Posted on 12/17/2008 5:29:31 PM PST by SamAdams76
Well still a week from Christmas but already I bet many of you are sick of hearing the same old Christmas songs. It's not that Christmas songs are bad, it's that the same 30 or so get played over and over again.
There is another thread out there on the "Most Annoying Christmas Songs" and there certainly are plenty of those. But even the classic Christmas songs get tired after a while. While many radio stations go "all Christmas" this time of year, they pretty much stick to about 30 songs, including Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock" and Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas." Well all of those are fine songs but I want this thread to be a little more eclectic.
So I will post a few of my contemporary favorites here that many of you may not be aware of. Hopefully you can discover some new Christmas music.
Now just so you know, I am a Christmas music buff. I have been collecting Christmas music since the 1970s and have no less than 4,000 Christmas songs on my iPod playlist. The majority of those are versions of familiar Christmas carols. For example, I have over 100 versions of "Silent Night" and about as many versions of "O Holy Night" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". I'll spare you those. I love those songs but what I want to post here are original Christmas songs or very unique versions of familiar Christmas songs.
I'll post a few of them here (with YouTube links) to get the thread started and over the next few days, I'll be adding some more. I encourage everybody to post their favorites too but please try to limit this to original Christmas songs by contemporary artists (post 1960).
So without any further ado...
Low - Just Like Christmas
YouTube link
This has been one of my favorite Christmas songs for a few years now. Reminds me of walking through the streets of Boston after a snowfall, near Fanueil Hall, at Christmastime.
Jack's Mannequin - The Lights And Buzz
YouTube link
This song reminds me of when I was stationed in California in the Marine Corps. I spent a couple of Christmases in Oceanside just north of San Diego and I remember walking the beach on Christmas morning with my shorts on. Just didn't feel right but I felt good nonetheless and this song brings it all back.
Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
YouTube link
This song dates back to the 1970s but should get a lot more airplay than it does. Just a classic in my opinion.
Harvey Danger - Sometimes You Have To Work On Christmas
YouTube link
A very clever song lyric-wise and again reminds me of Christmases spent far from home and yes, I did have to work on Christmas...sometimes. I also love how the song gets much faster at the end.
Chris Deburgh - Spaceman Came Traveling
YouTube link
This is another song from the 1970s that should have been a much bigger Christmas hit. Listen to it a few times and you won't be able to get it out of your head (and that's a good thing because it has a great haunting melody that grows on you).
Cocteau Twins - Frosty The Snowman
YouTube link
This is a familiar tune but done in a much different "dreamy" kind of way so I'll consider it original.
Loreena McKennitt - Snow
YouTube link
I discovered this song a few years ago and it has become one of my favorite Christmas songs. Unfortunately the video I linked to it doesn't quite fit (however it should please "Lord Of The Rings" fans) but I couldn't find a Christmasy one and wanted everybody to hear the music. If you like this song, check out her new Christmas album that came out this year - it's fantastic.
The Pogues w/Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
YouTube link
This song takes a while to grow on you but when it does, it never gets old. One of my favorite Christmas songs of all time and I almost never hear it on the radio! Sadly, the woman singing in this song died in a tragic boating accident several years ago.
Jim Croce - It Doesn't Have To Be That Way
YouTube link
Another old song from the 1970s that brings back good memories of childhood Christmases.
Badly Drawn Boy - Donna & Blitzen
YouTube link
I discovered this song a few years ago and it just keeps getting better each year.
Partridge Family - My Christmas Card To You
YouTube link
Ok, I expect to get some grief for this one but this has some sentimental value for me. In the Christmas of 1971, I was in the 4th grade and we had a Christmas party at school (back when we were allowed to say Christmas in school) and I brought this album in to play for the entire class. Now back in 1971, this was pretty cutting edge music and for at least one day, I was the coolest kid in class. The Partridge Family also does an awesome version of "White Christmas" on this album.
Enya - One Toy Soldier
YouTube link
New for this year, the entire Enya album "And Winter Came" is pretty awesome. I could have picked about any song from it to post here but I picked this one for the Christmasy video linked here.
Gilbert O'Sullivan - The Christmas Song
YouTube link
No, not "The Christmas Song" you might be thinking of but an entirely original composition by Gilbert O'Sullivan from the 1970s. A very good song that deserves to be rediscovered.
Anuna - Winter, Fire and Snow
YouTube link
Another "Celtic" type song that is very dreamy and evokes Christmas Eve slipping gifts under the tree by the fireplace after the kids finally get to bed.
Well I could go on and on posting more music and I'll definitely add some more to this thread in the days to come but I'll give you all a chance to absorb what's here and add some more of your own.
There is a very moving Christmas song called “Joseph’s Song” which I heard only once on the car radio while traveling to my son’s for Christmas. Alas, I don’t know who recorded it but if you could track it down and provide a link, I would be eternally grateful. Have a wonderful Christmas and God Bless!
Pat
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