WINTER BREAKout! I: Tuesday is a Poll Day
It’s been a long time comin’ but I finally broke, and now it’s time for the return of the POLL. I sit here at work, listening to classical music all day, and they’ve finally started mixing in Christmas music. When I say finally, I guess that indicates that I’ve missed it, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, few things make me humbug more than incessant Christmas music, and I don’t know why. I guess it’s because everyone from Jessica Simpson to the Miami Soundmachine think that someone wants to hear THEIR version of “Winter Wonderland.” When in fact, as far as I’m concerned, the classics are the way to go. You can hand me a copy of the Binger’s Christmas Album and I’ll be happy as a clam. It’s just that good. The only really modern versions of things I find generally captivating are rap/hip hop remixes of old carols, just because they’re so fun. The “Santa Baby” remix featuring everyone from Snoop to Salt n’ Pepa springs immediately to mind as an example. Thus, the occasional old school Christmas song on the radio makes me happy (so long as it’s not playing before December 1) while nonstop shitty versions of “White Christmas” (I’m looking at YOU 94.5, 3WS) make me want to convert to Judaism (warning: any “Knor, we thought you WERE Jewish” posts will be immediately deleted.) and sing “Dredel, Dredel, Dredel” all day.
That being said, I think it’d be a lot of fun to poll the audience and see what Christmas songs are your favourite’s and LEAST favourites. You can just list the songs, but feel free to cite specific versions. I’ll get the ball rolling by pointing out a few of my favourites (it’s hard to pick just one). First, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Bing Crosby, because it’s INTENSE—especially the lines about Christ being born to save us from Satan’s powers. It always seems to actually give me some good, non-commercial religious perspective on things. For the same reasons, I love any orchestral version of the “Carol of the Bells.” Finally, in a more festive sense, I LOVE “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC.
Conversely, I have NEVER heard a version of “Little Drummer Boy” that doesn’t annoy the shit out of me. Pa rump a rump pum, indeed. I hate that song.
Okay, what about yinz?
-apk
That being said, I think it’d be a lot of fun to poll the audience and see what Christmas songs are your favourite’s and LEAST favourites. You can just list the songs, but feel free to cite specific versions. I’ll get the ball rolling by pointing out a few of my favourites (it’s hard to pick just one). First, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Bing Crosby, because it’s INTENSE—especially the lines about Christ being born to save us from Satan’s powers. It always seems to actually give me some good, non-commercial religious perspective on things. For the same reasons, I love any orchestral version of the “Carol of the Bells.” Finally, in a more festive sense, I LOVE “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC.
Conversely, I have NEVER heard a version of “Little Drummer Boy” that doesn’t annoy the shit out of me. Pa rump a rump pum, indeed. I hate that song.
Okay, what about yinz?
-apk
4 Comments:
Favorites:
"We Three Kings" - Fuel
"Carol of Bells" - any choir, you might remeber it from Home Alone
"Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel" - Third Day
"Do You Hear What I Hear" - Third Day
Anything by the Rat Pack pretty much.
Songs I Hate:
Id have to agree with my brother.... Little Drummer Boy, anything NSync has done. Otherwise the basic ones that come on the radio, and you immediatly wanna gag.
-dan-
By
Anonymous, at 1:39 AM, December 15, 2004
Some good picks in there, fellas. Of course, any discussion of "Feliz Navidad" is incomplete without mentioning Charo!
And the Chimpmunks, Kujo! Well Played, well played.
I also like Jolly Old St. Nicolas. And I realized there's ONE version of Little Drummer Boy I like, and it's from Animaniacs, where Wakko was the Little Drummer Boy, and they broke into a big band/swing version of it. That was actually kind of fun. I think because even THEY were making fun of how lame that song is. Oh, the kid's poor, so he plays the drum for Jesus! I'm sure that's EXACTLY how a sleeping child wants to be brought into the world, awoken by the incessent drumbeating of a frickin' peasant shepherd boy. Mary should've slapped the kid and kicked him out of the manger. If Jesus wasn't so busy crying at that point, startled from his slumber, he probably would've used his divine power to torch the planet. Babies are fussy that way. Thanks a LOT little drummer boy, we BARELY dodged a bullet.
That being said... Kujo, i'll send you your picture and stuff someday. I think my sister has a digital camera. And tell you're wife i'll be sending her money for Sandy soon, too. I'm just sort of behind on everything right now.
one final thought-- i heard a HAUNTINGLY badass version of Carol of the Bells that was mixed with an orchestral God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman on the radio last week, and it was frickin' amazing.
one final final thought. Kujo, don't ever mention Amy Grant here again. (although she IS Danny's favourite)
-apk
By
apk, at 11:11 AM, December 15, 2004
I've been a bit of a scrooge this year....I change the station most of the time when I hear a Christmas song and flat out refused to sing any at my voice lesson (my teacher has actually made me attempt the amy grant Christmas songs....iiiiiick/gag/blech...sorry if you like them....)
That being said, there are some songs that I'll never grow tired of hearing. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland only; Bing's White Christmas, Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song...and guilty pleasure: I adore the Carpenter's Christmas. Oh, and for church nothing gets me like O Holy Night- gives me chills. And traditional as it may be, I love singing Silent Night by candlelight during Christmas Eve mass. Oh and don't forget Santa Baby!!! I love Santa Baby :-)
Well, doesn't sound like I'm that much of a scrooge after all....I'm feeling more Christmas cheer already!
Allison
By
Allison, at 4:13 PM, December 15, 2004
Top Ten Christmas Figures portayed in movies
10. Burgermiester Miesterburger
9. The Grinch
8. Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer
7. Frosty the Snowman
6. Herbie the Elf
5. Yukon Cornelius
4. Clark Griswald
3. Winter Warlock
2. Ralphie
1. The abominal snow man from rudolph cant spell
lumpy
By
Anonymous, at 3:01 AM, December 17, 2004
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