Watching the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center reminded me that it's about time I started playing my holiday playlist and tuning my radio to the 24/7 holiday music stations (Bless you, Lite FM!). It also made me curious about what songs people love to hear this time of year.

So, what are your favorite holiday tunes (Christmas carols or otherwise), and which versions do you prefer the most?

Here are a few of mine:

"O Holy Night" by Celine Dion - For me, the definitive Christmas song. Wonderfully melodic and profoundly moving, it stirs my very soul when I hear it done well. Celine's version is probably my favorite, but I'm also digging newer versions by Celtic Woman and Josh Groban.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland - The most depressing Christmas song ever. I love every melancholy second of it! Sinatra's version is a tad too happy, so my vote goes to Judy's, which strikes just the right tone.

"Santa Claus Is Gunning You Down" by the cast of Futurama - Forget "Jingle bells, Batman smells," this is the new standard for Christmas carol parodies.

"The Chanukah Song" by Adam Sandler - I'm not Jewish and I don't always love Adam Sandler's brand of humor, but this song is a hilarious classic.

"Night of Fire (For Christmas Mix)" by Niko - Have yourself a Christmas of fire!

My favorite holiday songs are "A Mad Russian's Christmas" and "Christmas Eve, Sarajevo 12/24" from the 1996 Trans Siberian Orchestra album Christmas Eve and Other Stories. The guitar in "Christmas Eve, Sarajevo 12/24" is performed by Chris Caffery of Savatage and it just rules... it doesn't need to be the holiday to enjoy that track

Adam Sandler "The Chanukah Song" is a classic staple...

As for Futurama, I like the song they sing in the workshop better:

"We're getting awfully tired and we can't work any faster. While you selfish little bastards! Do you want the kids to think that Santa's just some empty handed jerk? Then shut your yaps and back work!"

"Let my happy smile warm your heart. There's a toy lodged in my brain!"

"These Toy Soilders are poorly painted and they're made from inferior wood."

"If I weren't stuck here frozen I'd harpoon you in the eye"

Were you at Rockefeller tonight, shdwrlm?

Holiday songs.... "Christmas Eve" and "Feliz Navidad" are my personal favorites of Celine Dion's, and Groban's rendition of "O Holy Night" is the tops. (Loved his performance of "The Little Drummer Boy" tonight, by the way.)  Whitney Houston's soulful "Do You Hear What I Hear," Run DMC's old-school trippin' "Christmas Time In Hollis," Faith Hill's lyrically-thematic "Where Are You Christmas," Bryan Adams' rockin' "Run Rudolph Run," and Tom Petty's "Christmas All Over Again."  Can't fail to mention Bruce Springsteen's "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" too.

Nothing tops South Park's "Christmas Time In Hell" for true parody indulgence.  Bob Rivers' stuff is always a blast, especially "The Twelve Pains of Christmas" and "Wreck The Malls."  Oh, and that damned dog-barking piece, "singing" to Jingle Bells. 

On the Euro side, Creamy's version of "Til julebal i Nisseland" is addicting like cute-crack, and "It's Christmas Time Again and "Christmas Is Coming" are my other faves from their Christmas Snow album.  Also, from those Cyber Trance X-Mas CDs I got from you last year, shdwrlm -- D-Nation's "Joy To The World" and Castalia's "Jingle Bells."  And Violent Strings Ensemble's "Joy To The World" is pure eurobeat magic.

And, of course, John Williams' "Somewhere In My Memory."

Word. Although we can't forget "Christmas Star" and "Song of Bethlehem" either.

For the most part, I'm played out on Christmas music... although I do have a certain fondness for "Oh Holy Night", especially as performed by a chorus.

Christmas At Ground Zero by Weird Al.

or that Home Alone 2 song with Clarence Clemons on his sax. The vocalist was Murtaugh's wife from Lethal Weapon.

Bob Seger's version of Little Drummer Boy has become a new favorite in past years.

More to come I'm sure.

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas: The harmonization/bass parts always stood out for me.

"Christmas time is here, Skating" from the Charlie Brown Xmas special are always classic.

"The nutcracker suite" by the Brian Setzer Orchestra is one of my recent favorites.
I just liked the fusion between classical and big band.

I saw this one Hallmark Cm when I was younger.  I really liked the music and the setup.
This little boy starts to sing in front of his the family, "O holy night...."
and then the older college-age brother comes through the door, with this baritone voice of his starts singing, "Fall on your knees"

Wow, can't believe no one's mentioned Manheim Steamroller yet.  "Traditions of Christmas" is absolutely gorgeous and so is "The Holly and the Ivy".  But really, both of their 80's albums are in high rotation around Christmas time.

Also, Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumbel's "The Gift" gets alot of playtime as well.

Yep.

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.a … 5817&BAB=M

"Have Yourself a Merry Christmas", "Oh Come Ye Oh Faithful" (done to the tune of "We're Not Gonna Take It") "Deck the Halls" and "Heavy Metal Christmas (The Twelve Days of Christmas)" are all holiday worthy. Not exactly the next "Stay Hungry", but still an entertaining diversion.

Firehouse's take on "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" works well and there's always the Christmas song from Sakura Wars II. Also, the South Park dradle song. *ducks*

And then there's this beaut: http://www.gmronline.com/info.asp?CatNumber=SCDC-00468

And speaking of Trans-Siberian Orchestra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK90Ys2LhSo

Call me the grinch, but I absolutely hate xmas music, except for maybe some of the chocobo stuff that's on one of those fushigina dungeon CDs.  If you've ever worked in retail, even for only one holiday season, that's enough to put you off the stuff forever. 

You know the episode of The Simpsons where they go to theme park and they go to that night club that celebrates New Year's Eve every fifteen minutes and the employees want to kill themselves?  Hearing xmas music gives me those kinds of flashbacks.

Speak of the devil; a friend just lent me "The Lost Christmas Eve" CD today.  I'll give it a full listen soon, though I did listen to track 13's "What Is Christmas?"  It reminds me of an anti-version of Nightmare Before Christmas' "What's This?" o_O

Nope, I just watched it from the comfort (not to mention warmth) of my home. The tree is an impressive sight in person, though.

Speaking of the Danes, have you yet heard Me & My's new single, Too Much Christmas?

That's a great song as well. However, my new favorite Futurama song is in Bender's Big Score. I won't spoil it, but it's genius stuff.

I'd prefer to call you a Scrooge Ba humbug to you!

Since you reminded me of VGM Christmas songs, I'll also bring up Thomas Howard's "Silent Hill." I'm still pining for a mash-up with an Akira Yamaoka song.

Guys / Gals..

A GREAT holiday album from one of my favorite guitar players (and several guests like Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Steve Vai and legendary guitar solo session ace, Mike Landau))

Steve Lukather's Santamental

http://www.amazon.com/Santamental-Steve … 244&sr=8-1

Lukather (or Luke as his friends call him) is 'Toto's' guitar player

Here are the songs on the album.  I recommend the ones with stars (if you piece meal on iTunes)

1. Joy to the World  *
2. Greensleeves  *
3. Jingle Bells 
4. Carol of the Bells  *
5. Broken Heart for Christmas  *
6. Angels We Have Heard on High 
7. Winter Wonderland 
8. Look Out for Angels  *
9. Silent Night 
10. Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) [*] 

You can find samples are up on iTunes.  Mostly instrumental. A great album all around, highly recommended if you like catchy instrumental rock music, with a seasonal twist.  Lots of credit goes to the keyboard player 'Jeff Babko' who arranged many of the songs and the 'crem-de-la'crem' musicians who play their butts off.  It grooves, it rocks, it swings, it's a definite favorite.

Yep I did.  Lovely song; it'd sound amazing remixed, don't you think?  Will the upcoming CD single feature any?

Y'know, I'm glad this topic exists, because I have an observation/query about Christmas carols. I don't celebrate the holiday myself, but I have a weakness for the music.

Now, it can be argued that there are three types of carols. First, there are the songs regarding the birth of Jesus Christ ("The First Noel", "Silent Night", "O Come All Ye Faithful"). Then there are the songs regarding the joy of the holiday itself ("The Christmas Song", "Holly Jolly Christmas", "Deck the Halls"). Finally, there are songs about winter ("Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow", "Jingle Bells").

Now, I can see the first two types of carols going away on December 26 of each year. But seeing that winter doesn't end until March, why should the song about IT end?

Would people really stop dashing through the snow?
Does the weather outside really become less frightful?
Has winter really become LESS of a wonderland?

So, yeah...
I thought about this LAST December, but forgot to bring it up. Probably knee-deep in Twilight Princess at the time.

To answer the question itself, this year I went on a major Chicago binge. It was fun to reaffirm that there was life before - AND AFTER - the power-ballad 80s. "Chicago 25" was their Christmas album, released in the mid-90s. In 2003, it was expanded with six more songs as "What's it Gonna Be, Santa?" It's all good fun, especially since the horns ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO. Special note goes to "Bethlehem", an original by singer/songwriter Bill Champlin, told from the perspective of the wise men.

I could definitely go for a eurobeat remix -- Luigi Stanga did an outstanding job on "Dub-I-Dub" recently -- but it appears the song is digital download only for now, and no remixes exist that I know of.

Interesting observation. My take: The months after Christmas, namely January and February, tend to bring heavier snowfalls in my area, and listening to music about winter and snow would only remind me that I have a lot of back-breaking shoveling to do outside. When those damn snowplows push all the snow to my side of the street, the last thing I'd want to hear is "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

If I were one to change my sig on a constant basis, I'd think I'd be doing it right about now.

Good point indeed.

The reason is simply that the winter songs are part of 'the season'. They come as a package deal...after all, people don't go singing seasons spring/summer/fall songs.

-Joshua

Probably "Silent Night"  by Wilson Phillips and "O Holy Night" by Cartman. I found that version really funny, heh. I also like "Christmas Through Your Eyes" by Gloria Estefan. Funnily enough, I don't care much for Enya's version of Silent Night.

Ditto. That bonus disc for Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon OST had some awesome Xmas music.

Square also released some "Final Fantasy Christmas Medley" as an mp3 one year. That was ALSO good stuff.

Some indie pop covers of Christmas tunes were covered in the "Maybe This Christmas" series.

In "Maybe This Christmas T(h)ree" I REALLY liked the following covers:

Pedro The Lion - I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day === here we catch the MEANING of the lyrics, as compared to some Frank Sinatra bullshit.

Copeland - Do You Hear What I hear === ditto, kill Sinatra. Oh wait he's dead.

Jars of Clay - Christmas For Cowboys

Pwnage

Wait, there's talk of Eurobeat Christmas songs, and no mention of Night of Fire ~ Christmas Mix?  For shame.

The Christmas song that always comes to my mind this time of year is Shouldn't Have Given Him a Gun for Christmas by Wall of Voodoo.

I can also guarantee that I'll hear Wham!'s Last Christmas (or its recent remix) about eight dozen times before the season is over.  Heck, when I visited the Tower Records in Shibuya in November 2005, I heard that song being played.  If it has exposure in a country that really doesn't celebrate Christmas, where can I be safe from this song?

How about Texas?  Prison??...j/k

You should check out the version of Last Christmas on Richard Cheese's Silent Nightclub album. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I actually mentioned it at the end of the first post   Favorite line: "If you go breaking the law, you'll get no presents."

Right you are.  I hereby withdraw my levied shame.