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Jilly_in_VA

(13,600 posts)

82. I like most of the traditional carols

Wed Nov 26, 2025, 12:34 PM

Yesterday

except for Good King Wenceslaus which is not really a Christmas carol anyway (it takes place on St. Stephen's Day, which is the day after Christmas, aka Boxing Day in the UK and Commonwealth countries).

My absolute least favorite is "Mary Did You Know", not only because it's maudlin, but because it's theologically unsound. Any halfway Christian person who's familiar with their Bible knaow that yes, she damn well DID know!

The little Drummer Boy always makes me giggle because when we sang it in my college choir, somebody proposed switching the little finger cymbals in the arrangement with the big cymbals in "The Great Gate of Kyiv" from Moussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition".

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debm55 electric_blue68

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Well , they started the Christmas songs around here,24/7. Can you name the best and the worst Christmas songs. Mine are [View all] debm55 Tuesday OP

Grandma got run over by a reindeer. -- worst. Ilsa Tuesday #1

Thank you very much, lisa, I agree with your choices. debm55 Yesterday #20

"Sleigh Ride" gets my vote for best! FM123 Tuesday #2

FM123, thank you very much. I have many bests and "Sleigh Ride" is one of them. debm55 Yesterday #21

...where the word Christmas is never used. Grins 4 hrs ago #180

OK, here goes. Ocelot II Tuesday #3

Very well said. Big Blue Marble Yesterday #17

Hahahaha! Thanks! Ocelot II Yesterday #51

Thank you very much, Ocelot II, I agree with you post. debm55 Yesterday #22

I was going to say "Silent Night" as the worst as well genxlib Yesterday #26

My 2nd grade teacher taught our class to sing "Silent Night" in German, don't know why but I liked that version... wcmagumba 23 hrs ago #103

The original is German, so the words fit the melody better. Ocelot II 17 hrs ago #158

That makes sense. Couldn't remember from 2nd grade but Mrs. Pettus probably told us... wcmagumba 17 hrs ago #162

We sang "Oh, Christmas Tree" in German Grins 5 hrs ago #178

Another favorite electric_blue68 3 hrs ago #182

But when it is sung by Dinah Washington... Tom Dyer 22 hrs ago #107

One exception... Grins 4 hrs ago #181

That was very funny description of your Silent Night Christmas Eve Mass experience! electric_blue68 18 hrs ago #148

Best - Jethro Tull - A Christmas Song Rigpa108 Tuesday #4

Thank you very much, Rigpa 108 debm55 Yesterday #23

Best: Someday at Christmas, Stevie Wonder SheltieLover Yesterday #5

Thank you, SheltieLover. I so enjoy anything by Stevie Wonder. debm55 Yesterday #24

Oh how I love that song! FM123 Yesterday #27

Sadly radio stations avoid playing it...patriarchy, you know. SheltieLover Yesterday #46

Never heard this. Very nice. electric_blue68 18 hrs ago #149

Glad you enjoyed! SheltieLover 18 hrs ago #151

Heh. electric_blue68 17 hrs ago #159

oppression of religious minorities is well under way nt msongs Yesterday #6

Thank you for your concern.msongs. I am so glad that you selected my thread to post on. debm55 22 hrs ago #113

My best DBoon Yesterday #7

Thank you very much, DBoon. Lovely song. debm55 Yesterday #25

My current fave and second fave. amerikat Yesterday #8

Thank you very much for your wonderful choices. debm55 Yesterday #36

I love xmas music, i also loathe a lot it as well. Coventina Yesterday #9

Thank you very much, Coventina. I also don't like the 12 Days of Chirstmas. too boring, I like the tradition carols also debm55 Yesterday #38

I will always enjoy Twelve Days of Christmas because of one event: A Christmas Parade yellowdogintexas Yesterday #64

Now that version is not boring, thank you for posting that. Thank you , very much. Yellowdogintexas. debm55 Yesterday #75

Oh, that was very fun and clever! electric_blue68 18 hrs ago #150

Best: Carol of the Bells. Worst: too many to name Hassler Yesterday #10

Thank you very much Hassler. Love, Love, Love the Carol of the Bells in any version. There are a lot for me then debm55 Yesterday #40

Have you seen the Ukrainian versions on YouTube? They are beautiful yellowdogintexas Yesterday #70

Dyakuna. yellowdogintexas. As an Ukrainian American. I thank you very much for the history of the Carol of the Bells debm55 Yesterday #74

TY! electric_blue68 19 hrs ago #141

OK, this is weird, but here goes av8rdave Yesterday #11

I agree with you, av8rdave. Your best are great choices. and your worst , I absolutley agree with. It's a stinker. debm55 Yesterday #42

My favorite is a good majestic instrumental version of O Come All Ye Faithful. 3catwoman3 Yesterday #12

I love memories like your piano guy Nittersing Yesterday #35

Thank you very much 3catwoman3 I love the grand instrumental songs also, I still have to find the The Christmas Shoes. debm55 Yesterday #43

I would recommend not wasting your time listening to it. 3catwoman3 Yesterday #59

Thank you 3catwoman. That is a very depressing song. I don't need depressing now. How could that in heaven's name be debm55 Yesterday #60

Patton Oswalt's comedy routine on the Christmas Shoes is hilarious though. Wiz Imp 20 hrs ago #123

Christmas Shoes is the most depressing syrupy dreck ever! Diamond_Dog 19 hrs ago #139

I Believe in Father Christmas. It is a beautiful and meaning song, Thank you for posting it Diamond_Dog. debm55 18 hrs ago #143

There are some I love to sing with a caroling group. Permanut Yesterday #13

Thank you very much, Permanut. Beautiful songs/carols. debm55 Yesterday #44

The worst Christmas song, the theme to "Die Hard". marble falls Yesterday #14

Thank you very much,marble falls. I have never seen the movie. I guess that is why some consider it a Christmas movie. debm55 Yesterday #45

Back in the early DU days, there were some angry arguments about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not ... marble falls 22 hrs ago #112

Thank you marble falls, I didn't go into the thread because I didn't see the Movie. but i do remember a number of thread debm55 21 hrs ago #120

Special effects, lots of shooting, Bruce Willis and Christmas: what more does one need? No watching necessary. marble falls 7 hrs ago #171

Thank you marble falls and have a wonder Thanksgiving. debm55 6 hrs ago #173

Very Best: Grown Up Christmas List MorbidButterflyTat Yesterday #15

Thank you very much, MorbidButterfly. Great carol. debm55 Yesterday #65

I'll give you two of my favorites moniss Yesterday #16

Thank you very much, moniss . Both beautiful songs. debm55 Yesterday #67

Two categories for me, carols and Christmas songs. LisaM Yesterday #18

Thank you LisaM, I like the classic songs and carols too. The novelty songs are among the worst. debm55 Yesterday #68

My favorite... yourout Yesterday #19

Thank you very much for your beautiful selections, yourout. debm55 Yesterday #29

Brenda Lee is also one of my favorites. This one in particular. yourout Yesterday #37

Thank you very much yourout for your selection. Have a great Thanksgiving my friend. debm55 18 hrs ago #144

What's wrong with the Velvet Fog? LisaM Yesterday #71

Best - "Sleigh Ride"; Worst - "The Christmas Shoes" Mad_Dem_X Yesterday #28

Mad_Dem_X Thank you you very much for your selections. I have never heard "The Christmas Shoes" I will have to debm55 Yesterday #31

To me, it's just an over-the-top tearjerker. Mad_Dem_X 22 hrs ago #108

I love "Sleigh Ride"! The composer was LeRoy Anderson yellowdogintexas Yesterday #58

Thank you very much , yellowdogintexas. Yes it is can be used all winter. debm55 18 hrs ago #146

If true he was trying to think "Cold" thoughts! electric_blue68 18 hrs ago #153

I an totally nboard with your Carole of the Bells choice, whih version do ou prefer? lark Yesterday #30

Thank you lark. I like the Transsiberian Orchesstra version the best. But it is a song you just can't go wrong with. My debm55 Yesterday #33

The TSO rendition totally rocks. When you get to the part near... 3catwoman3 Yesterday #63

Thank you 3catwoman3 I totally agree debm55 18 hrs ago #154

There are so many of each, but ... 31st Street Bridge Yesterday #32

Thank you very much for your list. Love, Father Christmas by Greg Lake. You don't like Rudolph!!!!!!! Hey are you in debm55 Yesterday #78

Yes, I'm in Glenshaw! 31st Street Bridge Yesterday #88

thank you very much. 31st Bridge. I live in Jefferson Hills about 10 miles south of Pittsburgh. debm55 Yesterday #92

Thank you, very much! 31st Street Bridge Yesterday #96

Small world ... I grew up in Pleasant Hills FakeNoose 6 hrs ago #172

Yes, lots of construction around here. I live very near where they are bringing the turnpike up from WV to Pittsburgh. debm55 6 hrs ago #174

My best is Christmas Eve thomski64 Yesterday #34

Oh you, Thank you very much for your selection, thomski664. debm55 Yesterday #79

In Chicago on 93.9 FM they started the Monday after Halloween. Chasstev365 Yesterday #39

Oh wow , that is early. Thank you for sharing with us Chasstev365. debm55 Yesterday #72

Best Christmas cover version ever: Jack Johnson doing Stevie Wonder's Someday at Christmas Chasstev365 Yesterday #41

Thank you very much for sharing with us. Chasstev365 debm55 Yesterday #52

I enjoy most christmas carols/songs, mwmisses4289 Yesterday #47

Thank you very much, mwmisses4389. You are right correct about the Hallelujay Chorus. Yes the quieter songs are very debm55 Yesterday #49

My very favorite is "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" get the red out Yesterday #48

Thank you very much get the red out. I agree with you on your favorite songs- mellow. debm55 Yesterday #50

Two of the worst for me: The Little Drummer Boy and Silent Night. Polly Hennessey Yesterday #53

Thank you very much my Polly Hennessey. I like The First Noel.too. debm55 Yesterday #83

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is my favorite. sop Yesterday #54

I agree, sop, I love the song with Frank singing it. debm55 Yesterday #84

I love "Snoopy's Christmas" because I like the chorus and MIButterfly Yesterday #55

Love your selections and reasons you selected Thank you very much, MIButterfly. Love ya. debm55 18 hrs ago #147

Right back at ya, debm55! MIButterfly 18 hrs ago #152

It's not a Christmas song but I like the Pretenders' "2000 Miles." Vogon_Glory Yesterday #56

Thank you Vogon_Glory, If it put you in the Christmas spirit it's a Christmas song. debm55 17 hrs ago #157

O Holy Night Dear_Prudence Yesterday #57

Thank you very much, Dear_Prudence. I understand completely. debm55 17 hrs ago #161

Favorite: O Come, O Come Emmanuel catbyte Yesterday #61

Thank you very much, catbyte. I loved that carol from when I was young. Simply a beautiful song. At my church is was debm55 Yesterday #85

Best -Oh Holy Night Progressive dog Yesterday #62

Thank you very much, Progressive dog. I agree with your choices. debm55 Yesterday #94

My absolute fav is Mariah's All I Want for Christmas is You! We went to her Christmas concert last year around beaglelover Yesterday #66

Wow, that sounds like a great experience. Thank you for sharing beaglelover. debm55 16 hrs ago #166

As noted in a few other threads, there are Christmas carols, and then there are Christmas songs. 3catwoman3 Yesterday #69

Thank you very much , 3catwoman3 I too like the traditional Christmas music the best. debm55 5 hrs ago #179

Favorites: Sleigh Ride; Carol of the Bells, and orchestral renditions in the Classical Style yellowdogintexas Yesterday #73

My favorite Keepthesoulalive Yesterday #76

Father Christmas by The Kinks underpants Yesterday #77

Worst - The top 10! They get played FAR too often dickthegrouch Yesterday #80

Thank you dickthegrouch. Love the sounds of the two songs. Absolutely beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving, dear friend. debm55 23 hrs ago #98

Best, by miles - the Murphs, The Season's Upon Us RandomNumbers Yesterday #81

Thank you very much, RandowNumbers , I love the Murphs. This is one fun song I do like. Yes worse then my family ,but debm55 Yesterday #89

Oh yes, I think the genius of the song RandomNumbers Yesterday #90

My husband is from Boston and we have seen them a couple of times. I agree with you. debm55 Yesterday #91

I like most of the traditional carols Jilly_in_VA Yesterday #82

Thank you, you very much Jilly_in_VA. I agree with you on all three counts. Thank you and may you have a Happy debm55 23 hrs ago #100

I can only stomach ONE christmas songs...ok, make that two. In this order. Ferrets are Cool Yesterday #86

Ferrets are Cool , I want to thank you for posting these songs. I had chills watching them both, Especially Greg Lake debm55 Yesterday #87

Oh, I just thought of another favorite. catbyte Yesterday #93

HAHAHAHAHAHA. that is funny. It brings the boring song to life. Thank you catbyte. debm55 Yesterday #95

I love this! Mad_Dem_X 22 hrs ago #109

The best and most irreverent is Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks - Carol of the Bells Brother Buzz 23 hrs ago #97

OMG, that is hilarious. Thank you Brother Buzz. Love ya. debm55 23 hrs ago #99

Best. None. Don't like Xmas songs. bullimiami 23 hrs ago #101

Thank you for sharing with us. debm55 23 hrs ago #102

No best and worst for me, I really only listen to Classical Christmas music (orchestrated) on WQXR Holiday streaming... wcmagumba 23 hrs ago #104

Thank you for sharing that link, wcmagumba. Sometimes I just need soothing holiday music. debm55 22 hrs ago #105

This message was self-deleted by its author wcmagumba 22 hrs ago #106

Me too, just wanted to let you know I deleted my last post cause I don't want to seem pushy about this station.. wcmagumba 22 hrs ago #110

Oh no, you weren't too pushy , Just a sharing poster here and I thank you wcmagumba. debm55 21 hrs ago #119

Thanks debm55, I thought of one song I don't much care for, It's "Jingle Bells" done by the barking dogs... wcmagumba 21 hrs ago #121

Thank you wcmagumba. But I must tell you I sorta liked it when it first came out. they have one done by cats. debm55 20 hrs ago #122

I think when on a visit to cousins out of state as a kid the station they listened to played the dogs every 5 minutes... wcmagumba 20 hrs ago #132

My very favorite is Christ Was Born on Christmas Morn Tom Dyer 22 hrs ago #111

Thank you very much Tom Dyer. I wil look for Christ Was Born on Christmas Morn. Agree with you on the Chipmunks. Have a debm55 21 hrs ago #118

Worst - Jingle Bells barked by dogs. Best - Stille Nacht as origionally scored. Dorothy V 22 hrs ago #114

Thank you Dorothy V.. When I was in children's chorus we sang Stille Nacht in the original German. worst song --I sort debm55 21 hrs ago #117

My Yeas and and Nays... electric_blue68 22 hrs ago #115

Thank you very much for you list. electric_blue68 Dominic the Donkey is played on I guess different loops. The Red debm55 21 hrs ago #116

TY the info. Happy Thanksgiving to you! electric_blue68 19 hrs ago #137

Check out a comic view of the song by Coventina. It's funny. debm55 20 hrs ago #124

I just did. 😄 electric_blue68 12 hrs ago #169

White Wine In The Sun - Tim Minchin Wiz Imp 20 hrs ago #125

Thank you very much, Wiz Imp. It is a beautiful song. Have a Great Thanksgiving. debm55 18 hrs ago #142

Anything sung by those freaking chipmunks annoyed the hell out of me. Borogove 20 hrs ago #126

Deb, they ALL suck. no_hypocrisy 20 hrs ago #127

A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson Wiz Imp 20 hrs ago #128

I like and did not see listed... Mike Nelson 20 hrs ago #129

Bill Murray! Paul Schaeffer with Pheonix PuraVidaDreamin 20 hrs ago #130

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love Wiz Imp 20 hrs ago #131

(There's No War On Christmas) When Christmas Is In Your Heart by The Mockers Wiz Imp 19 hrs ago #133

Riu Riu Chiu by the Monkees Wiz Imp 19 hrs ago #134

I grew up listening to the Cathedral choir rehearsing with the pipe organ, madamesilverspurs 19 hrs ago #135

😄 Well done guys & kids! Ty electric_blue68 18 hrs ago #145

Thank you very much madamesilverspurs Your selections are great. Have a great Thanksgiving.to you and yours. debm55 16 hrs ago #165

A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio Wiz Imp 19 hrs ago #136

thank you Wiz Imp, I would play the disk while teaching Art in December to grade schoolers. They all would say that is debm55 16 hrs ago #164

The Gifts they Gave and KT2000 19 hrs ago #138

Thank you KT2000 for your wonderful selections. I agree with your Holly Jolly Christmas. Have a great Thanksgiving. debm55 19 hrs ago #140

Worst: Anything by Alvin and the Chipmunks PJMcK 18 hrs ago #155

HAHAH Thank you very PJMcK. I agree Your post is so funny. Happy Thanksgiving. debm55 17 hrs ago #163

Joni buzzycrumbhunger 18 hrs ago #156

Thank you very much buzzycrumbhunger , Beautiful song and voice. debm55 17 hrs ago #160

Carol of the Bells. boonecreek 16 hrs ago #167

Seek out Excelsis (A Dark Noel). Morbius 15 hrs ago #168

Thank you very much, Morbius for your selections. I will YouTube later debm55 5 hrs ago #177

Well, this won't be popular, but it is my answer. OldBaldy1701E 7 hrs ago #170

HAHAHHAHA. Thank is so funny, and so true. Thank you OldBaldy1701E and may you and yours have a great day. debm55 6 hrs ago #175

the secular songs started in mid july. AllaN01Bear 5 hrs ago #176

Good question! Thunderbeast 3 hrs ago #183

Best - Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives Casandia 3 hrs ago #184