For a good part of yesterday, I had the dulcet tones of ‘Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer’ on a permanent loop in my head. The more it played, the more I felt what little festive spirit I retained within me slowly ebbing away down the plughole as the joint spirits of the Grinch and Ebeneeezer Scrooge occupied my body. I felt little sympathy for the dear old lady or indeed the unfortunate reindeer who would have to live with her death on their conscience for the rest of their days.
Novelty songs are as much part of the Yuletide experience as ridiculous sweaters and food hangovers the size of the Empire State Building. They take over our airwaves from early December onwards although, in recent times, such boundaries are edging nearer and nearer Halloween. I’ve no doubt we will be sunning ourselves on the beach in years to come with Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas’ belting out on the radio.
Setting aside the Grandma road traffic collision we all have our personal seasonal favourites. As an Irishman I am of course somewhat fond of the ‘Fairytale Of New York’ by The Pogues and the late Kirsty McColl. Wanna hear a secret though. I’m also partial to a bit of Mariah’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ or the super cheesy ‘Don’t Let The Bells End’ by The Darkness. But please let this be our secret and don’t breathe a word to another living soul, okay?
So now I’ve spilled my guts to the blogging world it’s your turn. What’s your favourite Christmas jingle? Or the one that annoys you so much you want to take to the streets in full ‘Bad Santa’ mode to scream ‘Bah Humbug’ at the first person foolish enough to mention the ‘C’ word? Does music bring back special holiday memories? Or fill you with dread at the thought of horrid relatives ‘dropping by’ for an unwelcome visit?
The South Park Christmas special songs, hands down. My parents and brother watch it every Christmas eve. It’s raunchy, but it does remind me of Christmas.
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I haven’t heard them. I’ll have to keep an eye out for them 🙂
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I get a little joy, but lots of sadness for the way I was raised (Christmas is a sin). I haven’t been listening to much music, but the choral Christmas hymns are nostalgic from when I was a Methodist.
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That’s sad to hear. Why did your parents think that way?
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Because the Bible does not tell us to celebrate his birth, but his death and resurrection. Also, Christmas was/is originally a pagan holiday. Santa Claus is a lie and on and on.
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I hate the Feed the World /Do they know it’s Christmas song because it’s so contrived . I love Hark the Herald Angels Sing . I hate Baby it’s cold outside . So annoying. Santa Claus songs used to be fun but now I see some of them as so manipulative. Santa Claus is watching you! Ugh . Creepy!
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You either love them or hate them 🙂
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Exactly! In any case, my all time favorite is Bing Crosby singing “I heard the bells on Christmas Day.” I absolutely love the words and they seem more appropriate with each passing year.
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Of the popular music – you can’t beat White Christmas by Bing Crosby – and Pentatonix Drummer Boy. I simply melt into a pool of tears for the sacred – Adeste Fidelis makes me cry. Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming – IN the Bleak Mid Winter and of course O Holy Night. and I will be sadly missing singing Joy to The World with my congregation this Christmas Eve. Like you – Santa Got Run Over – is the most obtuse and annoying one I have heard – even as a kid I hated it!
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You have impeccable taste 🙂
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You can’t beat an old classic 😊
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I sang this the other day and my 15 year old sister looked at me like I was crazy, I guess she had never heard it before LOL
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You’re such a cool big sister 😂
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Haha Thank you. I tell her that all the time
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Well you just have to put aside the worlds foolishness and let the kid in you take its turn when shutting out stupid you have to stand firm at age 59+ I still put out cookies and milk for Santa, let the World’s crazy fade remaining hazy.
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Good for you 👍🏻
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I’m fond of classics and originals, in more than Christmas carols alone. I haven’t heard of the ones you mentioned as favorites so will have a search and a listen.
A favorite of mine? “Un Flambeau,” but also “Los Peces en El Rio” by Manheim Steamroller and some Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Not-so-favorite? Definitely “Christmas Shoes” and “Santa Baby.”
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Some of them are certainly an acquired taste 😊
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Another great post! I really got a laugh watching Slade on YouTube! I like the standards, a little pop, some ambient, chill hop and lofi. I’ve managed to alienate the relatives I never cared for but felt obligated to host them and their voracious appetites and discussions of their medical issues. Now it’s just our lovely immediate family bubble!
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Thank you. Happy bubbling & stay safe 🙂
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Linda likes anything that plays a Christmas tune. So, we have Santa’s that play the saxophone, bears that sing Christmas songs, snowmen that move up and down and dogs that do the same and so on. It can drive me a little cray cray.
However, we had friends over for dinner last night, so I pulled out the guitar (which was on the back of a successful jam session that afternoon). So, we sang Jingle Bells, Feliz Navidad, This is Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Claus is Coming to Town etc. And, all week I have been playing the Wiggles A Very Wiggly Christmas (songs off the album and video – our grandson likes it)
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I get horrible flashbacks whenever anyone mentions The Wiggles 😂
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My favorite classic Christmas song is Carol of the Bells, specifically the Harry Simeone Chorale version. I have a couple of Christmas tunes by some “classic rock” groups that I really like. I like “Father Christmas,” by The Kinks, as well as “I Believe in Father Christmas,” by Emerson, Lake, & Palmer. Two that make me cringe are “Christmas Shoes” by NewSong, and “Happy Birthday Jesus,” by anyone.
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A great soundtrack there, Jeff 🎄
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I have to say I’m a sucker for Christmas tunes. 😂 I love a bit of Fairytale of New York or Pentatonix Mary Did You Know? This year I’m really loving the new song Hope Christmas Gets You to Me by Lapwing. It’s so apt for this year.
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I haven’t heard that last one. Must keep an eye out for it 🙂
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It’s available on YouTube if you want to check it out. The video is shot in Glasgow.
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Interesting, please follow me
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I too love ‘Fairytale of New York’ but I also love Band Aid – ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ because I also admire what it was written about.
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Yes. Another Christmas classic.
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I love all the carols but a current favorite is Mary did you know? by the Pentatonics
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Yes, I’ve heard it played on the television.
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I’m a sucker for Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and also WAM’s “Last Christmas”. I can’t help it. 😂
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You can’t beat a bit on Mariah at Christmas 😂
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For some reason, grandmothers are not very fond of their grandchildren singing this song to them. Who knew?
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Beats me 😂
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Best Christmas song is Corey Taylor – X-m@$, pure poetic nature for all the Christmas haters like myself
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I don’t know that song.
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It’s quality, give it a listen!
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My mom would get mad over the song, Grandma got ran over by a reindeer. I think it really triggered something in her.
The song that usually gets me and I have to stop and wipe tears is, I’ll be home for Christmas. It’s a good song, but a sad and lonely one. When my son lived five hours away, it became real.
Music can touch the depths of our souls.
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It most certainly can 🙂
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I remember watching Christmas cartoons as a young girl. Those were the care free days.
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Indeed they are.
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