Splent's Top 25 and Bottom 25 Christmas Songs

[splent]

I'm going to do something this year... every day post a different Christmas song in the order that I like them.  Sort of like a top 50 albums thing.  But this will go from Dec. 1st to Dec. 25th.  I'll def put top 25, and I want to do a bottom 25, but it's hard since I have very few songs I don't like on my computer... I have to go from off the radio.  So yeah.  I already have about 10, so I'll do that if I can't make a list of 25. 

Fun times

[Pols Voice]

I'll just say that my favorite is O Holy Night. One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[splent]

I'll just say that my favorite is O Holy Night. One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

That is hands down my favorite traditional Christmas song. 

List will start today, with the number ones coming on Christmas Eve Day.

[splent]

NUMBER 25

BEST
Deck The Halls - Mannheim Steamroller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFDi0GXHsxo&feature=related

The year was 1984.  Everything about Christmas music changed with this song, which is the first track on Mannheim Steamroller's first Christmas album.  Nowadays, many people associate the group with Christmas.  Prior to this they were a New Age band that experimented with world sounds and synthesizers.  This album was a sensation.  I still remember growing up and hearing this music.  It's a part of me.

WORST
Rock And Roll Santa - Jan Terri

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

You know that I'm a huge Jan Terri fan... but this song is just awful and the video is worse... laughingly worse.  But I still enjoy it slightly, because it makes me laugh.  And I wanted this song on the list.  So that's why it's only at #25.

[Jamesman42]

Interesting

[Ultimetalhead]

Will be following. I pretty much hate all Christmas music, so this will be a fun exercise in masochism.

Santa Baby had damn well better be number 1 on the worst list. Dear god what an atrocity.

[splent]

Will be following. I pretty much hate all Christmas music, so this will be a fun exercise in masochism.

Santa Baby had damn well better be number 1 on the worst list. Dear god what an atrocity.

I like the original by Eartha Kitt, but the other versions (Madonna and Everclear) will be on the list... and don't worry you will be waiting a while.  I will tell you it's NOT number 1, there are worse songs.  But not many

[Orbert]

NUMBER 25

BEST
Deck The Halls - Mannheim Steamroller

I could never get past that weird minor during "fa la la la la, la la la la".  The underlined one has the weird chord.  It's like he flattened it when he shouldn't have, just to make it different.  Otherwise I like it.

[Pols Voice]

I love the first few Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums. That version of Deck the Halls is classic. I'm also a big fan of their non-Christmas music. Fresh Aire II and Fresh Aire V are two of my favorite albums ever, actually.

[splent]

NUMBER 25

BEST
Deck The Halls - Mannheim Steamroller

I could never get past that weird minor during "fa la la la la, la la la la".  The underlined one has the weird chord.  It's like he flattened it when he shouldn't have, just to make it different.  Otherwise I like it.

It's Mixolydian mode

[Orbert]

Yeah, well I don't like it! 

[ariich]

If I don't see songs like Bethlehem Down, Shepherd's Farewell or Coventry Carol in there, someone's going to get hurt.

EDIT: Oh, and The Lamb.

[antigoon]

I think "Do They Know It's Christmas" is simultaneously the best and worst Christmas song of all-time.

[hefdaddy42]

If I don't see songs like Bethlehem Down, Shepherd's Farewell or Coventry Carol in there, someone's going to get hurt.

I love Coventry Carol, but I can't place those others by name.  I'm sure I've heard them, though.

I mean, I guess.

I love Christmas music.

[Orbert]

Ha ha, I whipped out A Charlie Brown Christmas by The Vince Guaraldi Trio today and listened to it on the way to work.  I feel happy inside.

I'm thinking at least one of those tunes will make your Top 25?

[antigoon]

Ha ha, I whipped out A Charlie Brown Christmas by The Vince Guaraldi Trio today and listened to it on the way to work.  I feel happy inside.

I'm thinking at least one of those tunes will make your Top 25?

That's definitely the classiest Christmas album around. Love it. 

[ariich]

If I don't see songs like Bethlehem Down, Shepherd's Farewell or Coventry Carol in there, someone's going to get hurt.

I love Coventry Carol, but I can't place those others by name.  I'm sure I've heard them, though.

I mean, I guess.

I love Christmas music.

They're all lovely. Bethlehem Down is a Peter Warlock song, The Lamb is a fairly modern carol by Tavener, and The Shepherd's Farewell is a movement from Berlioz's L'enfance du Christ.

Bethlehem Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNn4EkShMUY

The Lamb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz08ZgvEqUA

Shepherd's Farewell: https://grooveshark.com/s/Shepherd+s+Farewell/47Qa3F?src=5

[splent]

I love Coventry Carol but there isn't a recording that I can think of that stands out as the best recording. 

The other ones I haven't heard of, and the list is already made. 

I'm not really including choral stuff... that's a separate genre in my opinion.... Lux Aurumque is another one that would make the list if I made it with choral music.  I love so much choral music that half of it would be choral music if I put it on the list.  I intended on only doing popular/rock versions of the songs on the list. 

I'll maybe do a top 10 choral versions, because there's a version of Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming I did in college that's absolutely breathtaking.

EDIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyJsYTQi3Cw&feature=related
This is Purdue doing it, but I'm biased towards ours... but there isn't a youtube version of it.

[MasterShakezula]

My school's band is doing some arrangement of Coventry Carol.

It's real weird and full of odd time sigs.

Very fun to play. 

[splent]

NUMBER 24


BEST
Oiche Chiun - Enya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR_9ik84OYQ

I am a fan of Enya, and this version is so ethereal, soothing, and beautiful, and it's so different from the other versions that are out there... it's supposed to sound lullaby like.  So I really think it's appropriate.

WORST
God Bless Us Everyone - Celine Dion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFYJDUt8hhE

I'm not denying that Celine Dion's voice is powerful, but this song is so schmultzy... like overly so.  It's not the only song on the list that's like that.  It's not higher because Dion CAN sing, although she sings in the back of her throat way too much.

[missedthepoint]

Ha ha, I whipped out A Charlie Brown Christmas by The Vince Guaraldi Trio today and listened to it on the way to work.  I feel happy inside.

I'm thinking at least one of those tunes will make your Top 25?

I love that version of Christmas time is here.

[Orbert]

Yeah the instrumental version is awesome. So is the one with the vocals, but the instrumental is even awesomer.

[splent]

NUMBER 23

BEST
Carol of the Bells - August Burns Red

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUId5f1-KbE

JUST heard this version about a week ago, and I think it's awesome.  Fast paced metal with elements of prog... you can definitely hear hints of Between the Buried and Me, Dream Theater, and other bands such as that in here.  I'm interested to hear what the rest of their music holds. 

WORST
Christmas Conga - Cyndi Lauper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7E2lcx23JA

This song is just stupid, and she's out of tune for quite a bit of it.  I'm so happy it's not played on the radio by me, or at least I haven't heard it. 

NEW IDEA...
Every 5 days, I'll post a top 5 favorite list.  No bottom for this.  Top 5 Christmas Albums, Top 5 Choral Arrangements, Top 5 Carols (in general, not specific versions)... and suggest others please

[Heretic]

August Burns Red is fantastic! They release a Christmas cover every year, and they just recently released a cover of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, which is fantastic. They're a metalcore band (probably the best metalcore band imo) with some prog elements here and there.

[hefdaddy42]

If I don't see songs like Bethlehem Down, Shepherd's Farewell or Coventry Carol in there, someone's going to get hurt.

I love Coventry Carol, but I can't place those others by name.  I'm sure I've heard them, though.

I mean, I guess.

I love Christmas music.

They're all lovely. Bethlehem Down is a Peter Warlock song, The Lamb is a fairly modern carol by Tavener, and The Shepherd's Farewell is a movement from Berlioz's L'enfance du Christ.

Bethlehem Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNn4EkShMUY

The Lamb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz08ZgvEqUA

Shepherd's Farewell: https://grooveshark.com/s/Shepherd+s+Farewell/47Qa3F?src=5

Ah yes, I had heard Shepherd's Farewell before.  Bethlehem Down was cool.  Didn't care for The Lamb very much.

I don't normally listen to gospel music, but this is an incredible a capella version of We Three Kings of Orient Are by The Cathedrals.  The second verse sung by the bass singer in great, and check out all of the modulations!

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

[splent]

NUMBER 22

BEST
Winter Wonderland - Steve Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsC2JjFEeZs

Steve Taylor was a Christian music artist who pushed the envelope.  I LOVE Steve Taylor, his music was (and still is) unlike anyone else in the Christian Music industry.  His version of Winter Wonderland maintains this, using a mariachi band and singing the song in 6/8 time instead of 4/4.  Awesomeness.

WORST
The Christmas Song - The Chipmunks

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x61506_alvin-the-chipmunks-the-chipmunk-so_music

This song is cute when you are 5.  You shouldn't hear this on the radio (let alone Target, where I heard it tonight).  With the Chipmunks going through a revival (which I HATE, since the only acceptable chipmunks are the ones in the 80s singing "watch out cause here we come") I expect a revival of this, an UNNECESSARY one... and who wants a hula hoop?  Wouldn't that kill that chipmunk?  Anyways, it's just annoying.  It's fine to hear it once a season for nostalgia's sake, but no more than that.

[Pols Voice]

Eh...I think the Chipmunks and that song are fun. There, I said it. *is banished from the forum*

[Orbert]

Me, I want a hula-hoop.

[black_biff_stadler]

NUMBER 25

BEST
Deck The Halls - Mannheim Steamroller

I could never get past that weird minor during "fa la la la la, la la la la".  The underlined one has the weird chord.  It's like he flattened it when he shouldn't have, just to make it different.  Otherwise I like it.

It's Mixolydian mode

Yeah, well I don't like it! 

+1, Fucking throws my ears out of whack when I hear that flatted part.

[hefdaddy42]

NUMBER 22

BEST
Winter Wonderland - Steve Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsC2JjFEeZs

Steve Taylor was a Christian music artist who pushed the envelope.  I LOVE Steve Taylor, his music was (and still is) unlike anyone else in the Christian Music industry.  His version of Winter Wonderland maintains this, using a mariachi band and singing the song in 6/8 time instead of 4/4.  Awesomeness.

Wow, I don't like this at all. 

[splent]

NUMBER 22

BEST
Winter Wonderland - Steve Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsC2JjFEeZs

Steve Taylor was a Christian music artist who pushed the envelope.  I LOVE Steve Taylor, his music was (and still is) unlike anyone else in the Christian Music industry.  His version of Winter Wonderland maintains this, using a mariachi band and singing the song in 6/8 time instead of 4/4.  Awesomeness.

Wow, I don't like this at all.

He's an acquired taste.

[splent]

OK, starting with my first top 5.... ariich posted a few of his, but I haven't sung them or are familiar with them.  These are the top 5 choral holiday songs that I have sung.

1. Noel - arr. by Brad Holmes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNCqbN6nkfY
I'm actually on this recording, this was so much fun to sing.  During rehearsals I was told to have swaying lessons
2. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming - arr. Jan Sandstrom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF0vJDN1ek8
This is absolutely beautiful... singing it surrounding the audience just surrounds you with sound... this is what I imaging heaven sounds like.
3. Lux Aurumque - Eric Whitacre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs
Though I'm not in the Virtual Choir, I sang this back in 2002.  This was my first time singing Whitacre and I loved it. 
4. There Is No Rose - Stephen Caracciolo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHOwdkrkM5U
I wish I could find a better recording of this on youtube (it's a hs choir concert, and while they are very good, it's not in a big enough space so it doesn't ring)... but it's so beautiful.
5.  And He Shall Purify - from Handel's Messiah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqGXeiTBcs0
This is my favorite movement from Messiah to sing.  I just sing it sometimes.

OK now for

NUMBER 21

BEST
Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfk5nOnDQuI

This is a CLASSIC, and it's awesome.  I grew up listening to this version.  I love it.  I can't get sick of it. 

WORST
Blue Christmas - Elvis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQW1MgZAvlo

I really never cared for this song, no matter what version, but Elvis' version is the most annoying.  Not because of him, but because of the annoying background singers wails.  GOD i hate it.  All I have to hear is "I'-hll Ha-have vuh-uh" and I have to turn the radio off.  Blech. 

[Orbert]

We did "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming" today.  It was killer.

Totally agree on both "The Little Drummer Boy" by the HSC, and... well actually almost anything by Elvis.  That whole "shakin' so much I can't sing without soundin' like I'm shakin'" thing bugs me anyway, and I've never been a big fan of "Blue Christmas".

[MasterShakezula]

Speaking of Harry Simeone, what do y'all think of "Do You Hear What I Hear"?

I, for one, find it to be a wonderful tune, for winter, or in general.

I remember my day having been made a couple weeks back when my school's wind ensemble sight-read it.

[Orbert]

Funny you should mentioned that.  I downloaded a whole Christmas album by them (because of "LIttle Drummer Boy"), and looked at it today, but picked something else.  I still haven't listened to it.