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I'm making an Apple Poll based on this thread: Worst Christmas Songs. What is your favorite Christmas song? What one brings back happy childhood memories and fills you with joy? What song speaks to you? What song is the best written/composed? Or are there a bunch you love and you just can't decide? I know I have so many that I love. Vote here!



And, once again, if you want a song added to this list, mention it in the comments and I or another staff will try to get it added!

And, if  you just can't stand Christmas songs, there's a poll for that, too! https://permies.com/wiki/73205/Apple-Poll-Worst-Christmas-Song
COMMENTS:
 
Todd Parr
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Little drummer boy, please.
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Dale Hodgins
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I think Bob Seger did the drummer boy.

When I was 13, I did Oh Holy Night on the radio, in a deep baritone, that no one would have guessed was a kid. It was a school choir thing and I got to do the solo.
 
Judith Browning
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 "So This is Christmas (war is over)"  John Lennon



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r ranson
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My favourite:  St. Stephen's Day Murders

(although, I never heard this version before - it's a bit slow compared to the one I know, but still good)




Ah, here's the one I know and love.  

https://youtu.be/QuisenFO96o
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on the list

 
Roberto pokachinni
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I"m going to go totally non traditional on this one with my two favorites:

John Denver and the Muppets kick the Beach Boys' asses on their rendition of Little St Nick.


And... The Pogues: Fairytale of New York
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Karen Donnachaidh
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This year I've got to figure out which of my family members is packing that darn video camera.
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Chris Kott
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What about Elvis' Blue Christmas? Or U2's Baby Please Come Home?

-CK
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Judith Browning
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"Star of Bethlehem' neil young



Joni Mitchell 'the River'



'Do They Know It's Christmas?'  Band Aid



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Judith Browning
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written and sung by Shoshoni Elder Oldhands...

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Dale Hodgins
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My friend Felix is Jewish. At his home, he has some sparkly lights and other decorations that he claims are for Hanukkah. There are even traditional Christmas foods available, and I saw some candy canes.

I walked in the other day, while his family were all there, and I broke into the song. I'm sure you're familiar with the song, It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas. I sang, You're Beginning to look a lot like Christians. Everybody got it, when I pointed out all of the decor and food.
 
Roberto pokachinni
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Another couple non traditional Christmas songs from my childhood.

Your A Mean One, Mr. Grinch


Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (Irish Rover's Version)
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Nicole Alderman
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Those childhood songs bring back such happy memories and feelings.

I will admit to always having loved Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. Every year, I would listen and listen to the radio in hopes they'd play it. Since every Christmas we drove 4+hours to see family  and then 4+hours on the way back, we listened to a lot of Christmas music. Some years the station never played Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, and I'd be so depressed! I love songs that tell stories and evoke the imagination, and that one sure does!
 
Roberto pokachinni
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As far as traditional christmas carols go, I'm a bit of bah humbug about them.  I do like some of them, but the consistent overplaying of them over decades has simply taken it's toll on me, I guess.  



Here is a more modern song, that ought to get a lot more play and become a Christmas Classic:


Mary Did You Know:


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Dale Hodgins
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The best Christmas moment on film, was in the movie Love Actually, when an aging pop star agreed to take off his pants, if they would vote his song number one.

Billy Mack sings Christmas all around us. I really like the British actor Bill Nighy. He keeps his clothes on in this version, but we know it's coming.

https://vimeo.com/55861946
 
Sonja Draven
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Dale Hodgins wrote:The best Christmas moment on film, was in the movie Love Actually, when an aging pop star agreed to take off his pants, if they would vote his song number one.

Billy Mack sings Christmas all around us. I really like the British actor Bill Nighy. He keeps his clothes on in this version, but we know it's coming.

https://vimeo.com/55861946



Dale, I really enjoy that movie and rewatch it every year.  It is fun to see how they wove the different people together and all the happy endings (and the heartbreak is meaningful too).

I'm not Christian and when I first decided/realized that, I tossed out Christmas music but I realized for me there is beauty and enjoyment and tradition in it regardless of whether I believe in the virgin birth and everything that goes with that.  I very much celebrate the solstice/return of the sun.

I really don't have a favorite song.  I love so many of them.  It is more about my favorite albums and over the years I've acquired a few: Lady Antebellum, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson (several originals), Loreena McKennitt (both), Melissa Etheridge (holiday, not Christmas music) to name a few.

And this one is fun ....

 
Chris Kott
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I respectfully submit the many Christmas works of Bob Rivers. This one is exemplary.

-CK
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Marco Banks
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Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel.

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Steve Thorn
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Mele Kalikimaka has been growing on me the last few years, like the Hawaiian/island feel.



I like Christmas Cookies too, that's such a fun song! :)
 
Coco Fernandez
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Last vote in apple poll was on December 13, 2019
 
Chris Kott
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Yeah, anything by Pentatonix hits my Christmas button.

-CK
 
Ben Zumeta
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Vulfpeck's "Christmas in LA" has redeemed holiday music for me and my wife. Its only xmas song that will play in our house:

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Phil Stevens
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Was just reminded of this one. Sublime musicians.

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Robin Katz
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Phil, that was amazing. I now have a new favorite Christmas song with Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss.

This is one of our favorites for Christmas. Greg Lake and Ian Anderson singing I Believe in Father Christmas.




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nancy sutton
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This one 'accidentally' became a Christmas song... I love it, and think it's 'message' is the heart of Christmas...."Who Will Stop the Cavalry"
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Daniel Schneider
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Well, it's not exactly a Christmas song, but here's one for those of us who celebrate the solstice  
Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

I added it!

 
Joshua Bertram
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My favourite voice to hear as for a Christmas song.  

Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt

Always been a huge fan of the Grinch song.  Just found this new rock version of it.  Very well done cover, not better than the original, just a different way to  hear it.  It's good, and I keep listening to it over and over.  


Merry Christmas.

Edit,
just saw Santa Baby at the top of the list for least favourite songs.  :(
lol
 
Ej Deslauriers
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Darlene Love ‘Christmas’
 
Isabella Binder
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I do have a thing for Little Drummer Boy by Bowie and Crosby.
And as I have lived in Ireland for some years Enya with the gaelic Version of Silent Night " Oiche Chiuin".
But my heart stays with an old Austrian classic called "Es wird scho glei dumper". It's a beautiful dialect and the melody soothing like a lullaby.
Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

Both are now added to the poll!

 
John F Dean
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Hi Isabella,

Welcome to Permies!
 
Laura Hans
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Can almost tell the age of folks by favorite song.   I have two.







 
Kylie Bobongie
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Oh Holy night . such a sweet version by Claire Crosby and her dad.

 
Jane Mulberry
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My favorite - although it's painfully sad and not at all feel-good - the Coventry Carol:  
 Those medieval cadences just do something to me.
Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

Added to the poll!

 
Molly Kay
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Not necessarily for the poll, because really they stand no chance of winning, but some newer ones I like:

Let It Be Christmas by Alan Jackson
Like It's Christmas by the Jonas Brothers
Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson

For traditional ones my favs are O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and several lesser known songs my family used to sing together.
Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

All added to the poll!

 
Rob Lineberger
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I love what you're doing!

I can't vote because neither Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses nor Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC is on the list.  But I did just listen to Grandma Got Run Over by a  Reindeer, which is by now a canon Christmas classic.  And I LOL'ed at "any song by Pentatonix."  Also thanks so much for reminding me of Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo.  That whole soundtrack just went onto my holiday list.

Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

Both are now added to the poll!

 
Nick Neufeld
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I just scrolled down to request that Christmas Wrapping be added but Rob beat me to it!
 
Candace Williams
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I like to sing One Small Child and play Immanuel on my flute. There are soooooo many great Christmas songs!! I love the way people who normally won't sing will sing at Christmas time!!!
Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

Added to the poll!

 
Gary Numan
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Aaaah, Christmas Wrapping!  Excellent choice.

Here's an unknown Xmas track, written by Burt Bacharach and performed by Herb Alpert.  Released as a single in the early '70s, it didn't hit, I think because of the painfully slooooow intro, but if you can live through the first 30 seconds, you're treated to a very catchy tune.


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Added!

 
Katie Dee
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Once in Royal David's City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmspXB6lUeg
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Jennifer Pearson
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Carol of the Bells?
Staff note (Nicole Alderman) :

Added!

 
A nature documentary filmed entirely in a pet store. This tiny ad was in an aquarium
Heat your home with the twigs that naturally fall of the trees in your yard
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