Enjoying Holiday Music
We like Christmas music here at Two Frog Home. A local station has been playing Christmas music constantly since Thanksgiving and we listen to it a good bit. I also have a station over at Pandora that plays Christmas music from artists that aren’t going to be played on that local station. We keep a good mix of traditional and newer Christmas music playing and it just makes us happy.
My favorite Christmas song is Little Drummer Boy, always has been and most likely always will be, and for the most part I don’t care who sings that song because I just love it so. I do have a few other favorites though and they are in no particular order:
- I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - seriously this is just to fun, I can’t imagine this song wouldn’t make anyone smile.
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - the version by Barenaked Ladies with Sarach MacLaughlin is my favorite.
- Happy Christmas - There are many, many renditions of this song. I love the original John Lennon one probably most of all, but the one by Melissa Ethridge is a close second and then there’s the one by U2 and there are a couple of bluegrass renditions that are pretty awesome too. Ok, so for the most part I like most of the renditions I’ve heard I don’t really care for the Celine Dion one or the Tom Jones version but in general they’re not two of my favorite performers anyway…
- Jingle Bells – The “jazzy” one by Frank Sinatra is hands down my favorite take on this song.
What about you? Do you like holiday music and if so, do tell what’s your favorite song and by whom (so I can check it out of course)?
I too love Christmas music. My favorite song is Silent Night, doesn’t matter who sings it. My all time favorite is Christmas Images by Steve Hall. It’s piano music at its finest. I had a cassette tape years ago that I wore out, this year I gifted myself with a new CD. Mostly I listen to this music first thing in the morning when I’m the only one awake and I find it just gently gets me ready for the day. Amid the hustle and bustle it has a calming effect on me.
I love Christmas music, mostly carols and simple 4 part harmonies filled with ancient carols from the middle ages. My mother taught me the Little Drummer Boy when I was in her infant class. We also had a music and movement tape telling the story of the shepherds which included the Troika from Leutenant Kijet (can’t spell) and Beethovan’s Sheep May Safely Graze which I still associate with Christmas. I love The Boar’s head carol and Gaudete sung by Steeleye Span but the main song from The Snowman is another firm favourite. It’s fun playing for other people to sing. I’ve played for a lot of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services throughout my life, but now it’s more the occasional carol sing along for older adults living in residential units to keep my hand in.
My all time favourite is Oh Holy Night and Little Drummer Boy would be second . This year I am remembering The Little Match Girl from my childhood , my parents had this song on a 78 rpm record . I must google this song to find out more about it .
My two favorite holiday CDs are Elvis Presley’s Christmas album and Josh Groban’s Noel. From the latter I particularly love his rendition of “What Child Is This.” I also have a special fondness for the Rat Pack, Johnny Mathis, and Tennessee Ernie Ford, because I grew up listening to them every Christmas morning on vinyl.
I too enjoy Christmas music. Pandora is cool though limits one to 40 hours a week. Some of my favs include the original Santa Baby by Eartha Kit, We three kings, ummm. Wow. I just drew a total blank!
LOL time for some coffee.
I think it’s interesting about Little Drummer Boy – it’s consistently made the most annoying Christmas songs ever list, and yet many people adore it! I suppose that’s why it’s played so much – much the the annoyance of the detractors.
[of whom I admit to being one]
My favorite Christmas Album is John Denver and the Muppets. I love the whole album.
I love all your faves except Little Drummer boy, I really don’t like that one. I think it comes from my childhood, I really didn’t like the tv show and I find the song real sad.
I also like ‘River’ sung by Sarah McLachlan.
Oh Holy Night is my favorite. I can not help but belt it out with everything in me…my husbands least favorite is Oh Holy Night becuase I can not help but belt it out with everything in me. lol
One of my newer favorites is “Christmas in the Trenches” by John McCutcheon- it always makes me cry.