"It's that time of year again. Time for the best Christmas song ever."

[mahatmakanejeeves]

In quotes, because it's the title of a thread started two years ago today:

It's that time of year again. Time for the best Christmas song ever.

The best Christmas song of the last 40 years is, hands-down, "Christmas Wrapping," by the Waitresses.

Here, let me help you:

No one's mentioned The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping" yet?

I go back to 1981 every time I hear this. I recall the season vividly. There was a hole in my wall that I was going to patch. All I had to do was to remove just a little bit of old plaster.... This was in an old house, and the plaster just kept crumbling and crumbling. I should have stuck in a piece of drywall, but noooooo, I was going to use real plaster. I ended up plastering the old wall. Then I painted it, and the rest of the room. Since I was on a roll, I might as well keep painting. I got the bathroom and then a long bedroom in the front of the house. I would be listening to the late, great WHFS as I worked. Their DJ Weasel played "Christmas Wrapping" and a bunch of other seasonal songs. Among them was Root Boy Slim's "Christmas at Kmart." Okay, let's run that too:

For the traditional ones, I like "The Christmas Song," ("chestnuts roasting on an open fire&quot , especially by Nat King Cole. It captures the whole slowing down of time that you get at the end of the year.

It wouldn't be right to view "The Christmas Song" in anything other than black and white:

Also, I like Leroy Anderson, so "Sleigh Ride" is right up there. Easily, the best known version is the one by the Boston Pops, but I'll link to some others too. You learn something every day; all this time I thought they had been snapping a real whip.

And from the 70s, I Believe in Father Christmas:

I'm crying in my cubicle. I might have to go for a walk.

ETA: the original video.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-believe-in-father-christmas-lyrics-emerson-lake-palmer.html

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. My favorite of the old school Christmas songs, "Gesu Bambino"

The accent over the "e" was removed by the new software.

I didn't even know the name of this until I looked it up last year.

[Sanity Claws]

3. I think it's two carols combined

I'm not familiar with the one you mentioned but I clearly recognize Adeste Fidelis, translated in English as Oh Come, All Ye Faithful.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. It's always done that way.

The Wikipedia entry has the accent mark over the "u." It will be stripped out anyway.

Gesù bambino

Gesù bambino is an Italian Christmas carol composed by Pietro Yon in 1917. The melody was used by Frederick H. Martens in his English language carol "When Blossoms Flowered 'mid the Snows". The melody and lyrics of the chorus are derived from "Adeste Fideles" (O Come All Ye Faithful).

The music historian Salvatore Basile notes: "The song would achieve the near-impossible feat of surviving in the standard holiday repertoire, with important performances, innumerable recordings, and every kind of vocal and instrumental arrangement."

[Brother Buzz]

2. I nominate the late great Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks' Carol of the Bells

Christmas music needs more scat (including a bit of yodeling, too!)

[Sanity Claws]

4. That was good

First time I heard it and would welcome it being played annually.

[zippythepinhead]

6. the boss

[zippythepinhead]

9. holy night

[red dog 1]

8. Season Freaklings by Bunnygrunt

Not sure this link will work