Favorite/Least Favorite Christmas Songs

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Just for the fun of it, I would be interested in hearing suggestions for both your favorite and least favorite Christmas songs with brief explanations as to why you like or don't like them. Choose as many as you like, but I think no more than three in each category should suffice. Sometimes, the only good version of a song is by a particular musical group or singer, so please point that out when it happens.

Since I am suggesting this, let me give my choices:

Favorites (in no particular order):

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" -- What's not to like about this song? In a minor key with a haunting melody, I love singing it throughout the Christmas season. (Yes, I know it's really an Advent song, but Advent and Christmas are one season to me.) It has meaningful lyrics and has the right message for the season.

"Do You Hear What I Hear" by Third Day -- While this song is obviously not Biblical, I like the idea of all of creation praising the baby Jesus. Third Day's version took what was a decent song and added a depth to it that I really enjoy.

"I Wonder as I Wander" -- This song isn't played too often, so when it is played it is still fresh. Again, not particularly Biblical, but it does bring out the relationship between Christmas and Easter plus Jesus' deity. Add to it the fact that it has a real African-American spiritual feel to it (even though I understand that it was written by a white guy in the 1940s) makes it one of my personal favorites.

Least Favorites:

"Feliz Navidad" by anyone -- Okay, it has a nice beat, but incredibly repetitious. I mean, really, what are the words when translated? They go:

Happy Christmas, Happy Christmas, Happy Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year;
Happy Christmas, Happy Christmas, Happy Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year;
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas,
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.

Repeat until nauseated.

"Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney -- I love the Beatles. I even love a lot of Paul McCartney's music after he went solo or formed Wings. But this is probably the most insipid Christmas song ever.

"Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon -- Christmas as the basis for a protest song? Oh, give me a bucket....

Your turn.

Comments

Jay McHue said…
Wow! You picked what I would've picked for songs in both groups.
12/08/2008 11:59:00 AM
Dillie-O said…
"O Holy Night" has been a particular favorite of mine for a long time. In particular, I really like the version that the group Point of Grace did on the WOW Christmas CD (Red) back in '02.

As for least favorite, I haven't found any that really stuck out that I don't like. Then again, if I have, I probably dismissed the song on the radio and didn't buy the album. 8^D
12/08/2008 03:18:00 PM
BK said…
Thanx, Jinx.

I have the Red WOW Christmas in my car. I agree that Point of Grace's version of that song is really good. But then, I really like that song no matter who does it. I suspect I would even like a Brittney Spears version of "O Holy Night" -- but hopefully, I'll never be put to the test on that one.

Is that all? No more?
12/09/2008 07:08:00 AM
Mike aka MonolithTMA said…
Favorites:
Oh Holy Night
I Wonder as I Wonder
Oh Come, O Come Emmanuel
Christmas is With Us Again by Eden's Bridge
The Christmas Waltz
Baby It's Cold Outside (Ok, it's not Christmas, but it's seasonal)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Carol of the Bells (Only the instrumental versions)

Least Favorites:
Feliz Navidad
Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime (This one makes me want to shoot myself)
Most Wonderful Time of the Year (though it is catchy)
Santa Baby
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
Jingle Bell Rock
12/13/2008 07:53:00 AM
Mike aka MonolithTMA said…
Oh and another favorite is Christmastime is Here by Vince Guaraldi from a Charlie Brown Christmas.
12/13/2008 07:56:00 AM
Layman said…
Breath of Heaven, by Point of Grace.
12/14/2008 07:23:00 PM
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