Merry Christmas Eve to everyone! This is the second part to what I uploaded last week, where I ranked #50-26 of my all time favorite Christmas songs. You can read about that here: https://pigzfromagun.blogspot.com/2022/12/my-top-50-christmas-songs-part-1-50-26.html
But today, we're ranking my Top 25 Christmas songs of all time, the songs that truly define the holiday season for me. So without further ado, let's get started!
#25: My Kind of Present by Meghan Trainor (2020)
After the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad year that was 2020... I needed some things at the end of the year to cheer me up. One of those things was the album "A Very Trainor Christmas", and this original track that leads it off. It's a cute and catchy song that caught my attention right away.
#24: Merry Fucking Christmas by Mr. Garrison (1999)
Perhaps you need some politically incorrect songs to mix in with all the holly jolly stuff. Well, South Park does the trick! Sung by the ridiculous teacher Mr. Garrison, the song explores how Christmas is simply the best holiday around the world... and Hindus, Muslims, etc... they just gotta deal with it.
#23 Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt (1953)
If the last song was dirty by turn of the 21st century standards, this song was certainly dirty by 1950s standards. Eartha turns Santa Claus into a sugar daddy, which certainly wasn't fit for socially conservative ears of the 50s. But who cares now, it's a certified holiday classic.
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Are we sure she's "been an awful good girl"? |
#22: Happy Holiday by The Shells (1961)Sometimes songs can be confusing. There's another "Happy Holiday" song, the one done by Andy Williams that I covered last week. But then there's another "Happy Holiday" doo wop song, done by the Jaguars. Well, I prefer this upbeat version, where bells are ringing and old folks are singing!
#21: Three Angels by The Persuasions (1972)
The opening to the Persuasions "Spread the Word" album, this is a Christmas song the same way "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. Well, that doesn't matter to me. Jimmy Hayes tells of an enthralling Bob Dylan tale in his deep bass voice, while the backing vocalists join in fantastic harmony towards the end.
#20: Sleigh Ride by The Ronnettes (1963)
In 1963, a certain legendary producer released "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector". Fortunately this song was on there, and no corpses were to be found. In all seriousness, the Ronnettes collaborated with The Crystals, Darlene Love, and others to record a fantastic album here.
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This album was actually released on November 22, 1963... The same day JFK got shot. |
#19: Little Red Shoes by Jerry Butler (1997?)
This emotional song is about watching a boy grow into a young man over the years... My Dad has talked with me about how it's an emotional song for him. It stars an older Jerry Butler, long past his "Your Precious Love Days", though I'm not sure if 1997 is the exact year it came out.
#18: O Holy Night by Eric Cartman (1999)
If you thought we were done with South Park, you stand corrected! As punishment for his poor behavior, the notoriously naughty Cartman has to sing "O Holy Night" in front of the class. The catch? He's shocked with a cattle prod whenever he bungles the lyrics. Hilarity ensues!
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Those aren't the words, Eric! |
#17: Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley (1957)
I know from having recently watched the Elvis movie, that one Col. Tom Parker desperately wanted Elvis to sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" during a Christmas special. Well instead of that, I prefer to think of this classic... especially as it concluded an Elvis Christmas medley I sang back in high school.
#16: Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio (1964)
This jazzy piano tune from "Peanuts" has become very, very associated with Christmas over the years. It's what I like to call a certified classic, and you simply can't go wrong with having this upbeat ditty on your holiday playlist. It's an instrumental, but it doesn't need words.
#15: White Christmas by Meghan Trainor & Seth MacFarlane (2020)
This is not the first rendition of this song that'll be on the list, so buckle up! But, this duet certainly caught my attention a couple years ago. MTrain singing with the legendary voice behind "Family Guy"? Well, it turns out Seth is not just a talented voice actor for Stewie... he's also a beautiful crooner!
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The duet I didn't know I needed!
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#14: Silent Night by Nat King Cole (1960)
When it comes to Christmas songs, I often prefer the secular over the sacred. I suppose that's not surprising. But Nat King Cole's performance on this song is undeniably powerful. This song has German origins, as "Stille Nacht" dates back to 1818.
#13: Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano (1970)
We're back to the certified classics with this selection. José is known for a couple things, singing a protest version of the National Anthem at the World Series, singing a cover of "Light My Fire"... but let's be honest. This upbeat Latin pop song is what defined his career, and that's a-okay.
#12: Silver Bells by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards (1950)
This will not be our last Bing Crosby song as we approach The Top 10... just so you know, I associate his voice with Christmas more than any other singer. And this cheerful song is all about the excitement of Christmas... children happy, street lights, shopping, etc.
#11: White Christmas by The Drifters (1954)
Just narrowly missing the Top 10 is perhaps the most famous certified classic in the doo wop genre, this song by The Drifters. In fact, the Meghan Trainor version is stylized after theirs, at least in the beginning. The contrast between bass singer Bill Pinkney and tenor Clyde McPhatter is notable here!
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Can't go wrong with the OG Drifters. |
#10: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon (1971)
Especially in the wake of Russia-Ukraine, this song of peace is getting played more and more, 50 years later. If you're not the biggest fan of this song... maybe you don't like being subject to Yoko Ono's chorus. But I say it actually contributes well to this classic John Lennon song.
#9: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee (1958)
Speaking of classics that get played all the time, this is another one that was "rockin" from the rock 'n roll era of music. "Little Miss Dynamite", as Brenda was known, was 14 when she recorded this song. Well now she's 78, and we still remember her song quite fondly.
#8: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra (1957)
No Christmas song is more well-suited for the smooth-voiced crooner than this one, I think. It's right up there with "Summer Wind" and "New York, New York" in my favorite Sinatra songs of all time... not a bad feat for a Christmas song.
#7: You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)
Bing Crosby is not the most deep-voiced of the classic Christmas singers. Nor is the bass singer for the Drifters on "White Christmas". Instead, it would have to be Ravenscroft... who goes full basso profundo on this song about a certain rotting monster. It's a deserving certified classic!
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I wouldn't touch him with a 39 and a half foot pole!
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#6: It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas by Bing Crosby (1951)
Much like "Silver Bells", this Bing Crosby song evokes the different joys of Christmas time. One of those joys is the "5 & 10", which I suppose was the 1950s version of the Dollar Tree. Oh how the times have changed! But Bing remains a classic.
#5: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams (1963)
Name me a more happy Christmas song than this one, you'd be very hard-pressed! After all, you'd expect a song called "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" to be very joyful. It's certified classic status is cemented, especially as it re-peaked at #5 on Billboard last year.
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There'll be parties for hosting, marshmellows for toasting! |
#4: Christmas in Jail by The Youngsters (1956)
Now I had to throw one curveball in the Top 10, and this is the perfect song for that! I discovered this gem a few years back, realizing that not everyone is having a happy Christmas. Some poor fellows spend the day in jail. Instead of having turkey, they're given bread and water to eat!
#3: White Christmas by Bing Crosby (1942)
Okay, I promise this is the last Bing Crosby song, and the last White Christmas song! Both trilogies conclude here. But you can't deny that out of all the true Christmas classics, this is perhaps the most famous of them all. Irving Berlin's song sold 50 million with Bing's original version... the most ever!
#2: Christmas Morning by Tommy Evans & the Masters (1975)
From a song that sold 50 million copies, we go to a song where half the people on Earth who know it have the last name "Olson". Remember when I said Thurl Ravenscroft was the deepest bass singer to ever record a Christmas record? I lied, it's this guy, Tommy Evans. And it's a family tradition to wake up every Christmas morning and play this joyful song!
#1: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole (1961)
As much as "Christmas Morning" is a fantastic family tradition, I have to go with this as the greatest Christmas song of all time. This poetic song was originally recorded by Cole back in 1946, but it's his 1961 version that is definitive - the certified classic if you will. His beautifully smooth voice, along with the reflective lines, make this the perfect Christmas song. That's why it literally is "The Christmas Song".
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Although it's been said, many times many ways, Merry Christmas to you! |