered en väg för herran
Hosianna son of David (german/swedish).

Here is a link to a cd with "gläns över sjö och strand" "jul jul strålande jul" and "nu tändas tusen juleljus". I'm not recommending the cd as such but it provides clips of those beautiful songs.

http://www.amazon.com/Dagen-%C3%84r-Kommen-Olle-Persson/dp/B0000014FV

Worst, hm. Perhaps the song "Ding Dong it's a christmas song" by swedish wannabe german Günther.

Wait a minute, there is a hilarious but creepy french cover of günthers song wich is easy to find (you know where). That might take the price.

Updated On: 11/26/06 at 04:56 PM

Favorites: Dominick the Donkey, Christmas Shoes, All I Want For Christmas is you (Mariah Carey)

A bit behind: Bruce Springsteen's Santa Clause is coming to town, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bells (so much fun to act silly while singing it), and...is it called So this is Christmas? one year's over...something like that.

Least favorite ever: sleigh ride. The only one I can stand is the one with the dingaling chorus but I'm already getting sick of that. It's just the most overplayed song, and the easiest to get stuck in your head. I HATE the instrumental version. We played it in band one year, and the damn song never got out of my head. That led to my hatred of it.

Also not a fan of the kid with the lisp singing I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause. Annoying. Or All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.

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Favorites:

So This Is Christmas?
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

And if these count:

Snoopy and the Red Baron (I hear it on the radio around Christmas)
You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

Dislike:

Dominick the Donkey

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Favourites are the best ones I've found any given year. This years crop include:-

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and Tahoe Snow from Captain and Tennille.

Razzle Dazzle Christmas from Neil Sedaka.

Christmas Tree Angel from The Andrews Sisters.

There aren't any worst Christmas songs. Someone, somewhere will love them

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Updated On: 11/26/06 at 06:40 PM

My guilty pleasure is Wham's Last Christmas. It's currently my ringtone...
I hate the Jimmy Eat World cover, though.

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