My top 5 Christmas songs – Listography

One of the best things about this time of year for me is the music. I love Christmas music, and I think partly its because you only get to hear it at Christmas (apart from in shops which decide to play it from about October…I try and avoid those) and also because most Christmas songs are quite upbeat and happy, even the ones that maybe have are about unrequited love or not getting what you want.

BUT enough waffling. Here’s my list:

1. A Fairytale of New York – The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl (1987)

This one has special meaning for me because I came to know it at a particularly down period in my life, and it was one of those little ‘good things’ that made a bad time better.

A friend and I were sitting on the sofa on December 1st, watching one of those Christmas song thingies on one of the music channels, and the Pogues came on. I’d never heard it before, and it made me cry. The slow start, the swelling of the music, the words, the story behind them. It stirs something in me. I could listen to it all day, every day and still not grow tired of it.

However, my friend and I made a pact that we will only ever listen to it between 1st December and 6th January every year. Thus, December 1st became known as ‘Pogues Day’, and every year, even if we haven’t spoken much at all throughout the year, we contact each other on the 1st and say hello and catch up, whilst listening to the Pogues.

And, just so you know, I do pretty much listen to it all day, every day, throughout December, and not grow tired of it. (Unlike my Other Half who is cursing it even as I type this. Perhaps he would like some earplugs for Christmas this year…)

2. O Come All Ye Faithful – sung by any decent Church Choir or Group of Carol Singers (13th Century, according to Wikipedia!)

My mother always used to take us to Church on Christmas morning, and I always loved singing along to this one. Back then my voice was a bit more trained, and being a lot younger too, I could easily do the descant part to the ‘Sing Choirs of Angels’ verse. I just love the harmonies and the rejoicing sound of it all.

3. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey (1994)

Another one that starts off slow, and then goes all happy-bouncy. Its just good Christmassy fun. I love the bell chimes and the synthesizers. And did I mention the bounciness? Bounce, bounce, bounce.

4. Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby & David Bowie (1977)

I like order, and I like the ordered beat of this one. I like the deep voices, and the way I can drum against the steering wheel along to the music when its playing in the car. The Peace on Earth part added by Bowie just lends it that extra something that makes it special.

5. A Spaceman Came Travelling – Chris De Burgh (1975)

I like the interpretation of the Christmas story through this one, and the ‘aaaaah aaah ahhhh ahhhhh’s’ – if that makes sense!I think I also really like it because it brings back fond schooltime memories of the build up to Christmas, as we used to sing it in assemblies!

So – that’s my top five. As you will see, there is nothing there that’s particularly new, and that’s because there are never ANY DECENT CHRISTMAS SONGS ANY MORE. Boooooo…

Have a look at These Precious Things and take a peek at some Christmas favourites from other people 🙂