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Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

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MN-Skeptic
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Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#1

Post by MN-Skeptic »

For me it's not Christmas movies or Christmas television shows. It's Christmas music which makes the season, which gets me in the Christmas mood.

While I like listening to Christmas radio stations to hear new songs, I cringe when they play the moldy oldies - Gene Autry, Berl Ives, etc. I can't change the station fast enough.

I have dozens of Christmas CDs which I've ripped and play from my laptop or iPhone. Right now I'm listening to Straight No Chaser's Christmas Cheers CD. I love everything from the Boston Pops to Mannheim Steamroller to Barry Manilow to Mariah Carey to Pentatonix to... it just goes on and on. I love good Christmas music.

So... what are you listening to? What do you recommend? Links to videos are appreciated.

Videos of two of my favorites -



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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#2

Post by John Thomas8 »

This is basically the only one I can stand:

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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#3

Post by Slim Cognito »

Santa Baby 1 and 2 by Eartha Kitt ONLY!!! Anyone else is sacrilege.

I'm also fond of Little Drummer Boy with David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

Do They Know It's Christmas, (Band Aid, organized by Sir Bob Geldof) written by Geldof and Ure, still brings a tear to my eye.
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#4

Post by poplove »

I love Mannheim Steamroller, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Merry Axemas, Gary Hoey, and Dr Demento Holidays in Dementia. There's more, but those are on the top of my stack of Christmas CDs right now.

One of my very favorite Mannheim songs, Pat-A-Pan:



Deck the Halls by Gary Hoey, which I love to crank up in the car:



Another one to crank up in the car, Trans Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Eve/Sarajevo:



Christmas Canon, Trans Siberian Orchestra:



And the U.S. Navy Band performing White Christmas:

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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#5

Post by AndyinPA »

TSO will be here December 29.
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#6

Post by Jim »

Grandma got run over by a Reindeer.

Working in retail and listening to Christmas music all day long for over a month...for me the best music is when it's over.
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#7

Post by Volkonski »

Coventry Carol

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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#8

Post by John Thomas8 »

Most of 'em sung by Aaron Neville I can listen to:

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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#9

Post by Azastan »

One thing I've noticed, at least on the station to which I am forced to listen (94.1), there are very few songs played which are religious in nature. Almost every song is in the Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Elvis, Mariah Carey mold.

Which seems really odd, since 94.1 is one of those Audacy stations, which is owned by conservatives. Would they not WANT to play songs which emphasize CHRISTMAS, 'cuz you know, 'the reason for the season' and all that nonsense?

Blech.
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#10

Post by sugar magnolia »

John Thomas8 wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:32 pm Most of 'em sung by Aaron Neville I can listen to:

Ummmm.....Nevilles. In any configuration.

I was actually listening to that exact one earlier today.
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#11

Post by Estiveo »

Image Image Image Image
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#12

Post by sad-cafe »

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#13

Post by raison de arizona »


And I agree on this one:
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#14

Post by Estiveo »

Image Image Image Image
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#15

Post by Kendra »

:thumbsup: :bighug: US Navy Band.
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#16

Post by Suranis »

I fucking hate that Pouges song. It's on the radio every 5 minutes over here, and has been for the last 3 months. They could at least vary it, and put on the Christy Moore version for a bit of variety.



And for those Mariah Carey haters (i.e. all of you) there's this version by Chase Hoffielder

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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#17

Post by Mrich »

I love Kathy Mattea's album "Joy For Christmas Day"; here's a youtube playlist:


(Click on the bars in the upper right of the window to see the other songs on the playlist)
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#18

Post by raison de arizona »

Suranis wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:49 pm I fucking hate that Pouges song. It's on the radio every 5 minutes over here, and has been for the last 3 months. They could at least vary it, and put on the Christy Moore version for a bit of variety.
I actually prefer the Dropkick Murphys version.
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#19

Post by Estiveo »

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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#20

Post by northland10 »

My "favorites" tend to be less known outside of choral music which is probably not surprising given what I do. Here are some, many of which I have actually done (save for the Ave Maria version and the organ tocata)

Morten Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium is always stunning (performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir)


And now for something completely different, there is "Today the Virgin" by John Tavener (Tavener was from England and converted to Orthodox at one point which inspired the texts he used along with some of the music though some of that is also inspired by early polyphany).


Gene Puerling's arrangement of Silent Night always gets me (Chanticleer again). I saw this done once with a 15 person brass group with a flugelhorn on the solo. It was stunning.


Gaudete performed by ANÚNA


Franz Biebl's Ave Maria. Again it is Chanticleer but their recording is among my favorites.


Needs some organ music so:
Garth Edmundson - Toccata "Vom Himmel hoch"
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#21

Post by Lansdowne »

northland10 wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 10:02 pm#

Morten Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium is always stunning (performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir)
https: //youtu.be/9y9yM53TowA
As the video caption says, Westminster (which is Catholic) not Winchester (which is Anglican).
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#22

Post by Frater I*I »

"He sewed his eyes shut because he is afraid to see, He tries to tell me what I put inside of me
He's got the answers to ease my curiosity, He dreamed a god up and called it Christianity"

Trent Reznor
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#23

Post by northland10 »

Lansdowne wrote: Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:39 am
northland10 wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 10:02 pm#

Morten Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium is always stunning (performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir)
https: //youtu.be/9y9yM53TowA
As the video caption says, Westminster (which is Catholic) not Winchester (which is Anglican).
Doh.. :doh: :oopsy: :bag:

I don't know what I was thinking when I typed it. I knew it was Westminster just from the look of the place. That would be Westminster Cathedral which is Catholic and not Westminster Abbey which is Anglican (and not actually a cathedral).
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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#24

Post by AndyinPA »

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Re: Favorite Christmas Songs, Artists

#25

Post by Maybenaut »

Album - A Tapestry of Carols by Maddy Pryor and the Carnival Band (full disclosure, one of the members of the Carnival Band is a distant relation by marriage - my sister is married to his brother). Old European carols played on traditional instruments. It’s fabulous! Songs are:

"The Sans Day Carol" (Traditional Cornish)

"In Dulci Jubilo" (German 14th century)

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Traditional English)

"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" (Tune traditional English, words EH Sears)

"The Holly and the Ivy" (Traditional English)

"The Coventry Carol" (English 16th century)

"Ding Dong Merrily on High" (Tune traditional French 16th century, words GR Woodward)

"The Angel Gabriel" (Tune traditional Basque, words S Baring-Gould)

"Angels from the Realms of Glory" (Tune traditional French, words J Montgomery)

"Infant Holy" (Traditional Polish)

"A Virgin Most Pure" (Traditional English)

"Unto Us a Boy Is Born" (German Medieval)

"Rejoice and Be Merry" (Traditional English)

"Joseph Dearest" (German 16th century)

"Personent Hodie" (German 14th century)

"On Christmas Night" (Sussex Carol) (Traditional English)
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