12.20.07
Handy Guide to the Best Christmas Music Ever Made
I admit it. I’m a sucker for a great Christmas song. Like everyone, I go straight for the classics first and look at any “new” songs or remakes with a wary eye. 99.99% of them are terrible. Sorry, Josh Groban (okay, that’s not really fair because I’m not aware of ever hearing a single song of his. But his Christmas album is currently number one and I just have a hunch that if I were to listen to it, I would put it in the 99.99%).
I will also admit that some classic songs kind of suck, too. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer is a classic, I suppose, and very enjoyable when you’re four. However, it’s also extremely irritating when you’re 24.
So after 4 years of scouring the Christmas CD collection of WJCU in my college radio DJ days, and a few more years after that accumulating what I can from the internet, this is my list of essential Christmas music that I listen to every year. You should be able to fit them on two 80 minute CDs (if anyone uses CDs anymore). (CDs Nutz!) (Sorry, had to say it).
The Big 3
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
White Christmas – Bing Crosby
The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole
Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra are the forefathers of classic Christmas music. And these are easily the three best Christmas songs from the past one hundred years. Put them together, and you have Christmas magic. Sitting next to a Christmas tree, a roaring fire (actual or on a flat screen tv), hot cocoa (or Irish coffee), family and friends, and these songs on the radio. That should be Christmas every year.
Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Harvest, or December 25th
Christmas – Blues Traveler
If you’ve never heard this song, you should iTunes or Limewire (or whatever it is those crazy kids do these days) right away. The only Christmas song I’ve ever heard that name drops Kwanzaa, let alone Chanukah, Solstice, and Harvest. I love the all inclusiveness. And like any good Christmas song, it’s got a tinge of nostalgia and regret, but is ultimately a message of hope, peace, and love. Gotta love it.
Classics
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland
I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Bing Crosby
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Frank Sinatra
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Johnny Mathis
Come Rest Ye’ Merry Gentlemen – Bing Crosby
Do You Hear What I Hear? – Nat King Cole
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Frank Sinatra
I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Frank Sinatra
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Bing Crosby
These songs are classic. You know it and I know it. Anything by Frankie or Bing or Nat and the Christmas spirit fills the air. Judy Garland’s version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is heart breaking. I love the line (changed for Frankie’s version): “Someday soon, we all will be together, if the fates allow. Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow…” Plus, Sinatra’s Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! is played over the end credits of Die Hard. Impossible to top that.
Cartoon Classics
Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Boris Karloff
Silver and Gold – Burl Ives
The Chimpmunk Song – Alvin & the Chimpmunks
Christmastime is Here - Vince Guaraldi (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
These are the greatest songs from the Christmas specials of our childhood. Rudolph, the Grinch, Charlie Brown…They all bring back that excited Christmas feeling we lost as we aged.
Golden Oldies
Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley
Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
Please Come Home For Christmas – The Eagles
Merry Christmas, Baby – The Beach Boys
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – The Beach Boys
Auld Lang Syne – the Beach Boys
Christmas Time (Is Here Again) – The Beatles
Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano
We Three Kings – The Beach Boys
Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry
The Man With All The Toys – The Beach Boys
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon
Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys
They even made Christmas music back in the early days of Rock n Roll. Shocking, I know. The entire Beach Boys’ Christmas Album is a classic, especially Little Saint Nick and The Man With All The Toys. John Lennon and Paul McCartney both check in with solid (in Paul’s case) and spectacular (in John’s case) Christmas classics. And for me, it’s not Christmas Eve unless I hear Feliz Navidad.
Very Special Christmas Music
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo) – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Carol of the Bells)
Do They Know it’s Christmas? – Barenaked Ladies
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen
The Christmas Song – Hootie & the Blowfish
Oh, Holy Night! – Jewel
Christmastime – Smashing Pumpkins
Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) – U2
The Birth of Christ – Boyz II Men
Song for a Winter’s Night – Sarah McLachlan
Jingle Bells – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Let It Snow – Boyz II Men
Silent Night – Boyz II Men
Christmas Song – Dave Matthews Band
These are the (relatively) new Christmas songs that will hopefully find their rightful place in the canon of Christmas classics (gotta love alliteration). I call it “Very Special Music” because a good portion of these songs were made for the Very Special Christmas compilations. Only the best tracks made it to this list, my favorite being Blues Traveler’s Christmas, as mentioned above. Yes, I know Band Aid did Do They Know It’s Christmas?, but I can’t find that track online and I do dig BNL’s live version. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra track is my favorite performance of Carol of the Bells. Hootie does a nice job with The Christmas Song, as does Jewel with Oh, Holy Night! The Smashing Pumpkins, not at the top of mind when it comes to Christmas tunes, pulls off a really nice, original track. And yeah, I like Boyz II Men’s Christmas Interpretations. We all have our guilty pleasures…
Saturday Night Live
The Chanukah Song – Adam Sandler
Christmastime is Here – Horatio Sanz, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan
SNL comes strong with two solid comedic holiday songs, both of which are better seen, rather than heard. I laugh every time I see Tracy Morgan dancing in place, for no good reason. You Tube that Shiznit.
I Can’t Believe This Song Exists, But I’m So Glad That It Does
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie & Bing Crosby
OUTSTANDING duet of two disparate musical legends. I didn’t know this even existed until finding it while DJing back in the late 90s. I guess they performed this live on some Christmas special in the 70s only a week or so before Bing passed away. Amazing how great it sounds. If you can find the copy with the introduction from the Christmas special, you’re in for a kitchy treat. Bowie: “Are you the new butler?” Bing: “It’s been a long time since I’ve been the new anything…” But seriously, the song is really really good.
That’s about it. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some lost classic from your youth, so drop a comment or two and let me know what I missed. Or even what song you think shouldn’t be on my list.
Anyway, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season. Be well.
Peace on Earth to Everyone, and Abundance to Everyone You’re With…