It has snowed again during the night (although it doesn't look it here...)My daughter has got me up so I'm blogging in the middle of the night when I should be asleep or writing out Christmas cards (something else that I am putting off).
The family's favourite Christmas carol is "The Holly and the Ivy" only because they've been brainwashed since birth...read here what effect it has had on one of our children!
What I impolitely forgot to ask with my last post was: What is everyone's favourite Christmas carol or Christmas song? (Or least favourite...for that matter!)
28 comments:
Hiya Hade, had to chuckle at the 'bears' reference. We'd never pick it up, us adults.
I'm very ambivalent about carols because I'm not a 'believer' but I do enjoy a sing-song. So I pinch their tunes and make up silly words to them. I have to admit liking Aled Jones' 'Walking in the Air'. I know it's cheesy and passé now but I think it's great.
I think it probably is 'In the bleak mid winter' for me really, but I also like 'Three kings from Persian lands afar' and 'of the father's love begotten' too.
That was funny...... "holly bears".....
Favourite carol .....er.....
"In the bleak midwinter"....... don't know why as I don't like the mid winter! Nor do I like any think bleak! Must be the tune!
Least favourite........"Little town of Bethlehem" The song, I think not the words!
I'm not a believer but I love most carols.
But Christmas wouldn't be Xmas without hearing Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody!
Love the 'bit about the bears'! My favourite carols? Hark! The Herald Angels has got to be a good one, especially at midnight mass (after midnight) when you get to sing the Christmas Day verse. It used to be the penultimate item in the Liverpool Phil carol concerts, too - the orchestration is superb!
I feel so sorry for the shop assistants that have to spend all day for more than three weeks listening to Christmas music in their stores. It would drive me nuts.
I think my favourite Christmas songs have to "Fairytale in New York" by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues (check it out on YouTube) and "Winter's Tale" by David Essex (if the latter one counts strictly as Christmassy).
I was going to reply to you all individually but Google lost all my replies!!! Grr. Will try again after I've had a very strong cup of coffee. (!)
Thanks for all the replies so far.
(I like "Walking in the Air" as well FF but haven't got the children on to it yet as they are still scared of the snowmen!)
(Not sure I'm a believer, isn't there a song in that?... either Dumdad...just like the architecture and songs...)
I'll have that coffee....back soon!
I've got my coffee now. (How I would kill to have a proper cafe au lait or cappuccino plus pain au chocoate right now....I'm having to make do with decaf instant...should get the percolator out....this is what five hours sleep does to me....)
OK. Where was I?
Shame we don't do more sing-songs FF...in life...but maybe we can warble a duet sometime FF!
Good choices, Lakeland Jo!
Maggie, I hadn't thought about the "bleak" bit...I do like "Bleak House" as well funnily enough.
Slade's "Merry Xmas"...brings back memories, Dumdad, I used to work in my parents' boutiques (fashion) on Saturdays...I was inducted into Slade then!
Hark! is a good one, The Dotterel, and I'd like to go to a midnight mass some time. Not made it yet. Hope to - one night/day...
Funnily enough, Troy, The Kirsty McColl/Pogues one is a favourite of hubbie's. It is an excellent song for sure. The David Essex one counts I think...and yes, shop assistants, must go around the bend...
I'm sure there a few Christmas songs that bug me but I obviously haven't listened to them enough yet (this year)! I didn't like "Mad World" a couple of years back...prefer the original "Tears for Fears" version!
Too many blogs, too little time!
Glad you liked the dog blog.
Lakeland Jo blew my mind there as for a moment I thought I'd written that comment. Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar is just spine-tingling (though few people know it). Also love Bleak Midwinter and The Holly and the Ivy.....
Snow eh? Just cold and icy and horrible here.
First of all... 5 hours sleep... not good. Suggest you go and buy some good strong coffee and place firmly in your cupboard for mornings like this. Hope you feel better as the day goes on...
anyway, carols. John Rutter does a fine good carol, adaptions or his own. Quite chocolate boxy but just the job.
Have got that damned Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas song in my head and Cant Get Rid Of It.
Am driving everyone mad as keep launching into song with
'It's...' and they all yell,
'SSHHUUUTTT UUUPPPPP!'
Most unkind.
Agree with Troy, must be hell as shop assistant with awful lift music type carols going on.
Go on, get that coffee!
Thank you muchly Exmoorjane and LWM...just off for another cuppa...now :)
Well I agree with the majority - it has to be the evocative "In The Bleak Midwinter". Beautiful....
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-LA. However, nothing on earth can make the spine tingle like Miriam Makeba's earthy and unrestrained version of 'When a Child is Born'. It is surely the rhythm of life.
I love the Holly and the Ivy too, and I like "I saw three ships" and I like just about all Christmas songs . . .oh and I don't remember the name of the song but the chorus is "come on ring those bells, light the Christmas tree . . ." I think it is a newer song, but very fun.
Enjoy your cups of coffee - stay warm!
I love the innocence of "Away in a Manger" and the sad tones of "Bleak Midwinter", but one that really made me smile because of the way the children sang it was when Kay was at kindergarten and they sang a carol called "Happy Birthday,Jesus".
Despite Maggie's comment, I love "O Little Town of Bethlehem". However, either the Catholic and Proddy versions are differnet or the UK and US versions are different. My version was quite fast, and it's a much slower song here, to a completely different tune.
If you're in the mood for some great a capella Xmas music, find "Straight No Chaser" on You Tube. One or two of them are Chicago lads - but it's fab.
I really love them all, especially when sung by school kids...l always brim up...I adore Silent night, that gets me going and there are a couple of Songs from Infants school that just set me right off...every time..
4.33am that REALLY IS the middle of the night..Pippa our black lab has started asking to go out for a pee, or scratch about at between 4.35am and 5.45am every morning, l hope this too shall pass.
Traditional: Angels We Have Heard on High - hands down favorite.
Non-traditional: Fairy Tale of New York
Oddly, I have never even heard of "In the Bleak Midwinter" Is it a British thing?
I haven't really got a favourite but do love to hear "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Once in Royal David's City", especially sung by a choir. Also "Gentle Jesus Sweetly Sleep" because when my daughter was about 7 (she is now 39) she was chosen to be Mary in the school nativity and had to sing it solo! Still gives me a glow when I think of it.
A x
Oh, thanks expat mum for the Straight No chaser suggestion - I loved their version of the 12 days of Christmas, which does (usually) get a little tedious if you insist on singing it all...
I recognise this will make me sound very sad indeed, but I like Cliff Richard's version of O little town of Bethlehem and Boney M's Mary's Boy Child. On a more choral note I love 'I wonder as I wander out under the sky' - beautiful, haunting melody.
Gosh! That was a long cup of coffee..
Thank you everyone for your suggestions and comments. There are quite a few new ones (John Rutter, Miriam Makeba,..."light the Christmas tree", Angels we have heard on high, Gentle Jesus Sweetly Sleep, Straight No Chaser, Happy Birthday Jesus) which I'll have to find out a bit more...Mike, it probably is a British thing..listen out for it if you can...it is definitely worth it!
expat mum's comment reminded me of a joke I heard recently...
"I come from a family of ten sisters and five brothers...either my mum was a good Catholic or a sloppy Protestant!" (Apologies, in advance, to all but it made me smile...!!!!)
Ahhh, Teddy Bears!!! I love the sheep and their sock washing, too...I'm easily entertained. My favorite carol is Ed Ames singing The Ballad of the Christmas Donkey...it's so beautiful and brings tears to my eyes...if you want to hear it go to You Tube and enter Ed Ames and The Ballad of the Christmas Donkey...you won't regret it!
hugs
Sandi
Thanks Sandi, I will definitely check everyone's suggestions out via YouTube and Google...the blessings of the internet! :)
Where did I split the infinitive?...how I break every rule in the book....(!!)
So many carols, so many favourites. All with special memories.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is one favorite for sure, as well as Joy to the World!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
I'm like dumdad, not a believer, but the songs are OK. Although I do NOT like "The Frog Chorus!"
I have an award over at mine for you too! Debs x
Thank you, thank you for all your suggestions! Much appreciated one again and I will explore them all. Hx
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