Best Christmas Season Songs and Artists

[Molandfreak]

Good Christmas music does exist. Just not...anything written since the '70s.

Only on your side of the pond. Listening to a Christmas album driving to Grandparents today, I released that all the American stuff was dire, or by guys who were big in the 50s, and all the decent British stuff was more recent.

We got through the 80s still making good Christmas music, but you guys want to keep your crappy Jackson 5 tat, and overplay the 50s stuff, so there's no room at the inn for more recent British stuff.

Really? Interesting! I thought we had collectively run out of good melodies for christmas songs a long time ago!

[DaBigE]

There is no such thing as good Christmas music.

Except maybe the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

No. That goes to thanksgiving. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSBq8geuJk0

You're being sarcastic, right?

I actually meant it is a horrible song... Thanksgiving just wasn't meant to have songs written about it.

I agree, at least when it comes to secular songs & Thanksgiving.

[NE2]

I actually meant it is a horrible song... Thanksgiving just wasn't meant to have songs written about it.

Sure it was.

[kphoger]

I reeeeally didn't want to click on that video.  But it's a little like passing by a gruesome car wreck:  you don't want to look, but you still turn your head.  And you regret it later.

Now I need to know . . . is that too absolutely horrible to put on Facebook?

[NE2]

Is Facebook too absolutely horrible to put that on?

[kphoger]

So, yeah.  Now, for the last couple of days, I get Turkey in the Straw stuck in my head and can't get it out.  I had shown the YouTube to my wife; if I start to whistle the song, she glares at me until I stop.

Oh, and not a single person commented on Facebook when I shared the video.

Poop on your head.

[1995hoo]

So, yeah.  Now, for the last couple of days, I get Turkey in the Straw stuck in my head and can't get it out.  I had shown the YouTube to my wife; if I start to whistle the song, she glares at me until I stop.

Oh, and not a single person commented on Facebook when I shared the video.

Poop on your head.

Call it by its original name ("Zip Coon") and they'll comment!

[roadman65]

Colbie Caillat has an album out, I cannot find it in stores, but she has a single off of it called Christmas In The Sand.  I think the song is cool, plus watching her perform in her videos is a treat as well.  She has a lovely voice and of course she is cute! 

Her dad produced the album, who is the same Ken Caillat who produced many of Fleetwood Mac's albums in the 1970's.

Fixed Colbie's name... and cuteness is in the eye of the beholder.

[Mdcastle]

I tend to like modern renditions of traditional carols, as well as some more modern songs.
Little Drummer Boy- Jars of Clay
Mary Did You Know- Michael English
2000 Decembers ago- Joy Williams.
Joy to the World- Chris Tomlin
Do you Hear What I Hear?

Trans-Siberian Orchestra versions also tend to be good.

[Brandon]

I get rather sick of the same Christmas & holiday songs sung over and over again.  How many times can you hear "Jingle Bells" in the 50-million different variations of it? 

Be original and give me something original like these:

The Waitresses, Christmas Wrapping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_qck_zNUNk
John Lennon, Happy Xmas 9War Is Over): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN4Uu0OlmTg
Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5bo4VDEH-U
Chuck Berry, Run Rudolph Run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY4_d_JILH4
Beach Boys, Little Saint Nick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSynDh_K0EE

Much more fun. 

[kphoger]

The songs our family sang this year at Christmas:

On Christmas Night All Christians Sing
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green)
Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
What Child Is This

And my dad had arranged for guitar a hymn written by former US poet laureate Richard Wilbur–who died in October–so I played while he sang.

This year, I came to appreciate Pandora.  When I want the choral classics, I can go to that channel.  When I want jazzy renditions, I can go to that channel.  When I want the American standards...you get the idea.

[jp the roadgeek]

These three have been on my playlist

This is a rare one that isn't heard often...

Used to hear this one all the time as a kid:

[english si]

These three have been on my playlist

Slade and De Burgh: very British (A Spaceman Came Travelling isn't ubiquitous here, but isn't rare: it's is the 33rd most-played Christmas song in the UK 2010-16)

[US71]

Manheim Steamroller has several Christmas CDs out.  They do music similar to Trans-Siberian Orchestra (I DEFINITELY recommend you see TSO live in concert! An absolutely awesome show!!     ).  They have a jazzed-up version of "Deck the Halls" that you've probably heard before, but didn't know who did it.  I really enjoy their rendition of "Silent Night".  Listen to it on Christmas Eve night after all of the stores have closed, everyone has made it home, & drive slowly looking at all the light displays while listening to it....VERY soothing.   

Also all of Charles Schulz's piano music used in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.

You mean Vince Guaraldi, I think sir.

[cjk374]

Manheim Steamroller has several Christmas CDs out.  They do music similar to Trans-Siberian Orchestra (I DEFINITELY recommend you see TSO live in concert! An absolutely awesome show!!     ).  They have a jazzed-up version of "Deck the Halls" that you've probably heard before, but didn't know who did it.  I really enjoy their rendition of "Silent Night".  Listen to it on Christmas Eve night after all of the stores have closed, everyone has made it home, & drive slowly looking at all the light displays while listening to it....VERY soothing.   

Also all of Charles Schulz's piano music used in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.

You mean Vince Guaraldi, I think sir.

I can't believe that was 5 years ago. But yes I did discover Friday the actual artist who did the soundtrack for the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon. Listened to the whole thing...it was great!

[kurumi]

Heard the first two at a block Xmas lights display synced to a low-power radio broadcast:

Weird Al, Christmas at Ground Zero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t039p6xqutU

Carol of the Bartenders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNQGiybQZ2s

Adeste Fideles, David Willcocks arrangement aka "that variation of O Come All Ye Faithful that really kicks ass in verse 3":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5rMQ6P12WY

John Rutter Arrangement of same -- sounds like John Williams for a while, but borrows a lot from Willcocks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugftSIGLjBA

Merry Christmas y'all

[inkyatari]

[Socioman]

Crazy froG))))

[kphoger]

Crazy froG))))

I love spam posts.

[Hurricane Rex]

A little late but my favorite is O Holy Night when Josh Groban performs it.

[kphoger]

A little late

The twelve days of Christmas don't end until the night of January 5th, so you're good to go.
Good luck finding Christmas music still on the radio, but Pandora can be your best friend.

[US71]

A little late

The twelve days of Christmas don't end until the night of January 5th, so you're good to go.
Good luck finding Christmas music still on the radio, but Pandora can be your best friend.

Sirius XM Ch 4 and Ch 70 through Dec 31

CORRECTION: They were dropped on Saturday

[Desert Man]

I have 3 of em in my head to share...may everyone here a happy holiday week.

Sir Paul McCartney - Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

Mariah Carey - All I want for Christmas is you.

and the Late George Michael - Last Christmas (ironically he died on Xmas day last year).

[Hurricane Rex]

A little late

The twelve days of Christmas don't end until the night of January 5th, so you're good to go.
Good luck finding Christmas music still on the radio, but Pandora can be your best friend.

Pandora or bust. I have 4 Christmas Stations.

Also with my Religion (Catholic) the Christmas season goes until the 13th. I think we are unusual in that regard though

[inkyatari]

Twisted Sister's "Twisted Christmas," and Rob Halford's "Halford III - Winter Songs" are my go to Christmas albums.