15 on 15 - Top Christmas Songs
D | Friday, December 15, 2006

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Christmas time. With singing.


15. Jingle Bell Rock
Opposed to the classic Jingle Bells, I prefer this version. Its like a 50's drive-in diner.

14. Its Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas
I don't know, but I don't think it actually is Christmas until I hear this song on the radio or in a department store.

13. Run Run Rudolph
Every time I hear this song I think of the McAllister family running through O'Hare airport.

12. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
Care of The Nutcracker, this is a fun little number of Christmas mischief (or at least I think so). And this year will mark my first viewing of The Nutcracker live. Unless my parents took me to see it when I was very small.

11. Good King Wenceslas
Honestly, I have no idea who Good King Wenceslas is or was and frankly I don't care (but I will look it up for all who do care). But I like his song. Whether he was or not, I will picture him in my mind as a jolly old fat man.

10. Hark! The Herald Angles Sing
This one makes me think of the Charlie Brown Christmas show.

9. White Christmas
Why is this on my list? Because as someone who was raised in the Midwest, I always enjoyed the an actual white Christmas. I loved the snow and playing outside and building huge snow forts. We had this very steep hill near my house where all the neighborhood kids would gather and go sledding. Good times.

8. Little Drummer Boy
Any song where you can sing the words "Ba rum bum bum bum" is sweet in my book.

7. I'll Be Home for Christmas
I don't know if this memory is true, or if I just made it up but I think my family owned a tape of The Beach Boys Christmas. We would play it while we decorated the tree. And I remember this one.

6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
The quintessential Christmas ballad. This song is relaxed and chill and calming. This song makes me think of how great the holiday season can be.

5. We Three Kings
I don't know why I like this song. Maybe because its in a meter of three and has that cool triplet pattern.

4. Silent Night
A good female vocalist version of this song can send chills down your spine.

3. You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch
Classic. So. Classic.

2. Sleigh Ride
Here's the story. In highschool we had three bands and every year at the Christmas concert the best band, Symphonic Winds, would play an encore of "Sleigh Ride." And it was so cool. Often times we had fake snow which would fall from the rafters. I progressed my way up through the bands and was in Winds for only one year, and I only got to play Sleigh Ride once, but I can remember how neat it was. Also, there is a horse whinny at the end of the song traditional done by the first trumpet. And my year in Winds I... was not the first trumpet, but... no, I didn't get to do the horse noise, but ... I did sit right next to him.

1. Carol of the Bells
The most bad-ass of all Christmas songs. This song simply rocks. Also the closing scene of my favorite West Wing episode (Noel) features a group of carolers singing this song. The camera move is this wicked angled pan motion which returns to Josh and Donna. Awesome.

Also receiving votes: What Child is This?, Baby its Cold Outside (any version but Jessica Simpsons)

D | 12/15/2006 03:20:00 PM |   Post your comment

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Comments:

I think it's funny that you put "White Christmas" on your list because of the white Christmases you've had. I put it on my list because I've NEVER had a white Christmas (thanks, Texas), and I've always wanted one!
IrishBrooke | December 16, 2006 12:01 AM | permalink
 

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I agree with your #1. But it is hard to find a good rendition. Try this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5O4lt-TTeE
Big Gar | December 16, 2006 9:57 AM | permalink
 

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I'm boyoctting this month's 15-on-15 because I can't think of that many Christmas songs. You guys could have made it the top 15 holiday songs, but no, everything's about Christmas. Maybe I'm just bitter that I don't get presents under a tree.
Ruvym | December 18, 2006 11:26 AM | permalink
 

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