I love it!!! A few of my faves, in addition to Andy Williams and Elvis, are "Christmas Song" by Tim Reynolds and Dave Matthews, "Christmas" by Blues Traveler, and finally, "Santa Sabbath" by Barenaked Ladies...because it's so much fun, and a nice throwback to Ozzy 🤭
I like Christmas songs, Henny, but, since the radio stations start playing them in October, I tire of them quickly. My go-to’s include: Vince Guaraldi’s Linus & Lucy, Sprinsteen’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Barenaked Ladies’ God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - likely none of those playing in my grandma’s house.
Oh my goodness, little ones mispronouncing words is my kryptonite. We still say “muh-rote” in our house for remote. As in, pass me the muh-rote so I can change the channel
Love this! As a big Christmas nerd myself, I too love the music, even the Mariah song. 🤷🏻♀️ But I have a good memory because of it: My son and his friends playing basketball in the yard and stopping when it came on to all sing at the top of their lungs. You’re all aura rizz this and bruh that until you hear those opening bells. They just can’t help it.
That’s adorbs. I saw a clip yesterday of a bunch of college frat boys sitting out in their front yard in the snow, in a big circle, just chillin and listening to old school Christmas music.
Their older neighbors took the video because it was so cool…wholesome vibes and all.
There are few things that instantly transport me to an immediate sense of time and place like Christmas music, specifically the Christmas music of my parents' and grandparents' world. Sure, I enjoy a few Mariah Carey songs and some Fairytale of New York interspersed in my holiday soundtrack, but as soon as those initial rhythmic jingling bells kick off the Frank Sinatra Christmas Album (IYKYK), I'm a kid sitting in front of my dad's record player in the late '80s, tree with colored lights twinkling nearby, and I'm content. That's the only way I can describe it. I'm actually smiling as I write this.
There are only a handful of Christmas songs I can bear, but there is one that I actively like. Greg Lake recorded "I Believe in Father Christmas" back when he was still with ELP, and it still stands as one of the most beautiful Christmas songs I've ever heard.
Last year, Marillion did a cover of it. And it's wonderful. Of course.
All songs are powerful that way. But Christmas (and Hanukkah) songs bring me back to a time of innocence. I prefer the "oldies." Love Burl Ives, Bing Crosby... I grew up in the 70s so those songs were from my parents' time. Even so.
Great insights. I think you nailed it on “surprise isn’t the point.” My top song is Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee and the Burl Ives Holly Jolly Christmas. Making some real headway in that echelon of “classic” is Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You
I agree and I did the same thing in recent years paying attention to the songs and exploring why they hit or don’t. I’m not even a fan of Mariah’s song but I have to tip my cap and admit, she’s on the way there
Excellent take here on Christmas music. Well done Henny.
NKC’s The Christmas Song is still in my top 10 holiday songs. That song is like 60 years old. Another newer fav for me is Sandler’s The Hanukkah song, for different reasons ofc. As you wisely stated, the common denominator of our own top 5 or 10 is the strength of memories generated by those songs. Hard to compete with songs that have a decades old head start.
The older I get the more I think about what you allude to here with memories. Like, how much of my memory is actually my memory, and how much has been built by what I’ve seen in photos from the past?
I love it!!! A few of my faves, in addition to Andy Williams and Elvis, are "Christmas Song" by Tim Reynolds and Dave Matthews, "Christmas" by Blues Traveler, and finally, "Santa Sabbath" by Barenaked Ladies...because it's so much fun, and a nice throwback to Ozzy 🤭
OMG, I don’t know ANY of those (aside from Andy & Elvis). You’ve given me some new ones to try!
Enjoy!!! I'll wait to hear which ones you like!!!
I like Christmas songs, Henny, but, since the radio stations start playing them in October, I tire of them quickly. My go-to’s include: Vince Guaraldi’s Linus & Lucy, Sprinsteen’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Barenaked Ladies’ God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - likely none of those playing in my grandma’s house.
Yeah we actively avoid it prior to Thanksgiving. As much as I like the Boss, I don’t love that one. And never heard the Ladies’ one…Will check it out.
Merry Christmas Bill!
Merry Christmas to you too, Henny.
I loved this one!!!!! I will say I love any rendition of jingle bells, but my two year old singing “Jingey bell, jingey bells” takes the cake for me!
Oh my goodness, little ones mispronouncing words is my kryptonite. We still say “muh-rote” in our house for remote. As in, pass me the muh-rote so I can change the channel
Love this! As a big Christmas nerd myself, I too love the music, even the Mariah song. 🤷🏻♀️ But I have a good memory because of it: My son and his friends playing basketball in the yard and stopping when it came on to all sing at the top of their lungs. You’re all aura rizz this and bruh that until you hear those opening bells. They just can’t help it.
That’s adorbs. I saw a clip yesterday of a bunch of college frat boys sitting out in their front yard in the snow, in a big circle, just chillin and listening to old school Christmas music.
Their older neighbors took the video because it was so cool…wholesome vibes and all.
Ohhh I love that so much. The kids are alright.
There are few things that instantly transport me to an immediate sense of time and place like Christmas music, specifically the Christmas music of my parents' and grandparents' world. Sure, I enjoy a few Mariah Carey songs and some Fairytale of New York interspersed in my holiday soundtrack, but as soon as those initial rhythmic jingling bells kick off the Frank Sinatra Christmas Album (IYKYK), I'm a kid sitting in front of my dad's record player in the late '80s, tree with colored lights twinkling nearby, and I'm content. That's the only way I can describe it. I'm actually smiling as I write this.
I was smiling as I read your comment Tim. You took me right back to my grandparents living room. Again 🙂
Love Christmas songs of all kinds. There's just something about them that makes me feel hopeful and lighter in some way.
They're fun to sing along with, maybe that's what it is.
Agree on both counts. New pic for you on your page? Looks good!
Why thank you kind sir! And I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!!
Ditto 👊🏼
✌️😎🎄
There are only a handful of Christmas songs I can bear, but there is one that I actively like. Greg Lake recorded "I Believe in Father Christmas" back when he was still with ELP, and it still stands as one of the most beautiful Christmas songs I've ever heard.
Last year, Marillion did a cover of it. And it's wonderful. Of course.
https://youtu.be/RfB3FH9sNEU?si=BaeN5X1BhETlSXk_
Just watched that. I do not share your enthusiasm. But hey, to each their own, right? Have a Holly Jolly Christmas isn’t exactly a work of art 😀
Well done! We were thinking along the same lines today. I also voted for Burl in the poll.
I’ll be shocked if it’s not your winner
Agree. Beautifully said.
All songs are powerful that way. But Christmas (and Hanukkah) songs bring me back to a time of innocence. I prefer the "oldies." Love Burl Ives, Bing Crosby... I grew up in the 70s so those songs were from my parents' time. Even so.
Wondering, what do you think of Sandler’s Hanukkah song?
Love it. It’s hilarious. Love the folksy songs of Debbie Friedman. Love the old Christmas tunes that ironically were written by Jews. Hehe.
Great insights. I think you nailed it on “surprise isn’t the point.” My top song is Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee and the Burl Ives Holly Jolly Christmas. Making some real headway in that echelon of “classic” is Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You
Yeah the Brenda Lee version of that is a banger. And Mariah’s seems to be one of the only ones in the past 20 years or so that has broken through.
I agree and I did the same thing in recent years paying attention to the songs and exploring why they hit or don’t. I’m not even a fan of Mariah’s song but I have to tip my cap and admit, she’s on the way there
Definitely. Her grandchildren will never have to work a day in their lives as a result of that song.
Excellent take here on Christmas music. Well done Henny.
NKC’s The Christmas Song is still in my top 10 holiday songs. That song is like 60 years old. Another newer fav for me is Sandler’s The Hanukkah song, for different reasons ofc. As you wisely stated, the common denominator of our own top 5 or 10 is the strength of memories generated by those songs. Hard to compete with songs that have a decades old head start.
Thanks Matt!
I think I know every line of the hanukkah song.
As well as “At a Medium Pace” 🤣🤣. If you’re not aware of that one, do NOT watch it at work with the sound on.
The older I get the more I think about what you allude to here with memories. Like, how much of my memory is actually my memory, and how much has been built by what I’ve seen in photos from the past?