62.



Father Christmas - The Kinks

Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
We'll beat you up if you don't hand it over
Give all the toys to the little rich boys

A department store Father Christmas is beaten up by a gang of poor children, who tell him to give them money instead of toys (or their parents jobs). It's a good song, and The Kinks are awesome so I'm glad it made the list

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni04_SF-HRQ




All Alone on Christmas - Darlene Love

I've got to know
Where do lonely hearts go
Because nobody ought to be all alone on Christmas

Darlene Love strikes again. This time with a 1992 hit from the Home Alone 2 Soundtrack. All Alone on Christmas is a brilliant song, with both Love and the E Street Band performing brilliantly. The little reference to her previous Christmas hit is gorgeous too. Just a wonderful song.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K475zojYgnE

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60.



I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Ronettes

Oh what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night

No, the Ronettes. It would not have been a laugh at all. It would have ended with Daddy beating up Santa Claus, as Mommy weeps in the corner, screaming that she wants a divorce and is planning moving in with her bearded lover.
I like the song though. It's a bit cheesy and naff, but it's catchy.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilLT-ge6Luo




All I Want For Christmas - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

All I want for Christmas is for you to be near
Warm me up with kisses and cheer
I think I may have missed it, maybe even wished it
My only Christmas wish is for you to be near

I quite like this. It's very laidback.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fxBYQH0WmQ

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59.



Good King Wencelas

Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

Featuring King Wencelas (Saint Wencelas I, Duke of Bohemia, to be precise), this 1853 St Stephen's Day carol tells the story of how the King travels through harshest winter to bring food and wine to a poor peasant. It's very good.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4MWOpEXe5w

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58.



The Blizzard - Camera Obscura

A weary traveller and his beloved horse try and make it home through the eponymous blizzard. Covering Jim Reeves' 1961 song, Camera Obscura have produced something stunning. There's something about the vocals, something simultaneously haunting and pure, that makes me love this song. It's beautiful and tragic, and I'm very pleased it made the list.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEyLj-Gf8Ng

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57.



Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley

I'll have a blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue just thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same, dear, if you're not here with me

First recorded in 1948, Blue Christmas was given the Elvis treatment in 1957. Its good.

Listen to it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQW1MgZAvlo

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55.



Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC

But I'd never steal from Santa, 'cause that ain't right
So I was going home to mail it back to him that night
But when I got home I bugged, 'cause under the tree
Was a letter from Santa and the dough is for me

Awesome.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-DV1nI--d4




Ding Dong Merrily On High

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Though first published with these lyrics in 1924, the tune for this carol dates back to the sixteenth century. It's one of those carols that make Christmas, from carol services to school assemblies, or sung very badly around the house by assorted family members.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J_2tKCwu7Q

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54.



2000 Miles - The Pretenders

Our hearts were singing
It felt like Christmas time

A really good song, written for James Honeyman-Scott, one of the band's founding members and lead guitarist, who had died the year before.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SkWIqQ3oLY

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53.



Christmas Time is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio (from A Charlie Brown Christmas)

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year

It's just lovely.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPG3zSgm_Qo

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52.



Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) - The Darkness

Feigning joy and surprise at the gifts
We despise over mulled wine with you

This came out in 2003, which all of a sudden has made me feel really old. It's a song that very much reminds me of Christmas shopping, and standing in queues as this song is played loudly overhead.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQhuoY5h2kE

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48.



Candy Cane Children - The White Stripes

You're alone, son
In the middle of a million
And nobody knows how to talk to children

It's a bit depressing for Christmas.

Listen to it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL1UVN_s70c




Jehovah's Most Secret Witness - Donald Glover & Danny Pudi

If years were seasons, this December
Would be the December of our December

I have never watched Community, so someone else can explain the context. The Howard Hughes line made me laugh a lot though.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qepCaKQOLjg




Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away

I am a sucker for Frank Sinatra. Maybe it was watching Guys and Dolls and High Society at an impressionable age, but darn it, he is just swell at singing. One of the better covers of this Christmas classic.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpPdl0StUVs




God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

My favourite Christmas carol, the known earliest publications of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was in 1760. It's a beautiful carol, deliciously minor and dramatic - the juxtapostion of comfort and joy against the music is wonderful. It's also has a timeless quality - you can picture the Victorian carol singers singing in a cold, Dickensian English street.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDvEwC0wZ-I

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47.



One More Sleep 'Till Christmas - Kermit the Frog (from The Muppet Christmas Carol)

The promise of excitement is one the night will keep
After all, there's only one more sleep til Christmas

From the greatest Christmas film of all time, One More Sleep 'Till Christmas is, for me, the song that sums up Christmas Eve best. That may be because ever since I can remember, I've watched The Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve, but also the song itself just captures the magic and excitement of the night. It's lovely.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJv7rNkkKtg

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46.



Joy to the World - Johnny Cash

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King

I'm suprised this is so high. It's a good song, though, and Cash has a fantastic voice. The song Joy to the World dates back to 1719, with the lyrics based on Psalm 98.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gta1-T54lzM

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45.



Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin

Later on we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid of the plans that we made
Walking in a winter wonderland

Now this is more like it. It's so warm and charming and easy listening at its festive finest.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkFP0VwpPRY

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

44.



The Ghost of Christmas - Manic Street Preachers

Christmas day, stuck in the seventies
Play all day with your Scalectrics
Oh my god, I got a tomahawk
How sweet life can be

Decent little song, with a really catchy tune, celebrating the Christmas of "back in the day".

Listen to it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulR1oz47lg0

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

43.



Santa Claus is Coming To Town - the Jackson 5

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake

There's really nothing special about this cover of the Christmas classic - good listening, but forgettable.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCEZEOYdfwo

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

42.



Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels

Well everybody's waiting for you down at the house
The tree is looking so inspired
There's a yuletide groove waiting for you to move
Come on and throw another log on the fire

I'm not sure what I think of this, having first heard it when counting up the lists. It sounds like it was played in a Scrubs episode.

Listen to:
The Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iplr6h4Uy_Q
The Acoustic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVudOVP3lLQ

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

41.



The First Noël

The First Noël, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

The dates for this traditonal carol of Cornish origin are not clear - it is believed it dates from the 18th century, though possibly earlier. It's a very nice tune, though can get a little tedious, but the descant is beautiful. Also, according to the interent, the melody is unusual among English folk songs, as it consists of one musical phrase repeated twice, followed by a refrain which is a variation on that phrase.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mItWsC8RtM

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

40.



Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes

Just see the sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

A 1963 version of the 1948 song. It's a great festive pop song.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co7ZGOjGV4A

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

39.



Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys

Well, way up north where the air gets cold
There's a tale about Christmas that you've all been told
And a real famous cat all dressed up in red
And he spends the whole year workin' out on his sled

Another 1963 Christmas song here, with the Beach Boys. I like this a lot, despite the fact the Beach Boys seem to instantly conjure up images on sun, sea and surfing. The opening "Merry Christmas baby" is wonderful.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cse1DOztjks

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

38.



Thank God It's Christmas - Queen

The moon and stars
Seem awful cold and bright
Let's hope the snow will
Make this Christmas right

The Forum's Favourite Band with a Christmas hit. Queen-bashing aside, I actually am quite partial to a good number of Queen songs, and this is a decent one.

Listen to it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCON07r908g

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

37.



Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens

Snow is falling all around me
Children playing having fun
It's the season of love and understanding
Merry Christmas everyone

This is a cracking good song, one of the best Christmas Number Ones the UK has had. It's got so much joy in it - from end of term assemblies in Year 7 to club nights at university, this is just one of those Christmas songs everyone sings together.

Listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeyHl1tQeaQ

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

36.



Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hark! The Herald Angels Singis worthy of the word magnificent. First published in 1739, the carol's soaring music has the ability to cosume the space its sung in. It's simply glorious.

Listen to it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_iLXNSIaYc

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

34.



I Was Born on Christmas Day - St. Etienne featuring Tim Burgess

Getting groovy after Halloween
Mid-November, got back on the scene
I'm so glad that I just got my pay
I was born on Christmas day

From 1993, and reaching on 39 in the charts, is St. Etienne. I'd never heard this before, and am still unsure of what I think about it.

Listen to it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdzo_vPnhio




Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

A truely beautiful piece of music, composed in Austria in 1818. In 2011, this carol was declared an "intangible cultural heritage" by the UNESCO - something you can understand when you listen to it. The European in me prefers the original German, though it's equally wonderful in English.

Listen to it:
In German: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGA6djLsDgs
In English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EARjMGNKGyg

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33.



Adeste Fideles/O Come All Ye Faitful

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;

There's so much majesty in this carol, it fills up space and lifts the rafters - it's just grand and a lot of fun to sing. It's origins are debated - some argue that written in the thirteenth century, which would make it one of the oldest on this list, yet others argue it was first written in the 1750s.

Listen to it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLIdT8DFI0

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

32.



Step Into Christmas - Elton John

Welcome to my Christmas song
I'd like to thank you for the year
So I'm sending you this Christmas card
To say it's nice to have you here

I love the opening line of this. Elton John is frequently very good, a fact I often forget, and this is one of those times - it's a lot of fun.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2Tc_VAb4HE

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

31.



Goodbye England (Covered in Snow) - Laura Marling

You were so smart then
in your jacket and coat.
My softest red scarf was warming your throat.
Winter was on us,
at the end of my nose,
but I never love England more than when covered in snow.

One of my favourites on this list, Goodbye England is a gorgeous song. Both a song about love and an ode to snow-covered England, it's sublime poetry. There's also a Joan Baez-esque line of vocals in the middle, which is just lovely.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt1dmt-Zqyc

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

30.



Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea

Top to toe in tail-lights
Oh, I got red lights on the run
I'm driving home for Christmas, yeah
Get my feet on holy ground

One of those songs I always expect to hate, but end up whistling for days on end. It's a sweet idea for a song - an ode to the Christmas drivers.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THcbQyFtCqg

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

29.



Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

Rocking around the Christmas Tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop

Brenda Lee was only 13 when she recorded this great Christmas song - her voice is unbelievably good for someone that young. I like this a lot - it's fun and sweet.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xNuUEnh2g

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

28.



Last Christmas - Manic Street Preachers

Once bitten but twice shy
I keep my distance
But you still catch my eye

Covering Wham!'s Christmas hit, the Manics make Last Christmas something more mournful and pensive. There are some great vocals on this, but all in all, the original is still my favourite.

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPgBWW1e6cU

(in reply to MovieAddict247)

27.



Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis - Tom Waits

And hey Charlie I think about you
Every time I pass a fillin' station
On account of all the grease
You used to wear in your hair
And I still have that record
Of Little Anthony and The Imperials
But someone stole my record player
How do you like that?

"I was in Minneapolis - it was 200 degrees below zero - I know - you think I'm bullshitting, no, I swear to God, I was wearing just a bra and a slip and a kind of dead squirrel around my neck - he was colder than I was. The police cars would go by and they'd wave... Merry Xmas, Merry Xmas, Merry Xmas - anyway - I got caught in the middle of a pimp war between 2 kids in Chinchilla coats, they couldn't have been more than 13 years old- they're throwing knives and forks and spoons out into the street - it was deep - so I grabbed a ladle - and Dinah Washington was singing "Our Day Will Come" and I knew that was it." - Tom Waits, 1985

Tom Waits, to me, is one of the great American writers, writing lyrics (and music) that seem to have come from the darkest places on earth or the most poetic love songs written - in short, he's just a brilliant man. Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis is one of his most tragic, most human songs. It's a first person series of letters from a prostitute to Charlie, whoever he is - she tells him her life, and you reach the final verse with a sad sense of knowing how it's going to end. The anomynity and silence of Charlie adds an extra layer of saddness - this man is this woman's final chance, the one she writes to, and we never know if he replies.

If you're new to Waits, this is a good place to start.

Listen to:
The Studio Version:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxVo5mjK4eg
A More Festive Live Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STXF9PZkjSQ

(in reply to MovieAddict247)