do you hear what i hear?
well friends, christmas is just a couple weeks away (yay!), so it's about time i got around to posting my favourite christmas songs. while there are some old classics that you absolutely can't f*ck with, i do like some newer versions of the old songs as well. i think this is a good collection (and lord knows i could just post anything bing crosby sang for the holidays here!) , but let me know if you know of any others i should absolutely check out.
the classics:
peace on earth / little drummer boy:
david bowie + bing crosby - they win with this version, hands down. a christmas music compilation is nothing without this one. and every time i hear just the opening notes, i can see them having their cheesy banter next to the piano. heart!
all i want for christmas is you:
mariah carey - this song kicks ass. like seriously rocks my red and green christmas socks. deffo one of my most favourite.
happy christmas (war is over):
john lennon - everybody has covered the original, but still no one has come even close to trumping this one.
blue christmas:
elvis - i know, i know...there are better versions of this song, but the "oh's" from the ladies on this track get me every time! so classic. so awes.
carol of the bells:
choir - okay, so i'm not exactly sure which choir this is, but really any choir version of this song is amaze.
destiny's child (honourable mention) - i'm giving them points for what they tried to do with it. it's just too bad beyonce couldn't reel herself in and not be so overindulgent. destiny's child's version clocks in at almost triple the length of any other version of this song. it's still worth a listen. proms.
last christmas:
george michael/wham!: what can i say? george kills it. the end.
cast of glee (honourable mention): their version is super fun and super upbeat (even though the song is a little sad). hooray for musicals.
i'll be home for christmas:
the isley brothers - i la-la-love this version. slow, smooth christmas jam. nice.
baby it's cold outside:
ray charles + nina simone - could ray charles sound anymore smooth than he does on this track? love him. about halfway through, nina starts sounding like miss piggy to me though...which is why there are two versions for this song. close runner up is below.
zooey deschanel + leon redbone - love her voice on this one...actually, if i could have her and ray together, i'd be a happy christmas listener.
white christmas:
david usher - oh, you didn't think i'd actually have a list of music without my lovely on it, did you? admittedly this isn't the best version of this song, but it is the most rockingest and possibly the most fun. oh, and it's live. how can you beat that?
christmas (baby please come home):
death cab for cutie - i know that U2's version is the most popular, i can even envision the red cover of the 'very special christmas' album that it's on and that my family used to play every year...but there's something about the mellowness of death cab's version that i really dig.
the new classics:
these are the songs that we don't all know the lyrics to (well actually i don't know all of the lyrics to 'carol of the bells' either, i really just sing 'christmas is here' over and over, but that's beside the point). these are newer songs, that you should deffo add to your playlist (where else would all of our indie darlings shine?)
the christmas song (not that christmas song, it's another one):
the raveonettes - if you listen to only one song from the 'new classics' section, please let it be this one!
maybe this christmas: ron sexsmith - it's no secret that i have a bit of a soft spot for sexsmith, and i really love the sentiment of this song.
put the lights on the tree:
sufjan stevens - i think the fact that you know it's sufjan within 2 seconds of the start of the song is amaze.
christmas is going to the dogs:
eels - omg. how fun is this song? i can't decide if i want to clap, or toe-tap.
silent night:
damien rice + lisa hannigan - yes, the title and the tune are the same, but it couldn't technically be classified as a 'classic' since the words and the sentiment are completely different. this.is.heartbreaking. i actually shouldn't even have it on a happy christmas song list, but it's just so devastating, that i couldn't not include it. chills.
7 comments
Slori
Liz
Daniella
cheryl
liz - i've actually never heard that, if you can believe it! i'll look, and yes, that has rae written ALL over it! lol
SAM
jen
i'd have to add (bc it's awesome & hilarious): The Hives & Cyndi Lauper in A Christmas Duel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My5Bzf0PQhc
cheryl