- Elmo & Patsy, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
Excreble and inescapable. Why does this reindeer turd get so much airplay? - Elvis Presley, "Blue Christmas"
I'm not a fan of Elvis's Christmas music to begin with, but I actually wanna shoot the back-up singers every time I hear this song. Even the Porky Pig version is less annoying. - Gloria Estefan, "This Christmas"
Please, someone tell Gloria that her voice dropped and her sinuses slammed shut in the mid-90's. Her upper range is gone. When she moans through high notes like she does here ("this Christ-MAAS will be/a very special Christ-MAAS") she sounds like a congested seal. - Alvin & the Chipmunks, "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"
Nothin' wrong with a good novelty song but... I hated this one even as a kid. - Faith Hill, "Where Are You Christmas?"
Nothing personal, Faith seems like a nice enough celebrity. But when I hear any multi-platinum performer sing about their inability to "find" Christmas, I wanna bitch-slap 'em and give 'em directions to the local homeless shelter.
A FEW OF MY FAVES
- the Pretenders, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Reportedly, Chrissie Hynde and crew recorded this version in one take. This version perfectly captures the song's aching hope & melancholy. Definitive. - the Waitresses, "Christmas Wrapping"
Who would've guessed the group that gave us the teasing "I Know What Boys Like" would also give us the best original Christmas tune of the early 80's? And it's still charming. Merry Christmas & Happy New Wave! - the Ronettes, "Sleigh Ride"
Pure joy. There are sooo many good versions of this secular carol -- whether instrumental or vocal -- but this one beats 'em all. A timeless arrangement meets a stellar performance. From the classic 1963 album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector which also features... - Darlene Love, "Marshmallow World" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
One of the greatest session singers on Phil Spector's entire roster, Darlene nailed all four songs she sang on his Christmas album, but the sheer ebullience of her Marshmallow World, and the near-heartbreak of her Baby Please Come Home have never been equaled. No wonder Dave Letterman has had Love perform the latter song on his show every year since 1986. - Elton John, "Step Into Christmas"
Elton's 1973 original is still one of the rocking-est Xmas singles ever. When I hear this tune I've gotta get up, shake my butt, and dance around. Every time! - Andy Wiliams, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Show-bizzy perfection. No wonder he earned the nickname, Mr. Christmas. Just try not sing along. - Brende Lee, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
A critic said it best -- "If Brenda Lee had not recorded "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 1958, the holidays would not quite be the same. Her little hiccup-tinged singing voice is a hallmark of the season..." - ANYTHING by Ella Fitzgerald or the Carpenters.
Neither Ella nor Karen ever sang a false holiday note. Everything was impeccably arranged and performed. CLASSIC
- Paul McCartney, "Wonderful Christmas Time"
So simple and happy. Yeah, it's a trifle, but one that I grew up with. Inexplicably, it makes me want to take a horse-drawn sleigh ride more than any other Xmas song. - Pointer Sisters, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town"
Raucous and rollicking, this track kicked off the landmark A Very Special Christmas, Vol 1 disc. My fave version for sure, though it's usually passed over by radio stations in favor of the Springsteen rendition. But Ruth, Anita & June are having soooo much more fun. - Vanessa Williams, "What Child is This?"
Both of her own Christmas discs are as classy and beautiful as you'd expect, but this jazzy arrangement and vocal were the unexpected highlights of the 2nd A Very Special Christmas disc. - The "Heat Miser" and "Snow Miser" songs
From the Rankin/Bass children's classic, The Year Without a Santa Clause. Probably the cleverest musical numbers of any television Christmas special. Period. As kids, my brother and I waited all year long just to hear these songs.
