I followed a link that took me to a link that took me to a lovely blog called “These Precious Things” and a Listography of her Top 5 Christmas Songs. People are invited to link up and spread the joy. It was great reading what others had listed as their all time favorite Christmas songs and the reasons behind their choices. Even better most had added You Tube links so I was also able to listen to them.
There are so many rousing Christmas songs as well as very many well known carols. Each and every one that becomes a favorite has a reason and a memory behind it. I love the standard Christmas carols, such as:
Deck the Halls,
Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and
In The Bleak Midwinter.
As the years go by newer Christmas songs come our way along with reminiscences, some sad but mostly happy. It’s been difficult to choose only 5 but after great deliberation I have decided to share the following:-
1. Il est ne le divin enfant
I used to sing this when I was at school, and hadn’t heard it for, quite a few years until my children sang it at their school carol concert one year and that too was a long time ago. It brings back happy memories of Christmas time at school and the excitement of singing a song in a different language. I wonder if my grandchildren will sing it one day, I do hope so.
By way of a twist, when I was looking for a You Tube video to add to this blog, I came across a very grainy version of Siouxsie and the Banshees. It never occurred to me that they would ever be signing my favorite carol, and she didn’t kill it either, although children do tend to sing it slightly faster.
2. The Pretenders – 2000 Miles:
I have always been an avid Pretenders fan and the voice of Chrissie Hynde has a haunting quality to it. 2000 miles is often one of the first pieces of music I play at this time of the year to get me into the seasonal mood. It was released in the UK in 1983 and I bought it as a 12″ remix – aaah, vinyl records, that’s a memory in itself.
3. Christmas in New York - The Pogues and Kirsty McColl
Now, this is a becoming a classic and I don’t think there can be many Christmas lists without this included. Although I can understand that you could either love it or hate it. To me it is a quintessential Christmas song that we all know the words to and join in loudly, especially if slightly inebriated, to spread the Christmas cheer.
4. White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes
This is more a Winter song but I always play it around this time of the year. I find something hypnotic about this song and think I must be quite sad really because I can put this on repeat and listen to it over and over again, dancing around the room. I seem to only be able to download the link to a sound only track for this but I hope you enjoy it.
5. The Little Drummer Boy – Bob Seger
My Mum used to sing this song to me when I was little. Again it’s another song that has very many memories. There are so many versions sung by famous singers so to choose a video to go with this I was spoilt for choice. I decided on Bob Seger, he has a slightly gravelly voice which I like. The video is well worth watching too.
I have just realised that the 5 I have on my list are sung by Rock bands. That says a lot about me and the type of music I like doesn’t it? Clearly a Rock Chick at heart!
Why don’t you link up at These Precious Things with your all time favorite Christmas songs?
Happy Christmas everyone!
