*Christmas Carols (and Other Holiday Songs) 2010*

[AGBF]

One of my fave's

The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping. You may know them better for "I know what boys like"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzjDOk_u9I

"Christmas Wrapping" was new to me, davi. I have to say that this year's thread is really introducing me to a lot of new (to me) Christmas music, which surprises me greatly. I thought that, at best, I might hear a couple of new songs that came out this year!

Deb

 

[iLander]

I have a new one!

Brand new (newly written, new music, not a version of an existing song) from Coldplay, but a little sad, click on the video:

http://www.coldplay.com/

 

[Blackpaw]

I found another version of, "The Carol of the Bells", an instrumental one arranged by George Winston, on YouTube. It is easy on the ears. It

appears to have a piano and handbells in it, but I only heard it once and I was not concentrating on identifying the instruments to which I

was listening! Give it a try if you like , "Carol of the Bells".

Deb/AGBF


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JYrOMK1aDA

Thank you, lovely version

here's my fave version of angels we have heard on high: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUwQpBLiDDQ

 

[AGBF]

here's my fave version of angels we have heard on high: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUwQpBLiDDQ

That's absolutely heavenly (pun intended, but no disrespect). Thank you for posting it, Blackpaw.

Deb

 

[lulu66]

here's my fave version of angels we have heard on high: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUwQpBLiDDQ

That's absolutely heavenly (pun intended, but no disrespect). Thank you for posting it, Blackpaw.

Deb

heavenly is the only word to describe it. yes, thank you for posting, blackpaw!

 

[pennquaker09]

O Holy Night would be my standard of choice. My favorite new standard would be, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," by Mariah. That song never gets old. Other favs:

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
Carol of the Bells
Last Christmas - Wham!
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm & (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With a Bag - Kay Starr
Purple Snowflakes - Marvin Gaye
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin (I think I might like the Glee version better, gasp!)

 

[davi_el_mejor]

O Holy Night would be my standard of choice. My favorite new standard would be, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," by Mariah. That song never gets old. Other favs:

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
Carol of the Bells
Last Christmas - Wham!
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm & (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With a Bag - Kay Starr
Purple Snowflakes - Marvin Gaye
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin (I think I might like the Glee version better, gasp!)

I agree, it is an excellent version. However, the song itself is a bit uhhh creepy if you listen to the words. Especially the "say what's in this drink" line and "Think of my life long sorrow... If you caught pneumonia and died." Sorry if I just ruined the song for anyone.

 

[AGBF]

O Holy Night would be my standard of choice. My favorite new standard would be, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," by Mariah. That song never gets old. Other favs:

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
Carol of the Bells
Last Christmas - Wham!
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm & (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With a Bag - Kay Starr
Purple Snowflakes - Marvin Gaye
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin (I think I might like the Glee version better, gasp!)

I agree, it is an excellent version. However, the song itself is a bit uhhh creepy if you listen to the words. Especially the "say what's in this drink" line and "Think of my life long sorrow... If you caught pneumonia and died." Sorry if I just ruined the song for anyone.

You two-pennquaker and davi-are really aficionados of modern Christmas music! I never heard the Glee version of, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and you are not only arguiung its merits, but know its words!!!

In my search for new (i.e. 2010 releases) Christmas music , I found Christmas music by Pink Martini. My favorite song, however, appeared to be based on a Hebrew prayer and was called, "Elohai N'Tzor". It was the only one I couldn't find recorded by Pink Martini on YouTube. It appeared to have been there once, but to have disappeared. Many other of their songs were still there, so it wasn't a copyright issue. At any rate, I bought the song for my iPod!

Deb/AGBF

 

[davi_el_mejor]

O Holy Night would be my standard of choice. My favorite new standard would be, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," by Mariah. That song never gets old. Other favs:

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
Carol of the Bells
Last Christmas - Wham!
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm & (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With a Bag - Kay Starr
Purple Snowflakes - Marvin Gaye
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin (I think I might like the Glee version better, gasp!)

I agree, it is an excellent version. However, the song itself is a bit uhhh creepy if you listen to the words. Especially the "say what's in this drink" line and "Think of my life long sorrow... If you caught pneumonia and died." Sorry if I just ruined the song for anyone.

You two-pennquaker and davi-are really aficionados of modern Christmas music! I never heard the Glee version of, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and you are not only arguiung its merits, but know its words!!!

In my search for new (i.e. 2010 releases) Christmas music , I found Christmas music by Pink Martini. My favorite song, however, appeared to be based on a Hebrew prayer and was called, "Elohai N'Tzor". It was the only one I couldn't find recorded by Pink Martini on YouTube. It appeared to have been there once, but to have disappeared. Many other of their songs were still there, so it wasn't a copyright issue. At any rate, I bought the song for my iPod!

Deb/AGBF

Those are the original lines from Bing Crosby too. I know the protestation is supposed to be plafyful and coy (all for the sake of modesty) and that they really want to stay the night and share some body heat. But, honestly, it borders on sounding a little bit like "You can't leave, I won't let you, I'll do whatever I can, even drug you, to keep you here all night, just the two of us."

I really love the way Zooey Deschanel version.

If you didn't know Deb, the Glee version is a duet between between "Kurt" and "Blaine". Kurt (Chris Colfer) can hit the unbelievable high notes and did a beautiful rendition with "Rachel" (Leah Michele) of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked.

I'll have to check out the pink martini stuff at home (streaming media is blocked at work )

 

[Ellen]

I am loving this one in particular at the moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPfdD3pBUig



However, in searching for the above, I came across the following. I really have no words for how utterly beautiful this is. He plays that horn like butter... And she is NO slouch herself. WOW. (not Christmas, that I am aware of, but seriously, don't miss this)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8NN4fpdm40&feature=related

One of the most beautiful pieces I've ever heard.

 

[Skippy123]

I like Nat King Cole's Christmas Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbjqU76PU8Y

Dean Martin - Baby It's Cold Outside http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crFQpOCDfEc&feature=related

Ella Fitzgerald - Have yourself a merry little Christmas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C9kDVKOrX4

Wham - Last Christmas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

Nat King Cole - O Holy Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piVLL46Zv6c

Andy Williams - It's the Most Wonderful time of the Year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtb3EtjEic

David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Little Drummer Boy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJp-lSv0S0

etaa: Sarah Mclahlan - O' Little Town of Bethlehem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPMDD8fGeA

eta: Ellen I love O Come, O Come Emmanuel

 

[AGBF]

I am loving this one in particular at the moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPfdD3pBUig

Oh, Ellen, wow!!! Thank you so much for posting the link to that piece and its video. It's really a variation on, "Come, O Come,

Emmanuel", with, "Hatikvah" woven through it, but I have never heard anything like it...and with the video that the YouTube poster

put with it, it is amazing. I had chills watching it. It affected me the way Joy Williams', "Here With Us" and its attendant video on

YouTube did. I hope that diamondseeker sees this if she has not already done so. I know she will love it, too. I really love the story of

the nativity and all the variants on it, including the story of, "The Little Drummer Boy" and, "Amahl and The Night Visitors". The theme

of hope, peace, and love coming to the world is so inspiring.


Deb/AGBF

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Miss Celine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jr-2eyRtV4

oldie but goodie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpc_S6cd8h8

cheers--Sharon

 

[zoebartlett]

Deb -- I love the song you posted. I'd never heard it before but it's a really pretty song.

Renee -- I'll listen to anything by Dave and I love that one too. I'd even listen to him sing the ABCs.

Every year on Christmas morning, we listen to Manheim Steamroller as we open our gifts. This is one of my favorites of theirs (Silent Night) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCsQX-TY-dQ&feature=related..

 

[zoebartlett]

I could listen to Canon, any version, over and over again and never get tired of it. I especially love TSO's version at Christmas time. My husband is a HUGE TSO fan and I really enjoyed their show when we went a few years ago.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I love Carol of the Bells! its hard to find a good version of it, this is the best i could do (do not be fooled by the 'transiberian orchestra' version, it will cause bleeding ears)!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TFrO8c_kVQ&playnext=1&list=PLA32B72A6137B8F9B&index=7

My favorite too! I actually like the Transiberian Orchestra version, though.

My favorite from when I was a child, though, is the Claymation Christmas version of Carol of the Bells. Get ready to laugh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW34kHnpo1g

 

[jstarfireb]

I tend to prefer traditional carols over modern pieces, my favorites being O Holy Night, What Child Is This, and Carol of the Bells.

ETA: Of the billion versions of O Holy Night out there, I probably like Celine Dion's the best, followed by Jewel's. I'm also getting into Katharine McPhee's recent one.
Celine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmI1yGKvQg - LOVE how she sustains "No-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEL" at the end (4:05 and then again at 4:25)!
Jewel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi2ilSX0yAo
Katharine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUj1c34cJc

 

[AGBF]

I tend to prefer traditional carols over modern pieces, my favorites being O Holy Night, What Child Is This, and Carol of the Bells.

ETA: Of the billion versions of O Holy Night out there, I probably like Celine Dion's the best, followed by Jewel's. I'm also getting into Katharine McPhee's recent one.
Celine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmI1yGKvQg - LOVE how she sustains "No-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEL" at the end (4:05 and then again at 4:25)!
Jewel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi2ilSX0yAo
Katharine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUj1c34cJc

I, also, prefer traditional carols; but I also prefer them "traditionally" sung (i.e. sung as they would have been in church as opposed to on a stage). I really do not like showbizzy, breathy, nasal singing although it has become acceptable even on Broadway now.

I, therefore, think that beautiful voices like Celine Dion's or Jewel's are wasted when used to put across carols as if they were show tunes done by singers with no vocal training.

(Wait a minute. I'm in a Christmas thread. This sounds very scrooge-like. Forget I said all this. Let everyone enjoy the beautiul music he likes.)

I'm just going to post another, alternate version of, "All Holy Night" aka, "Cantique de Noel" that some others might enjoy. Here is Dame Kiri Te Kanawa singing the same song. I like this version a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkcBy-fNXUY&feature=related

Deb/AGBF

 

[jstarfireb]

I tend to prefer traditional carols over modern pieces, my favorites being O Holy Night, What Child Is This, and Carol of the Bells.

ETA: Of the billion versions of O Holy Night out there, I probably like Celine Dion's the best, followed by Jewel's. I'm also getting into Katharine McPhee's recent one.
Celine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmI1yGKvQg - LOVE how she sustains "No-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEL" at the end (4:05 and then again at 4:25)!
Jewel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi2ilSX0yAo
Katharine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUj1c34cJc

I, also, prefer traditional carols; but I also prefer them "traditionally" sung (i.e. sung as they would have been in church as opposed to on a stage). I really do not like showbizzy, breathy, nasal singing although it has become acceptable even on Broadway now.

I, therefore, think that beautiful voices like Celine Dion's or Jewel's are wasted when used to put across carols as if they were show tunes done by singers with no vocal training.

(Wait a minute. I'm in a Christmas thread. This sounds very scrooge-like. Forget I said all this. Let everyone enjoy the beautiul music he likes.)

I'm just going to post another, alternate version of, "All Holy Night" aka, "Cantique de Noel" that some others might enjoy. Here is Dame Kiri Te Kanawa singing the same song. I like this version a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkcBy-fNXUY&feature=related

Deb/AGBF

That's gorgeous! I love operatic singing - about half of my music collection is choral/opera, although I prefer mezzo-soprano voices because that's my own vocal type. Very good point about some of the modern singers doing traditional carols. That's why I don't particularly like Mariah Carey's, Christina Aguilera's, or Jessica Simpson's O Holy Night. I've heard all of their versions, and I prefer the ones I posted, because of exactly what you said. I think these singers do the carol more justice in a simple and traditional way...Celine's version seems very reverent and traditional, and she has a gorgeous voice...Jewel's version is very pure and innocent-sounding, almost boy soprano-ish...Kat's version is very simple and stripped-down to basics...

Here's another one I just discovered...very angelic (Celtic Woman):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ-8jYpa1-o

 

[AGBF]

Here is yet another version of, "O Holy Night", by Mirusia of Australia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF2YIB-FHE8&feature=related

Deb/AGBF

 

[jstarfireb]

Here is yet another version of, "O Holy Night", by Mirusia of Australia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF2YIB-FHE8&feature=related

Deb/AGBF

Love it! I had never heard of her before...*goes to look up more...*

 

[pennquaker09]

The gays are up in arms because they omitted the, "Gosh your lips look delicious, " from the TV broadcast. For the record, I'm not one of the gays that analyzes everything Hollywood does or doesn't do because I don't really care.

 

[dcgator]

Oh, I like this thread, thanks for starting it

I would like to put in one of my favorite, yet little known Christmas songs, Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbV_HTpyx0 (ignore the video, as it goes with a movie).

This is such a beautiful song, that gets to the often overlooked side of Mary during all of this.

Otherwise, for more modern Christmas songs, I am loving the whole Glee Christmas album, especially Rachel's version of O Holy Night. I also love Kenny G's Christmas album, as well as the Bozy II Men Christmas album.

 

[Strawdermangrl]

Deb -- I love the song you posted. I'd never heard it before but it's a really pretty song.

Renee -- I'll listen to anything by Dave and I love that one too. I'd even listen to him sing the ABCs.

Every year on Christmas morning, we listen to Manheim Steamroller as we open our gifts. This is one of my favorites of theirs (Silent Night) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCsQX-TY-dQ&feature=related...

Zoe- I knew I liked you. I big, puffy, bedazzled heart Dave.

 

[AGBF]

The gays are up in arms because they omitted the, "Gosh your lips look delicious, " from the TV broadcast. For the record, I'm not one of the gays that analyzes everything Hollywood does or doesn't do because I don't really care.

pennquaker-

I am a bit lost. What song are we talking about here...and why do gay people, in particular, have a stake in the mention of delicious lips? Thanking you in advance!

Deb

 

[davi_el_mejor]

The gays are up in arms because they omitted the, "Gosh your lips look delicious, " from the TV broadcast. For the record, I'm not one of the gays that analyzes everything Hollywood does or doesn't do because I don't really care.

pennquaker-

I am a bit lost. What song are we talking about here...and why do gay people, in particular, have a stake in the mention of delicious lips? Thanking you in advance!

Deb

It's in reference to the christmas episode of Glee.

 

[LAJennifer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHBpsTgXQWg&feature=related

Hark the Herald Angels Sing - by The Blenders (some guys I used to know way back when . . . )

 

[AGBF]

One of my favorite songs of all times is, "Dona Nobis Pacem", (which means "give us peace" in Latin). It is often sung at Christmas concerts, although it is not solely a Christmas carol. I discovered this version on YouTube this year and quite liked it. Since it has never been posted on Pricescope before, I thought I would put the link to it up. I think I have between five and ten versions of, "Dona Nobis Pacem" on my iPod, although not this one! This version is done by Cinq Soeurs (Five Sisters).

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

Deb/AGBF

 

[Amber St. Clare]

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


This is forever my favorite. I don't know how they did it... but this song is my favorite Christmas ever. Ever. Ever. Ever. Ever.

Hanson - Silent Night Medley

THANKS!!!! And I 'm SURE I'm quite a bit older than you and I think it is totally AWESOME.. I listened to it three times in a row and cried.

 

[AGBF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHBpsTgXQWg&feature=related

Hark the Herald Angels Sing - by The Blenders (some guys I used to know way back when . . . )

Although this is not my "favorite" style of music, I truly appreciate good harmony and these guys have very good harmony indeed! It was a pleasure to hear that, LAJennifer. Thank you for posting the link. When I went to YouTube to listen to them, I saw a reference to a group called, "Take 6". Here is a link to medley of their Christmas songs. They, also, harmonize. First they sing, " Joy To The World", then they do a medley/combination of, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", and, "Carol of The Bells".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evywpq32Oa0&feature=related

Deb/AGBF