Splent's top 100 and bottom 25 Christmas songs... wanna guess?

[splent]

It's been a few years since I've done this. Usually I start around December 1 and go through Christmas Day, so I'm a little behind. But I love posting my favorite arrangements of holiday music in case anyone is interesstes. You'll probably think some is cheesy, but there are some great arrangements as welll. I'm also going to post my bottom 25. The absolute worst. I'm compiling my lists now but shouldn't take long. I'll post quite a bit this weekend just to catch up, so be prepared.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
13.
14. Trains and Winter Rains - Enya
15. Joy to the World - Mannheim Steamroller
16. Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson
17.
18. I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake
19. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Enya
20. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Billie Holiday
21. God Rest You Merry Gentleman - Mannheim steamroller
22.
23.
24.
25.
26. What Child is This - Vince Gualardi
27. Angels We Have Heard on High - First Call
28. Lo How A Rose - Jan Sandstrom
29
30. Oiche Chiun - Enya
31.
32. 12 Days of Christmas - Straight No Chaser
33. Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale
34.
35.
36. Sleigh Ride - Bela Fleck
37. Born On A New Day - The King's Singers
38. Mary's Boy Child - Little River Band
39. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
40. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Pentatonix
41. Reve Du Noel - Michaell W Smith
42. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Amy Grant
43. The Little Drummer Boy - Daryl Stuermer
44. Winter Wonderland - Andra Day
45. Oh Holy Night - NSYNC
46. Jingle Bells - Kay Thompson
47. Save All Your Love - Jon Anderson
48. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Ronnie James Dio
49. White Christmas - The Drifters
50. Deck the Halls - Mannheim Steamroller
51. God Rest Ye Merry/We Three Kings - Barenaked Ladies/Sarah McLaughlin
52. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Chapter 6
53. Winter Wonderland - Steve Taylor
54. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Sam Smith
55. Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi
56. Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) - The Darkness
57. Wonderful Christmastime - The Shins
58. Do You Hear What I Hear - Mary J Blige
59. Excuse My Christmas - Jan Terri
60. We Five Kings - Jethro Tull
61. Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters
62. The Christmas Song - Jordan Rudess
63. Glory to God - Glad
64. O Holy Night - David Phelps
65. Gaudete - Erasure
66. Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
67. Grown Up Christmas List- Amy Grant
68. Sleigh Ride - Andy Williams
69. Lux Aurumque - Eric Whitacre
70. Snowfall - Manhattan Transfer
71. Snow - White Christmas
72. Soul Cake - Sting
73. Skating - Vince Guaraldi
74. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - The Temptations
75. Riu Riu Chiu - Sixpence None The Richard
76. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Mannheim Steamroller
77. I Always Cry At Christmas - Richard Page
78. Jing-a-Ling Jing-a-ling - Andrews Sisters
79. O Holy Night - Apocalyptica
80. Silent Night Holy Night Jam - Joe Satriani
81. Jingle Bells? - Barbra Streisand
82. Old Saint Nicholas - Doris Day
83. Gloria - Michael W. Smith
84. In Dulci Jubilo - Mike Oldfield
85. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald
86. It's Christmas All Over the World - Sheena Easton
87. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
88. Mary Did You know - CeeLo Green
89. White is the Winter Night - Enya
90. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Tori Amos
91. What Child Is This - Roberta Flack
92. Carol of the Bells - August Burns Red
93. Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight) - The Ramones
94. Angels From The Realms of Glory - Annie Lennox
95. Christmas Baby Please Come Home - Darlene Love
96. Light Of Christmas - Owl City ft. TobyMac
97. Do You Hear What I Hear - Deniece Williams
98. Winter Wonderland/Don't Worry Be Happy - Pentatonix
99. Deck the Halls - Julie Andrews
100. 12 Days of Christmas - John Denver and the Muppets


1.
2.
3. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
4. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gayla Peevey
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10
11. Santa Baby - Madonna
12. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Jessica Simpson/Rosie O'Donnell
13. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Dean Martin
14.
15. Snoopy's Christmas - The Royal Guardsmen
16.
17. Snow Flake - Pebbles and Bamm Bamm
18. Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk this Christmas - John Denver 
19. Christmas Conga - Cyndi Lauper
20. Funky Funky Christmas - New Kids on the Block
21. The Eyes of a Child - Air Supply
22. The First Noel - Josh Groban and Faith Hill
23. Where ARe You Christmas - Faith Hill
24. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
25. O Come All ye Faithful - Celine Dion

[jjrock88]

I'll follow, hopefully there are lots of hard rock and metal Christmas songs!

[Prog Snob]

It's been a few years since I've done this. Usually I start around December 1 and go through Christmas Day, so I'm a little behind. But I love posting my favorite arrangements of holiday music in case anyone is interesstes. You'll probably think some is cheesy, but there are some great arrangements as welll. I'm also going to post my bottom 25. The absolute worst. I'm compiling my lists now but shouldn't take long. I'll post quite a bit this weekend just to catch up, so be prepared.

I am very interesstes in this!

[Jester]

Suggestion.  Don't countdown.  Start at #1 and go to 100.  The time to enjoy Christmas songs is all December and it would be nice to discover a song you think is the best in early December instead of on Christmas Day.

Countdowns were made for advertising.  To keep you "tuned in".  If you aren't selling anything, countdowns are counterproductive.

[Prog Snob]

Now it's commercialized.

And now...back to the countdown.

[Jester]

Way to go.  Now it just isn't commercialized, it is bad late night TV.  Something tells me I'm gonna fall asleep before the end.

[Prog Snob]

Call the number.

[Jester]

I called.  That's why I'm sleepy.

Merry Christmas and a Happy End Ing!!!

Smoke Hasher, watch Dancer, See Lancer on Vixen.

[Prog Snob]

Bowchicka bow wow

[splent]

Start at #1? That'd be easier

[Prog Snob]

Or just randomize it, like The Blacklist.

[splent]

Or just randomize it, like The Blacklist.

Oooooooooo I like that.

I'll do that.

I'll start after snl.

[splent]

Nm I'll start now.

11. Nat King Cole- The Christmas Song

For many this is the epitome of a Christmas song. It's one of my favorites. Smooth velvety voice, laid back instrumentation, a classic song. It's better than the original by Mel Torme imo.

https://youtu.be/hwacxSnc4tI

[Jester]

Now that's a great start.  Thanks for the video link too.

[Prog Snob]

Great song and amazing singer. He has this unbelievably smooth voice.

[splent]

21. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Mannheim Steamroller

A classic this day and age, this was fairly new when I was a child and I grew up listening to this album. The combination of synths seems fairly formulaic right now, but when this album came out it was new in this type of setting and I always liked this. I also like to play this on the piano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhc2DSsDhG0

[Cool Chris]

I can't imagine thinking up my top 100 of anything! But I know you are passionate about music so I will be following.

[Jester]

The Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Album is great.  Unfortunately that Youtube video really destroys the sound quality.  It would be a shame if that was allowed to be somebody's first impression of that album.

[twosuitsluke]

I hope Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) by The Darkness is on this list. Not sure if it was popular outside of the UK but it's a corker.

[Prog Snob]

This has never been one of my favorite Xmas songs, but I do prefer Bing's version. 

[splent]

I hope Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) by The Darkness is on this list. Not sure if it was popular outside of the UK but it's a corker.

Wait and see!  Another random number in a matter of an jour

[TAC]

I couldn't even begin to name 125 Christmas songs!

[splent]

Yup.

I'm having a few issues with my playlists on spotify. A few of my tracks aren't on there, and I'm having trouble syncing. I think part of the reason is that I'm using my wife's computer instead of mine, which is being fixed. Another reason may be my wifi connection; I've heard that can do it. I may have to head to the library with my computer at some point.

Anyways, that affects the lower numbers on the list, the top 40-45 or so is pretty much set. So here:

41. Reve du Noel (Medley) - Michael W. Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STcxU0TjDTs

There's a newer version of this on Spotify that uses different instrumentation and doesn't sound so 80s so I have to use that, but I prefer this version and will once my computer is fixed. This was back when I was in my only CCM music listening phase in the early-mid 90s. This is off a really old compilation that includes some secular artists as well (There's another track or two that will end up on this countdown as well, but I have to import them from my computer to my playlist). Again a track from my childhood making a higher posting on the list.

NOTE: Posts will become more frequent over the next week, but I can't guarantee specific times. Also, every 5 posts of my top 100, I'll post 1 of my bottom.

I will only do random for numbers 11-100. My top 10 and bottom 10 will be posted in countdown format.

[SystematicThought]

Going back a few, my favorite Manheim Steamroller track is Deck the Halls. That album is just classic though and that album cover is so iconic for me and brings me back to my childhood. I have it on vinyl

[Prog Snob]

I've heard of Michael W. Smith. If I am not mistaken, he's an inspirational/Christian singer, right? I am not familiar with his music except for Place in This World.

[splent]

I've heard of Michael W. Smith. If I am not mistaken, he's an inspirational/Christian singer, right? I am not familiar with his music except for Place in This World.

Yeah CCM means contemporary Christian music. In the early-mid 90s a lot of artists went mainstream, like Amy grant, D.C. Talk, and jars of clay. Place in this world was MWS' big mainstream hit. I haven't listened to his music for years, but he's done a few orchestral albums as well as christian music

[Prog Snob]

I've heard of Michael W. Smith. If I am not mistaken, he's an inspirational/Christian singer, right? I am not familiar with his music except for Place in This World.

Yeah CCM means contemporary Christian music. In the early-mid 90s a lot of artists went mainstream, like Amy grant, D.C. Talk, and jars of clay. Place in this world was MWS' big mainstream hit. I haven't listened to his music for years, but he's done a few orchestral albums as well as christian music

I totally missed that you said CCM in your previous post. Katy Perry started out doing Christian music back when she was Katy Hudson (which is her real surname). That was back before she kissed a girl. 

[splent]

30. Oiche Chiun - Enya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ThedzFKdM

Not the last Enya track on my top 100, this is one of my favorites. Enya is one of my favorite musicians, not just because she puts so much effort into each track and because of the ethereal sound, but she plays every instrument and overdubs herself hundreds of times to get that unique choral sound she has. I also love unique versions of traditional carols sung in other languages. This is sung in Irish Gaelic.

Again these are youtube links sorry for the lack of quality. Most of these are elsewhere, but everyone has youtube. Also my list is pretty solid until about number 70, so expect a few more 11-50 tracks until I get those bottom ones settled.

[Zydar]

I couldn't even begin to name 125 Christmas songs!

This

[splent]

I couldn't even begin to name 125 Christmas songs!

This

Well time to open your mind then

Let's get another one out of the way while I have a few minutes:

47. Save All Your Love - Jon Anderson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaHpEJ6U6HY

This is from Jon Anderson's completely underrated Christmas album released in the mid 80s. I grew up with this album, and it never gets old. I love every single track on it, and this is one of my favorites. It does sound a little cheesy today but when put in the context of when it was made it's fine. The tenderness expressed in this song is great, and the harmonies on "Midnight _______ (fill in the blank)" always makes me smile. Also, the ending fits, even though it fades out, providing that mystery that was the birth of Christ.

And... the first track of the bottom 25!!!

15. Snoopy's christmas - The Royal Guardsmen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSFQzyNJzj0

Capitalizing on the success of their track Snoopy and the Red Baron, they did this track that told the story of Snoopy and the Red Baron stopping their fighting for Christmas, parallel with the story of German and British soldiers during WWI. They follow the same formula as Snoopy and the Red Baron. Not my favorite track at all, it's too repetative, and it's just an extension of their only hit, which is basically the same song without the christmas. Meh.

[Lowdz]

My Christmas albums are on the memory stick and in the car!

[splent]

63. Glory to God - Glad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-fwqtQ60tw

Glad is a men's vocal quintet that's known for their acapella arrangements of hymns and worship, but that's not what they strictly do. I view this more as a choral work than a Christian work, but I like it since it's a challenging men's piece as well as it fairly complex musically with lots of time signature changes. I would love to do this in a small ensemble at some point in my life.

[Prog Snob]

Snoopy!   

[splent]

Snoopy!   

 Legit stuff featuring Snoopy is up and coming.

[splent]

 I'm gonna post five more tracks today, at least. I might have two posts of five tracks each and two of the Bobben 25. I feel like crap, but my list is pretty much done.  For me right now it's a matter of time  or lack there of