My favorites:
Fairytale of New York by the Pogues. Is there anything better than this sweet Christmas song sung by a toothless drunk Irish guy who slurs his gal is a "old slut on junk." Kirsty MacColl sings the female part. She was tragically killed in 2000. She was a back up singer on many Smiths and Morrissey songs (Golden Lights, Ask and Interesting Drug).
Merry Chistmas Darling by the Carpenters. Yep. Love the Carpenters
Winter Wonderland by the Cocteau Twins
Good King Wenceslas
Ding Dong Merrily on High
The Holly and the Ivy, especially the Judy Collins version
Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney. I know some hate this song but I have good memories of driving around Queeny Park in the back of our Nova in the snow listening to this song.
I Saw Three Ships, except the Sting version. Sting should only be permitted to sing Police songs.
Merry Christmas Mary by Johnny Cash. While hardly a carol, this is one is the best Christmas homages (and maybe only) to Mary.
Our favorite-- tasteful drum roll please-- Il Est ne le Divin Enfant. Whether by the Chieftains, Annie Lennox or the Vienna Boys Choir, j'adore this French carol. Above is Siouxsie and the Banshees, including the Cure's Robert Smith.
And these songs make me want to put a dirty knife in my eye:
Rocking around the Christmas Tree.
White Christmas
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Happy Christmas/War is Over (blech!!!)
Mariah Carey songs of all type and variety
I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
any Christmas song performed by Candlematch Nickelbox or its contemporaries
What about the Let It Snow by Gloria Estefan? That one brings out the dirty knife urges for me.
ReplyDeleteI've been on a Vince Guaraldi kick myself.