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Post by MRHloco on Dec 3, 2008 18:57:42 GMT
After a thorough search over 3 pages, there's nothing to discuss the subject and, since we've only got about 22 days to go, I might as well start it for the first time.
Anyone got any particular festive preferences in a "world of plenty?"
Just to get it started, a personal favourite of mine just so happens to be Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?," which I think has gone down a storm in almost 25 years since its release.
But I'll let you all give your thoughts on the subject before I carry on further.
Any ideas?
Warm Regards, MRHloco
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Post by Rusty Red Scrap Iron on Dec 11, 2008 19:19:16 GMT
Well... I do like Band Aid 20's version, except the Rapping part because that's just a waste.
But I like Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody best out of all the Christmas songs, and I also like the Darkness' Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End).
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Post by MRHloco on Dec 13, 2008 18:51:13 GMT
Band Aid? To tell the truth, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is probably the favourite amongst them all for me.
And that means the original - the "20's Version" is certainly an interesting take but I'm not too keen on it myself. The rapping especially will be off-putting to many and, to be personal, there isn't really enough emotion in the singing voices to make it stand out.
Whereas Boy George, Paul McCartney, Bono and the rest, led by Bob Geldof, really gave it their all - and no mistake!
Slade's Christmas Song is also a very high-ranking favourite!
*A Chorus Of "Merry Xmas Everybody" Starts Up*
If ever I were to a write a piece of fiction set in Birmingham at Christmas Time 1990, I'd include this song without hesitation. It speaks very nationally in a way - there must be plenty of grandmothers who prefer Bing Crosby and yet find themselves electrified by this jazzed up beauty of a piece.
However, being from Birmingham myself by birth, I always think of the West Midlands whenever I hear it. I have some fond memories of that area in abundance so Slade really do that area at this time of year justice.
Also fascinated by takes from Wham! ("Last Christmas") and Elton John ("Step Into Christmas"). Anyone else like those?
Warm Regards, MRHloco
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Richard
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Post by Richard on Dec 14, 2008 1:03:59 GMT
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", And Williams.
Hands down the best.
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Post by Aidan on Dec 14, 2008 5:04:50 GMT
Some of my Christmas favorites are:
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney Happy X-mas (War is Over) - John Lennon O Holy Night - Josh Groban Believe (from "The Polar Express") - Josh Groban Most of Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas music White Christmas - Bing Crosby
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Ronnie
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Post by Ronnie on Dec 14, 2008 7:29:31 GMT
Wonderful Christmastime has to be my favorite, hands down. The rest just seem to get a little old after you hear them over and over again from mid November to the end of the year. Not that one though, just has that certain sound to it that really gets me into a Christmassy mood.
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Post by MRHloco on Dec 14, 2008 18:09:48 GMT
I think, Ronnie, I can quite agree about that. Admittedly, I'm one of those people who is determined not to see boredom in life and can listen to many Christmas songs without ever getting bored. However, I see your point about "Wonderful Christmas Time." It's a pity the Beatles never got round to producing their own festive songs as a whole but Paul McCartney more than makes up for that. Hopefully the man himself will have something positive to think about at this time of year, after all the controversy he's been through. As for Bing Crosby, I absolutely love "White Christmas." That, too, speaks very much for its own culture (that being various inner regions of the United States in December). But its greetings to the world in general are such that we can all think of various different places whenever we listen to it. Areas such as pretty Oxfordshire river villages with ice and snow and festive fishermen. Maybe with the local vicar writing his sermons nearby... *Jerks Back To Life* But anyway, after that little deviation , I can safely say that Bing Crosby, a man whose singing voice gives flashbacks of periods where Laurel & Hardy were still in their prime. As in fact were Walt Disney's cartoons - there are some moments in this song where I sometimes feel as if Crosby was much inspired by them. Can anyone think of other songs to discuss on this thread? By the way, Ronnie, if I go slightly over the top with listening to festive music, perhaps I'll remember your post and play "Wonderful Christmas Time" as a remedy! Warm Regards & Good Tidings, MRHloco
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Post by edwardblue on Dec 14, 2008 22:27:36 GMT
I absolutely love Christmas music, and no matter how many times I've listened to the various Christmas songs over the years, they never get old! However, I have listed my favorites for those who are interested to know what they are. - Any Christmas song by Johnny Mathis (No exception, the man is a natural is the Christmas song department. )
- Last Christmas by Wham! (Nice Christmas song with a smooth 80s sound to it. Hilary Duff's version doesn't even come close to it.
- All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey (A truly rockin' Christmas tune that is also one of the few recent Christmas songs to become a Christmas Classic.)
- Frosty the Snowman: a tie between the Beach Boys version and Jimmy Durante's version from the 1969 special of the same name, but both a classics in their own right.
- Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney (Like Ronnie said, it never gets old.)
- The First Noel by Josh Groban and Faith Hill (The best version of this song ever. Period.)
and last but certainly not least...
- Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid ('84) (A true Christmas staple that opens people's minds to those less fortunate not only in Africa, but all over the world.)
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CM
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Post by CM on Dec 14, 2008 23:30:44 GMT
All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey Merry Christmas, War is Over by John Lennon Mistletoe and Wine by Cliff Richard 12 Days to Christmas by the Spinners Do They know it's Christmas Time by Band Aid
All my personal favourites.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2008 1:13:35 GMT
When it comes to Christmas music, I listen to a wide range. This would range from Dean Martin singing a few classic Christmas songs to Slade singing "Merry Christmas, Everybody" to Geroge Cole and Dennis Waterman singing "What are we going to get 'Er Indoors?".
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Post by shanedooiney on Dec 19, 2008 20:22:06 GMT
I've been listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas and Relient K's Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer nonstop for the last week, and I think my all-time favorite Christmas song has to be "Sleigh Ride."
And I would love Lennon's "Happy X-mas (War Is Over)" if it weren't for Yoko Ono's screeching. But until my ears can handle her voice, I'll have to settle for simply liking it.
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Post by StarTodd on Dec 19, 2008 22:49:07 GMT
You guys missed Fairytale of New York!
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Post by Alan B'Stard on Dec 19, 2008 23:06:40 GMT
Here's my faves: - Believe by Josh Groban
- Mary, Did You Know by Kenny Rogers
- Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg
- The Christmas Shoes by NewSong
- The Gift by Collin Raye and Susan Ashton
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Post by Cruiseshipz on Dec 19, 2008 23:27:21 GMT
Here's my list of my top 5 favorites I have here: Frosty the Snowman- Mr. Jimmy Durante Purple Snowflakes- Marvin Gaye Do you Hear what I hear- Bing Crosby Do they know it's Xmas time at all- Band Aid Last Xmas- Wham!
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Post by MRHloco on Dec 26, 2008 21:58:18 GMT
In response to what we have so far, The Spinners are personal favourites of mine too - theirs is probably the best Twelve Days Of Christmas take I've ever heard. The only exception being the correspondance as written by John Julius Norwich, which doesn't really count, as prose. John Lennon certainly gave us all something wonderful to think about with "War Is Over" though I didn't notice any screeching from Yoko - perhaps I just like seeing good in most things. I only wish we could use it when our troops finally leave Iraq. Cliff Richard is, again, one of the best: Saviour'sDay in fact was released during 1990 (the year I first came into this world) and it's one of the most wonderful, if also one of the most religious-themed, modern festive songs I've ever heard. Mistletoe & Wine was just as lovely though - very Victorian imagery but definately an idealistic way of seeing Christmas. As for Fairytale of New York, many thanks indeed for reminding us all, Fox! It is indeed a rather cheeky masterpiece! Anyway, can anyone think of any others to discuss? Warm Regards & Look To The Future, MRHloco
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JimBobDunnie
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Post by JimBobDunnie on Dec 29, 2008 1:34:01 GMT
You guys missed Fairytale of New York! You beat me to it Mr Fox! One of my favourite Xmas memories is shopping in town with my Dad and a busker was playing that on an Acoustic guitar and we both agreed that that was perhaps one of the best Christmas songs ever. It even made that moment seem more Christmassy in the dull town centre. We passed the busker about 14 times throughout the day. Turned out it was the only song the b****r knew how to play!
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Post by Matthew24691 on Nov 29, 2009 15:40:54 GMT
it occurred to me that about this time of year all the christmas songs begin popping up on the music channels and probably on the radio... well it got me thinking about the time before the X factor when there was a kind of magic about who would grab the official Christmas Number 1... and its got me thinking about what my favourite christmas songs. so in no particular order are my favourite christmas songs Band Aid/Band Aid 20 - Do They Know Its Christmas Wham! - Last Christmas Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody, Thank God It's Christmas Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody Sir Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Kim Wilde & Mel Smith - Rocking Around The Christmas Tree The Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You The Wombles - I Wish It Could Be a Wombling Merry Christmas Everyday Shakin Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman - Something Stupid some of you maybe wondering why Bohemian Rhapsody is on that list... well it was christmas number 1 in 1975 and 1991 so it happens to make the list don't suppose anybody are goin to put any money on the Chrismas Number 2 this year by any chance? -edit- if you want to know i tend to forget about the 1989 Band Aid 2 version of Do They Know It's Christmas as i don't really find that version as good as the 1984 and 2004 versions. also for anybody interested viva.tv have got a vote for the greatest christmas song going on rite at this moment in time www.mtv.co.uk/entertainment/greatest-christmas-song-ever/competition/greatest-christmas-song-ever
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Post by MRHloco on Nov 29, 2009 18:46:18 GMT
I never knew that Queen did their own Xmas song before, although I will admit that it's a pity The Beatles never did. Still, I reckon Paul MacCartney nobly made up for that. There's another song from the Midlands that really delights me - in fact, it's all I can do not to play it now. Re: Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas EverydayWell, don't we all? It's a song that has particularly won my heart in recent years but I have great pleasure in admitting that, if you want to get in the Christmas spirit in a really cheery way, this is the perfect record with which to do it. I'm stuck for words as to how to explain exactly why but one very important reason that I can think of is because the song clearly wants us to appreciate that Christmas Time is a time of year that matters. When the whole world can unite in one great bundle of joy and happiness. And it wants us to appreciate that the best we possibly can - as well as aid those in need (again something that Band Aid have done to perfection also). Does anyone else have a fondness for festive themes? Warm Regards As Always, MRHloco
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Post by Matthew24691 on Dec 4, 2009 13:03:25 GMT
as we all know the X Factor always bags the number 1 at christmas except 2004 when Band Aid 20 got it with the release "Do They Know Its Christmas". Well The Muppets have released their own version Of Bohemian Rhapsody well The Sun newspaper have reported today that may be released in time for christmas and go head to head with whoever wins the X Factor... i'm ecstatic at this prospect of The Muppets Bagging this years number 1 spot there also happens to be a facebook campaign which i joined this afternoon www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=181703952910&ref=mf
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Post by MRHloco on Dec 4, 2009 18:20:55 GMT
I don't think I ever really grew up with The Muppets but I can see exactly why a lot of people would love this! A bit of a wacky puppet retake on one of the most classic Queen songs ever composed. Mind you, Freddie Mercury passed on not long after Jim Henson so maybe this could be a bit of a tribute to them both for bringing the two combinations about in the first place. As for the idea of a Number 1, I don't know what to think but I reckon it wouldn't hurt to wish The Muppets good luck in their bid to try and achieve that. Warm Regards As Always, MRHloco
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