I shared my favorite Christmas songs last year, but I also like to expand my collection each year. So here’s an addendum to last year’s list, although it’s getting harder and harder to find new stuff.
The Sirius Christmas channel, “Holly,” makes me want to stab somebody this year (program director, perhaps?). I really don’t need Taylor Swift to sing ever, let alone sing Christmas songs that sound exactly like all her other songs. I would also prefer to live in a world without Christmas songs performed by the seemingly hundreds of interchangeable and faceless (to me anyway) “Talent” reality show contestants, and the frigging cast of Glee. And was anyone clamoring for new versions of Wham’s “Last Christmas” (where does the exclamation point go when you need to add apostrophe-s to “Wham!”?)? Dude, if you gave your heart away last Christmas, you no longer have possession of it to give to someone special this year. Stupidest lyrics EVER.
So I switched to Sirius’ “Holiday Traditions” channel this year, and I feel like I’m ready to retire and move to Florida. But I’ve found some good “dirt old, but new to me” songs to add to my collection this year.
“Snow” from White Christmas
I’ve never heard people so awestruck by snow, it’s like they’re from Mars (or D.C., HA!). Seeing the scene from White Christmas just makes it worse. Danny Kaye seems to be implying he wants to shovel. Dude, you’re welcome here anytime, wash our car while you’re at it.
“To see a great big man entirely made of snow…” Take it easy, little lady. Sexually frustrated much?
I keep trying to come up with even sillier lyrics than “I’ll wash my hair with snow,” (I’ll get some hookers and blow?). Who the hell would want to wash their hair with snow, well…unless they watched this YouTube video and believed an ice-cold rinse would help their charming new frizz problem, when really this woman is just fucking with people. “Let’s see if I can get people to rinse their hair in ice-cold water…suckers!” Yeah, doesn’t work (not that I tried it or anything, ha-ha very funny lady, you got me!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2KGboA35c
Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme “Hurry Home For Christmas”
Oh good lord, this is bad. In a good way. “Until you get here, jingle-bells-won’t-jingle-not-a-single-jingle-baby…” Listening to this makes me feel dirty somehow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFBu7z8NFhs
Pearl Bailey “Five Pound Box of Money”
Tell it like it is, sister! I’m so with her. I don’t want a lot for Christmas, just early retirement. Santa, can you hook me up?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4g23QfV4OY
Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby “We Wish You the Merriest”
I love the almost frantic need to provide yuletide greetings. As is so often the case with Frank, he sounds a little drunk (even though there’s no dit-dit-dit). For some reason I find this drunken persona of the Rat Pack endearing and think they would’ve been fun to hang out with until I remember how uncomfortable I am with habitually drunk people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq15Rx3I0eA
Amazon has been giving away a free Christmas song download every day in December. I needn’t have been so excited about this. My favorite of the bunch so far, I already knew (but didn’t own, and now own for free, so yea!).
The Superions “Fruitcake”
Dave’s been threatening to make fruitcake for years…shudder. The song includes a fun mace reference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwxcFmToim8
The Grand Candy “America, It’s Time to Shop (Best of Black Friday)”
This song by Dave’s talented guitar teacher (who I’ve mentioned a few times and think I always refer to as “Dave’s talented guitar teacher”) makes me smile. Sort of a Christmas/current events (well, current as of 2001 anyway)/yet funny version of The The’s “Swine Fever.” And I’m willing to bet you don’t have any other Christmas songs that mention anthrax or smallpox (please, please tell me if you do!).
But, my favorite Christmas song ever is still this version of “Carol of the Bells.” Who doesn’t want to induce a burst aneurysm for the holidays?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6KI1AYKfpM
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What’s your favorite Christmas song?
A 20 day vacation?!? I’m not sure what I would do with myself, but I sure wouldn’t mind having the opportunity to find out! Anyway, Christmas songs. My favorites are actually complete opposites in that I love the song from “The Grinch.” I know that’s not very festive, but the words are classic and I love it. There are also other peppy ones I dig if in the mood.
On a serious note, I have to say “Ave Maria” because it’s my grandma’s favorite song, it reminds me of her and it’s just freaking beautiful. I also love “O Holy Night.” They both make me a little sad for some reason, but I still really enjoy them.
I never got over the month-long winter breaks of college. I’m looking forward to seeing how much/little I can accomplish.
Re: Christmas songs, I should probably just repost my “12 Days of Christmas Songs” post every year since none of these would replace any of those. A list of favorite holiday music just isn’t going to change much year to year…unless one is excited about the new Justin Bieber Christmas album, which no.
I think the Grinch is festive! It also reminds me of the Heat Miser song, which probably belongs on my list. Especially now that the Heat Miser lives in our neighborhood. I wish I were kidding. Heat waves are interesting around here.
I also like some of the religious songs, they remind me of the pleasant parts of growing up Catholic (Christmas and Easter).
So I’m not the only one who really isn’t into Taylor Swift, her tons of Grammys and MTV Music Awards notwithstanding.
Also, I agree with you about the Snow lyrics! I have the ultimate Bing collection and that song comes on and I’m like, what the hell is this?
Great post!
Thanks, Zoe! Taylor’s a cute girl, but all her songs sound the same and I don’t really think she sings very well. The only time I ever caught her singing “live” was on the Grammy’s (not sure which year)…she sang a duet with Stevie Nicks and Taylor was so off it was hard to watch.
I totally got that Snow song stuck in my head for most of Christmas. I kept breaking out into those “to see a great big man entirely made of snow,” and “I want to wash my hands, my face, my hair with snow” lines over and over again and cracking myself up. When I get a song in my head, it’s bad news.