Alright here’s the deal. I’m burning a Christmas CD and I want Christmas songs. Not just good Christmas songs. I want the best. And yes, I want Christmas songs that are actually about the birth of our Lord. Imagine that. What’s passing for Christmas songs on the radio today is actually pretty weird. When did that song, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” become a Christmas song? I mean, other than its inclusion in the movie Elf, it has zero Christmas relevance. It’s about a guy trying to get a girl drunk so she’ll stay over, for goodness sake!
So I’m trying to think of the best Christmas song but I’m having a bad brain day. Maybe it’s because I just read the news story about Boy George being found guilty of falsely imprisoning a Norwegian male escort by handcuffing him to a wall. I mean, who could’ve seen that coming?
Alright. Back on target. I’m looking for a little aid here for the creation of the perfect Christmas CD. So some obvious ones to start:
Bing’s Silent Night
Nat King Cole’s “O Holy Night”
But there are a thousand version of all the good Christmas songs like “Come all Ye Faithful” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” so if you guys have any favorites that are particularly good or just move you in some way please let me know. Or I’d love to get wind of songs I’ve never heard of which are great.
Now, of course, if anyone suggests any version of Jingle Bell Rock, they’ll be officially banned from the blog and handcuffed to a wall like a Norwegian man-whore pending further review at our annual CMR executive session held yearly in the basement of the Vatican.
Be warned, this is the Christmas CD the Archbold children will listen to their entire childhood so if we fail to inspire in my children some semblance of awe at Christmas, it’ll be all your fault. No pressure.
December 5, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Mary’s Dream and What Child is This by Garth Brooks
Let it be Christmas by Alan Jackson
And a MUST: GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A RAINDEER by Kidz Bop:)
Unto You This Night by Garth Brooks
December 5, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Kidz Bops would not put me in the mood for Christmas so much as suicide, so I’ll be refraining from that one to spare my immortal soul.
December 5, 2008 at 5:39 pm
The first time I remember hearing “Faith of our Fathers” was on a Bing Crosby White Christmas album (White background, floating Bing head wearing a Santa hat. That sounds weird, but that’s what it looked like) Does that make it a Christmas song? It should go on the CD anyway.
December 5, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Sorry,
but I couldn’t imagine putting any babs on a christmas cd. Apologies to Our Lady, but I can’t stomach Ave Maria sung by someone who doesn’t believe a word of it (or pronounce any of it correctly).
December 5, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Sara McLachlan’s album “Wintersong”- “Silent Night”, “What Child is this?”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. Also some of the more secular songs. Her voice is clear and beautiful and she seems to capture the true spirit of the season.
December 5, 2008 at 6:06 pm
O Holy Night by Josh Grobin
I think he sings it best.
Of course, I’m partial to the Charlie Brown’s Christmas soundtrack, so what do I know.
December 5, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Betelehemu by the Singing Sergeants and United States Air Force Band.
Yes, I know that it is an African carol, but it translates to being about Jesus. Plus, it is so fun.
December 5, 2008 at 6:27 pm
“This Little Babe” from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols (that will stretch the kids a bit). A setting from St Robert Southwell’s poem “New Heaven, New War”, the song begins:
This little Babe so few days old,
Is come to rifle Satan’s fold;
All hell doth at his presence quake,
Though he himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak, unarmed wise,
The gates of hell he will surprise.
December 5, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Mario Lanza, awfully kitch but so wonderfully ott. My favourite is oh Holy night. The Angels crack me up.
December 5, 2008 at 7:04 pm
“Drummer Boy”, sung by the Vienna Boys Choir
December 5, 2008 at 7:44 pm
You must include Barenaked Ladies version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” which morphs into “We Three Kings” from “A Winter Night”. Sarah McLachlan also sings on it. The arrangment is inspired and the harmonies phenomenal. My 5 kids, who are the same ages as yours, LOVE it. Kathy, Naperville IL
December 5, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Here’s my list:
Once in Royal David’s City
Virga Jesse floruit
the Hallelujah Chorus
Worthy is the Lamb ….Amen
Mit Stillem Schweigen
O Little Town of Bethlehem
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
Mille Cherubini in Coro
Les Cloches du Hameau
December 5, 2008 at 8:41 pm
It is not clearly a Christmas song but its on a Christmas album by Andy Williams and it is outstanding. I praise “Little Altar Boy.” Also on the same album “Some Children See Him.” I also really like “I Wonder as I Wander” by Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Respectfully submitted by JimC.
December 5, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Sufjan Stevens released a great (and large) collection of Christmas songs a few years back and some of them are terrific…
December 5, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I just remembered, another favorite of mine is Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing Little Drummer Boy – not a “religious” song, per se, but beautifully done.
December 5, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Forget all the other comments and write this down:
Jon Anderson's (of "Yes") 'O Holy Night' off his Christmas CD "Three Ships". Hard to find 'cause it's from Japan but worth the effort.
Merry Axemas volumes I & II. 'Axe' as in: slang for guitar'. Rock guitarists doing instrumentals of Christmas carols. Don't sneer, some of them are hauntingly beautiful and all of them are great.
Also both of John Tesh's Christmas cds are quite good if you can get past the fact that it's John Tesh.
December 5, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I imagine Dominic the Donkey won’t make the list?
December 5, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I second the Sufjan Stevens suggestion. Some of his Christmas music reminds me of a few guitar albums by, I hope I’m remembering his name, John Fahey. They were fabulous. They were also on vinyl and disappeared in the dispersal of my late parents’ things. My sister is probably the perp…
December 5, 2008 at 9:47 pm
These are upbeat, but definitely in my “best of” playlist: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies/Sarah Maclachalan…and “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” by Beki Hemingway and Jonathan Rundman. Claire Holley’s “Joy to the World” is fabulous too…as is her Advent tune, “Mary Visits Elizabeth.”
December 5, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Hey, no ragging on Domenick. He’s a friendly little donkey, he’ll never ever kick. Jingedy jing!
For the CD, see if you can find Russ Taff’s Christmas album, especially “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “What Child is This?” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
The Beach Boys (of all people) do a terrific “We Three Kings” even if they do forget the myrrh verse. (I am an unapologetic fan of “The Little Saint Nick.” A car song about Santa’s sleigh is complete mad genius. Doesn’t fit your genre, however.)
Bing’s “Adeste Fideles” is very good, as is Robert Goulet’s “Panis Angelicus” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
Finally, two songs I’m likely to be alone in recommending, but which fit: first, the “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” as sung on the Charlie Brown Christmas Album by the child cast. Very moving. And second, “The Lord’s Bright Blessing” from the Mr. Magoo “Christmas Carol.” It is very moving; not exactly worship but a good message about being grateful for the right things at Christmastime.