Monday, December 1, 2008

Sounds of the Season

We have officially entered the Christmas music 24/7 time of year. It's an instant acceptance into the Christmas season.

I consider myself to be somewhat of a Christmas music purist. At Christmas time, I don't really listen to a lot of pop Christmas music but if I do, it's usually the more traditional sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, Harry Connick, Jr. and the like. I enjoy the Frank and Ella-type Christmas music partly because it's light and fun and partly because it makes me feel like I'm just a Starbucks away from creating my very own Barnes and Noble in my house.

I've never really taken to the pop stars versions of many Christmas songs. It seems that everyone and their mom can release a Christmas album. But nonetheless, there are still plenty of fun pop Christmas songs out there. The follow list is not some of them. Below are my top 5 most irritating pop Christmas songs. Feel free to add any to this list.

5) Pretty much any rendition of Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer. Call me a traitor to Christmas carols but seriously, is there a more ridiculous Christmas carol than Rudolph? It's cute when little kids sing it but is it really necessary to turn it into a pop song?

4) All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
I liked this song when it first came out. But apparently so did every other woman in the entire nation. One year, a neighboring paralegal at my office turned on her online Christmas radio station loud enough for everyone nearby to also enjoy in the music. Whenever this song came on she would turn it up even louder. Thanks hun.

3) Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney
The repetition of the line "Simply havin a wonderful Christmas time" roughly 47 times in the song is what irritates me. I expect more lyrical genius out of a Beatle.

2) So this is Christmas - John Lennon*
It's has a wonderful message but it's the creepy children's backup choir that does it for me. I think the song would be so much better without it. Celine does a version of this song that is gorgeous but her's is sans creepy children's choir. I think she went with the traditional gospel choir and, let's be honest, whenever you go with a gospel choir as backup, you're golden.

1) Feliz Navidad
Oh how I love the song that makes every American feel that much more cultural because they know how to say "Merry Christmas" in Spanish. Not only that, but people continue to come out with their own versions, to include The Cheetah Girls, Celine Dion and David Hasselhoff. Think I'm lying? See for yourself.


Honorable mentions:
Here are a few of my favorite pop Christmas songs.
(Sorry for the cheesy house lighting version. I find it very entertaining.)

O Holy Night - This is the Josh Groban version but in general this is my very favorite Christmas song. It's a very powerful song so I think versions sung by a man capture it better.

God Rest ye Merry Gentleman - Barenaked Ladies/Sarah MacLachlin

*I didn't purposely put two songs on by former Beatles. It's completely coincidental.

6 comments:

  1. Wonderful Christmas Time would go on the top of my list, it makes me cringe.
    Some of my personal faves are Last Christmas by Wham ;-) sooo cheesy but I can't help but love it, and Santa Baby as preformed by Eartha Kitt...and anything done by the Trans Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller.

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  2. Anything by the Chipmunks! Oh, and don't forget "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer!

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  3. We might not be able to live together for the next month. I LOVE all those songs!

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  4. I was thinking all yesterday while at work listening to horrid Christmas music blasted over the Kroger speakers (why we at the bank are subjected to all that is Kroger is beyond me) and what I came up with was exactly what Angela said. Like to the word.

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  5. oh and I was going to add "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause". It's just bad taste.

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  6. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire is the one song I hate. I know people love it and props to them, but, 'folks dressed up like eskimos'? I don't think I've ever done that.
    And why is the simple phrase only offered to kids from one to ninety two? What about grandma who is 96? She can't listen?

    Oh, that song irritates me.

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