On Christmas Music: The best of the best and some of the rest
My parents did not have an extensive LP collection, at least not when I was growing up in the 1980s. I don't know if they discarded most albums or what once they had kids around, but roughly 90% of their remaining albums were Christmas ones. We're talking old school albums, including Bing Crosby, Andy Williams x3, Perry Como, Gomer Pyle Jim Nabors, and the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. My Dad spent days transferring all of his Christmas albums onto a giant tape reel that could play continuous Christmas music for 16 hours. That reel was the soundtrack of my childhood Decembers. That, and some Christmas cassettes I owned, my favorite one being the chipmunks.
I say all of this because I love Christmas music, but not all Christmas music is created equal. Here is my guide for the perplexed. I'll break it down by category:Christmas music about Jesus: Best songs you can actually sing:1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - One of Charles Wesley's best contributions. Two lines stand out to me: "Pleased as man with men to dwell" and "Born to raise the Sons of earth, born to give them second birth." It doesn't get much better than singing this in worship.
Even the Peanuts gang can handle it:
2. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - This hymn has a long history, although no one knows for sure how old it is. The Latin lyrics date back to at least the late 17th century and the music dates back at least to 15th-century France. The themes of this song focus on Christ fulfilling God's promises to his people with the combination of waiting in lonely exile and then rejoicing that Christ has come. As a bonus if you have men sing this song in a deep voice acapella style, you might be moved more than any other song on listed.
Here are the words too, if you need them:
3. Silent Night - This song dates back to early 19th-century Austria and is a favorite for any vespers or night-time church service. It is a peaceful song with peaceful words. Chances are Mary and Joseph did not have a silent night for many weeks and months after Jesus was born.
For whatever reason it seems fitting when children sing this one:
4. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Originally a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written during the heat of the Civil War in America. Longfellow's wife died in a fire around the same time their oldest son was injured severely at war. Out of pain and anguish, Longfellow put to words the sadness and hope in a way that can only be told well in verse. Thankfully, not long after the poem was published someone put it to music. Please never sing this song as a congregation without singing all the verses (the same goes for artists who record incomplete versions of it, shame on them).
Here's a nice rendition:
Honorable Mention: Joy to the World - A great hymn from Isaac Watts with lyrics inspired from the Psalms, but it never was intended to be a Christmas song, considering it is about Jesus' return. Best songs you probably cannot sing:1. Messiah - music composed by George Frideric Handel in the mid-18th century. The lyrics are mostly from the King James Version of the Bible and the Psalter found in the Book of Common Prayer during that time along with some additions by Charles Jennens. The lyrics came first and the tradition goes, as my Dad loved to share, that Handel composed the music in a mere 24 days' time. Today, there seems to be two familiar pieces from the lengthy oratorio:
For unto us a child is born:
The hallelujah chorus:
2. O Holy Night - The words were originally a French poem from the early 19th century, and they were put to music a few decades later. If you've ever paid attention to all the words, the full gospel is here, and I love the phrase "the soul felt its worth." As a kid, the version I remember most fondly is an instrumental one by the Holly Symphony Orchestra.
When done well, it is a beautiful song:
3. Mary Did You Know? - It is always a surprise to know that Christian comedian Mark Lowry was a co-writer of this song along with Buddy Greene. I always appreciate the themes in the words, and the music is fitting. Showing its rising popularity is the fact that artists like Cee Lo Green even cover it, for whatever that's worth.
Here is a non-Cee Lo version:
Honorable mentions: Angels We Have Heard on High (Unfortunately, some worship pastors put this song in the wrong category as it is thoroughly unsingable), Carol of the Bells, and The Holly and the Ivy.Worst songs, whether you can sing along to them or not:1. Little Drummer Boy - I just can't stand this song. The only version of it even semi-listenable (or watchable) is when producers somehow got Bing Crosby and David Bowie together for a rendition of it. As a bonus they even convinced Bing to pretend he liked Bowie's music, although he falls short of saying he celebrates Bowie's entire catalog.
2. Away in a Manger - I find some of the lyrics annoying, including Jesus not crying as a baby (hardly true), and the odd phrase at the end that either means little kids want to die or at best they have been taught bad eschatology. "Christmas" music that's not about Jesus:The Best:1. White Christmas: A great contribution by Irving Berlin, and the Bing Crosby version is the best one. It doesn't hurt that the movie is pretty good too:
2. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) - Mel Torme had a hand in this song, and it has some famous versions, including Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis.
For Mathis lovers, this video has his style:
3. All I Want for Christmas Is You - This song was made famous by Mariah Carey.
You can even use whatever is laying around the classroom to pull it off (it always helps if Carey herself happens to be nearby):
4. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Phil Spector and Darlene Love present this classic:
5a. Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry:
5b. Little Saint Nick - Ah, yes the Beach Boys
Honorable Mentions: A Mad Russian's Christmas by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Garland or Sinatra), and The Christmas Waltz (more Sinatra).Two songs no one knows, but should1. Get Behind Me, Santa! - Few people have heard of Sufjan Stevens and even fewer have his Songs for Christmas albums. Besides having a great title, it's a fun song (I'm glad these people don't live by me):
2. I Wish It Was Christmas Today. Good luck getting this melody out of your head any time soon:
Songs everyone knows, but shouldn't (the worst):1. The Christmas Shoes - Now a made-for-television movie! This is as much a Christmas song as Die Hard 1 and 2 are Christmas movies.
2. My Grown Up Christmas List - Well, maybe if you really grew up you would direct these thoughts to someone other than Santa Claus, such as--oh, I don't know--maybe, Jesus?
3. Feliz Navidad - The writers of this song later got a longstanding gig on Dora the Explorer, writing standards that include "I'm the map" and "Backpack."
4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Not a children's song, not a grown-up song, not a good song.
5. Silver Bells - I've never lived in a place with silver bells, but I guess the songwriter did. I never got this song growing up. I still don't get it today. I always just want it to be over, so the next tune can play. (Almost persuadest me to like this song, Sweeney Sisters).
Well, that's all from me. How about you?
I say all of this because I love Christmas music, but not all Christmas music is created equal. Here is my guide for the perplexed. I'll break it down by category:Christmas music about Jesus: Best songs you can actually sing:1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - One of Charles Wesley's best contributions. Two lines stand out to me: "Pleased as man with men to dwell" and "Born to raise the Sons of earth, born to give them second birth." It doesn't get much better than singing this in worship.
Even the Peanuts gang can handle it:
2. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - This hymn has a long history, although no one knows for sure how old it is. The Latin lyrics date back to at least the late 17th century and the music dates back at least to 15th-century France. The themes of this song focus on Christ fulfilling God's promises to his people with the combination of waiting in lonely exile and then rejoicing that Christ has come. As a bonus if you have men sing this song in a deep voice acapella style, you might be moved more than any other song on listed.
Here are the words too, if you need them:
3. Silent Night - This song dates back to early 19th-century Austria and is a favorite for any vespers or night-time church service. It is a peaceful song with peaceful words. Chances are Mary and Joseph did not have a silent night for many weeks and months after Jesus was born.
For whatever reason it seems fitting when children sing this one:
4. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Originally a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written during the heat of the Civil War in America. Longfellow's wife died in a fire around the same time their oldest son was injured severely at war. Out of pain and anguish, Longfellow put to words the sadness and hope in a way that can only be told well in verse. Thankfully, not long after the poem was published someone put it to music. Please never sing this song as a congregation without singing all the verses (the same goes for artists who record incomplete versions of it, shame on them).
Here's a nice rendition:
Honorable Mention: Joy to the World - A great hymn from Isaac Watts with lyrics inspired from the Psalms, but it never was intended to be a Christmas song, considering it is about Jesus' return. Best songs you probably cannot sing:1. Messiah - music composed by George Frideric Handel in the mid-18th century. The lyrics are mostly from the King James Version of the Bible and the Psalter found in the Book of Common Prayer during that time along with some additions by Charles Jennens. The lyrics came first and the tradition goes, as my Dad loved to share, that Handel composed the music in a mere 24 days' time. Today, there seems to be two familiar pieces from the lengthy oratorio:
For unto us a child is born:
The hallelujah chorus:
2. O Holy Night - The words were originally a French poem from the early 19th century, and they were put to music a few decades later. If you've ever paid attention to all the words, the full gospel is here, and I love the phrase "the soul felt its worth." As a kid, the version I remember most fondly is an instrumental one by the Holly Symphony Orchestra.
When done well, it is a beautiful song:
3. Mary Did You Know? - It is always a surprise to know that Christian comedian Mark Lowry was a co-writer of this song along with Buddy Greene. I always appreciate the themes in the words, and the music is fitting. Showing its rising popularity is the fact that artists like Cee Lo Green even cover it, for whatever that's worth.
Here is a non-Cee Lo version:
Honorable mentions: Angels We Have Heard on High (Unfortunately, some worship pastors put this song in the wrong category as it is thoroughly unsingable), Carol of the Bells, and The Holly and the Ivy.Worst songs, whether you can sing along to them or not:1. Little Drummer Boy - I just can't stand this song. The only version of it even semi-listenable (or watchable) is when producers somehow got Bing Crosby and David Bowie together for a rendition of it. As a bonus they even convinced Bing to pretend he liked Bowie's music, although he falls short of saying he celebrates Bowie's entire catalog.
2. Away in a Manger - I find some of the lyrics annoying, including Jesus not crying as a baby (hardly true), and the odd phrase at the end that either means little kids want to die or at best they have been taught bad eschatology. "Christmas" music that's not about Jesus:The Best:1. White Christmas: A great contribution by Irving Berlin, and the Bing Crosby version is the best one. It doesn't hurt that the movie is pretty good too:
2. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) - Mel Torme had a hand in this song, and it has some famous versions, including Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis.
For Mathis lovers, this video has his style:
3. All I Want for Christmas Is You - This song was made famous by Mariah Carey.
You can even use whatever is laying around the classroom to pull it off (it always helps if Carey herself happens to be nearby):
4. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Phil Spector and Darlene Love present this classic:
5a. Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry:
5b. Little Saint Nick - Ah, yes the Beach Boys
Honorable Mentions: A Mad Russian's Christmas by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Garland or Sinatra), and The Christmas Waltz (more Sinatra).Two songs no one knows, but should1. Get Behind Me, Santa! - Few people have heard of Sufjan Stevens and even fewer have his Songs for Christmas albums. Besides having a great title, it's a fun song (I'm glad these people don't live by me):
2. I Wish It Was Christmas Today. Good luck getting this melody out of your head any time soon:
Songs everyone knows, but shouldn't (the worst):1. The Christmas Shoes - Now a made-for-television movie! This is as much a Christmas song as Die Hard 1 and 2 are Christmas movies.
2. My Grown Up Christmas List - Well, maybe if you really grew up you would direct these thoughts to someone other than Santa Claus, such as--oh, I don't know--maybe, Jesus?
3. Feliz Navidad - The writers of this song later got a longstanding gig on Dora the Explorer, writing standards that include "I'm the map" and "Backpack."
4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Not a children's song, not a grown-up song, not a good song.
5. Silver Bells - I've never lived in a place with silver bells, but I guess the songwriter did. I never got this song growing up. I still don't get it today. I always just want it to be over, so the next tune can play. (Almost persuadest me to like this song, Sweeney Sisters).
Well, that's all from me. How about you?
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