Hey everyone! :huggle: Just dropping by to let everyone know I haven't forgotten you
especially during this special time of the year. So to spread the cheer, why not share our favourite Christmas songs?
This thread works pretty much in excatly the same way as the
The Best Songs Ever Thread - just post a link to your favourite songs. They can be anything - traditional carols or pop hits, religious songs or secular ones, they can be happy or depressing, deep and profound or cheesy and sappy, even several cover versions of the same song; whatever makes you think of Christmas and puts you in the best mood for the holiday. The ones you
love to hear (or love to hate). Let us know your favourites! :gift:
Anyway, here are some of my all-time Xmas songs...
Carol of the Bells - John Williams.I've
loved this song ever since I was a little girl and it's been my favourite traditional Christmas song for as long as I can remember. It's so unusual, mysterious and haunting. It's almost a dark song, but not quite. Anyway, this is John Williams' version (from the "Home Alone" OST). I've heard loads of brilliant versions of this song, but I chose that one for the thread because it's excellent and HA 1&2 were two of my favourite Christmas movies when I was little (wait, who am I kidding? I'd watch them
now if they were on!), so hearing this version brings back a lot of good memories.
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl.I don't think anyone needs to be told how awesome this song is. It's only the best modern Christmas pop song
ever. It's funny, sad, touching, clever, and a really great tune...and somehow very anti-Christmas-y and absolutely Christmas-y at the same time.
December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush.This song is just gorgeous; I only found it recently and fell madly in love with it right away. Kate Bush is a genius. Like the title suggests, it's just so full of Christmasy and snowy
magic. It's so full of Christmas spirit, and I want to listen to it over and over again. I can't help have the impression that Kate really does love Christmas, you can hear her affection for this time of year in the song and in how she captures so much of what makes Christmas special, gorgeous and otherworldly. The bridge leading up to the chorus (with all those lovely "dooohs") is so chilling and beautiful, I can't get it out of my head. Please listen to this one.
Silent Night - Sinead O'Connor.I'm not religious anymore, but I still
love carols. And this particular one still sends chills through me, and Sinead O'Connor's version is simply the best I've heard. Her voice and style is absolutely perfect for this song. She evokes everything that this song is supposed to be about, and it sounds so genuinely spiritual and full of stillness and beauty.
Mad World - Gary Jules.Okay, not exactly a Christmas song, right?
Actually, this song was the Christmas Number 1 a couple of years ago here in the UK (after a long run against The Darkness' Xmas single) so whenever I hear it, I can't help thinking of Christmas. I guess we all were in the mood for a depressing Christmas that year, but it does make me think a lot about the dark side of the holiday, of the many people living alone and the fact that there are more suicides this time of year than any other. It's such a lonely song, and captures the sad side of this holiday beautifully.
Ice Dance - Danny Elfman.If you don't recognise where this piece is from, then shame on you! "Edward Scissorhands" is such a perfect Christmas movie, and this piece of music is just so wonderful and touching, it always moves me. I fell in love with this film and especially this scene years ago - it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in a movie up until that point, and I never forgot it. it made such an impression on me when I was nine years old, and I've always loved the film, this scene and the soundtrack. Listen to this, and dream about dancing under the falling snow.
A Spaceman Came Travelling - Chris de Burgh.Okay, this song is
very sentimental, I admit. But it's the good kind! And the chorus is so catchy! It's a great song, it makes me want to sing, and it's full of joy, and I think that
that's what counts, epecially during this season.
Walking in the Air - Peter Auty.Ah,
The Snowman. Everything magical, emotional and beautiful about Christmas summed-up in two words. This cartoon still moves me very much, and I love it, and the song evokes all those emotions. This song is amazingly beautiful and captured my imagination as a child - it still does. It's so magical and both uplifting and haunting at the same time. Definitely one of the best Christmas songs ever, no argument. And ah heck, here's
the Nightwish cover and
Tarja Turunen's solo attempt. Both gorgeous and powerful versions!
Winter Wonderland - Cocteau Twins.This is a lovely song, and this is my favourite version of it. It's really the version that made me adore this song. It sounds both very teasing and playful and strangely sad and reflective in places, so I make something different of the emotion behind it nearly every time I hear it. Elizabeth Fraser's voice is the most gorgeous thing ever (it's so dreamy and
warm, and that's so perfect for this kind of song) and it makes this song seem much more snowy, beautiful and magical than any other version I've heard. Really, really pretty - like dancing in a snowglobe.
Anyway, those are my faves. I hope you'll post yours too, everyone - I have such a thing for Christmas songs, and I'd LOVE to hear all the songs closest to your hearts! Share the seasonal magic!