P-Boi Forum: Top 50 Holiday Songs

[Lindy]

Here's how it works!

You were asked to send me a list of your 25 favorite holiday songs. 33 ballots were received, and the songs were ranked on a point system allowing 25 points for a #1 choice, 24 for a #2, and all the way down to 1 point for #25. The points were added up, and what follows are your selections.

Tiebreakers work like such: If two songs have equal pointage (and neither got a number 1 vote), the song that appeared on the most lists ranks higher. If those songs appeared on the same amount of lists, I went with whatever ranked highest on the individual list. A song that was someone's #4 beats another person's #6, for example. And then if they still were tied I just picked one so shut up.

What we don't want: your entire lists posted, cloggin' up yer thread
What we do want: everything else. Bitch/kick yourself/pontificate as much as you want, because that's the point!

The countdown begins now. Let your conversations begin~!

[Lindy]

50. Merry Fucking Christmas - Mr. Garrison (from the television show South Park - 31 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #14 SundownMotel, Lindy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Cgzq3Qy60

Both a South Park episode and a CD, "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" is a collection of comic holiday songs featuring the characters of South Park.

The song features Mr. Garrison traveling to different parts of the world and ridiculing non-Christians for not celebrating Christmas.

I heard there is no Christmas
In the silly Middle East
No trees, no snow, no Santa Claus
They have different religious beliefs

They believe in Muhammad
And not in our holiday
And so every December
I go to the Middle East and say...

"Hey there Mr. Muslim
Merry fucking Christmas
Put down that book the Koran
And hear some holiday wishes.

In case you haven't noticed
It's Jesus's birthday.
So get off your heathen Muslim ass
and fucking celebrate.

[Lindy]

49. Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby - 31 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #9 Lindy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYRAUFc3M9A

In the Hawaiian language, mele Kalikimaka is the translation of "Merry Christmas", and is used as such around Christmastime in Hawaii. The song "Mele Kalikimaka" (derived from the greeting) was penned by Robert Anderson. One of the earliest recordings of this song was by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters in 1950 and has been sung by several artists:

* Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
* Arthur Lyman
* Chris Isaak
* Jimmy Buffett
* Reel Big Fish
* One Eighty
* Nick Hexum
* Blue Hawaiians, from Christmas On Big Island
* Willie K, from Willie Kalikimaka
* Orbie Custinger, from Mele Kalikimaka
* Kanilau, from Mele Kalikimaka From Kanilau
* Genoa Keawe & her hula maids, on the compilation album Vintage Hawaiian Treasures, Vol. 8: Santa's Gone Hawaiian!
* on the compilation Aloha Christmas 2004: Mele Kalikimaka
* as "Mele Kalikimaka Ia 'Oe" on Hawaiian Style Christmas

"Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say,
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway,
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night,
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say "Merry Christmas to you."

[Spoodles]

Yessssss.

"Merry Fucking Christmas" is great. In fact, the whole album has entered its way into my "favorite Christmas albums of all time" list. A show that is based on construction-paper has no right to have music that good, but Marc Shaiman's instrumentation and the hilarious lyrics make for an off-beat holiday experience. That said, there are stronger songs on the album to be sure, and hopefully they pop up.

Mele Kalikimaka meh
_________________
-Mike

[Lindy]

48. Auld Lang Syne - Traditional - 31 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #4 Ragingape)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6-6itGLr_Q

"Auld Lang Syne" is a poem by Robert Burns and it is one of the best known songs in English-speaking countries - although, like many other frequently sung songs, the melody is better remembered than the words, which are often sung incorrectly, and seldom in full.

The song's name is in Scots, and may be translated literally as 'old long since', or more idiomatically 'long ago', or 'days gone by'.

"Auld Lang Syne" is usually sung each year on New Year's Eve in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and English speaking Canada at midnight and signifies the start of a new year.

Interesting fact: The melody of the song is used as the fight song for the University of Virginia.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and days of long ago?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for days of long ago.

[Lindy]

47. Santa Claus is Coming to Town- Traditional - 31 points
(4 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #7 Shamrock)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XScsKgpJw1c

Written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and over 400,000 copies sold by Christmas.

Artists that have made notable covers of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" include the following:

* All 4 One
* Gene Autry
* The Beach Boys
* Tony Bennett
* The California Raisins
* Mariah Carey
* The Carpenters
* Ray Charles
* The Cheetah Girls
* Nat King Cole
* Perry Como
* Bing Crosby
* Chris Isaak and Stevie Nicks
* Burl Ives
* The Jackson Five
* Lynyrd Skynyrd
* The Oak Ridge Boys
* Dolly Parton
* The Partridge Family
* Frank Sinatra (including a duet with Cyndi Lauper)
* Bruce Springsteen
* The Supremes
* James Taylor
* The Temptations
* Randy Travis

There is some question of the propriety of the song. Aside from its message telling children that they are under constant surveillance, with no privacy whatsoever, it has been said that . This horror is entirely about judgement and earned favor, and contains not a touch of grace, charity or love.

You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list,
Checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town

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

[Lindy]

46. The First Noel - Traditional - 31 points
(5 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #10 Shamrock)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6oT2PdFUmA

"The First Noël" is a traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the 16th or 17th century, but possibly dating from as early as the 13th century.

On the 90's sitcom Home Improvement, Tim Taylor (host of the fictional show Tool Time) sings, "No Al, No Al, No Al, No Al, there is no Al on the show today!" because his assistant Al wasn't on the show that day.

A parody of the song appeared on an episode of Animaniacs. In it, they use different scenes, the joke being that each verse involves someone saying something that sounds like the word 'nowell'.

In the first verse, Yakko Warner is showing his brother how to spell Santa Claus' name. Wakko was spelling it "Santla", but of course, Santa's name has No "L". The second verse begins telling the story of Jack and Jill, but Jill(Dot Warner) is upset because the hill is empty. There's No well,
In the third verse, Captain Ahab searches for Moby Dick, but when he asks other ships, they "ain't seen No Whale."
In the final verse, the Warners admit that the tune of the parody is a song you should Know well. But their parody has completely ruined it... "Oh well"!

The first 'Nowell!' 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.

Nowell! nowell! nowell! nowell!
Born is the King of Israel!

[Lindy]

45. Oi to the World - The Vandals - 34 points
(4 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #13 White Panther)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRgalongf64

This song tells the story of an Indian Sikh punk fan named Hadji who gets in a fight with a skinhead named Trevor on Christmas Eve. In the end both characters reconcile and the song turns into a tale of peace and holiday unity. The version on the 2000 re-release of the album has an added introduction verse at the beginning of the song which the original release lacks. The song received mainstream attention in the late 1990s when it was covered by No Doubt for a Christmas compilation. Their version was produced by Vandals guitarist Warren Fitzgerald and was made into a music video. With the exception of their annual Christmas Formal concert, this is the only song from the album to be performed regularly at the Vandals' live shows.

Almost every year since the album's release the Vandals have played a traditional "Christmas Formal" concert in Anaheim during the holiday season, at which they perform Oi to the World! nearly in its entirety. Other than at this special show songs from the album are rarely performed in concert, with the exception of "Oi to the World," which has become a regular part of their setlist.

On the roof with the nun chucks Trevor broke a lot of bones
But Haji had a sword like the guy in Indiana Jones

Police sirens wailing, a bloody dying man
Haji was alone and abandoned by his band
Trevor was there fading and still so full of hate
When the skins left him there and went down the fire escape
Oi! Oi!

But then Haji saw the north star shining more then ever
So he made a tourniquet from his turban saving Trevor
They rappelled down the roof with the rest of the turban
and went back to the pub where they bought each other bourbon

If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say "Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
and Oi to the world and everybody wins!

[Lindy]

44. Song for a Winter's Night - Sarah McLachlan - 37 points
(2 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #4 Emily)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbgfXp5M02M
(ignore the fact that it's a video for King Arthur)

"Song for a Winter's Night" appears on Wintersong, a holiday album by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, released in October 2006. The song itself was written by fellow Candian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot.

The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top
The snow is softly fallin'
The air is still within the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly callin'

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you

[Lindy]

43. What Child is This? - Traditional - 40 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #6 RobotConspiracy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy0RrH9wCas

"What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol lyrically written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix to the melody of "Greensleeves". Although the chorus changes from verse to verse, many recorded versions simply use the first chorus throughout, in part due to the weighty content of the second.

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

[Lindy]

42. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Bing Crosby - 40 points
(4 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #3 Sami)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQL-8nzbjtM

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a Christmas song, written by Walter Kent. Within about a month of its being copyrighted the song hit the music charts and remained there for eleven weeks, peaking at number three. The following year, the song reached number nineteen on the charts. It touched a tender place in the hearts of Americans, both soldiers and civilians, who were then in the depths of World War II. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" became the most requested song at Christmas U.S.O. shows in both Europe and the Pacific and Yank, the GI magazine, said Crosby accomplished more for military morale than anyone else of that era.

In December 1965, having completed the first U.S. space rendezvous and set a record for the longest flight in the U.S. space program, the astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell hurtled back to earth aboard their Gemini 7 spacecraft. Asked by NASA communication personnel if they wanted any particular music piped up to them, the crew requested Bing Crosby's recording of "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree

Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

If only in my dreams...

[Sami]

Aside from my #1 song, and a few closer to the bottom, my list is based mostly on the songs that I cannot help but sing along to when I hear them.

See above.
_________________
[quote="Mike"]It's not the size of the chipset that matters. It's how you use it.[/quote]

[Lindy]

41. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Traditional - 40 points
(7 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #15 B)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nynhNFKwq_M

The story is owned by St. Nicholas Music Inc. that has been sold in numerous forms including a popular song, a television special (done in stop motion animation), and a feature film. Rudolph was created by Robert L. May in 1939 as part of his employment with Montgomery Ward.

While the story and song have not passed into public domain, they have established themselves as folklore (as evidenced by the development of local variations and parodies such as "Deadeye the Lonesome Cowboy," collected in the field by Simon J. Bronner and included in "American Children's Folklore").

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!

like a lightbulb et al

[Kirbyoto]

This far up? Really? I would have expected it'd be in the Top Ten.

[Justin]

I never turned in a list for this (I looked at what I had and went 'yeah, this isn't gonna work') but I will say that I put No Doubt's version of Oi to the World on there over the Vandals
_________________

[Lindy]

40. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Traditional - 41 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #6 Greg)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7COW3dl6Lqo

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" was first published in England in 1833 when it appeared in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys. It is not an address to "merry gentlemen." It is believed that the song was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season.

When this coral first started is unknown. Carols have an interesting history. The carol's roots came not from the organized church, but from the common people who wished to express their simple ideas and honest feelings that were not expressed by the somber music of the church. By the 14th century, carol singing was firmly established throughout Europe, not to mention the dancing that accompanied it. Carols originally were association with dancing, which explains why their tunes are livelier than that of standard church music of the day. Originally, carols were sung for all occasions, not just Christmas.

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

[Lindy]

39. Last Christmas - Wham! - 43 points
(3 of 16 lists. Highest ranking - #7 soda)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rlB0Kw3fw

"Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with "Everything She Wants". It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo.

The video to "Last Christmas" saw George and partner Andrew Ridgeley accompanying girlfriends to see friends at their home in an unspecified ski resort, although the funicular that can be seen in two shots is from Saas-Fee, Switzerland. It became clear early on, however, that Andrew's girlfriend had previously been in a relationship with George, and it was to her character the song was aimed. The video also featured the duo's erstwhile backing singers Pepsi and Shirlie and Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp.

The song's Christmas theme was essentially a ruse to draw in the festive market as the lyrics were entirely about a failed relationship, which just happened to come to a head the previous Christmas. There were no other words or expressions within the lyrics with a seasonal theme or hint, except for a sleighbell effect during the instrumental interlude.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

[Greg]

At of all the Christmas songs in the world, this is the only one I really, really REALLY dislike. I can't stand to listen to it.
_________________

[soda]

I'm so proud to be the person who ranked that song the highest. I've grown to love it because of my friend who lives in Japan-- apparently over there they LOVE that song. It is *the* Christmas song. So he hears it over and over during the holiday season. So as soon as he comes home to the USA, we make sure to play it for him as much as possible when we hang out at my friend's house. There's even a terrible version done for the Sailor Moon Christmas album in which a Japanese singer who does not know English tries to sing the English lyrics, resulting in the most stilted, awkward song ever.

Also, it is the first DDR song I ever played.
_________________

[Robot Conspiracy]