Image via Wikipedia
OK, I am sure that every one falls into either one (or both) groups when it comes to Christmas songs: you either hate Christmas songs or (and?) you have already read about a hundred of these posts. But for some reason I just cannot help myself. Typical of a blogger, I guess: “You MUST know all the minutiae of my thoughts!”
But I digress. Before I start, I have to point out that I just cannot get into Christmas music that is just about being in love, or with family, or Santa, or you know–anything that doesn’t have to do with the birth of Christ. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not a religious prude or a Scrooge. Many are even pretty good music, or at least very catchy. I defy you to hear “Sleigh Ride” or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and not be humming them for the rest of the day. It’s just that most of them are extremely heavy on the schmaltz with an extra helping of cheese. But there is one notable exception for me. A song that I love so much I will make it my
Honorable Mention
“Blue Christmas” Elvis wasn’t just the King of Rock and Roll, for me he is the King of Non-Christmas Christmas songs.
With that, on to the list:
5) Joseph’s Song
By Tonic Sof-Fa. Although there are a few written from Joseph’s perspective (including a different one with the same title) there aren’t many. Why do I love this song? Parents, consider this: remember holding your child and having the gut feeling that he or she was going to change your life forever? Consider holding that child and having the gut feeling that he was going to change history forever. No video, but give it a click. You won’t be sorry.
4) Hallelujah
Probably the most famous choral movement of all time, there is just so much that I love about this song. It is so quintessentially Handel. I love hearing it performed live, and nearly jumping to my feet at the first couple of notes, as per tradition. I have performed it so many times with various choirs that I can sing the bass part in my sleep.
3) Silent Night
So simple and elegant. Wunderschöne, Franz Gruber. Performed here by Bing Crosby, because you can’t have Christmas songs without Bing in there somewhere.
2) O Come, O Come Veni Veni Emmanuel
Although I was born post Vatican II and never had to sit through a Latin Mass, none-the-less I have sung in enough Catholic choirs to have become aquainted with the Latin version, and I must say there is just something to it that burrows itself a little deeper into my soul.
1) O Holy Night
Not much else to say here.
Some others’ (some serious, some humorous) takes on Christmas music:
Related articles
- Christmas music makes the season more merry (goerie.com)
- 73 Songs for the Christmas Season (earphoneadventures.wordpress.com)
- Christmas Songs That Exalt Jesus Christ (socyberty.com)
- LISTEN: Top 15 Most Annoying Christmas Songs (997now.radio.com)
- Yule’s gold: how to make the perfect Christmas compilation (guardian.co.uk)
reclaiming ryan 