Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash
Here we are, 3/3 on our Christmas Blog series! You’ve read about Christmas food, in the last blog we talked about Film and TV, and so there is only one thing left for it! Yep, you guessed it, Christmas Music!
There are so many Christmas tracks around now, ranging from solo artists, to full choirs, but still to this day we continue to listen to classics which were released 10, 20, 30 (and even more) years ago.
In the first blog we talked about our traditions to do with foods, and then in the last one we just gave you our favourite TV Christmas Specials and Films (or in Darren’s case, his top 3) so I’ve been sat here wondering how we could lay this one out. Well, I think I have finally worked it out and it as simple as this, we’re going to tell you our top 5 Christmas songs, and then 1 that we find really irritating because everyone always has that one that they don’t enjoy. So, to keep with routine, Darren, you can start for us this time.
So top 5 Christmas music. I do think actually some of my music is now classed as “Classics” which makes me feel soooo old!
I really enjoy Christmas music but It has to be from December 1st, don’t shout at me! If you are shouting, then here is the song that irritates me so much and its “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey. Now don’t get me wrong it WAS a great song, but it’s been killed by the amount you hear it!
So my top 5 looks like this:
1. ‘Christmas Time’ by The Darkness (how he gets that high is clear to see – check his trousers)
2. ‘Silver Bells’ by Dean Martin (what a classic that is)
3. ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by Chris Rea (This is a must play on my way home from work, this year I guess I have to play it walking from my home office to my living room)
4. ‘Hark the Herald (King of Heaven)’ by Paul Baloche (this is a modern twist to the traditional version and I just love it. It shows how old meets new really works and works so well)
5. ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ by various artists (this song is absolutely beautiful and if sung right can actually bring a tear to my eye. This one (Bethel Kids) is again a modern twist on a classic song and I recommend you check it out.)
To be honest I found this quite hard as there are so many great Christmas songs out there including those we sing at church. And this year I have been introduced to some more like ‘I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’ by Rend Collective and Tom Fletchers Christmasaurus songs, which I am sure Antony will mention. I could go on more as I am listening to Christmas songs as I write this and currently it’s Francesca Battistelli’s album ‘Christmas’, but I will let Antony give you his.
For me, I love Christmas music. My car sounds Christmassy from the moment we reach December (which, I know for some people, is not a good thing) and it’s always such a range, with 2 personal favourite albums being Tom Fletcher’s The Christmasaurus and Michael Bublé Christmas. However, when it comes to songs, I do also have favourite individuals, and if I had to put them in order it would probably look a little something like this:
1. Elton John – Step Into Christmas. (For me this one never fails to put the Christmas cheer into me!)
2. Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas? (The original, NOT the newer versions!)
3. Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday (This one just reminds of being a child at Christmas, and never fails to make me feel good)
4. The Darkness – Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) (Just fantastic!)
5. Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody OR Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone (I couldn’t decide between these 2, they both make me feel so Christmassy and are just as good as each other)
I probably could have gone on, because there are mentions I haven’t even touched on such as Last Christmas, Fairytale of New York etc etc. However, when writing this, those were the first ones that came into my head as I did it, so obviously they must be top! I doubt there are many that I really don’t like.
But, as I said at the start, everyone always has that one they find a little irritating and for me it would be Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child. I don’t know what it is about this song, but it is definitely the one that I never mind if I leave the room when it’s on, or if someone skips it. Saying that though, it’s still not terrible but that just shows how much I love Christmas music!
So, let us know, what are your top 5 Christmas songs and also, maybe one you don’t like.
Whatever you listen to or do over Christmas, both of us would like to wish you a safe and blessed Christmas and may your heart be filled with the joy and wonder of Christmas.
Keep safe,
Antony & Darren.