Favorite Christmas Songs [Archive]

mel

December 1st, 2005, 06:19 AM

My current top 10 most played Christmas songs on my iPod and iTunes are:

1. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2
2. When Southern Bells Ring - The Judy Bats
3. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
4. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
5. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
6. Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
7. The Christmas Song - Weezer
8. Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
9. Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters
10. Winter Wonderland - Eurythmics

Moto

December 1st, 2005, 08:41 AM

Lucky Lucks 12 days of Christmas, Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters, The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole and White Christmas by Bing Crosby.

Albert

December 1st, 2005, 10:24 AM

I go for the classic recordings ... Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and "Adeste Fidelus", Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", the Robert Shaw Chorale's "Angels We Have Heard on High".

Alas, at Ala Moana Centre, the only place I'm hearing seasonal music right now, this year's loop is pretty awful. I wish they'd waited a little longer to begin it (started the Sunday before Thanksgiving). A month of Christmas music is enough, two weeks would be even better.

Leo Lakio

December 1st, 2005, 10:40 AM

Alas, at Ala Moana Centre, the only place I'm hearing seasonal music right now, this year's loop is pretty awful. I wish they'd waited a little longer to begin it (started the Sunday before Thanksgiving). A month of Christmas music is enough, two weeks would be even better.
Just wondering (since I assemble the music programming that they normally use) - is it a constant, 100% holiday-song program, or a 50/50 mix of holiday and regular Hawaiian music? And is it all Island holiday songs, or the classics you hear anywhere?

I ask because I never know which programs they use during the holidays --- I created an all Island holiday songs program a couple years back, plus I know we did a 50/50 mix for them recently --- but they may be using something else from our catalogue (either all classic holiday songs, or all contemporary artists doing holiday stuff.) Generelly, customers don't start the holiday programming until Black Friday, but if they want to do it earlier, we don't stop them.

LikaNui

December 1st, 2005, 11:04 AM

Generelly, customers don't start the holiday programming until Black Friday, but if they want to do it earlier, we don't stop them. But if we asked you real nice, could you stop them?
Please?
:p

Leo Lakio

December 1st, 2005, 01:06 PM

But if we asked you real nice, could you stop them?
Please?
:p
Only in dreams, amigo, only in dreams.

I asked our Hawai`i rep about their programming. Turns out they started using the mix of 50% Hawaiian holiday/50% regular Hawaiian way back on November 11 - and we had to rush that program together for them to have it that early. Then on Black Friday, they switched to 100% holiday - I'm guessing it's the four-hour loop I put together two years ago, of all Island artists. But I did pass on Albert's comment to the local rep, just so they knew what someone thought about it running so early.

Believe me - it's a lot better program than the one they had for several years prior; when I heard that the first year I was programming Hawaiian music, I wanted to go into hiding...it was created by someone who had no knowledge of Hawaiian music or artists. Or taste, in general. :cool:

Albert

December 2nd, 2005, 10:35 AM

So far as I've been able to tell, Ala Moana's loop is all local recordings, including a really awful "I'll Be Home for Christmas". I try to rush through the place and get to the upstairs end by Sears where, mercifully, the music doesn't reach.

It's odd that none of Pure Heart's Christmas recordings are included, unless I've just missed it.

[It's also odd that Foodland has abandoned its former local music loop, replaced it with "golden oldies" from the late 60s/early 70s.]

Leo Lakio

December 2nd, 2005, 12:08 PM

So far as I've been able to tell, Ala Moana's loop is all local recordings, including a really awful "I'll Be Home for Christmas".
That would be either Na Leo, Honolulu Boy Choir or Native Blend's versions. But they were only in the 50% holiday program; the 100% loop running now doesn't use that song at all.
It's odd that none of Pure Heart's Christmas recordings are included, unless I've just missed it.
You've missed them (probably while trying to escape the afore-mentioned song) - there's five songs from their "2.5" album in the program.

Honestly, I do appreciate the feedback on the program, negative or positive. It's tough to create holiday programs sometimes; even tougher when you're working in a limited genre. You gotta find enough material to feed the beast - we can't use ANY songs with religious content in the lyrics (it offends too many people, and they WILL complain) - so that takes out all those familiar carols we grew up with.

Okay, so maybe there are circumstances where this gig is slightly less fun...

tutusue

December 2nd, 2005, 12:20 PM

What Child is This - Baldwin & Douthit
Silent Night - Bebe & Cece Winans
Personent Hodie (Sing Aloud on This Day) - Bob James
The Christmas Song - Mel Torme
Bye Bye Thou Little Tiny Child - Kingston Trio
O Holy Night - Willy K
Silver Bells - Perry Como
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
We Three Kings Of Orient Are - Deborah Henson Conant

It just wouldn't be Christmas, tho', without listening to:
I Bought You a Plastic Star for Your Aluminum Tree - Michael Franks :D

Leo Lakio

December 2nd, 2005, 12:41 PM

Personent Hodie (Sing Aloud on This Day) - Bob James
Ooh, nice choice!
It just wouldn't be Christmas, tho', without listening to:
I Bought You a Plastic Star for Your Aluminum Tree - Michael Franks :D
Amen! You know he did an entire holiday CD, yeah? "Watching The Snow" came out in Japan, then later in the US. But that's still the best song on it.

You mentioned Miles Davis' "Blue Xmas" on another thread - featuring Bob "Schoolhouse Rock" Dorough's wonderful singing; love his unique sound!

hidenori

December 2nd, 2005, 04:00 PM

I'm new to HT and live on the mainland (North Carolina). Grew up on Oahu in Wahiawa (folks still live there). Been looking for a good place to make my first post on HT. Favorite Christmas songs? Suggestions:

Mary, Did You Know (Kenny Rogers & Winona)
O Holy Night (Josh Grobin)

How 'bout these?

tutusue

December 2nd, 2005, 04:05 PM

Ooh, nice choice!

Amen! You know he did an entire holiday CD, yeah? "Watching The Snow" came out in Japan, then later in the US. But that's still the best song on it.
I wasn't aware of that CD. Was it released in the US? I found the song on iTunes. It's on the Warner Bros. Jazz Christmas Party CD. I love Michael Franks' lyrics, esp. 'Popsicle Toes'!

You mentioned Miles Davis' "Blue Xmas" on another thread - featuring Bob "Schoolhouse Rock" Dorough's wonderful singing; love his unique sound!
Me too! And, as you know, he pronounces Xmas as 'ex-mas'! I'd also like to hear Bobby McFerrin do that song...just for the heck of it!

Menehune Man

December 2nd, 2005, 06:16 PM

John Lennon's - So this is Christmas :cool:

YoungNeil

December 2nd, 2005, 06:52 PM

The version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by Robert Kekaula and his daughter makes my ears bleed.

Lalalinder

December 2nd, 2005, 08:53 PM

"Merry Christmas From The Family" Jill Sobule version

Albert

December 3rd, 2005, 09:51 AM

Foodland Ala Moana switched to Christmas music yesterday. From what I've heard, all mainland pop stuff. Nobody seems to like the classic carols anymore, at least not in commercial establishments.

mel

December 3rd, 2005, 12:23 PM

Some churches still do the classic carols, and perhaps a specialty program or two on Hawaii Public Radio.

Mokihana

December 3rd, 2005, 01:01 PM

Kani Kani Pele (Jingle Bells) sung FAST in Hawaiian so I can sing along and twist my tongue.

Nū ‘Oli

All the traditional ones sung in Hawaiian

alohabear

December 5th, 2005, 04:56 AM

John Lennon's - So this is Christmas :cool:
Happy Christamas(War is Over) Good choice! Please remember John on 12/8 :)

adrian

December 7th, 2005, 06:57 AM

Here's my xmas list on my phone:

1) 12 pains of christmas
2) the night santa went crazy (weird al yankovic)
3) christmas wrapping (da local boyz)
4) melekalikimaka (beach boys)
5) hark! the herald angels sing (Mariah Carey)
6) 12 days of christmas (the muppets) and (pure heart)

Leo Lakio

December 7th, 2005, 08:05 AM

Nobody seems to like the classic carols anymore, at least not in commercial establishments.
Yeah, it's sad. Everyone's afraid of offending someone, so we're even forbidden from using the carols that have any mention of Jesus, in many of our music programs --- in most cases, we are even avoiding INSTRUMENTAL versions of them!
One of our clients got sued several years ago, after we played an instrumental of "Silent Night" in a program. This person was a non-Christian, and claimed to be offended, saying that "everyone knows what the song is about, even without the words." (I believe they settled out-of-court, so I don't know the final outcome.)
Rather than banning content connected with a specific religion's holiday, we should instead be finding ways to celebrate and honor other religions' holidays. Lift everyone up, rather than pushing anyone down.

scrivener

December 7th, 2005, 03:51 PM

I was so in love with her. We drove around late, late one night, both home on Oahu from respective colleges, looking for houses with nice Christmas lights, taking turns singing Christmas carols (carols, not songs) to each other. She sang "Good King Wenceslas," a song I'd never heard the words to. I asked her to sing it again; instead, she tried to teach it to me.

It's an interesting song for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the very rare ABAB rhyme scheme (well, rare nowadays), and so whenever I tried a verse and couldn't remember the words, I just sang something that rhymed.

"Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel;
When a poor man came in sight
Wading in the pool,"

I'd sing, mostly because I couldn't remember the lyric, but also because every time I messed up (even in not-quite-so-funny ways) she would howl with laughter.

We must have spent an hour that night, trying to learn the song, laughing all the way. I didn't learn it that night, or the night the following year when we tried again. In fact, it took several Christmases before I could get through the whole thing with only a minor error here or there.

We haven't spent Christmas together for a while, and this year she'll be spending it with some other guy -- a young punkish guy who talks too much and is eight years younger than me -- but I've got it ready, in case she ever asks. I know the words now, but I have no audience.

Can a song be your favorite and least-favorite at the same time?

"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread now in them boldly,
You shall find the winter’s rage freeze your blood less coldly."

tutusue

December 14th, 2005, 10:55 AM

I just added another to my list of favorites...
"We Three Kings" - harpist, Deborah Henson Conant
...absolutely elegant.

Here's some info on her:
http://hipharp.com/

Pomai

December 14th, 2005, 02:18 PM

A favorite of mine not mentioned in this thread yet is Please Come Home For Christmas by Jon Bon Jovi.

FYI - Just when you thought he hung it up, American Idol's William Hung released a Christmas CD last year titled, HUNG FOR THE HOLIDAY. Think it's a parody? Apparently William didn't think so.

Listen to some sample tracks then read some of the user reviews at the following Amazon link. Hilarious.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002PUHSI/104-2915829-1438315?v=glance&n=5174

LikaNui

December 14th, 2005, 02:27 PM

American Idol's William Hung released a Christmas CD last year titled, HUNG FOR THE HOLIDAY. Think it's a parody? I dunno, but the mere mention of William Hung reminds me of my own favorite Christmas song by... The Chipmunks!
:D

hidenori

December 15th, 2005, 07:43 AM

How's about almost any arrangement by Mannheim Steamroller?

tutusue

December 22nd, 2005, 09:58 AM

Leo Lakio

December 22nd, 2005, 11:05 AM

More favorites! After listening to Anita Baker sing from her new Christmas album on the Today Show the other morning, I hele'd on over to iTunes and downloaded 5 of the tunes. If you like jazz...take a listen. Awesome. A couple of them are worth listening to thruout the year.
If you get A&E on cable, be sure to catch their holiday edition of "Breakfast With The Arts" on Sunday morning - Anita Baker is one of the featured performers on Christmas Day.
Here at work, we still wish she had titled her holiday CD: "Anita Little Christmas." :D

LikaNui

December 22nd, 2005, 11:17 AM

Here ya go:

http://www.funnyheck.com/chipmunkschristmas.html

:D

cezanne

December 22nd, 2005, 11:27 AM

My wife and I have a rule that nothing but Christmas cds are in the home system during December. My latest fave Xmas cd features classics sung by old school classics: Bing, Frank, Nat, Mel, etc.

tutusue

December 22nd, 2005, 12:58 PM

My wife and I have a rule that nothing but Christmas cds are in the home system during December. My latest fave Xmas cd features classics sung by old school classics: Bing, Frank, Nat, Mel, etc.
Those classics just can't be beat. I also love the Ray Conniff holiday tunes. Great stuff.

Pomai

December 22nd, 2005, 01:21 PM

Ray Conniff. I have that Christmas CD. They play a few tracks every now and then on Maui's iFM (95.1FM). Great harmonies.

D'Alani

December 22nd, 2005, 06:13 PM

Those classics just can't be beat. I also love the Ray Conniff holiday tunes. Great stuff.

Wow allright, haven't heard that name since I used to listen to his band way back when....good music!

akrauth

August 18th, 2006, 04:41 PM

Aloha kakou...

I have many favorites, including Bing Crosby's "Mele Kalikimaka" and Danny Couch's rendition of "O Holy Night."

Can anyone send me the words for "Po Hemolele" (O Holy Night in Hawaiian) and "Kani Kani Pele" (Jingle Bells" in Hawaiian?) Mahalo.

blueyecicle

August 18th, 2006, 04:49 PM

My favorite is the one they play on the intro to Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation. But I can't find it anywhere! :(

akrauth

October 28th, 2006, 01:31 AM

I also like "Merry Christmas Darling," either by the Carpenters or Danny Couch. "Christmas in Hawai`i" (the title song of his CD) is great as well. I sing along with it.
(sings) Christmas is the time of year, it snows most everywhere. In the middle of the sea, it's Christmas in Hawai`i!

achow

October 28th, 2006, 10:10 AM

My favorite Christmas Song would have to be Mele Kalikimaka! Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day!

achow

October 28th, 2006, 10:17 AM

Kani Kani Pele (Jingle Bells) sung FAST in Hawaiian so I can sing along and twist my tongue.

Nū ‘Oli

All the traditional ones sung in Hawaiian I love all christmas songs that is sung in 'Olelo.

pzarquon

October 28th, 2006, 10:25 AM

Wow. 'Tis the season again, indeed.

On the traditional end, I love the Carol of the Bells (the whole church chorale deal), and Greensleeves/What Child Is This. Ave Maria is beautiful any time, but I sure like Jake Shimabukuro's take (you can hear it here (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6155338)). Willie K does a chickenskin rendition of O Holy Night.

Hapa's holiday album (http://www.amazon.com/Holidays-Hapa/dp/B00005B2V1) has a song titled Ke Ku'ulani that's grown on me.

Anyone sample Sarah McLachlan's new Christmas disc (http://www.amazon.com/Wintersong-Sarah-McLachlan/dp/B000HBKCDC/)?

achow

October 28th, 2006, 10:32 AM

Here is a list of my favorite christmas songs sung in Hawaiian or English. And here is my list:

Mele Kalikimaka
O Come All Ye Faithful
Angels We have heard on high
What Child is this?
O Come O come Emmanuel
The First Noel
O Holy NIght
Joy to the World
Christmas by the Sea- Acoustic Soul
The Gift- Dita and Ells
All I want for Christmas is you- Tiffany Thurston
Iesu No Kekauhuhipa- Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
Silent Night (Po'lae E)
Jingle Bells (Kani kani Pele)
Treasures from Home
Do you hear what I hear
Little Drummer Boy
Go tell it on the mountain/Mary had a baby
I'll be home for Christmas
Grandma got runned over by a reindeer
Twelve Days of Christmas (A mynah bird in one papaya tree)
Grown up Christmas List
Sleigh Ride
White Christmas
Christmas Shoes
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Mary, Did you know?
Winter Wonderland
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Under my tree
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
Nu 'oli

There are more but I can't think of any right now.... will post more later if I remember...

akrauth

October 28th, 2006, 12:28 PM

Senora

October 28th, 2006, 03:00 PM

I remember there was one Christmas song I liked...done by the EAGLES....
cant remember the name....Can anyone help me out :confused:

Senora

October 28th, 2006, 03:02 PM

Okay I just helped myself!!! I checked on My iTunes and it was there.
Title is "Please Come Home For Christmas"

tutusue

October 28th, 2006, 06:43 PM

[...]FYI - Just when you thought he hung it up, American Idol's William Hung released a Christmas CD last year titled, HUNG FOR THE HOLIDAY. Think it's a parody? Apparently William didn't think so.

Listen to some sample tracks then read some of the user reviews at the following Amazon link. Hilarious.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002PUHSI/104-2915829-1438315?v=glance&n=5174
This is just too good to pass up. I just ordered it...as a gag gift. Any other suggestions for too-bad-to-ignore Christmas CDs?
[...]I sure like Jake Shimabukuro's take (you can hear it here (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6155338)). Willie K does a chickenskin rendition of O Holy Night.[...]
Ha! iTunes has the genre for Jake's "Ave Maria" listed as rock! :confused: And, I agree, it doesn't get much better than Willie K's "O Holy Night".

Kory K

October 28th, 2006, 09:16 PM

My favorite is Filipino Christmas by Frank Delima!

Sample Clip. (http://www.mele.com/hawaiianMP3s/2142_22.mp3)

Kory K

October 28th, 2006, 09:18 PM

I remember there was one Christmas song I liked...done by the EAGLES....
cant remember the name....Can anyone help me out :confused:

Eagles: Please Come Home for Christmas

Released as a CD single in 1994.

akrauth

November 25th, 2006, 12:16 AM

Silent Night (Po La'i E) any version
Little St. Nick (The Beach Boys)
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (Elmo and Patsy)
My Only Wish This Year (Britney Spears)
Don't Save it All For Christmas Day (Celine Dion)
All I Want for Christmas is You (Mariah Carey)
Feliz Navidad (any version)
Kana Kaloka/Here Comes Santa Claus (Na Leo)
The Twelve Days of Christmas Hawaiian Style
Christmas Day Promise (Danny Couch)
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) any version
The Chipmunk Song (that's what I call it but I think it's actually called "The Christmas Waltz")
Blue Christmas (Elvis)
My Grown Up Christmas List (Kelly Clarkson)

mel

November 25th, 2006, 06:55 AM

I started playing Christmas music on my iTunes and will be soon on my iPods. After the season is over I'll probably post the most played songs on my iTunes. Usually what I play the most ends up being all of my favorites. My long time favorite has been "Winter Wonderland" by The Eurythmics. I'm sure this will be in my end of season top 20.