FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL

[gopiscrap]

We had a poll on our most annoying now let's see what the favorites are:

[DJ13]

1. Little Drummer Boy

[Motown_Johnny]

4. The Bowie & Crosby version maybe....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMhSjDqvRs

[DJ13]

9. Loved that

Also loved it when he sang Heroes on the same show.

[Luminous Animal]

27. Lou Rawls version.

Unfortunately, not on Youtube.

[cmkramer]

32. My favorite too

My favorite version is still the Harry Simeon Chorale one.

My favorite "traditional" carol is "Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant".

[begin_within]

33. This version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSECT8QieGQ

[voc]

54. +1

[Motown_Johnny]

2. Do you hear what I hear? (link)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7KU9bCTAM&feature=fvw

[Warren DeMontague]

3. "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"

C'mon. It's a classic.

[Jamastiene]

15. She had been drinking too much egg nog...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9jmr0MgFKU

[saltpoint]

5. I like two in particular:

"Good King Wenceslas" is one of 'em.

The other is a recording called "Light of the Stable" sung by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Neil Young. They do a splendid job as a trio of vocalists on a fine, fine tune, and if you have not heard this recording, your life is essentially meaningless.

[MissMarple]

8. Well, as a late night GAC aficionado, I must check that out. Thanks.

[saltpoint]

11. Hi, MissMarple. Emmylou was the draw for me initially on this song.

I never heard of it and am not naturally drawn to holiday albums.

But. It was Emmylou Harris, and that trumped my misgivings!

It's a splendid performance. Somewhat brief, but clean and sweet.

Let me know what you think.

[yourout]

6. Depends on who is singing it.....big fan of Karen Carpenter but starting to like...

Josh Groban and Amy Grant christmas cuts.

[unkachuck]

7. A Holly Jolly Christmas, by Burl Ives....n/t

[Jamastiene]

14. I live that one a lot too.

[Nikki Stone1]

10. "War is over, if you want it..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM

[tularetom]

12. Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle

(Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella). - 16th century carol from Provence.

In the Bleak Midwinter - my late mother's favorite.

Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keen

[Jamastiene]

13. Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.

I know it's not really a Christian based carol so much, but it's my favorite Christmas song.

Another great one is Snowbird by Anne Murray.

[Lyric]

16. I chose O Holy Night, although there are several others I love as much.

O Holy Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
Angels We Have Heard On High
Good King Wenceslas
Here We Come A-Wassailing
The First Noel

And for the record, I am an Atheist. I just love the music.

[Rhythm]

22. I picked O Holy Night as well...

It's hauntingly beautiful, even to this unbeliever.

[Neecy]

25. Me too

I love Jessye Norman's version best - it's simply perfection.

[Hatchling]

47. Yes, I picked that one as well.

I'm not a Christian and do not celebrate Christmas, but the music (not necessarily the words for me, you understand) is haunting and sacred.

[JI7]

39. so am i, but i love this song and many other Christmas songs also

i like the overall celebrations during Christmas.

[Irishonly]

17. I like most all of them

I also like Stevie Wonder's Someday at Christmas


"Someday At Christmas"

Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where men are free

Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on earth

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas we'll see a Man
No hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning people will share
Our world where people care

Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears
All men are equal and no men have fears
One shinning moment my heart ran away
From our world today

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas man will not fail
Take hope because your love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmastime




< STEVIE WONDER LYRICS at www.AZLyrics.com >

[KittyWampus]

37. Mary J Blige has a fabulous version of that song.

[Sparkly]

18. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. nt

[nemo137]

29. Not technically a carol, but seconded anyway.

[saltpoint]

19. I really love Jackson Browne's "The Rebel Jesus."

As holiday-time tunes go, that one rates real high at our house.

[jwirr]

20. I was going to vote for Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer but

picked Silent Night instead. It is peaceful.

[XemaSab]

21. Lully, Lullay

I dig the minor key.

[Cetacea]

64. "Coventry Carol" . Like it for the same reason.

And of course "Happy xmas (war is over)"

[yourout]

23. Here is my favorite christmas video.....A Muppet Family Christmas..

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtgYDpvRCMI&feature=related>

[OhioChick]

24. Carol of the Bells. n/t

[voc]

55. 2nd fav. nt

[andyrowe]

26. Can't believe this one hasn't been named.

"Traitor Joe can eat a bag of dicks" by me.

[Arugula Latte]

28. Willie Nelson's Xmas ode to weed, with Stephen Colbert

:rofl:

I can't find a current link, but this one is funny, too. Jon Stewart trying to sell Stephen on Hannukah:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/211033/november-23-2008/a-colbert-christmas--jon-stewart

[Stevenmarc]

30. The Christmas Gift by Durwood Douche

[Wraith20878]

31. It's not very well known

but I discovered this song, and it's become one of my favorite Christmas songs recently. Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon. It's about the Christmas truce of 1914 during World War One.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0LgjBauf70&feature=PlayList&p=28E7A1066B20C772&index=2

[Irishonly]

45. Thank you

Have you read "Silent Night" by Stanley Weintraub?

[Wraith20878]

48. no, i'll have to look that up

Is it about the Christmas Truce?

[Irishonly]

68. Yes

It's a wonderful book.

[Wraith20878]

72. Thanks for the suggestion

I'll make sure to check that out.

[Sherman A1]

61. Excellent!

Thank for the link!

[Wraith20878]

71. your welcome

glad you liked it

[begin_within]

34. Thurl Ravenscroft - You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPBS7dVrE1U

[Qanisqineq]

35. The Twelve Days of Christmas with Rick Moranis / Dave Thomas

I voted The Twelve Days of Christmas (normal version) as the most annoying.

[KittyWampus]

36. For sheer fun, Mrs Fogarty's Christmas Cake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmj06g718mM&feature=related

[mvd]

38. Used to be Silent Night; now O Holy Night

Other faves:

Silver Bells
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
White Christmas
The Christmas Song
Sleigh Ride
The First Noel
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

[JI7]

41. i love It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas also

it does feel like christmas listening to it. there is a really homey and happy feel to it.

[bananas]

40. A Fine Frenzy has a nice version of "Christmas Time is Here"

listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWToHVmts0o
I wouldn't say it's my favorite, though.

[mvd]

43. Thanks for posting! I am a HUGE fan of her

Very nice version.

[givemebackmycountry]

42. "Merry Christmas from the family"

Robert Earl Keen

Funniest Christmas song ever.

[GreenArrow]

44. Off the list, probably Silent Night.

I'm out of step, as usual, since the current fave, O Holy Night, is probably my least favorite on the list.

Other favorites, not on the poll:

We Three Kings
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen -- I like those minor keyed ones a lot.
O Christmas Tree
O Little Town of Bethlehem

The traditional carols are one of my favorite parts of Christmas, and even a lot of the pop standards are pretty good as well.

[madamesilverspurs]

46. "Carolling, Carolling" by Alfred Burt.

He wrote another one, less known; my dad's family and Burt's were neighbors, and at Christmas he'd send out new songs with his Christmas card. Anyway, "Some Children See Him" is one of my favorites:

Some children see Him lily white,
the baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
with tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
with dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,
this Savior whom we kneel beside.
some children see Him almond-eyed,
with skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they,
sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
and, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus' face
like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
and filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering,
come worship now the infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight!



---

[gopiscrap]

51. I remember that song

I haven't heard sung in ages tho!

[Touchdown]

49. Dear God by XTC.

:evilgrin:

[Onceuponalife]

50. Do You Hear What I Hear

And I'm an atheist!

AS far as secular carols go you can't beat Chuck Berry's Run Run Rudolph.

[misanthrope]

52. For sardonic humor...

Blue Xmas by Miles Davis (vocals by Bob Dorough)

Merry Christmas
I hope you have a white one, but for me it's blue

Blue Christmas, that's the way you see it when you're feeling blue
Blue Xmas, when you're blue at Christmastime
you see right through,
All the waste, all the sham, all the haste
and plain old bad taste

Sidewalk Santy Clauses are much, much, much too thin
They're wearing fancy rented costumes, false beards and big fat phony grins
And nearly everybody's standing round holding out their empty hand or tin cup
Gimme gimme gimme gimme, gimme gimme gimme
Fill my stocking up
All the way up
It's a time when the greedy give a dime to the needy
Blue Christmas, all the paper, tinsel and the fal-de-ral
Blue Xmas, people trading gifts that matter not at all
What I call
Fal-de-ral
Bitter gall.......Fal-de-ral

Lots of hungry, homeless children in your own backyards
While you're very, very busy addressing
Twenty zillion Christmas cards
Now, Yuletide is the season to receive and oh, to give and ahh, to share
But all you December do-gooders rush around and rant and rave and loudly blare
Merry Christmas
I hope yours is a bright one, but for me it bleeds


For sincerity or quiet repose: Christmastime is Here by Vince Guaraldi

[hfojvt]

53. I heard the bells on Christmas day

lyrics by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

here's a variation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0

lyrics

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Written just two years after the end of the Civil War.

"And in despair I bowed my head: 'there is no peace on earth' I said
"for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men."
...
the wrong shall fail, the right prevail

[MilesColtrane]

56. Carol of the Bells

[Norrin Radd]

57. Silver and Gold

An anti-greed song. Johnny Marks was a genius.

[mr blur]

58. Loathe them all. (nt)

[Hubert Flottz]

59. I love this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dASQ5YNw-Yk

[Are_grits_groceries]

60. I love 'O Holy Night', but

I always think about it's use in Harry Chapin's song 'Mr. Tanner.' Harry was great.

[Corgigal]

62. grown up christmas list

should be an DU favorite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S5POcYeGvQ

[goldcanyonaz]

63. Little Drummer boy and Carol of the bells.

[PCIntern]

78. I'm with you 100%...

they were both my faves growing up and singing in school choirs and the like...wonderful harmonies and the classic recordings are superb...

[kalli007]

65. Little Drummer Boy

and Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy....

[Raine]

66. Carol of the Bells nt

[calico1]

67. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

though it is a song from a movie, not meant as a carol. But I like it anyway...especially the original Judy Garland version.

[HopeHoops]

69. I saw Mommy (fill in a rude verb ending with "ing") Santa Claus

In an unplanned but ironic twist, check out the post number for this post.

[gopiscrap]

70. I love it!!!

[Obamanaut]

73. Anything by Gene Autry. nt

[TicketyBoo]

76. My favorite one by Gene Autry is not well-known.

It's "Freddy, the Little Fir Tree." I love it.

[TicketyBoo]

74. Take a look at this one…

http://www.aroundmd.com/whitechristmas/

[TicketyBoo]

75. And this one…

http://www.villars-sainte-croix.ch/net/com/5651/Images/Flash/noel.swf

[JuniperLea]

77. Deck the Halls

Pure Pagan pagentry... as it should be.

[theHandpuppet]

79. Nat King Cole or Tony Bennett singing "The Christmas Song"

"The Christmas Song" -- "Chesnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose..."

[Fire1]

80. Little Drummer Boy. n/t

[KoKo]

81. I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing in on Christmas Day...On Christmas Day

best version I've found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulQgAV3CVZM&feature=related

And if you like Celtic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCD6u6S5KY&feature=fvw

[KoKo]

83. The Holly and the Ivy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT-6yjT4oFo

[DesertRat]

82. Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. n/t