Christmas Music: Classic or Modern?

[Samuraiflip05]

When it comes to your favorite Holiday songs, are you more inclined to listen to the classics recorded by the early artists, or are you always looking for your favorite current singer/band to release some updated versions. 

 

Try to be descriptive if you can.  Don't say "I like newer, cause old music sucks," or "These punks and their hippity hop are ruining the songs." 

 

Give reason where possible.  "I like Eartha Kitt's version of Santa Baby, because her voice had just the right amount of innocence and sex appeal for the song." 

 

Most of all have fun this is a chance to justify your favorite holiday songs, and why they are the best ever.

[Samuraiflip05]

To start things along....I will state that my favorite version of "Blue Christmas" is the Elvis Presley one.  Technically I am not old enough to have heard this "live" as he died shortly after I was born.  But, there is just something about the way he sang the song, especially since it is a very bluesy type of Christmas song.  I can never hear another version of the song without chiming in with the Elvis uh-huh's. 

 

I also admittedly have a reluctance to change.  Once I have heard a version of a song, and grown to like it I tend to scrutinize later versions or remakes.  IMO if you are going to remake a song, either be true to the original or completely different, otherwise it's just blah.

[Jeannaisais]

My view on christmas music is probably a little different than most.  My absolute favorite christmas CD is Michael W. Smith's very first christmas CD.  It is almost completely instrumental, but it is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.  IMO, it ties with the Manheim Steamrollers.

 

On the other hand, I basically like the classic versions  mostly because I very rarely listen to the new versions.  If an artist I listen to (mostly CCM artists) does do a christmas CD, more often than not the music is true to the classics.

 

I suppose I could also say that up until a few years ago the only christmas music I listened to was the music I would play myself while sitting in front of the piano.  Then I could change if I wanted to, but I rarely did.

 

So, basically, I'm a sucker for the Classics when it comes to christmas music.  Not because modern isn't good, but because that's just what's in my music library, lol!

[KingKastchei]

When I was young, we used to have a huge collection of Christmas Music LP's that we'd listen to every christmas.  Stuff by Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, all the classics.  My favorite was the Johnny Mathis album.  I love the classics and even though we no longer have those old LP's, we've replaced them with CD's of many of the same songs.  My particular favorite style of Christmas music is Big Band Swing and Soul.  I do tend to think that the classic renditions are better, but every once in a while somebody will put out a new version of an old song that's pretty good too.  Unfortunately, with a few rare exceptions, most of the newly written Christmas songs are not very good, either focusing on the commercialism that has invaded Christmas or just another sappy love song with Christmas themes thrown in to make it more marketable.

[Samuraiflip05]

Very true.  Love, or longing does seem to be behind alot of newer Christmas songs.  Of, course it is not lost on older ones either...lol...example my above choice.  ;D

 

One modern group that has the christmas thing right, since that is what they concentrate on, is Trans Siberian Orchestra.  I got a chance to seem them perform in STL 2 years ago.  It was a really great show that brings christmas to the "rock generation"...lol. 

 

Oh and My wife was once able to perform (Choir) with memebers of Manheim Steamroller.

[Jeannaisais]

She got to perform with them?!  :o  Amazing!

[Corki]

Firstly, thank you very much for mentioning Trans Siberian Rock! I had never heard of them before, but after checking out YouTube, I was extremely impressed! I will be looking out for albums! :)

 

I don't think the Christmas songs of today are a patch on the old ones. Over here in the UK, it always seem that the current music reality TV programme tries to pick their winner just in time for the battle for Christmas number 1. And most of the songs lack any Christmasy feel. As a result, I feel today's songs are more about money than the fun and joy of Christmas.

 

Compare it with songs like Slade and Wizzard. These are fun Christmas songs. They deal with Christmas time, unlike todays songs. And the other thing that differs - the fact they are Christmas themed means they have lasted unlike today's Christmas songs.

 

Long live the Classic Christmas songs!

[Majsju]

I'm not a big fsan of christmas music as a genre. The few songs I do like are those with a melody that would work even if the lyrics was "Lalala blabla"

 

So the versions I like the most are the ojnes with the greatest vocalists, like Jussi Björling, Pavarotti, or the greatest choir versions, like Vuenna Boys Choir.

 

As much as I do love Morrissey, I really don't have any wish to hear him sing Holy Night:

[Taymist]

Christmas music to me is mostly about Carols and Hymns that I grew up with and preferrably sung by some of the best Church choirs. Christmas to me is a religious occasion and a celebration of Christ's birth so regardless of what it may mean to anyone else, I like my music to reflect that fact.  :)

[Samuraiflip05]

I would have to agree that a good choir can bring alot out of a holiday carol.  Of course people usually don't want to hear a coir on the radio, hence solo artists/bands get all the airplay. 

[Talya]

I love Christmas Carols, especially to sing. I was in a choir at school and would sing my heart out. I also think that they represent what Christmas is all about. I like to hear them sung by choirs, but I do have some versions sang by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, I just love their Voices.

 

But I also love to hear the 'Christmas Hits', mostly these are older and as Corki mentioned they are fun, so the likes of Slade and Wizzard bring out the child in me this time of year. I can't think of any recent ones that appeal to me though. I didn't like the new version of Do they know it's Christmas which is to me, the Original was fantastic.

 

I will listen to most things though from Frank Sinatra, to Phil Spectre, The Pogues, paul macartney, Mud...okay so most of them are old...not the new. In fact I can't think of any new Christmas songs in the last ten years, apart from Angel by Robbie Williams which has to be one of the best records, I just love that song.

[Taymist]

Of the modern songs my favourite is Fairytale of New York... just love that song but it has to be done by The Pogues and Kirsty to be right *noddity nod*

[KingKastchei]

If you're wanting to get a Trans Siberian Orchestra christmas album, Corki, start with Christmas Eve and Other Stories.  That's got all their best stuff on it. 

 

btw, Sam, I wasn't refering to songs like Blue Christmas or I'll Be Home For Christmas when I made that reference to "Christmas" love songs! :P Almost all of the older songs, even if they have to do with love and longing, still have Christmas itself as the central theme of the song, unlike a lot of modern ones which focus more on the love or longing rather than the holiday itself. 

 

I too love the choral Christmas carols and hymns as well!  It's very true that not all the Christmas songs have to do with the true meaning of Christmas, but that doesn't mean they're not good or don't impart the Christmas spirit.  I think a lot of that has to do with tradition, though, more than anything else...

[Samuraiflip05]

KK, okay I see what you mean....of course some of that may have to do with the idea of things being "Holidays" instead of "Christmas". 

 

Jea, my wife reminded me that she also got to perform at Carnegie Hall with John Ritter(??) the composer.

[Jeannaisais]

Wow, that's cool.  Not sure which composer that is, but it's still a pretty big thing to perform in Carnegie Hall!  Our high school choir almost got to go, but price factors changed that pretty soon after they made the decision to go...they didn't get the plane tickets early enough and it turned out to be too much for most of the students.

[Corki]

Thanks for the advise, KK! I will do so when I hav a bit more money! lol!

 

As for Christmas Carols, my parents have a wide variety of CDs. Some are the more traditional ones, but several are modern ones, which are very good. If I get the chance to find them before it is too late, I'll put some album names up.

[Samuraiflip05]

Yeah Jea, the choir at the Community College I work at has gone to New York twice and London once in the last 5 years.  I don't remember where they performed in London. Neither me nor my wife were in it then.

 

For Christmas, is there any better version of Frosty the Snowman than Jimmy Durante(From the Cartoon TV Movie)?