Christmas music!

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Gordon_Sims

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I’m a bit of a nut for Christmas music and thought I’d throw this out there. When do you start listening to Christmas music each year? What are some of your favorite songs/artists/albums?

I usually start listening off and on sometime in July (whenever I start seeing mention of Christmas in July), and gradually increase from there until it’s just about all I’m listening to by this time of year. I like all kinds, from secular to religious, although I listen to a lot more religious music on the days just before & after Christmas.

I’d list my favorites, but due to space limits, that would take several posts. Some of my favorites are Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, John Denver & the Muppets, and just about anything else that came out more than 30 years ago. There are some more recent albums that I like, but most of what’s come out in the last 10-20 years (especially the stuff that gets the most airplay) is just awful. I’m more thankful for my mp3 player at this time of year than any other, although it has nowhere near enough memory to hold all my Christmas music.

Oddly enough, as much as I love hearing Christmas music this time of year, I can’t stand when people decorate before Thanksgiving. I don’t mind seeing decent Christmas displays in the stores, but I don’t want to see lights or decorations on people’s lawns for several more weeks.

I’m also highly annoyed by radio stations who advertise their “holiday music.” Until they start playing Arbor Day, Columbus Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving music, I don’t want to hear them claiming to be “holiday music stations.” There’s only one holiday being discussed in any of the songs, so I think they need to call it what it is.
 
Greetings Gordon Sims,

All year long.

I like Manhenim [probably misspelled] Steamroller. I like instrumental versions of the songs. Words get on my nerves. I do like to listen to Gregorian Chants having to do with the season.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
Wow, you guys start early. 😛 I just feel weird listening to Christmas music before Advent has begun.
 
All year long. I use “shuffle” a lot on my ipod, so every once in awhile a Christmas song pops up and I’ll listen to it no matter the time of the year.
 
It drives me absolutely up the wall when I hear Christmas music and see Christmas decorations everywhere before Thanksgiving! I happen to LOVE Thanksgiving and hate to see it get a short shrift because Christmas makes retailers more money.

This year was ridiculous–Christmas in July complete with Christmas songs on the 25th of July! (this was at the Walmart where I work) I wasn’t the only one complaining. Then they started the Christmas music two days before Halloween and the day after Halloween, all the Halloween decorations were condensed to one shelf along with the Thanksgiving decorations so they could make room for the Christmas stuff!

I’ll take my holidays one at a time, thank you… I hear people complaining that time is moving way too fast as it is. I like the anticipation that comes with waiting… that in 17 days I’ll start listening to Christmas music AFTER Thanksgiving. Right now, I’m anticipating Thanksgiving!

Sorry, hot button topic with me! 😛
 
Usually, I start off after Thanksgiving with my Celtic Christmas cds. But I admit there is nothing on them to keep me from listening at other times of the year. :rolleyes:

Then on to Glen Miller Christmas, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Time-Life collection. Stuff I grew up on in the 60’s. 😉 It is a very nostalgic time of year, isn’t it?
 
bluerose said:
It drives me absolutely up the wall when I hear Christmas music and see Christmas decorations everywhere before Thanksgiving! I happen to LOVE Thanksgiving and hate to see it get a short shrift because Christmas makes retailers more money.

This year was ridiculous–Christmas in July complete with Christmas songs on the 25th of July! (this was at the Walmart where I work) I wasn’t the only one complaining. Then they started the Christmas music two days before Halloween and the day after Halloween, all the Halloween decorations were condensed to one shelf along with the Thanksgiving decorations so they could make room for the Christmas stuff!

I’ll take my holidays one at a time, thank you… I hear people complaining that time is moving way too fast as it is. I like the anticipation that comes with waiting… that in 17 days I’ll start listening to Christmas music AFTER Thanksgiving. Right now, I’m anticipating Thanksgiving!

Sorry, hot button topic with me! 😛
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👍 I feel the same way!
 
I am starting this month.

I love anything from any boychoir. Simple, put, period.

God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen, What Sweeter Music, even Mary’s Boy Child!
 
as soon as the Christian radio station revs up for Christmas music it will be CDs for me until after the new year.

I cannot abide 90% of pop/country interpretations or “arrangements” of classic carols and noels, with O Holy Night at the top of my list. If you are not one of the 3 tenors I don’t want to hear it from you.

If I have to hear Christmas shoes, grandma, or the chickens one more time I may turn Buddhist.
 
puzzleannie said:
as soon as the Christian radio station revs up for Christmas music it will be CDs for me until after the new year.

I cannot abide 90% of pop/country interpretations or “arrangements” of classic carols and noels, with O Holy Night at the top of my list. If you are not one of the 3 tenors I don’t want to hear it from you.

If I have to hear Christmas shoes, grandma, or the chickens one more time I may turn Buddhist.
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:clapping: THANK YOU, ANNIE!!!

The only contemporary artist I can abide listening to sing “O Holy Night” is Josh Groban… but I cannot find his version to download or purchase anywhere.

I, too, turn to my CDs for Christmas music. “Santa Baby” is not my favorite to begin with, but listening to Jessica Simpson butcher it is painful beyond words (and don’t get me started on her version of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”! :bigyikes:) What’s worse is that they play the same horrible versions 20 times a day. If they must play “Jingle Bell Rock” more than 10 times a day, why not play it by ten different artists rather than the same one (and it’s never Bobby Helms!) so as to give us a little variety in our misery?

As it is, I prefer to hear Christmas carols rather than Christmas songs… and it’s far worse to hear those mangled beyond recognition by contemporary artists who seem bent on showcasing their “talent” (using the word very loosely here) rather than proclaiming the birth of Christ.

Oh, by the way, annie… you forgot to mention “Mary, Did You Know?” and “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”… two songs that would make me drive my car into a brick wall at 90 mph if it was the only way to stop the music (my alternative to turning Buddhist…)

Told you all this was a hot button topic with me!
 
I respect your right to not like Christmas music until after Thanksgiving and love that I have a right to listen as much as I want. 😃 It’s also a hot button topic for me.

Michael Bublé’s “Christmas” is good. I pre-ordered it back in September and got it a few weeks ago. His version of “Ave Maria” is good.

I like the old-time greats. There are even a few modern tunes I like as well. “NOW That’s What I Call Christmas” tends to put out a good album every few years.

Oh and Third Day’s “Christmas Offerings” is a-maz-ing. It’s probably my favorite.
 
I like Christmas music on the radio because you can hear songs hailing Mary and celebrating the Nativity on non-Christian stations, in between songs of a more secular bent.

I have about 1,000 Christmas songs on my iPod, I’ve been collecting them since I was a kid. I generally force myself to wait until Black Friday to start playing them, although I can play one of my Thanksgiving playlists until then. 🙂
 
puzzleannie said:
as soon as the Christian radio station revs up for Christmas music it will be CDs for me until after the new year.

I cannot abide 90% of pop/country interpretations or “arrangements” of classic carols and noels, with O Holy Night at the top of my list. If you are not one of the 3 tenors I don’t want to hear it from you.

If I have to hear Christmas shoes, grandma, or the chickens one more time I may turn Buddhist.
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Oh Puzzleannie, I just detest that Christmas shoes song!!! And they play it all the time on the radio stations in my area during the season. I love most other Christmas music (after Thanksgiving, until mid-January) and have a fondness for Mr. Snow Miser/Mr. Heat Miser!!!
 
Arizona_Mike said:
I have about 1,000 Christmas songs on my iPod, I’ve been collecting them since I was a kid. I generally force myself to wait until Black Friday to start playing them, although I can play one of my Thanksgiving playlists until then. 🙂
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I have about 1000 songs in the A-P section of one of my regular Christmas music playlists. 😃

One thing I’ll agree with is the fact that Thanksgiving really seems to get overlooked in the stores anymore. My wife and I were out all day today trying to find a new Thanksgiving decoration for the house. We only found Thanksgiving decorations at a single store. They had a single shelf in the back with a handful of small trinkets.

I have the new Michael Buble album but haven’t had a chance to listen to it all the way through. I’ve been more in the mood for some of my favorites, so I’ve only heard the first few songs off his album.

The local station that’s already playing Christmas music seems to be bumping up their religious content this year. I heard a string of 4-5 religious songs yesterday, but that might have had something to do with it being Sunday. I didn’t really listen to them at all today since every time I turned them on it was either Celine Dion, Trans-Siberian Orchestra or Mannheim Steamroller, and I was already feeling queasy enough as it was, so we relied on the mp3 player.

I’ve been trying to find a bit more good, non-secular Christmas music and am open to suggestions.
 
Gordon_Sims said:
I have about 1000 songs in the A-P section of one of my regular Christmas music playlists. 😃

One thing I’ll agree with is the fact that Thanksgiving really seems to get overlooked in the stores anymore. My wife and I were out all day today trying to find a new Thanksgiving decoration for the house. We only found Thanksgiving decorations at a single store. They had a single shelf in the back with a handful of small trinkets.

I have the new Michael Buble album but haven’t had a chance to listen to it all the way through. I’ve been more in the mood for some of my favorites, so I’ve only heard the first few songs off his album.

The local station that’s already playing Christmas music seems to be bumping up their religious content this year. I heard a string of 4-5 religious songs yesterday, but that might have had something to do with it being Sunday. I didn’t really listen to them at all today since every time I turned them on it was either Celine Dion, Trans-Siberian Orchestra or Mannheim Steamroller, and I was already feeling queasy enough as it was, so we relied on the mp3 player.

I’ve been trying to find a bit more good, non-secular Christmas music and am open to suggestions.
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I still kind of like that Thanksgiving is relatively non-commercial. You have some flags and some candles of pilgrims and turkeys and such, but mostly it’s a day for being thankful for what God has given us and drawing close to family and friends. I like it a lot.

Here’s some Christmas music I like, that may not be as familiar as some of the shopping mall standards. I like religious songs, but also like a lot of the secular songs.

“St. Nicholas” by Anuna

“Song: Sainte Nicholaes (1)” by the Anonymous 4 - Lovely, ethereal medieval chant and polyphony.

“Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

“Yesterday’s Christmas” by Bobby Sherman - Yes, Bobby Sherman. A tune I remember fondly from the 1970s.

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” by Crystal Gayle (also good versions by Sufjan Stevens, and an exquisitely lonely flute verson by Randy Granger)

“Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue” by Aaron Neville, also his “Ava Maria” and “O Holy Night”

“Lord of the Dance” by Arthur Brown - I’ve always loved this folk song of the joyfulness of our Lord.

“O Holy Night” by Aled Jones

“Once in David’s Royal City” by Sufjan Stevens (also his “Star of Wonder” and the wonderful instrumental, “The Incarnation”)

“La Legende de Saint-Nicholas (The Legend of St. Nicholas)” by Helen Dallaire - This French folk song explains why St. Nicholas is the patron saint of kidnapped children.

“The Fourth Man in the Fire” by Johnny Cash - not specifically a Christmas song, but I always associate it with Christmas since I first heard it on one of Cash’s Christmas specials. Shadrach, Messach, Abed-Nego, and a mysterious Fourth Man vs. wicked King Nebuchadnezzar.

“Christmas Bayou” by Beausoleil. Looking forward to being with family back home, even as the old ways are fading.

“Remember Bethlehem” by Dee Mullins. Another favorite song from my childhood. One of my daughter’s favorite songs now.

“Christmas Must Be Tonight” - The Band

“Hands (Xmas Version)” by Jewel

“Holy Holy Holy” by Sufjan Stevens. Another favorite hymn from my youth at Mass in St. Mark’s.

“Home for the Holidays” by the dBs. This warm, rollicking countryesque song always reminds me of my roundabout journeys home to be with my family at Christmas on leave from the Army.

“I Never Spend a Christmas That I Don’t Think of You” by the Statler Brothers. How each Christmas is also an anniversary of our time with the ones we love.

“A Mad Russian’s Christmas” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Fun high-energy montage of Russian classical themes.

“New York’s a Lonely Town” - just a fun surfer song about a California surfer whose family moves to New York (“My woody’s all covered in snow!”). Not really Christmas, but a winter song, just like “Wintertime” by The Belmonts, which reminds me of snowboarding and throwing snowballs at friends.

“Walking in the Air” - from “The Snowman,” a very popular short animated Christmas special in England with which Americans are not as familiar. (If you have a young child, buy or rent the DVD - it’s a very sweet, gentle, Christmas animation, and a nice way for your child to wind down before bed.)

“It’s a Big Country” by Davitt Sigerson. Another warm song about how close you feel to your extended family across the country at Christmas, even if you can’t see them all. This should be a more popular song than it is, hearing it always boosts my spirits.

Hope you like some of these.
 
Arizona_Mike said:
“Yesterday’s Christmas” by Bobby Sherman - Yes, Bobby Sherman. A tune I remember fondly from the 1970s.
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Oh my gosh! I thought I was the only one still listening to this! Begged for this album back in the day every time the commercial came on! To listen now is so nostalgic. 🙂
 
I love The Band and will probably play Christmas Must Be Tonight 40-50 times between now and Christmas.

I have the Bobby Sherman album, and I think the Sufjan Stevens as well. I’ll have to check the others out tomorrow.
 
Forgot to add that “Walking in the Air” is also by Aled Jones.
 
I started listening to Christmas music today. I love Christmas music! Sometimes I get out my Christmas mp3 player at different times of the year. (Yes I have a whole MP3 player devoted to Christmas music.)
 
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