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I’ll Have a Blues Christmas…

Dec 1st 2007Sabrina Jeffries
Sabrina JeffriesMy Life As A Plebe

CarolersI have a confession to make. Hubby and I love Christmas music (we own over 40 CDs). Unfortunately, we don’t share the same tastes. About the only thing we agree on is no country Christmas music. Beyond that … well, let me illustrate. Here are MY preferences for Christmas music:

1) Moderate sappiness encouraged
2) Voices are everything (no Bob Dylan, but Bing is grand)
3) Celtic is a plus
4) Interesting versions of classic carols are especially enjoyed (Sting’s “Gabriel’s Message” is a big fave)
5) Funny is appreciated
6) No jazz or Big Band

Carols for ChristmasMy faves are two of the Very Special Christmas albums, Carols for Christmas, Handel’s Messiah, and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, along with albums by the Poor Clares, Loreena McKennitt, Barbara Streisand, the Carpenters, and Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Here are Hubby’s preferences:

drums1) No sappy
2) Rock and roll rules and drums count for a lot
3) Big Band and jazz Christmas music are a plus (he calls it “lounge Christmas”)
4) Interesting versions of classic carols are especially enjoyed (The Blaster’s “Silent Night” is a big fave)
5) Funny is appreciated
6) No Celtic, and especially no Celtic instrumental (he calls it “plinky-plink music”)

His faves are an album of selected rock cuts he compiled himself, Carols for Christmas, and albums by Bing Crosby, the Salsoul Orchestra, Glenn Miller, Leon Redbone.

Uh, yeah. We end up listening to a lot of rock and Carols for Christmas. Oh, and occasionally we inflict our personal preferences on each other. It IS Christmas, after all, the time for annoying other people with your holiday selections.

But sometimes I wonder if this is even an issue for other people. Do you own any Christmas albums or do you make do with the radio stations that are all Christmas music all the time? Do you even listen to Christmas music? Do you and your family have the same tastes? What are your special requirements for Christmas music?

43 Comments »

43 Responses to “I’ll Have a Blues Christmas…”

  1. Laurie G on 01 Dec 2007 at 6:51 am #

    I have several X-mas CDs. Favorites John Denver’s Aspen Glow, Andy William’s Christmas Album & Barbra Streisand’s Christmas Album. Also love Vince Guaraldi’s Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas and Raffi’s Christmas Album!!

    Last year received Il Divo’s Christmas Collection(WONDERFUL) & Christmas with Pavarotti and the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

    We also have Charlotte Church, Vanessa Williams, Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Kenny Loggins, 98*, Handel’s Messiah, The Nutcracker and Christmas at the Pops with Erich Kunzel.

    Our kids enjoy The Beach Boys and the Chipmunks Christmas too. Finally I love Dean Martin’s Baby, It’s Cold Outside so I also have his christmas hits, Frank Sinatra’s and Bing Crosby’s.

    Plus several other classic combination sets! WOW!!

    I don’t like to listen to it in the car!

  2. Darla on 01 Dec 2007 at 7:47 am #

    I like all kinds…even country! Everything on yours and your DH’s list would suit me fine.

  3. Meg on 01 Dec 2007 at 8:48 am #

    I really love Christmas music too. The classics are my favorites as well as Celine Dion’s These Are The Special Times. Loreena McKennitt also does a GREAT job on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen–found that one on itunes. And I love almost everything that Johnny Mathis does–the slow stuff that he does seems too slow for me. And I also like the instrumental versions done on piano.
    My Mom, on the other hand, hates Christmas music. I have no idea why. The only thing that she will listen to and not complain is the aforementioned Celine Dion CD. However, she hasn’t heard the piano music that I just put on the ipod so I’m holding out hope for that one. Since my mother has come to live with me (so that I can take care of her) I have learned to ignore her complaining about the music and carry on with what I’m doing. I actually tease her about it and we usually have a good laugh. Ain’t that what the holidays are all about? :-)

  4. FreshEChelle on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:02 am #

    I’m not a fan of traditional Christmas music, Christmas albums, etc. A friend once made a Christmas CD for our clique that features “Dominic, the Italian Christmas Donkey”, that’s about our speed. If you don’t know it, don’t go on a search for it.

    Fav Christmas songs are Christmas Wrappings by the Waitresses (all us romance fans will understand the charm of this song) and Fairytale of New York by the Kirsty McColl and the Pogues… You have to love a Christmas song that includes the lyric “you scumbag, you maggot” and it’s got a traditional Irish jig lead in.

  5. amy1242 on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:05 am #

    I enjoy it all, in small doses. My very favorite…Amy Grant; A Christmas Album. Just beautiful!

  6. doglady on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:36 am #

    I love Christmas music at home. At work they have one of those blow-up yard art Christmas bands sitting on top of the frozen section across from the bakery. It plays the same two truncated Christmas carols over and over and over. My cake decorators are plotting ways to kill Santa’s Merry Band. For me the Trans Siberian Orchestra Christmas Albums are a must. Handel’s Messiah, of course. Il Divo’s Christmas album. The new Josh Groban Christmas Album. Anything Celtic, thank you very much. Big Band is good as well. Earth Kitt’s Santa Baby. Dean Martin and Bing Crosby too. Funny stuff in moderation. For my brother Grandma Got Runned Over by a Reindeer is a necessary evil. Actually we all love it because of our Nana. She was a Pennsylvania yankee and she only spent Christmas with us a few times toward the end of her life. She came down one year and when she heard that song she laughed til she cried. Every time we play it now we think of Nana.

  7. Sabrina Jeffries on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:42 am #

    Wow, good to know I’m not alone in my obsession! Meg, until you mentioned God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen by Loreena, I didn’t realize there was a song on Winter Garden that was NOT on To Drive the Cold Winter Away. I thought the latters was a longer version of the former. I think I even got rid of Winter Garden! Thank goodness for Itunes–now I can get that song, too. I already added Dicken’s Dublin from Parallel Dreams to my Christmas playlist (yes, I have very McKennitt album–I LOVE her).

    FreshEChelle, you sound more like my hubby than me. Yes, he likes the music, but not 24/7, and he’s quite happy to have some very strange Christmas music. Me, I like it all–traditional, non-traditional, anything holiday.

    Laurie, we have the Beach Boys Christmas album, but I don’t think I’ve listened to it. Now I’ll have to go try it out! I love the one cut that I have on my Itunes.

  8. Kim on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:44 am #

    erm, my favorite Christmas albums are John Denver and the Muppets and all of The Chipmunks Christmas albums. (I’ve got several)

    I tell ya though, no one can sing Blue Christmas like Elvis!

  9. Karen Hawkins on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:48 am #

    I am taking notes here! I loooove Christmas music. My dh just puts up with it, which works great, because we don’t have to argue over what kind of Christmas music. We just listen to what I like, which works great for me!

    My dad, on the other hand, likes country and odd Christmas music, like The Tractors and songs like “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” which he plays over and over and over and over until my mom cracks and makes him turn it off.

  10. Judy F on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:58 am #

    Let me try this again. I love Christmas music, though I am not ready to listen to it 24/7 yet. I have around 58 cd’s of Music.

    Some fav are: Twisted Christmas by Bob Rivers, Mariah Carey, The Carpenters, Rockapella, Amy Grant, David Fosters the Christmas Album, Johnny Mathis, Ultimate Christmas, Sing along with Mitch, Manheim Steamroller.

  11. Sabrina Jeffries on 01 Dec 2007 at 10:09 am #

    Okay, Karen, I have a terrible confession to make. I too love “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.” Do I need a support group? Your dad and I could be members.

    Judy F, wow, you’ve got more than I do! I feel better now. This year, Hubby bought this great compilation double-CD called Now That’s What I Call Christmas, which has every classic Christmas song and then some. I love it!

  12. Karen Hawkins on 01 Dec 2007 at 10:13 am #

    Sabrina, providing you don’t listen to it more then 5 times in a row, I think you’ll be ok. I like the song, myself, but in limited amounts. Like oh, once a day. Maybe.

    My dad is a Saturation Christmas Music sort of guy. NEVER tell him you like a song, or you’ll hear it a million times — in a row!

  13. Judy F on 01 Dec 2007 at 11:34 am #

    Sabrina, I try to get a new Cd every year. LOL I have the Now that’s what I call Christmas. You should try to find the Ultimate Christmas Cd it is awesome.
    HO HO HO

  14. Karen Hawkins on 01 Dec 2007 at 11:48 am #

    Hey Sabrina and Judy and all of you Christmas Music Experts, if you could recommend just ONE Christmas CD, which would it be? My daughter is having her first Christmas in her college apartment and I want to get her some music to decorate the tree by.

  15. Lisa H on 01 Dec 2007 at 11:53 am #

    Sabrina, my husband and I have mostly the same taste in music, Christmas or otherwise.

    We both love Aaron Nevill and Harry Connick Jr. (Two New Orleans natives!)

    We love traditional - Bing Crosby and Beryl Ives

    We love contemporary - Amy Grant, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton

    We love Manheim Steamroller and The Three Tenors (I am so sad Pavoratti died, one of my dreams was to attend one of his concerts) We generally don’t fight over music, although I don’t like Grandma got ran over by a Reindeer very much and he does…I like more spiritual songs, the traditional carols, I don’t care who sings them. I do however like “Santa Baby”!

  16. Lisa H on 01 Dec 2007 at 11:55 am #

    Karen - I would reccommend either of Amy Grants Christmas albums…they have traditional carols and new songs about the season. I love them and so does my 14 year old daughter. Maybe your daughter will too!

  17. Karen Hawkins on 01 Dec 2007 at 12:17 pm #

    Oooh! I’ve always loved Amy Grant’s voice and I bet she will, too. Thanks!

  18. claudia dain on 01 Dec 2007 at 12:25 pm #

    I love most Christmas music, even purely instrumental. Celtic, harp, clarinet, big band, choral, crooner, you name it, I’ll probably like it. I like listening to All Christmas All The Time radio. I like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” I like “Santa Baby.” I just like Christmas and everything that goes with it!

  19. Judy F on 01 Dec 2007 at 12:54 pm #

    Amy Grants is one of my favorites. Also those mixed artists cd’s are great too

  20. Cookiedough on 01 Dec 2007 at 1:28 pm #

    Great post! I’m cleaning up in prep for a small Christmas party my neighbour and I are having tonight- the annual Tree lighting ceremony is right in front of our house.
    So I’ve dusted off a few decorations, my hat- see me in the forum-changing my pic soon- and taken out all my Christmas music. I love soundtracks. Home Alone The Santa Clause 2. Compilations are my favourite since you don’t hear the same voices or types over and over. My newest one is I Love Christmas from England. It’s got everything on it from Elton John’s Step Into Christmas to Kylie Minogue’s version of Santa Baby.
    Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is a must! And no season is complete with out singing along to the classic Grinch music by all the Whos down in Whoville
    I even change the outgoing message on my answering machine to a silly carol or two

  21. Meg on 01 Dec 2007 at 1:38 pm #

    I am not sure who it was that explained (the other day) about doing new playlists on the ipod, but THANK YOU! I have just finished my own shopping spree for Christmas music, made the “Christmas” playlist, and put everything into it! :-) And enjoying it as we speak–or should I say as I type? Even though I have had my ipod for a year now, I’ve never known how to do that part. Big Thanks again!

  22. Ho (Ho) Ellen on 01 Dec 2007 at 2:10 pm #

    Why has nobody mentioned the Barking Dogs version of Jingle Bells? Sheeesh…am I alone on that classic?

  23. Sabrina Jeffries on 01 Dec 2007 at 2:30 pm #

    Never heard that, Ellen! Now I’ll have to go check it out on I-tunes. I was annoyed, though, the last time was in there, because after talk about the Love Actually CD (here or somewhere else–I don’t remember), I decided I wanted the Christmas cuts. Except that Itunes doesn’t CARRY that CD. Grumble. I ended up just buying the whole thing. But I am enjoying the songs.

    Karen, I would say that Now That’s What I Call Christmas gives a great blend of contemporary and classic. Or, if you want rock versions of classics, you can’t go wrong with A Very Special Christmas. I even like the rap song, Christmas in Hollis! I also love the one that has Natalie Merchant singing “Children, Go Where I Send Thee.” It’s SO blues-y and great that I listen to it once or twice a day.

  24. Nicole Jordan on 01 Dec 2007 at 2:49 pm #

    Many years ago I made two cassette tapes worth of my favorite Xmas songs, and I still listen to them over and over again.

    My very fave xm song of all time is “Christmas Is.” Gives me warm and fuzzy feelings!

  25. Ho (Ho) Ellen on 01 Dec 2007 at 3:05 pm #

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKhJ9IQdWQ8

    This is the original soundtrack, but the footage is new.

  26. Cookiedough on 01 Dec 2007 at 3:10 pm #

    I’m the guilty party talking about Love Actually.
    Sorry Sabrina! but happy you are listening to it too!

  27. Susan K on 01 Dec 2007 at 3:48 pm #

    Elvis and Nsync are my favorites. Plus I have a cd called Blue Jackets Christmas that features a few of the Columbus Blue jackets hockey players singing some christmas music. Cracks me up everytime.

  28. Sabrina Jeffries on 01 Dec 2007 at 3:49 pm #

    Okay, Ellen, that is NOT going in my Christmas collection. Sorry. I love dogs, but that would drive me nuts.

    Cookiedough–don’t be sorry, I wouldn’t have thought of it if you hadn’t mentioned it, and I just LOVE listening to the romantic songs. And ever since I fell in love with the movie, that Beach Boys song has become totally representative of Christmas to me. I also adore the Olivia Olson song.

  29. Ho (Ho) Ellen on 01 Dec 2007 at 4:06 pm #

    LOL Sabrina…It is not for the meek of ear. I should have warned you that it was an acquired taste. However, I can’t help but smile every time I hear it.

    Here are my criteria for good seasonal music.

    1. It can’t be anything by Kathie Lee Gifford
    2. No children singing the chorus.
    3. Barking Dogs are acceptable before wine.
    4. Elvis is acceptable after wine
    5. Celtic is only acceptable after a case of wine.

  30. Kim on 01 Dec 2007 at 4:17 pm #

    KarenH–There’s a great Time Life CD it has all the great Christmas classics. I think its a 2 cd set. Let me do some googling to find a link but its a great standard cd!

  31. Kim on 01 Dec 2007 at 4:20 pm #

    Here are links to Amazon, there are two different sets.

    http://www.amazon.com/Time-Life-Music-Treasury-Christmas-Memories/dp/B00006D2T8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196543883&sr=8-1

    http://www.amazon.com/Time-Life-Treasury-Christmas-Adolphe-Adam/dp/B00005NOZH/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196543976&sr=8-2

  32. Dot C on 01 Dec 2007 at 8:48 pm #

    Karen!! Get her “Now that’s what I call CHristmas Music 3″. It’s a compilation 2 cd album that includes the best Christmas song EVER!!!
    The theme from the Grinch! I played that song and dedicated it over the paging system to my boss. He gave me the slapdown, but everyone, customers, employees, the people outside and in other stores I think…they were all laughing and it was SO worth it. It’s got great tunes from the 60’s, 70’s 80’s 90’s…u get the picture.
    http://www.amazon.com/Thats-What-Call-Christmas-Vol/dp/B000I0QKJW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196559596&sr=1-1
    That’s the link….may not work tho…but the list of songs is great. Lots of Rat Pack stuff. Another disc that is a great find is Christmas with the Rat Pack. Lots of Dean, Frank, and Sammy.
    And I have that Italian Christmas Donkey song!!! I also have the Jingle Cats
    http://www.amazon.com/Meowy-Christmas-Jingle-Cats/dp/B000001UEP/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196560039&sr=1-1

  33. Dot C on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:02 pm #

    If you’ve never heard them, listen to the Samples. Its a riot..but the whole cd is a bit much.
    My favs for christmas are my Time/Life best of Christmas cd, Michael Crawford Christmas (nothing like listening to the Phantom sing Christmas!). I like the Josh Groban…and the first release of A Very Special Christmas which has the Whitney Houston rendition of Little Drummer Boy…and Springsteen. Gosh that was good!! One of my very special favorites is this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEnTSQStGE
    What can I say…i’m a child of the 80’s!
    Merry Christmas!
    Dot

  34. Sabrina Jeffries on 01 Dec 2007 at 9:37 pm #

    Dot, that’s on the Now That’s What I Call Christmas CD, too. I was really glad, because I love that song!

  35. evlqn on 02 Dec 2007 at 4:15 am #

    At our house we just love music so we have a little of everything. Josh Groban , Harry Connick, Andrea Boccelli , and Aaron Neville are particular favorites. And Sting doing Panis Angelicus , I could listen to that for days! That and Amazing Grace on bagpipes, being a pagan,what does that say about me?? Grandma got run over by a Reindeer does make me laugh.
    We crank up the cd player and it goes all day long with everything imaginable.
    I remember the barking dogs, we won’t be listening to them this year because our resident speed bump, Tanner went to the Summerland on Monday. Tanner loved Christmas, red was his favorite color. And Celtic Christmas music made him happy.

  36. Brenda on 02 Dec 2007 at 12:22 pm #

    Josh Groban singing O Holy Night, NewSong’s “The Song of Christmas”, anything at all on Jim Brickman’s Christmas Romance CD, Bing-Nat-Frank-and all of the Crooners gang. I also liked listening to NewSong’s “The Christmas Shoes” but I always ended up sobbing, so I am grounded (by way of family members) from that song now! Course the Chipmunks singing “The Christmas Song” will always remind me of my very staid father trying to understand the complexity of his children loving that song. hee,hee,hee…

    Bring me Christmas music, any kind, I’m sure to love it

  37. Georgie Lee on 02 Dec 2007 at 9:34 pm #

    I love the Charlie Brown Christmas CD, Nat King Cole and Celtic Woman A Christmas Celebration. The That’s What I call Christmas CD is also a good one. the radio works but if you listen for longer than a week, you start to hear the same not so great songs over and over again.

  38. Karen Hawkins on 03 Dec 2007 at 8:01 am #

    Thanks for the suggestions, m’dears! I’m off to do some Xmas cd shopping for my daughter this afternoon. :)

  39. Sonja Foust on 03 Dec 2007 at 10:54 am #

    My husband’s favorite Christmas CD is Charlie Brown’s Christmas. I hate it. It’s depressing. The little kids sound like they’d rather die than sing, and it’s all these weird minor chords. Ugh.

    He also likes the Joan Biaz Christmas CD, which makes me cringe, and sometimes do silly impressions of Joan Biaz warbling Ave Maria. (He doesn’t think it’s funny.)

    We both agree on Henry Mancini. That’s one of my favorites. I also like Bing and the other classics.

  40. Angela on 03 Dec 2007 at 11:14 am #

    What, No Mannheim Steamroller? Only the best Christmas music ever!!!
    I also love Charlie Brown Christmas and Il Divo.

    No County christmas music ever!

  41. Sabrina Jeffries on 03 Dec 2007 at 4:02 pm #

    Sonja, you had me cracking up! Angela, I’m now looking into the Mannheim Steamroller. It seems like something that would be great to write to.

  42. Nancy F. on 05 Dec 2007 at 2:16 pm #

    No Celtic? You have got to be kidding!!!!

    I also like Charlie Brown Christmas. Bing is good. No barking dogs!
    I can handle country but prefer the tradtional carols.

  43. TheNightPoet on 07 Dec 2007 at 3:18 am #

    I have Hanson’s Chrismas cd and Christmas cd that has a variety of artists on it. I bought the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s version of the Carol of the Bell on iTunes the other day. So I can add that to my Christmas collection now. :) I love hearing Christmas music every year. My work has been playing Christmas songs from Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Everytime I hear those songs, it puts a smile on my face. It takes me back to when I was a kid watching those cartoons. We own them now on dvd. :)

    Andrea