Posted on 12/24/2010 9:31:29 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Two years ago, I posed the opposite question to Hot Air readers in a burst of Christmas Eve misanthropy, so consider this a long-overdue penance. What Christmas carols simply must be heard in order to make a joyous season more complete? Which specific versions do you like best? For instance, one might love “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, while detesting the disco version of it (a big thanks to Duane “Generalissimo” Patterson of the Hugh Hewitt show for dropping that into a break bed last night). As I mentioned in the post two years ago, you can love “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt even if you want to smash the radio when Madonna sings it.
So what are your favorites, the must-hear carols of the season? My tastes run generally to the religious Christmas songs, especially to the hymns and classics, but I have a few more modern and secular favorites as well. Here are a few favorites from the First Mate and me to start us off:
Here are a couple of our favorites to entertain you on this Christmas eve.
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR VIDEO AND MUSIC
Carol of the Bells by TSO is incredible! I saw them live for the first time last year, and their concert is absolutely awe-inspiring.
I’ll add : O HOLY NIGHT to the list.
I personally believe the measure of a great singer is someone who can do justice to this song, especially the last high part that says : “O NIGHT DIVINE” ( a lot of singers with good voices avoid singing the high C part ).
Ugh...I HATE “Mary Did You Know”. Of course she knew. She was told at The Annunciation.
Add to that that the only version I ever hear is Kenny Rogers and whoever that is with him. Yuck.
Yes, I thought that would be a good add to the list, too.
I’d also add “Ave Maria”. Maybe not as traditional, but I like the Josh Groban version....beautiful.
Clay Aiken’s version is very good too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhmaHR1CRik
I haven’t heard a bad version from any famous singers yet. Maybe Britney Spears will disappoint :)
Josh Groban and Michael Crawford both do an incredible job with that song. Groban's version gets far more air play but I think Crawford's is as good or better. Celine Dion does a pretty good job with it too but my wife thinks it's a song made for the lung capacity of a man.
I like Adeste Fidelis.
The Holly and the Ivy is one. Also, Good King Wenceslas, though it’s not technically a Christmas song. And of course, the one by Charles Dickens.
“Go Tell It on the Mountain”
The Chimney Song
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all night long.
Well, I waited up for Santa all Christmas night
But he never came and it don’t seem right.
And there’s something in the chimney
And it doesn’t make a sound,
But I wish you Merry Christmas.
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all week long.
Well, the dog keeps barking up the chimney flue
And we don’t know what we’re going to do.
Cause there’s something in the chimney
And it doesn’t move around,
And it’s been a week since Christmas.
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all month long.
Well, it’s jammed up tight above the fireplace
Now the house smells funny, such a big disgrace.
That there’s something in the chimney
And it doesn’t talk at all,
And it’s been there since last Christmas.
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all year long.
I’ll been waiting up for Santa like I did last year
But my brother says, “He’s already here.”
And he’s stuck up in the chimney
And he doesn’t say a word
And he’ll be there every Christmas.
And we’ll have him every Christmas.
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all night long.
Well, I waited up for Santa all Christmas night
But he never came and it don’t seem right.
And there’s something in the chimney
And it doesn’t make a sound,
But I wish you Merry Christmas.
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all week long.
Well, the dog keeps barking up the chimney flue
And we don’t know what we’re going to do.
Cause there’s something in the chimney
And it doesn’t move around,
And it’s been a week since Christmas.
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all month long.
Well, it’s jammed up tight above the fireplace
Now the house smells funny, such a big disgrace.
That there’s something in the chimney
And it doesn’t talk at all,
And it’s been there since last Christmas.
There’s something stuck up in the chimney
And I don’t know what it is,
But it’s been there all year long.
I’ll been waiting up for Santa like I did last year
But my brother says, “He’s already here.”
And he’s stuck up in the chimney
And he doesn’t say a word
And he’ll be there every Christmas.
And we’ll have him every Christmas.
Bob Segar’s version of “The Little Drummer Boy” is my favorite.
Ditto that.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Frank Sinatra
The Lords Prayer- Andrea Bocelli
Christmastime is Here- Vince Guaraldi
Aaron Neville does a nice Ave Maria,too.
I’ve always loved “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Do You Hear What I Hear”.
Oh Holy Night for sure, anything in The Messiah and this one I love:
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
...
That is a Christmas “song” and not a Christmas “Carol”. A Carol is a traditional song usually sung acapella with 3 or 4 part harmony. Anything with a reference to Santa Claus is clearly not in that category.
OOoops! I forgot- Angels We Have Heard On High...
I have a pet peeve about Bob Seger’s “Little Drummer Boy”. The line of verse should be, (When the little drummer boy ask if he should play for Him) “Mary nodded”.
Bob Seger changes it to “Then he nodded”. Now who the heck was nodding? It sure wasn’t The Baby Jesus since a baby, even THAT baby, wouldn’t be giving consent. I agree it’s a great version. It just bugs me that Seger changed that line.
Now I’m all cranky and need more eggnog!
um...it was a joke.
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