Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling-A-Ding-Dong-Ding



Just like the song says, "just hear those sleigh bells jingling ring ting tingling too", once you hear them it's hard not to sing right along. "Come on it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you."

Admit it. Your car radio has been on the local all Christmas music-all the time station for weeks and your heart beats a little merrier when you listen to the songs of the season. There are so many Christmas songs that put us in the mood for merriment, I wondered which ones would be in the Top 5 of all time.

According to Billboard Charts, these are the Top 5 Holiday Songs of all time:

#5. Burl Ives, "Holly Jolly Christmas". Not bad for a song that was recorded for a children's Christmas tale like "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer." Who could forget his snowman voice overs and rendition of this song.

#4. Bobby Helms, "Jingle Bell Rock".  First recorded in 1957, this song has been recorded and re-recorded by thousands of others, but Helms version is the one we want to hear. The distinctive guitar that belts out the melody in the opening seconds of the song are best known.

#3. Nat King Cole, "The Christmas Song". What would Christmas be like without this soft and soulful rendition from Nat King Cole. Roasting chestnuts has never sounded so good.

#2. Brenda Lee, "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree". Brenda Lee, a singer who sang rock pop and country hits, was best know for this Christmas song. She was 13 at the time she recorded this Christmas hit in 1958.

And the Number 1 most beloved Christmas song of all time, (according to Billboard)

#1. Mariah Carey, "All I want for Christmas is You". Yup, my very own doppelganger. Written by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff and recorded in 1994, this song remains one of the best selling singles OF ALL TIME. The thing about this song is, even though at this time of year, when they play it four thousand times a day, it still makes me smile and gets my feet tapping. And it's one of the most covered too. Michael Buble brought it down tempo with his smooth vocals and lots of other performers have tried to cover it, but in reality, there's only one Mariah, and nobody even comes close when it comes to this song.


So bloggers, did I forget anyone? Any song? Any favorites? 

6 comments:

MarkD60 said...

Really? REALLY?
The worst thing about Christmas is the music. The definition of a good Christmas song is how well it gets stuck in your head and keeps repeating over and over again. In other words, the worst songs are considered the best.
Everybody hates Christmas music.

Heff said...

"BAAAAAHMMMMPPP !!!"

WRONG ANSWER.

This is ALL YOU NEED, BABY !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Christmas_%28Johnny_Mathis_album%29

Happy Mommy said...

I find it hard to believe the Christmas Rape Song wasn't on the list. You probably know it as "Baby, It's Cold Outside" but if ever there was a song that promotes date rape, this has got to be it. And yet, whenever it comes on the radio, I turn it up.

SkylersDad said...

O Holy Night is my fav!

the walking man said...

Israel "IZ" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole
Somewhere over the Rainbow.what a wonderful world, not really Christmas but one of the best songs I know, http://youtu.be/y5JicO2bKec



This one you probably don't have on your Christmas playlist either but I like it and rank it right up there with Iz singing.

http://youtu.be/HKnxmkOAj88

Jeff Buckley covering Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"

If you're not familiar with them give them a listen.

Furtheron said...

Holy moly...

Pogues - Fairytale of New York
John Lennon - Merry Christmas War is Over.
Greg Lake - I believe in Father Christmas

ALL worthy of being in the top 5 surely!