Splent's Top 25 and Bottom 25 Christmas Songs

[Orbert]

And just discovered this version... which I need an MP3 of NOW... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHfwtoNCSlM

Psst... Splent... YouTube to MP3 Converter

I've used this site a few times, and have had no problems.  Free, fast, and works as it says it will.  You end up with an MP3 which is the extracted soundtrack from the YouTube .flv file.

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer - Dr. Elmo

My only guess is that people who get sick of all the "happy happy" songs would find the absurdity of this song to be funny.  Not my thing, either.

There's actually an animated TV special based on this song.  We watched part of it in the hotel one year when we were travelling over the holidays.  The story was loosely based on the song of course, but incredibly (or maybe not so incredibly) the TV special was better than the song.  Not by much, though.

[splent]

OK I'll make a Top 5 the next three days.  Top albums now, bottom 5 honorable mentions tomorrow, top 5 honorable mentions friday.

1. Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio
2. 3 Ships - Jon Anderson
3. Jingle All The Way - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
4. Midwinter Graces - Tori Amos
5. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (first holiday album)

NUMBER 4

BEST
What Child Is This? - Vince Guaraldi Trio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4qe7oLlizs

You could replace this song with any other song on that album, and it would work, because it's my favorite holiday album.  I want to learn how to play it so I can play it for next year.

WORST
Santa Baby - Madonna or Everclear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ycWObpi73Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqN9SXC3d6o

I don't mind Eartha Kitt's original version NEARLY as much as these two ripoffs... Madonna's makes my ears bleed, and Everclear's makes no sense at all... does the singer from Everclear have a thing for Santa (or David Lee Roth, as I originally thought was singing it was when I first heard this)?  Any other version other than Eartha Kitt's is just awful.... leave this song alone, it only works with Eartha.

[Orbert]

A Charlie Brown Christmas is easily my favorite Christmas album as well.  I guess I just don't have the brain for jazz, because it just blows my mind how he can come up with all those alternate chords.  The melody stays exactly the same, the chords go in a completely different direction, the tone of everything changes, yet stays the same, and somehow it all works.  Jazz pianists are demigods.  I've been playing since I was ten and have never been able to come close to what guys like Vince Guaraldi can do with chords.

[splent]

UNHONORABLE MENTION
26.   Silent Night – Stevie Nicks
27.   Please Come Home For Christmas – Bon Jovi
28.   Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
29.   Toyland – Johnny Mathis
30.   All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth – Spike Jones


NUMBER 3

BEST
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 - Trans Siberian Orchestra/Savatage

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

This version caused me to get into a car accident in 1999.  That's all I have to say about how awesome this version is.  I wish I could find the original 1997 edition of the music video with Princess Di and stuff.

WORST
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas - Gayla Peevey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7xjjlUbpJ4

What a STUPID STUPID song.  I dont care if the singer is 10.  It's stupid. 

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Oh god I really agree about that hippopotamus song.

[splent]

NUMBER 2

BEST
Little Drummer Boy - White Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHOgHsKViD4

This version has been my favorite since I was like 10.   Love it so much.  In fact, it was #1 until this year.

WORST
The Christmas Shoes - Newsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpkI7GW2V34

THANK GOD i have yet to hear this song this year.  And I don't intend to.  CHRISTMAS IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOU HAPPY, NOT GUILTY AND SAD!!  And if you don't, don't click the link.

[antigoon]

OH GOD CHRISTMAS SHOES. NO. NO!

[splent]

Yeah it's technically Christmas Eve day... but you have to wait until I wake up to see what my number 1 best and worst songs are... see if you can guess!  You should know my tastes... and know how many bad songs there are....


I won't post until at least THREE people make predictions, the more the merrier

[splent]

You know what screw that, no one is going to be posting today... I'll just post it

NUMBER 1

BEST
12 Days of Christmas - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

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

This song is like a musicians wet dream.  Seriously.  I would love to see my theory teacher analyze this.  12 days.  12 keys.  12 time signatures.  Absolutely phenomenal.  I love it so much.  I conduct and count in the car.  The only part that always messes me up is when they go into 11/8 (and I think they go into 11/16 for one measure... GOD)... amazing.

WORST
Dominick the Christmas Donkey - Lou Monte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok5rOO2v2dU

This is the most Godawful Christmas song ever written, one of the worst PERIOD, in fact.  Absoutely stupid.  Actually stupid would be too kind to describe it.  Putrid is more like it. 



And there you have it.  Discuss if you wish. 

[MasterShakezula]

I remember when I first heard BF&tFs' version of 12DoC.

Never before had I been so entertained and inspired (instrumentally) by holiday tunes.

[Orbert]

12 Days of Christmas - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

That was... absolutely insane!

[carl320]

12 Days of Christmas - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

That was... absolutely insane!

And it works, which is even more insane 

[Durg]

You know what screw that, no one is going to be posting today... I'll just post it

NUMBER 1

BEST
12 Days of Christmas - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

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

This song is like a musicians wet dream.  Seriously.  I would love to see my theory teacher analyze this.  12 days.  12 keys.  12 time signatures.  Absolutely phenomenal.  I love it so much.  I conduct and count in the car.  The only part that always messes me up is when they go into 11/8 (and I think they go into 11/16 for one measure... GOD)... amazing.

WORST
Dominick the Christmas Donkey - Lou Monte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok5rOO2v2dU

This is the most Godawful Christmas song ever written, one of the worst PERIOD, in fact.  Absoutely stupid.  Actually stupid would be too kind to describe it.  Putrid is more like it. 



And there you have it.  Discuss if you wish.

[ZBomber]

WORST
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg4ys5whesE

I have never liked Bruce Springsteen, I think he's overrated, he's not that good!  This version is HORRIBLE, he laughs half the time and doesn't even sing it... and it's in C which is a horrible key... never liked it.

I hate this version, and I agree about Springsteen being vastly overrated.

Will listen to the #1 song soon, sounds promising. 

[Orbert]

12 Days of Christmas - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

That was... absolutely insane!

And it works, which is even more insane 

Oh, no question about that.  I have a bunch of stuff by Bela and Company, but I'd never heard this.  I didn't even know they had a Christmas album.  But everyone in that band is a genius and an amazing musician.

[splent]

Post your favorites!!!

[Orbert]

You already covered most of mine, Splent.  I'd have to think hard to come up with some, and my brain isn't up to thinking hard right now.  Sorry.

[carl320]

One song that holds a special place in my heart is "Kling Glöckchen Klingeling".  It's a German carol I used to hear all the time when I was a kid while putting up the tree.

https://youtu.be/-krz1QVLjsY

[splent]

Bump.

Hi.

Have not posted in weeks.  Just forget to lol.  That and not having a computer AT my disposal really makes me not want to post because posting on my phone is a pain in the ass.  I'm doing this list again, but not on here, on Facebook.  Also there will be editing of lists.  I'm also trying to figure out if I can/should make a countdown video of the songs.  In the meantime, I'm starting the list tonight or tomorrow.