This performance from 1987s A Very Special Christmas charity compilation is a showcase for what made Houston such a singular pop star, as she marries her church-choir upbringing with a top 40 sensibility to create a spiritual experience even for the non-believers. JESSICA ROIZ. Score and parts. But even as he wished you a happy holiday, biting lines about conflict and fear lurk around every corner, topped by the swelling, indelible mantra the couple posted on billboards around the world at the time: War is over/ If you want it. G.K. Why Its a Gift:There was a time when rocknroll and Christmas would have felt like conflicting themes, but Chuck Berry was up to the task of bridging them. Not only is it one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written, it seems to capture the tenderness of the Christ child born in a manger, but also the majesty of His mission. Today, its a favorite in two languages. Compounded by a message of togetherness (Among shouts and whistles, Spaniards big and small do something together, for once), it could come off as cringe-worthy save for a dreamy, gorgeous melody that saves it from triteness. (The marshmallows on top? Info: Email Kathe Beem . I got obsessed with this song last December. Schmaltz Factor: 10. Harvey Minchin - Harvey Minchin. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. That continued until my mother passed, some 60-plus years later. Cost: Free. Why Its a Gift: Kurtis Blows 1979 Christmas Rappin and the Treacherous Threes 1984 Xmas Rap featuring Kool Moe Dee arrived first, but Christmas in Hollis quickly became the holidays definitive hip-hop song, Set in the then-primarily Black Queens, New York neighborhood of the title, where Moms cooking chicken and collard greens, Rev. - Relaxing Traditional Songs for Reading, Opening Presents & Studying over the Holidays. Jim Jones was also joined by the late Stack Bundles, just a year before his passing. They can also sing a duo and each one can do a solo. The songs subject matter, coupledAutrys earnest, calm delivery can make for a cloying track, even if it is aimed at children. However, the irresistible , 7. Schmaltz Factor: 3. Despite it being MJ, the track isstill sung by a 12-year-old, and combined with Jacksons pleas (Come on, fellas, believe me!) and the classic Christmas sleigh bells, the track can incite a little bit of reflexive cringe. Its almost a shame, because his virtuoso performance and the songs sly lyrics (Remember the time we swam naked in your fathers pool? Karens voice!). $5.95. Trio By: Drue Allred Topics: Activation, Adversity, Atonement, Blessings, Children's Songs, Christ, Christmas, Comfort, Earth/Nature, Easter, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hope, Individual Worth, Instrumental Music, Light/Sun, Love, Lullabies, Nature, Obedience, Peace, Praise, Repentance, Righteousness, Sacrament, Sacrifice, Savior, Spirit, Su. With Berrys signature guitar riffs, Run Rudolph Run could melodically fit on any secular rock record, but his whimsical lyrics of Rudolph whizzin like a shootin star make it a holiday staple. Theres a reason that listeners seem to get more impatient every year for the Christmas music season to start: Nothing else feels quite like it. The English lyrics were added to ensure radio play, but truth is, Feliciano didnt think much of a song that he hammered out in minutes. Regardless, its Ella Fitzgeralds brisk, jazzy 1960 version (from the appropriately titled Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas) thats proven the very coziest, a quick glance outside that just confirms that everything is as it should be inside. J. Lynch. Let It Snow 00:00 3. As soon you hear the intro of Ba boom, ba boom, ba boom, you know its going down when all the ladies turn to their significant others and give them an inquiring look complete with a raised eyebrow hinting at their own Christmas wish list. Jazzy Christmas Carols! LEILA COBO. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061. Praying all of you will enjoy a blessed new year! Why Its a Gift:Cole, a wildly talented jazz pianist with an implacable cool, was gifted with one of the richest, most distinctive voices of his era. J.G. Somehow, though, the forced marriage on this string-laden, soft rock duet recorded for Crosbys 1977 Merrie Olde Christmasspecial has become one of the most enduring, beloved holiday classics. The bumping late-80s production keeps it from being suffocating, but lyrics like I caught you in the toy department/ We met under the mistletoe are much better heard in ONeals robust belting than read on paper. In an era best-known for producing heartstring-tugging holiday ballads, the post-WWII Merry Christmas Baby is the slow, cool secular Christmas song the other half needed, a slice-of-life salute to good music on my radio and kisses beneath the mistletoe borne on a bluesy piano roll. M. Newman. Every morning I woke up early to check if it was snowing. PAUL GREIN. You want to call that schmaltz? On Hark! Theres a lot of over-the-top moments in these lyrics, but with Houstons vocal delivery, it all works. Why Its a Gift: Taylor Swifts five-trackHoliday Collectionwas 80% an inessential seasonal stopgap between her first two albums but the lone exceptional track was an absolute knockout. Also Barry Gordon has done a ton of voice work, including Donatello from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, Michaels youthful falsetto, alongside the groups exuberant harmonies, inject the song with an enduring vitality. Our staff's picks for our 100 favorite songs to soundtrack the Christmas season. It doesnt get much schmaltzier than Elton John asking the listener to hop aboard the turntable. The song is playful and a beautiful ode to end any year. K.A. Carol of the Bells for Strings. The song has been covered umpteen times since Armstrongs original, but its Satchmos gravel road of a voice that makes his version the alpha and the omega. TTBB choir, Organ (With Optional Trumpet) - Digital Download. Why Its a Gift: With its signature JB horn stabs, urgent ad-libs and funky bass, Browns loving 1968 snapshot of what the holiday looks like in the inner city was a welcome relief from the traditionally lily-white strains of old school Christmas pop music. Its a great composition and an amazing performance by Prince Rogers Nelson. Its called Fuck Christmas. Dont expect chestnuts roasting on open fires or sleigh bells ringing in the snow. Nobodys totally de-schmaltzing White Christmas, but a cover this lithe and rubbery is about as close as you can get. Christmastime is always quality family time for me, and I enjoy it a lot. It gives me chills. A solemn oath to remember and honor the birth ofJesus, the poignant lyrics also serve as a moment of reflection: Today is Christmas and although it seems like any other day, you came to remind me that you gave everything up for my dreams, that I should love everyone equally and celebrate that were a part of you., Schmaltz Factor: 5. With 50 million copies sold worldwide, its still the biggest physical single of all time, period. As sweeping as it is ultimately heartbreaking, Fairytale of New York has become as close to a Christmas standard as any song from a band as Hallmark-unfriendly as Irish punks The Pogues could possibly be. Schmaltz Factor:5. Its a message that really resonates with me. Some succeed, as with these modern Christmas classics; others, which just dropped this year, have yet to prove their mistletoe mettle. And while it was made prior to todays 24/7 news cycle, it foreshadowed the ever-presence of Bad News and the plight we all face, trying to find peace despite it all. December 9, 2022. White Christmas Horn Trio. Schmaltz Factor: 3. Octavo. Schmaltz Factor: 6. Schmaltz Factor:3. While everyone from Destinys Child and Pentatonix to John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John have covered this upbeat song with varying degrees of success and schmaltz none can eclipse Hathaways original take: a heartfelt holiday anthem for Black America thats since become a popular modern standard. When an artist or band makes a Christmas album, I think they reach a whole other level of familiarity. Why Its a Gift:In a world where Christmas songs are usually serious, religious, romantic or tear-inducingly sentimental, Youre a Mean One, Mr.Grinch is refreshingly funny. I love this jammer because its funky and playful and just a little nasty. Everyone sings along and sways from side to side hugging each other, and that is what Christmas is about. Martin Chilton. Lennon wrapped his serious message in recognizably cheery holiday trappings sleigh bells, the Harlem Community Choir and swelling strings. Thats the agony and ecstasy of yuletide commercialism: Encountering the same Christmas songs over and over can be grating, unless youre like Carey I live Christmas to Christmas, she wrote in her 2020 memoir. Produced by Sunset. Schmaltz Factor: 3. Why Its a Gift: Classic rock cachet. First of all, I love any Christmas song with the continuous bells. But when they do connect, its magic not to mention a holly jolly payday. I wonder if Im the only one. Yeah, dont worry about that one too much, Kacey. A.U. Looking forward to seeing all our friends in 2023! And with each passing year, more than a few contemporary artists try their hand at crafting a new seasonal standard, something sweet and melancholy that lingers in the pine-scented air for as long as it takes you to finish a candy cane (without chewing, that is). Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. All I Want For Christmas Is You is all about wanting a significant other more than anything for the holidays, and expert singer/songwriter Carey somehow manages to capture that warm, fuzzy feeling with almost Scrooge-like statements like I dont care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree and I dont need to hang my stocking there upon the fireplace. Of course, those arent about being anti-festive, but simply about Careys wishlist remaining focused on receiving the ultimate gift: love. Christmastime and the warmth of Frank Sinatras voice is a recipe full of love. Hearing it was the first time I realized how some people might look at the season from a very different, less joyful perspective. In addition to being a childrens tune, Burrito has a religious background, telling the story about the pilgrimage of the shepherds to meet at the birth of the child Jesus. By. Trad. Covers followed, from Glen Campbell to Dolly Parton, while Kenny Chesneys version (featuring Nelson) went to No. The song was a four-week No. KRISTIN ROBINSON. I love this song. F.D. I think its all going to work out just fine, says Coyne at songs end. 2021. J. Lynch, Why Its a Gift: Soul pioneer Hathaways prodigious talents as a songwriter, arranger, musician and vocalist perfectly capture the joy, fun, blessings and love that embody the spirit of the holiday season, set to an upbeat groove: Presents and cards are here/ My world is filled with cheer and you/ This Christmas.. But Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas has the most beautiful musical turnaround on here we are as in olden days that tugs at my heartstrings. The choice of Vince Guaraldi to create the soundtrack for the first A Charlie Brown Christmas Special, which aired on CBS on . Compatible Trios for Christmas. J.N. Music notes for score and parts sheet music by Traditional: David Burndrett at Sheet Music Plus. J.G. 70 Hot 100 comeback in 2007, thanks to the animated groups self-titled live action film before Mariah Carey again claimed the holiday throne in 2019. A.U. The horns are the backup singers. The album was released in December 1965 in the U.S. by Fantasy Records and was Guaraldi's final studio album for the label. A g. Why Its a Gift:KateBushisthe gift here. J. Lynch. The reference in the songs title to rock, then just a few years old, and the rock and roll and rockabilly accents on the backing track gave this record a timely quality back then, and now are charmingly retro. The song doesnt rate high on the schmaltz factorsinceWondersings that he hopes all men are free, but Maybe not in time for you and me.ButWonderis still celebrating the holidays every year with his ToysForTots concerts and lets hope he sees peace someday at Christmastime. TAYLOR MIMS. Santigold loves Otis Redding. R.A. Why Its a Gift: Christmas isnt only for the good little girls and boys, and the perpetually funky Clarence Carter was happy to sneak in to give the Christmas pop canon its first classic entry that could be described as raunchy. By later Blowfly standards, the PG-13 nefariousness of Back Door Santa is still pretty tame, but its sexy (and sax-y) strut leaves little mystery about what it intends, and the song even puts the stankiest of its many double-entendres right in front as its title. I used to play it on my violin all the time for fun when I was in high school. Arranged by David Burndrett. (This writer wasnt the only person in the audience crying Christmas morning-style happy tears when Springsteen & The E Street Band played Santa Claus Is Coming To Town during their encore at Bonnaroo 2009. Top to bottom, the whole things has no skips, so it was hard to pick one (I mean, Merry Christmas, Darling?! Why Its a Gift:Vince Guaraldis jazzy take on OTannenbaum sheds the somewhat formal nature of the classic Christmas carol with casual yet jolly piano runs that provide a warmth that feels like the holidays at home, cozied up by the fireplace. Schmaltz Factor: 8. The group followed the songs success by releasing a Christmas album the following year. And for that one shining musical moment, you want to believe him. Which, come to think of it, is exactly what this is. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible . This upbeat confection has plenty of verve, though the groups reedy, sugary harmonies mixed with sleigh bells and glockenspiel at times teeters on the edge of saccharine. E.J.P. The strings and bagpipes pack a dewy-eyed emotional wallop, but the songs sweetness turns to sandpaper by the wince-inducing use of the hard f word in the combative second-to-last verse, and by the gut-wrenching back and forth between MacColl and Pogues frontman Shane McGowan that begins the concluding one: I couldve been someone/ Well, so could anyone. A.U. Why Its a Gift: Claiming to be an awful good girl, Kitt stirred up some controversy in 50s-era America by seductively serenading listeners with her wish list to the title character in 1953s Santa Baby. She inquires about a 54 convertible in light blue and of course, one little thing, a ring as she summons him to hurry down the chimney tonight. Sixty-eight years after first hitting the airwaves, the songssex appeal endures especially since these days, nothing is sexier than a woman who knows exactly what she deserves. Schmaltz Factor: 2. Why Its a Gift: Hard to imagine anyone had really been missing the swing in White Christmas until The Drifters showed up, swaying with their organ and hi hat groove and irresistible dub-dub, dub-da-dub backing vocals. Schmaltz Factor: 4. Ive brought some corn for popping is about as. But for anyone who grew up on early 2000sSNL, IWishIt WasChristmas Today performed by Horatio Sanz, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan is simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny, legitimately catchy and, like so many of the best parts of Christmas, totally nostalgic. GIL KAUFMAN. How Cillian Murphy Found His Resting Physicists Face, My job is to convince the audience that Oppenheimer knows what hes doing. Undoubtedly, the song leans into the drama harder with each successive You gave it/meawayyyyy and the ski chalet-set video is cheese central, natch but the thing that gives the song its most stomach-dropping resonance these days is undoubtedly the memory of Christmas 2016. Playing for over 20 years in the Northwest, this Seattle Christmas Trio's performer is equally at home as a solo pianist or working with everything from small combos to big bands. JOSH GLICKSMAN, Why Its a Gift: CarlaMorrisonsNavidadanthem Jess is a gauzy indie rock ballad off her 2016 EPLa Nia del Tambor. Schmaltz Factor: 6. NEENA ROUHANI. N.R. 45 on Hot Country Songs in 2004. The Christmas Song was a big part of that during the holidays. Whether you're at a Christmas party, family gathering or driving. BDP relaunches with a gag-worthy movie screening. Schmaltz Factor: 5. Schmaltz Factor: 7. But when you take that yule log out of your ass, its hard to deny the charming ebullience of McCartneys seasonal synth sing-along. The legendary singer mostly keeps it snappy as listeners frolic throughwinter-themed bliss, but dont be mistaken:Bennett takes advantage of moments, both small (expanding fire into fi-yah-ah-ahhh) and large (the songs rousing conclusion), to remind people that he knows how to work a crowd. well, corny a holiday lyric as they come, but Fitzgerald paces her way through it (and the rest of the song) so quickly and delightfully that theres simply no time to get bogged down in the thickness. Schmaltz Factor: 1. Sure, there are warm recollections of snow-shoveling and sled-riding, but that bit about the father throwing gifts in the wood stove helps explain the song title here. Why Its a Gift:Although the C-word appears in the title, this track from theLipsEgo Tripping at the Gates of Hell EP is not your typical holly jolly horsest. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. STEPHEN DAW, Why Its a Gift: Dance-punk outfit !!! Trying to keep the schmaltz out of a McCartney song is like withholding presents from children on Christmas Eve; sure, you can do it, but why not let a perfect pairing do its thing? A.U. Thanks to Berlins deft lyrical detail and simplicity, its hardly hokey. The Gents. JASON LIPSHUTZ. His voice just echoes every emotion I feel at the same time, and yet he sounds so cool and natural and effortless. JESSICA NICHOLSON. With Berrys signature guitar riffs, Run Rudolph Run could melodically fit on any secular rock record, but his whimsical lyrics of Rudolph whizzin like a shootin star make it a holiday staple. With homesick lyrics by the Canadian-born California transplant (It dont snow here/ It stays pretty green), the song soars on Mitchells soprano with one of pop musics most evocative holiday lyrics of longing and regret: I wish I had a riverI could skate away on.. Away in a Manger is one of my favorite Christmas songs of all time. But withColes casual vocal precision in play, this 1960 recording of a centuries-old classic feels like a fitting tug-of-war between play-acting and authenticity. Schmaltz Factor: 4. It is from a musical, after all, so Garlands impassioned delivery is to be expected, but mostly this is an unfussy affair. Schmaltz Factor: 5. Why Its a Gift: At the absolute height ofBritneySpearss cultural dominance in 2000, she decided to spread some holiday cheer (via melancholic lyrics) with this Christmas banger. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Un ao ms is a laundry list of every New Years celebration customary in Spain. Its unexpectedly sentimental, and its association with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and the rest of the bunch makes Guaraldis O Tannenbaum cozy, cute and at least slightly schmaltzy by default. Why Its a Gift: Prince was so unbeatable in 1984 that he could relegate a wholly original and heartbreaking holiday song to B-side status (I Would Die 4 U was the A-side) and no one blinked. Why Its a Gift: For multiple generations, this boppy little jam is the sonic personification of the entire holiday season. All rights reserved. Her vocal on Merry Christmas Darling as she longs for her loved one, who is away for Christmas and New Years Day, is pure, sublime perfection. VE. 4 (Dec. 2012). It was a perfect match: Guaraldi strings together elegant, enticing arrangements that reflect the spirit and mood of Schulz's work . Felicianos deadpan delivery contrasts with lyrics that go from childish to heartfelt: I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, from the bottom of my heart. , have ushered in each of the last 28 Christmas seasons. The three-minute roast fest of theGrinchlays on burn after relentless burn, bringing a strange sense of levity to the holiday season. Why Its a Gift:ElBurrito Sabanero has been covered by many artists, including Juanes and Aloe Blacc, but its the original 1972 release by childrens musical group La Rondallita that endures, almost 50 years later. Its still Bing, but its too sunny to be all that schmaltzy. Instead, he offers a funky plea to help those who dont have from someone who knows how it feels to wake up to an empty space under the tree on Christmas morning. Why Its a Gift: Karen Carpenter, Karen Carpenter, Karen Carpenter. But those voices? From the Popular songs hitting the BillBoards to the golden oldies like June. The famously battling brudders managed to keep it civil while paying homage to their favorite girl group sound on a surprisingly joyous ditty about sharing love and good cheer while avoiding the usual Christmas crack-ups. I played it every day (followed by McCartney II). But its that holiday setting that makes the story unforgettable: So many seasonal classics focus on the importance and safety of being home for the holidays that framing Xmas as the backdrop for a traumatized Millies revenge makes it a particularly knuckles-out gut punch. The song gives in to a Hollywood ending. Even for an early-2000s pop track, this song is absolutely dripping with the sugar-soaked, overly-sentimental lyrics that made Spears a star. Schmaltz Factor: 8. Amazing. Subscribe 972K views 8 years ago Eddie Higgins Trio's jazzy piano "Christmas Songs" in high quality. The songs not exactly tougher than leather, but its hip-hop soul keeps the yuletide joy in check, as exemplified by the lyric, The rhymes you hear are the rhymes of Darryls, but each and every year we bust Christmas carols. F.D. Between its gospel undertones, ad-libbed verses like If I had one wish in this world / It would be that all men would be free and Franklins deep bass wishing everyone a heartfelt Merry Christmas, this 1980 Silent Night truly hits home 41 years later in the wake of the ongoing pandemic and social unrest. And the line at the end, Everything here is beautiful, I can feel it. The holidays can bring a lot of people pain, and I think that we look to these kind of heartbreak songs during that time because its really important to represent, or to be represented, if that holiday brings back hard memories, or if you have lost someone that you think about in a concentrated way during that time. Released in 1966 partially in response to the Vietnam War the song calls for an end to global conflict and a world where every person is free, along with a gorgeous bassline and a joyous melody that makes it feel at home amongst Christmas classics. Why Its a Gift: Band Aid came together with the best intentions if not always the best lyrics to record this plea for a moment of universal holiday selflessness in 1984, a rare (effective) Christmas song that gives more consideration to the world outside the homestead than the one within. It was my first Christmas ever outside of Australia and I spent it in the desert in Joshua Tree. , Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Fan Army Face-Off Enters Quarterfinals: Vote for Your Favorite Artist Among the Elite8, 6ix9ine Pulled From Premios Juventud Performance Due to SafetyConcerns, Here Are the Best Earplugs to Help Protect Your Hearing atConcerts. She conveys the perfect mix of yearning, sadness and hope since she knows, even though its unspoken, they will be joyfully reunited after the holidays. Why Its a Gift: Christmas Wrapping is the most the only? They give the song this washy, ethereal magic that makes you want to play it on repeat. But today Im really feeling Merry Christmas, Baby, by Otis Redding, which has long been one of my top picks. I wrote this song years ago with the Chambers Brothers, and Moonalice has reimagined it for the 2022 holiday season. Number of courts: 4. I like the erotic twist on sliding down your chimney and the idea of being someones sexual Santa. I like this song because I love the melody. Why Its a Gift: This tale of a bullied reindeer who becomes the storys hero after leading Santas team through a foggy Christmas Eve thanks to his shiny red nose is an enduring classic. Though it spends most of its runtime as the least-sentimental popular Christmas song since Thurl Ravenscroft, it does wind down to a rather hard-earned very happy ending as Donahue links up at the last second with a guy whos also spending the holidays alone, and ultimately changes her tune to Merry Christmas/ Couldnt miss this one this year. A.U. The National WW2 Museum's Victory Belles are proud to pay tribute to the Andrews Sisters performing their music daily in the Stage Door Canteen in New Orleans. A salsa song that takes you on a journey through a Puerto Rican Christmas, especially an asalto navideo, which is how the barrios celebrate, Aires de Navidad has just the right amount of sentimental value.
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