Posted on 12/08/2004 8:50:15 AM PST by presidio9
EVER been driven up the chimney by a Christmas song that you really, really hate? New Jersey researchers have named the six worst Christmas songs of all time, as picked by holiday-music fans who were asked to rate more than 600 yule tunes.
The biggest lump of coal goes to "O Holy Night" as sung by the foul-mouthed Cartman from "South Park," according to Edison Media Research.
Close behind are Seymour Swine & the Squealers' butchered "Blue Christmas," "Jingle Bells" by The Singing Dogs and, separately, Barbra Streisand — and "12 Days of Guido Christmas" by the Ha Ya Doin' Boys.
"We play — very lightly — the Barbra Streisand version of 'Jingle Bells' because she's got a following in New York," says Jim Ryan, programmer of top-rated Lite FM (WLTW/106.7).
"People tend not to like it because it's a really fast, up-tempo version of 'Jingle Bells' — almost like she did it as a goof," Ryan told The Post.
WPLJ (95.5 FM) music director Tony Mascaro says his research turned up a sixth song that listeners can't stand: Elmo & Patsy's "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I think it is obvious that the songs are not to blame, but once again the people who sing them. Personally, I love Oh Holy Night.
After reading your post, I just have to agree again. That song is very powerful for me. I love it.
I think you're right - wasn't that associated with Live Aid, that concert tour from the 80's by a bunch of leftist "recording stars" who showed how much they cared by sending all this food to Africa but had no interest in making sure it actually fed anyone who really needed it? What didn't end up on the black market rotted on the ships in the harbor. But hey, the limousine liberals got to feel good about themselves.
Silent Night has to be the most difficult Cristmas Carol to secularize. There is a referrence to Christ in every verse.
Everytime I listen to the line "When you kiss your little baby you kiss the face of GOD always makes me cry...
FYI: I downloaded Clay Aiken's Christmas Album it is excellent!! and he sings Mary Did you Know in such a powerful way..I highly recommend this album...
John and Yoko's "So This is Christmas"...
Yes, exactly. Like trying to secularize "O Holy Night" (my personal favorite carol).
What cracks me up are the ads on TV with all the Christmas decorations and people acting like they are celebrating Christmas, but they play a regular pop song instead of even the crappiest carol. I mentioned on another thread Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World". So not a Christmas carol but in ads for Target and the Gap.
Good one. It's a pet peeve of mine. At least the other chart-toppers were intended as goofs. McCartney's song is banality distilled. Elton's "Welcome to my Christmas Song" is cut from the same cloth, but at least the melody's better.
BTTP
OTOH, I love Chuck Berry's "Run, Run, Rudolph." It's just waiting for a great guitarist to cover it. Keith Richards' version isn't bad, but he was spent by the time he recorded it.
The worst Christmas song I ever heard was about a little kid wanting to buy his dying mother red shoes for Christmas, but he can't because she dies first... I think the writer and singer should be strung up! I hate those "Little Match Girl" type stories that make you wanna jump off a bridge.. Christmas is supposed to be happy!
Do you get the feeling that people who like that song also collect "Precious Moments" figurines?
Me three.
The wistful conversation between Linus and Charlie brown at the wall comes close. I could relate to Charlie Brown's sentiment even as a kid. The whole thing is great art.
And don't forget the great score.
"Charlie Brown Christmas" is my favorite Christmas cartoon, with "The Grinch" a close second.
I was waiting for someone to mention that song. It's one of my favorite Christmas songs. Others I enjoy:
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
"O Come all Ye Faithful"
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Leann Rimes
"I Pray on Christmas" by Harry Connick, Jr.
"Silent Night" by Sinead O'Connor
That's a great song. My fav non-traditional is "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses.
LOL! shudder.... look, i'm sentimental to a fault.. but I'm *happy* sentimental.. never been a fan of all those 60's teenage death songs.. I once gave up on a book in the first chapter because the author killed off a child.
ROTFL! Awesome!
Is that the whole song, or just part of a longer medley?
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Kinks' "Father Christmas" yet.
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