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 7, 2008 at 2:16 am
All catholics, YES MARY KNEW. Song is very theologically incorrect. Do we wish to promote this? nice melody or not?
December 7, 2008 at 2:16 am
All catholics, YES MARY KNEW. Song is very theologically incorrect. Do we wish to promote this? nice melody or not?
December 7, 2008 at 4:38 am
Gaudete (all in Latin): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P3XLpAQo_Y
When Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms3LuSTySsU)
Once in Royal David’s City: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6g3ejxz7gk
December 7, 2008 at 6:54 pm
#1 has got to be “Unto us a Child is born” from the Messiah. Also how about Personent Hodie, Angels We Have Heard On High, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Ding Dong Merrily on High. Also second the motion on When Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, and Once in Royal David’s City, In Dulce Jubilo – love them. There is a sort of obscure French carol whose refrain is “Joy!Joy!Joy! Glory to God, goodwill to men” I don’t know the name of it, but it’s very beautiful. What a great project. Please let us know what you picked. Kit. Btw jcl i know you were kidding, but the barking Jingle Bells record is great. It’s not a Christmas record, but it’s a great record. My dogs and I love it!
December 7, 2008 at 10:32 pm
@ Anonymous – YES MARY KNEW! I agree with you 100%. I tell my mother that all the time, but she listens to that dumb song anyways.
December 8, 2008 at 1:38 am
When my parish choir sang “Mary did you know?” last year as a prelude at Christmas, (against my taste, but hey, they like the song) we changed the line to “Mary did you know that this child you’ve delivered HAS ALREADY delivered you.”
December 8, 2008 at 2:59 am
On Monday, we have a feast day of obligation which honors the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION of MARY
She was conceived without sin – she did not need deliverance or to be made new; the music and lyrics of Mary, dyk?, are hokey – I actually prefer “Christmas Don’t Delay” by the Chipmunks to heretical hymns,
Gabriel told her; Elizabeth told her and then she said the Magnificat – the hymn by J Talbot “Holy Is His Name” and “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman”(although I have conflicted feelings about the title “Morning Star”) would be good songs for a Christmas album.
December 8, 2008 at 3:08 am
My husband said, “Did You Hear What I Hear?
December 8, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Matt Maher’s new track intertwining Silent Night and the Emmanuel is awesome. I can’t stop listening to it. It is an incredibly reverent and solemn version, especially for a more contemporary artist.
December 8, 2008 at 8:07 pm
These are ALL fantastic, but I have to admit, that when I was a little kid I loved the more “upbeat” versions of songs too (which is why Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree are so popular!) . . . I just heard “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” by the Bare Naked Ladies and was pleasantly surprised! It mixed the fun, peppy music with the traditional, reverent words. I’m going to google them now to see if there are any other “traditional” Christmas carols that they sing, but just wanted to pass that on!
And, of course, Handel’s Messiah is always a favorite (with full singing) but I didn’t get into that until probably high school when we sang it in choir. . . 🙂 as well as
“Mary’s Little Boy Child,” “I Come with Love” and “Silent Night” by Harry Connick, Jr. are favorites in our house!
Best,
Sarah
December 8, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Another upbeat, traditional one is Whitney Houston’s version of “Joy to the World” featuring a soul choir . . .
Best,
Sarah
December 8, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Whitney? You mean the former Mrs. Bobby Brown? I may have a hard time getting past their reality show but I’ll give it a listen. thanks.
December 9, 2008 at 3:24 am
You cannot go wrong with anything by the Boston Camerata – from either of their CDs: A Medieval Christmas or A Renaissance Christmas. My very favorite (just in time for this coming Sunday!) is Rejoice Rejoice Gaudete. Truly spectacular. I also love Conductus (Adest Sponsus) and Prosa (Ave Maria).
Linda Rondstadt’s version of “O Magnum Mysterium” is hauntingly beautiful…as is her “O Come O Come Emmanuel”..both on her CD A Merry Little Christmas.
Another favorite of mine is “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” on James Galway’s A Christmas Carol.
Shawn Colvin has some lovely low key songs on Holiday Songs and Lullabies such as Lover Came Down at Christmas, The Little Road to Bethlehem and the Christ Child’s Lullaby.
Also: anything from Andrea Bocelli’s Sacred Arias CD. I especially like Gloria a Te, Cristo Gesu (The Hymn of the Great Jubilee).
December 9, 2008 at 3:25 am
Oops, typo!
That should read Love Came Down at Christmas 🙂
December 10, 2008 at 4:13 pm
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear sung by Bruce Cockburn (arr. by ??). The change in key makes this (IMHO) overly bouncy tune actually reflect the profound theology of the lyrics. A fantastic antidote to distracting commercialization of the holiday: Christ was born to die for our sins and the sins of the whole world!
December 13, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Sixpence None the Richer has a Christmas album out, and I was especially grabbed by the version of “Angels we have heard on high”, especially when I was able to get a free download off Amazon.com. I’ve never heard these lyrics before; I like them more than the originals.
See a cute music video for it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-b5IC_Jsfc
October 28, 2009 at 3:49 pm
As many of Musicals lovers I LOVE the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! It is my favourite ever… Last year I’ve been in NY & I tried to get my http://www.ticketsinventory.com/theatre/radio-city-christmas-spectacular-tickets/ …guess what everything was sold out that show how great the show is. Anyhow I end up getting it from a site through Ticketsinventory.com. I’m planning to see it again this so I will just get tickets from the same place http://www.ticketsinventory.com/theatre/radio-city-christmas-spectacular-tickets/
So I'll be analyzing as well as enjoying the show.