I also can’t stand any “12 Days of Christmas.” Sick of George Michael. The song about christmas shoes is the absolute worst.
In my heavy rotation:
Andy Williams
Frank Sinatra
Bing Crosby
Vince Guiraldi
Handel
The wife likes Elvis. Meh. There are great songs of the rock era - ELP’s is the best - but he’s not involved.
Thoughts?
Montgomery Gentry "Merry Christmas From The Family", Bing Crosby "Do You Hear What I Hear", Dean Martin "Baby Its Cold Outside", anything else by Dino, The Band "It Must Be Christmas Tonight", Stevie Nix "Silent Night", Rotary Connection "Silent Night", Greg Lake "Father Christmas" though that song is not exactly a positive vibe of the season, John Denver "Away in a Manger", "Ringo "Dear Santa", Sean Morey "Dear Santa", Bare Naked Ladies "Deck The Stills, Royal Guardsmen "Snoopy's Christmas", Frank Sinatra "I Wouldn't Trade Christmas", Bruce Cockburn "Mary Had a Baby", Continuo "Pachelbel's Canon", Faith Hill "O Holy Night", anything by Andy Williams. There you have it. Great great great songs that you don't hear everyday that will keep you in the spirit.
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Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iAxbmCjuxIM
Bells of Dublin from 1991
That's the best I could come up with after SRD took my first choice...."Chestnuts..."
Link: https://youtu.be/V1B0eIdwFvI?t=5
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...at full volume in the car. A rocking version...not for decorating the tree, I suppose...at least not a full volume.
Good at any volume.
You will probably shudder at this suggestion, but it also should not surprise you. The best Christmas songs are now being made by contemporary Christian rock bands...and some country bands.
Along with rap, country, hip hop and metal. Not for me.
I don’t want any of that in my Christmas songs.
Go listed to "Songs" and "Songs 2". Nearly every song is fantastic. Awesome God is an outlier that a lot of people think is a little cheesey but, it's not representative of his music at all.
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I'm not the biggest Vince G fan but, I have a couple for nostalgia. All of the others you list are heavily represented. Also, a few others like:
Rosemary Clooney
Gene Autry
Jimmy Wakely
Dean Martin
Then I have to have a variety of orchestra/philharmonic and choir pieces.
My wife and I always debate about the American vs European versions of Away in a Manger (she's Belgian) so I have both. I also need to have the German version of Silent Night on the list.
I do enjoy Michael Buble and Andreas Bocelli this time of year. Harry connick jr too. Kids love the "Charlie Brown" songs....
If I hear Mariah Carey again....I'm taking hostages.
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