With Christmas around the corner, you can hear Christmas music everywhere you go. While some of the songs are great, some are just down right awful. Here’s a personal take on the top five best and worst Christmas recordings.
Best
1) Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Possibly the most quintessential Christmas song. It’s hard to create a more complete holiday atmosphere than simply putting this song on and relaxing on the couch. This old time classic is still a favourite today.
Silent Night is a tranquil song in a season of craziness. Along with being a calm Christmas hymn, it is a great lullaby. You would be hard-pressed to find a song that suits a still winter night.
3) John Lennon and Yoko Ono: Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Great songs are timeless, and Happy Xmas always seems to be relevant time and time again. It’s a song that both young and old appreciate, and it really displays the creativity of the former Beatle.
4) Peanuts: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
There are a few notable Christmas specials that air every year, but there are very few that stand up like a Charlie Brown Christmas. The childish voices singing this song at the end of the movie are reminiscent of many adults’ childhood Christmases.
5) Pentatonix: Little Drummer Boy
This is the most unique song on the list, reworking an old classic in a new and interesting way. This a cappella group manages to create an amazing atmosphere that compliments the season with clever beat-boxing and beautiful harmonies.
Worst
1) Mariah Carey: All I Want for Christmas is You
This might be the one Christmas song that no one enjoys anymore. Besides being a constant reminder of how much it sucks to be single on Christmas, it feels like Carey is more interested in making the holidays about her than about traditional values. No other song has the power to force a radio station change.
While the 1970s was a fun time for everyone involved, it’s now 2015 and music has evolved —except for Wham! Firstly, why is it a good idea to give someone your heart for Christmas? Isn’t that really selfish? And then the song goes on to say that this year, they’ll give their heart to someone special — was last year’s recipient not special? The extremely synthesized song just hurts all around.
3) Paul McCartney: Wonderful Christmas Time
The Beatles were such an amazing band and Paul McCartney had such a successful solo career —except for this one Christmas song. It’s truly awful. It’s jumpy, it’s annoying, and it’s almost feels like McCartney was out of tune (but it’s McCartney, which means it could be intentional). Either way, its flaws were enough to make the list.
4) Bing Crosby: White Christmas
It’s not the song, it’s the message. Toronto hasn’t had a proper white Christmas in a while, and we’re starting to get tired of wishing. The winter wonderland referred to in the song is a far jaunt from the ice storms, slushy sidewalks and dreary driving Torontonians have to deal with.
5) Jimmy Boyd: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
There are certain Christmas songs that have a certain childish charm about them. And while I can believe that maybe there is a possibility of “mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe,” it contradicts the “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake” from Santa Claus is Coming to Town. There’s even a word or two to say about whether or not this song makes Santa “naughty.”