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Christmas songs that you actually like?

Ubersheist

Ubersheist

Aug 8, 2007
2,206
610
Newbury Park, California
www.joshwmyers.com
#1
Ok, I admit it... I hate 90% of the Christmas songs out there. My Grinch-iness and cynicism generally makes me loath their syrupy sweetness. Truth be told, I'm really just not a fan of Christmas anyway. I hate the gift-buying process so much that it really takes away from the good parts (family, friends, and, of course, the food).

However, I try to stay positive when "Holly, Jolly Christmas" comes on the the PA system in whatever Big Box store I happen to be at where I'm trying to blow my money on crap that no one really wants. I try to remember the good ones. Here's some of the ones that I genuinely do like:

- "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" - so simple but beautiful at the same time.
- "Little Town of Bethlehem" - same reason
- "Song for a Winter's Night" by Gordon Lightfoot (so long as you listen to any version then his - not a fan of the original)
- Also, I'm not sure how anyone could not like Bing Crosby's version of "White Christmas"

What's yours?
 
#4
Christmas music as heard on the radio mostly just makes me want to go postal. There are some good jazz Christmas albums though, and as mentioned Nutcracker is pretty much awesome throughout. If I were going to play one, I think it would be God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, as it could be adapted for just about any style with a good bass part.
 
#7
muljoe said:
Anything off of Charlie Brown's Christmas. It's all amazing and the bass player is awesome!
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that was Fred Marshall or Monty Budwig, but can't say for sure. Great music that recalls great times in my own childhood and probably lots of other people's as well. Love Vince Guaraldi.

Also some soundtrack tunes to the specials:

There's Always Tomorrow from Rudolph

The Grinch Song

I Am Not Just A Misfit from Rudolph

And some regular tunes...

Merry Christmas Darling- The Carpenters. Really only the ending (after the pause)

This Christmas- Donny Hathaway

I Believe In Father Christmas- Greg Lake

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree- Brenda Lee

Merry Xmas (War Is Over)- John Lennon

Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime- Paul Mc

I can take or leave almost any classical music, but I absolutely enjoy the Christmas classical stuff this time of year.
 
#8
Christmas tunes drive me nuts for the most part, especially when performers get cute with them. Haven't heard a country or pop christmas tune that I could stomach, except for one or two that Cash did. Elvis did ok on a few. Have heard some good jazz versions, and prefer jazz xmas tunes to anything. When done right, 'Silent Night', 'Oh Holy Night', 'Good King Wenceslas', 'White Christmas' are good. I like to play Silent Night on electric guitar, one verse clean, the 2nd dirty as hell!
 
#15
but seriously though, Donny Hathaway's This Christmas, the Charlie Brown christmas album and Nat King Cole's christmas album are the usually the only ones I can tolerate without fail. Seems like everytime I walked into the supermarket this month they're playing a lame cover of "this christmas" and not the original...sigh
 

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