MERRY CHRISTMAS fellow Poparraziacs!
This will be my last post until my next one, because every Christmas, my family makes it a point to have a gathering where we eat, drink, make a lot of noise, eat, drink, make more noise, drink, drink and eat. At some point, my dad will whip out his guitar and start playing Christmas tunes. Admittedly, as a teen, I used to think I was too cool for this sort of thing. You know, Christmas songs like Feliz Navidad could be so tacky.
Then I grew up and knew better. So here then, is our list of Our Favourite Christmas Songs.
This will be my last post until my next one, because every Christmas, my family makes it a point to have a gathering where we eat, drink, make a lot of noise, eat, drink, make more noise, drink, drink and eat. At some point, my dad will whip out his guitar and start playing Christmas tunes. Admittedly, as a teen, I used to think I was too cool for this sort of thing. You know, Christmas songs like Feliz Navidad could be so tacky.
Then I grew up and knew better. So here then, is our list of Our Favourite Christmas Songs.
- Silent Night by Simon and Garfunkel. Their sweet harmonies are brilliantly juxtaposed by a stark reading of the news. A grim reminder that “all is calm” is relative to where you live.
- Happy X’mas (War Is Over)by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Back then, it was another of Lennon’s call for peace. These days, it’s a playlist staple.
- Winter Winds by Mumford & Sons. Okay, the band has denied that this is a Christmas song, but it does have a mulled wine and mistletoe quality to it.
- Do They Know It’s Christmas (12″ remix) by Band Aid. Okay, the suspect line “Thank God it’s them instead of you” when you’re talking about starving Africans may not live up to PC standards of today, but it’s way better than the 2004 version, and the messages in the middle add something to the song.
- Wonderful Christmastimeby Paul McCartney. A great fluffy song to emphasise the “tis the season to be jolly” sentiment.
- All I Want For Christmas Is Youby Mariah Carey. Another great fluffy, chirpy song.
- 2000 Milesby The Pretenders. Something in the way Chrissie Hynde sings this song just sends shivers down the spine. Again, a great mix of despondency (loss of a loved one) amidst the happy holiday mood.
- Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley. It may sound cheesy these days, but just listen to the man’s delivery, it pops.
- Merry X’mas Everybody by Slade. One of the best rock tracks for the Yule season, if you ask me. A track that begs the question, who are those hot chicks in the Top Of The Pops video?
- Wintersongby Sarah McLachlan. Okay, so maybe Christmas does sappy things to me.
- Christmases When You Were Mine by Taylor Swift. And yes, another song about heartbreak for Christmas. Thanks, Taylor.
- Last Christmas by Wham. A kooky campy song with an equally kooky campy video. Plus, it reminds me of Love Theme by Barry White.
- I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Aimee Mann. Man, just listen to her voice on this. Shivers down your spine, man.
- Little Town by Cliff Richard. True, people may be more familiar with the 1983 Amy Grant version, but Sir Cliff did it first in 1982. And yes, the lyrics are cribbed from O Little Town Of Bethlehem.
- Sleigh Ride by The Ventures. First heard this when my dad played it. Can’t think of any other version when people mention this song.
- Wonderland by Heidi Klum. Great smile, great bod, but please Heidi, what possessed you to do this? Euro dance Christmas we can really do without.
- Mistletoe And Wine by Cliff Richard. Yes, I know this was a No 1 back in the day, but how much more sappy can you be?
- (Baby Please Come Home) Christmas by U2. I love the band, but there are just some things that you guys should never play again.
- Christmas Congaby Cyndi Lauper. Apparently, this is one of the songs they play to torture inmates at Guantanamo Bay.
- The entire 8 Days Of Christmas album by Destiny’s Child. Bad. Just bad.
