So it is important to note that even though I truly am filled with Christmas cheer, sometimes almost to an obnoxious level, not all holiday music is worth listening to.
First, let's start with the worst songs of the season.
The 10 Worst Christmas Songs (in no particular order):
1. "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" by Elmo and Patsy
2. "Dominick The Donkey" by Lou Monte
3. "Last Christmas" by Wham!
4. "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" by Spike Jones
5. "Nuttin' For Christmas" by Barry Gordon
6. "Merry Christmas, Darling" by The Carpenters
7. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland
8. "Mele Kalikimaka" by Bing Crosby
9. "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber
10. "Winter Wonderland" James Taylor
My guess is that the most shocking part of this list is the classic, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland. The reason I dislike this song so strongly is because it is so sad and not merry and bright at all. Have you ever seen Meet Me In St. Louis? This movie was the debut of the song, and it is a very sad scene when Garland actually sings the song. She actually is crying!! So, with that, I do not consider this a festive Christmas song, but rather, a completely depressing Christmas song that does not capture, at all, the Christmas joyful spirit. "Winter Wonderland" by James Taylor and "Merry Christmas, Darling" by The Carpenters, I put on this list for similar reasons. I respect James Taylor as a musician, but he just does not have the cheery disposition anywhere on the entire Christmas album enough to really feel joyful or triumphant. And Justin Bieber--enough said.
And now on to the best . . .
Best 15 Christmas Songs (in no particular order)
1. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon (good alternative: Bert McCracken and Street Drum Corps)
2. Winter Wonderland by Aretha Franklin
3. Silver Bells by Kenny G (good alternative: Bing Crosby)
4. You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Thurl Ravenscroft
5. "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by 'N Sync
6. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey
7. "Song For A Winter's Night" by Sarah McLachlan
8. "Deck The Halls" by Mannheim Steamroller
9. "Trim Up The Tree" by The Whos of Whoville
10. "Christmas Canon Rock" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
11. "Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano
12. "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town" by Bing Crosby (good alternative: Harry Connick Jr.)
13. "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
14. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (good alternative: Dean Martin)
15. "Carol of the Bells" by Mannheim Steamroller
These are the best of the best. These are the songs I do not get tired of hearing year after year, and yes, you are reading it correctly--'N Sync is on this list. Christmas, like Thanksgiving and other holidays is a lot about tradition. Memories are made and then, the music becomes part of that memory--part of the tradition. Mannheim Steamroller was always decorating-the-tree music in my family. "Feliz Navidad" was the song playing in Christmas Eve On Sesame Street when Big Bird ice skates with the little girl. I grew up hearing my dad listen to Kenny G all year round, so his seasonal album was always playing around Christmas. And the rest are assorted songs that I picked up over the years that became part of my must-have Christmas playlist. Some of the songs include a "good alternative"--a rendition of the song that is actually as good as the first mentioned song on the list. If you have only heard one version, check out the other.
Now, for the best of the best . . .
Best Christmas Album: Merry Christmas by Bing Crosby
Christmas morning, since I was young until now, was always about Bing Crosby and this album. We used to have the record and play it on my dad's old record player. We had the tape version and the CD. Then I bought my own copy. I wake up and his Merry Christmas album is always playing. If you notice, in A Christmas Story, the family is listening to that same album Christmas morning. This album is classic, it is old, it has stood the test of time, the sound is fuzzy like all the albums were at the time. it really does make my days merry and bright, and all of my Christmases, white. (Alright, that was my last one, I promise).
Just for fun, I put together a list of the top ten Christmas movies. These ARE in a particular order, starting with 10 and moving up to the best.
Top 10 Christmas Movies:
10. The Santa Clause (best song: White Christmas by The Drifters)
9. Christmas in Connecticut (best song: Jingle Bells by James Pierpont)
8. The Ref (best song: The Holly and The Ivy arranged by Charles Tompson)
7. Muppet Christmas Carol (best song: Thankful Heart)
6. Christmas Vacation (Christmas Vacation by Mavis Staples)
5. The Man Who Came To Dinner (best song: NA)
4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (animated and Jim Carey version): (best song: You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch)
3. Holiday Inn (best song: Song of Freedom by Bing Crosby)
2. White Christmas (best song: Sisters lip-synched by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye)
1. A Christmas Story (best song: Jingle Bells by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters)
May you all have a great holiday season and keep posted for the best and worst of 2011!
Note: All photos are from Wikipedia.org
1. Judging you for the 'N sync thing. There's no way to justify that or make it anything other than SUPER LAME!!!!! :-P
ReplyDelete2. From now on, the only person who gets to yell is me. Why? Because I have a gun. People with guns get to do whatever they want. Married people without guns - for instance - you - DO NOT get to yell. Why? NO GUNS! No guns, no yelling. See? Simple little equation.
3. We're waiting for the best and worst of 2011.