Listening to Christmas Music

[thestrangequark]

Timewalker wrote:

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Agreed. It's odd - I'm atheist, but I love Christmas music. I play the organ, and back when I lived in a house, I'd play this one, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and a whole bunch of others. I'd really crank up the volume and lose myself in it. My family never minded, which was fortunate.

I'm the same; an atheist who loves Christmas music, even the highly religious stuff. Although I must admit that I hate "Do You Hear What I Hear"! That song just goes on and on and on for-fucking-ever!

Other traditional songs I'm very fond of are "Good King Wenceslas" and "O, Come All Ye Faithful." Like you, I love to play Christmas Carols, though I do so on a cello.

[Grey]

I fucking love Christmas. End of story.

Ok, there are a few songs I can't stand. But as far as I'm concerned, Christmas starts a little earlier and ends a little later for me each year.

(But, um, I force myself to not listen to or do anything Christmas-y during the rest of the year. Otherwise it won't be special!)

Also: Sufjan Stevens Christmas collection. The best.

[Hunter X]

^Sufjan, for sure, although my favourite stuff from his first collection aren't even the Christmas hymns (Come Thou Fount, Holy Holy Holy).

I grew up hearing the Carpenter's Christmas album, so it's not Christmas until that one is playing.

The Charlie Brown Christmas album is another must.

Although there isn't much that I'd go for in contemporary music in this area, I'm also partial to Over the Rhine's Christmas album, "Snow Angels". Their twist on O Little Town of Bethlehem is great, as is their instrumental tribute to the Charlie Brown album (called "Goodbye Charles"). Unfortunately, neither of those two tracks are on YouTube, but the latter was uploaded for free by the band at the link given.

[Gary Mitchell]

I'm not sure if it's available in other countries but Amazon in the U.S. has a mini album of mp3 Christmas music that is free until 12/31.

[MHT1138]

lurok wrote:

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Garland or Nat King Cole's 'Have Yourself...' (am I the only one who finds that tune really melancholy and sad? - not good for depressives)

It's from the movie "Meet me in St. Louis, a great movie btw, and when Judy Garland sings it to Margaret O'Brien it is very melancholy. The line "Have a merry little Christmas now" is referring to next year's Christmas might not be so good.

Seriously, rent "Meet Me in St. Louis" . It is full of great songs. Judy Garland is wonderful in this movie. Vincente Minelli, the director fell in love with her making this movie. She is lit beautifully.

Alright, I'm done now. I feel like Robert Osborne of TCM

[Hunter X]

In a bit of good timing, Noisetrade.com just made that Over the Rhine Christmas album available for free. If you haven't been there before, they have a lot of music, most from unknown artists, where you can either leave a tip in exchange for music or give them "noise" (word of mouth) by posting on your Facebook or Twitter that you downloaded their album for free. It's a clever way of spreading word of mouth for up and comers, completely legal, and there's some good music on there.

That felt a bit like an advertisement, but it wouldn't be a Christmas-related thread without some cheesy holiday advertising, now would it?

[MHT1138]

I was listening to Christmas music today, of course, and I was reminded how much I love Nat King Cole. Of course "The Christmas Song," but all of his are wonderful. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and especially "Oh Holy Night". I think his is the gold standard version of that song.

[marillion]

I just started listening to my Pandora Christmas station this morning! Love it!

[JayOwl]

In the last few days I've increased my Christmas song plays by quite a bit:
"All I Want For Christmas Is New Years Day" - Hurts
"Peppermint Winter" - Owl City
"Christmas Lights" - Coldplay
"The First Noel (with Adam Young)" - Toby Mac
"Fairytale Of New York" - The Pogues
"The Christmas Song" - Owl City
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - John Lennon

[C.E. Evans]

At my office, they began playing Christmas music two days before Thanksgiving and they probably won't stop until after Christmas--or when I take an axe to the CD player.

Still, there are a few Christmas songs that I do love to hear:
"The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole
"Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" by U2
"Gabriel's Message" by Sting
"Rudolph, The Red Nose Reindeer" by The Temptations
"This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway
The various songs from the Charlie Brown Christmas

[cooleddie74]

All hail Joel Grey. The man who helped give the Christmas mice a voice.

[Gryffindorian]

Whether you celebrate Christmas in a religious or secular way, Merry Christmas! Peace on earth, and good will to men ...