Worst Christmas songs: The 10 most annoying holiday hits

City News Toronto ^ | Shalini Roy

[SeekAndFind]

We asked you what you thought of Christmas music and while most of you love it – early appearances not withstanding – there are a few songs that just get under your skin.

Here are the tunes that iVillage.ca readers voted as the worst (read: most annoying) Christmas songs ever.

10. Run, Rudolph, Run

This rockabilly jingle is a bluesy take on Christmas.

“Run, run, Rudolph, whizzin’ like a merry-go-round,” croons Chuck Berry, as we imagine frenzied shoppers running in all directions to satisfy Christmas desires.

9. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

This song might be perceived as being modern, because we rarely hear the original version: it’s from 1953! Jimmy Boyd’s child voice sings earnestly and clearly in a southern twang, “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night. She didn’t see me creep down the stairs to have a peek!”

There is a worrisome part in the lyrics where the little boy mentions he saw Mommy taking Santa’s clothes off, but then humour steps in when he says Daddy would’ve had a laugh over that one (wait, what?!).

8. Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey

This classically kitchy Christmas song by Lou Monte is one of those things that divides people. Love it, or hate it, some of us just don’t understand it.

7. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer

Any way you slice it, this song is slightly offensive. The tune tells of grandma, who drank too much eggnog and went for a drunken walk. Santa and his elves were also moving askew Christmas Eve and so ran her over. The next day, everyone wore black to mourn grandma’s death except for grandpa, who didn’t seem to care. He drank beer and watched TV. Definitely the least heart-warming song on the list.

6. Christmas Don’t Be Late (aka the Chipmunks Christmas Song)

Two people voted the cute little rodents in for most annoying Christmas music. How could they?!

“Christmas, Christmas, time is here, time for love, and time for cheer”. Oh, wait, we get it now.

5. All I Want For Christmas is You (Mariah Carey version)

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more annoying…Justin Bieber recently sang a duet of this song with Carey. “What more can I doooooo? Oh baby, all I want for Christmas, IS YOU!” Jingle jingle.

4. Santa Baby

Most of us know Madonna or Mariah Carey (and most recently, Taylor Swift’s) version of this song, and agree they’re annoying. But have you heard Eartha Kitt’s slow-paced, staccato and authentically sultry version before? Singers today don’t hold a Christmas candle to her.

3. Wonderful Christmastime

Here’s a gem that has never died. I heard it just yesterday while eating lunch at a grocery store café, and it somehow made me want to wolf my sandwich down faster and skedaddle! Although the synthesizing beats and promise of a wawa pedal speak to greater possibilities, the chanting refrain of “Simply having a wonderful Christmastime” takes over. Repeat.

2. Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Those of us who had the pleasure of growing up in the 1980s remember the Live Aid movement well. “Feed the world; let them know its Christmastime!” The sentiment and donations the movement spurred is commendable; but the overplayed song is slightly annoying decades later.

1. Christmas Shoes

Christian country rockers Newsong are responsible for this ballad. The song is about a man in line whilst shopping, and a little fidgety boy in line in front of him. He has a pair of ladies shoes that he wants to buy, and a pocketful of change that won’t do. So the man in line helps the child out, and the boy buys his dying mama a pair of nice shoes so she can look her best when she goes to heaven. Heartfelt, sad and yet…annoying.

What’s your least-favourite Christmas song? Let us know in the comments.

[ctdonath2]

Last Christmas (I gave you my heart)
Oh how I hate that holiday-irrelevant anthem to teen angst.

[DoodleDawg]

What’s your least-favourite Christmas song?

All of the above plus "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas".

[Blogatron]

“Jingle Bell Rock” is not number 1?

[MinuteGal]

I plug my ears when I hear "Do You See What I See?"....and of course, that perennial annoying horror, "The Little Drummer Boy"

Shall I play on my drum "pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum?"

No thanks.

Leni

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Since there are tens of millions of Christians in Africa, I’m pretty SURE they ‘know’ it’s Christmas!

Yep. And no one knows what "Kwanzaa" is.

And yes, there is snow in Africa at Christmas Time.

And as far as "nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flows" give me a freaking break!

Africa began to suddenly have less trouble growing food after the USSR fell apart and could no long keep funding wars.

For some crazy reason, armies marching back and forth in your fields plays havoc with your crop yields.

[dfwgator]

Or maybe they finally heeded Sam Kinison’s advice.

[Irenic]

Santa Baby drives me mad! GAAAAAHHHH! I get an eye tic just thinking about it.

[arderkrag]

Christmas Shoes is the only annoying one on this list. “Happy Holidays” by Andy Williams is the most soulless, worthless Christmas tune ever, followed by ALL versions of “Sleigh Ride”.

[Hot Tabasco]

What’s your least-favourite Christmas song?

"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" - Gayla Peevey

[COBOL2Java]

Santa Baby

Most of us know Madonna or Mariah Carey (and most recently, Taylor Swift’s) version of this song, and agree they’re annoying. But have you heard Eartha Kitt’s slow-paced, staccato and authentically sultry version before? Singers today don’t hold a Christmas candle to her.

---

Agreed. Eartha Kitt's version is the best; no one can top it.

[Disambiguator]

Here's what other jazz musicians think of Kenny G.

[GSWarrior]

Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus is Coming To Town” is aggressively wretched.

[Fresh Wind]

“All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth” Spike Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-iFsxSNN2c

[dfwgator]

Oh that was tame compared to what Pat later wrote about Mr. Gorelick.

And I am a big Metheny fan, and I’ve never heard him say a bad word about anyone.

And then Richard Thompson piled on....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucgZQGPZOpk

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

No, while what Sam said was funny what I said is what actually happened.

Now of course the mohammedans are raising hell and China is dipping their little fingers into the pie so I figure much of the place is going to slide right back down.

Having raw resources is not always a blessing.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: “Santa Claus is Coming To Town”

I found this song creepy...

” He see’s you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake... He knows when you’ve been bad or good...”

Who does he think he is, Uncle Sam and the NSA?

[dfwgator]

Agreed. Especially when Bruce sings like he’s trying to pass a bowling ball.

[marron]

"Do You See What I See?"....and of course, that perennial annoying horror, "The Little Drummer Boy"

We have a winner.

[dfwgator]

LOL, Santa must be the ultimate CIA Agent.

[Eddie01]

How did they miss the condescending peacenik yarn “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon.

So this is Xmas
And what have you done...