I'm a huge fan of Christmas music, but like everyone else, after a few weeks of hearing Christmas-and-only-Christmas music nonstop, I'll get tired of it. But right now it's all still fresh and I'm still hearing songs for the first time (of the season), so let's talk about it before we're all hating it, right?
I have a long history of hating one particular Christmas song. I ranted about it in 2009-- ancient blog history!! VINTAGE!!! Despite my vehement protestations, radio stations continue to play the song...and even more offensively, singers and groups continue trying to re-make the song into something cooler. Most of them need to stop trying. But...well, there's always an exception.
Dangit if I didn't see 85 people post links to this new version of The Song that Drives Me Crazy yesterday. I ignored the first 84 because obviously those people all have bad taste in music. But then I gave in because I needed to listen so that I could properly judge and mock all of those people with bad taste.
But DANGIT!!!! I loved this version! And maybe I've listened to it like 100 times since last night. Maybe it's playing on repeat right now. And maybe the Song Previously Known as my Most Hated Song is now like my favorite song of the day. GAH. So because I'm not above eating crow publicly, I'll share it with all of you. Maybe I can be Person #85 for you and convince you to give it a listen. I know. Same ol' cheesy song...but so much better than before.
It doesn't hurt that this is probably the most gorgeous group of people ever assembled. And they can all sing? Life just isn't fair sometimes. Don't worry, I'm definitely pretending I'm the girl. I'll probably dress like her tomorrow. And then maybe I'll sing like her, too.
So yeah. I just put my most hated song on my blog. What's next? I get a shirt with a bird on it? NEVVVEERRRRRRR!!!!!!
PS. I've re-opened my mental debate about starting a blog Facebook page. I know we talked this to death a few months ago and I just stuck it on the back burner (and didn't start a FB page, obviously)...but now I keep "needing" one. Like I have this great idea for a post this week, but I need to do some 'market research' first. And FB would be the best way to do it. And also the stupid Blogger feeds keep screwing up and the only way I know people have written new posts is because some people are kind enough to link their new posts on FB. But I can't return the favor because I don't have a blog FB page (and I hate posting blog stuff on my 'personal' page). And I have a lot of other reasons, but just so you know. I'm thinking about it again.
PPS. How many times is too many to listen to that song? THERE ISN'T TOO MANY? Great!
PPPS. Any other great Christmas songs I need to be listening to before I get sick of the genre as a whole?
I LOVE Pentatonix. I am going to see them in February...and I just want to kidnap Kirstie (the girl) so I can step in and be her.
ReplyDeleteI def wouldn't mind having that girls voice. . . or hair. . . :)
ReplyDeleteI too have been ignoring all of the FB posts to listen to the song. Not because I don't like the song but I kept thinking..."how great can it be?" You caused me to listen :) It was so good! Thanks for sharing. Also, I saw at target that they had lots of sweaters with birds on them ;)
ReplyDeleteI love Pentatonix in general.. they are so, so awesome! And they have a Christmas Album on iTunes, just in case you didn't know! :)
ReplyDeleteI also echo your sentiments on this song - and I think their version is AMAZING - but I still can do without it. (eeek, that's probably not a popular answer). Likewise, The Christmas Shoes song- please. make. it. stop.
I really dislike The Christmas Shoes song too. Seriously, who comes up with this stuff???
DeleteLOVE that version of Little Drummer boy, listen on repeat!!! Do you know Straight No Chaser? I could listen to their Christmas CD on repeat year round (although I don't- but I do break it out mid summer sometimes as a reminder of things to come!) My current go to on Pandora is Christmas Cannon, and I recently added Straight No Chaser Holiday to the channel for variety. It's a perfect Christmas background, and not all of the gimmicky songs, so it doesn't drive me Christmas Mad!
ReplyDeleteAnd to clarify- I definitely think there is a time for the gimmicky songs, but in small doses stretched over the holiday season!
DeleteI 'discovered' Straight No Chaser yesterday when they kept coming up on my Michael Buble Holiday station...definitely added them to my channel!! They are awesome!!
DeleteI have also been listening to Christmas music, even before Thanksgiving which drove the hubby nuts! haha I know this is REALLY old but my favorite is Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters, I don't know why but I just love it :) Also Baby It's Cold Outside, any version is good with me.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA-- I think Baby It's Cold Outside is catchy, but then one day I actually thought about the lyrics and...yeah, now I think of it as the 'date rape song.' ;) It's sketchy!!!! (But catchy...)
ReplyDelete"Hey, what's in this drink?"... Special holiday Santa roofies! Um, I still love the only Christmas song specifically written about kidnapping and date rape. My coworkers performed it at our last Christmas party to great acclaim.
Delete"Let it Snow" is my favorite classic and...
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER CHRISTMAS ALBUM THAN "A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS (1987) NOR BETTER OPENING THAN THE POINTER SISTERS SINGING "SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN."
I'm sorry, I had to all caps it. What if someone didn't know about that album?
Seriously?? I have never listened to all of the words..yikes!! Guess I better go listen. I started liking it after I watched Elf and they were singing it....love that movie. Hey can you do a blog about your favorite Christmas movies?!?!?! So much fun!! I love 24 hours of a Christmas Story :)
DeleteOkay, "Baby It's Cold Outside" is a date rape Christmas song??? I must go listen to the lyrics. It's also Rachel's go-to request right now. And she's two. sigh.
DeleteYikes... I'm definitely introducing Rachel to a new favourite song. Maybe "The Little Drummer Boy." :)
DeleteLove that song and I must agree...that's a pretty bunch of people. I tried listening to Christmas music last night but gave up on the radio station. Perhaps I'll be in the Christmas listening mood soon!
ReplyDeleteYES! The 12 Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser. I put it up over at my place for Music Monday. Seriously - best arrangement EVAR. :-)
ReplyDeleteAlso: HA!! I call "Baby It's Cold Outside" the date rape song, too. "Hey, what's in this drink?" It's roofies, dear.
So I also vehemently despise that song (only trumped by my total displeasure towards "Mary did you know" ). I will concede...this version is tolerable. And really pretty.
ReplyDeleteYou were definitely my #85. And it was definitely the best version of the song that I've heard to date. But I still kept wondering..."WHO is this drummer boy?! Where did he come from?! Why don't we hear about him anywhere, ever, except for this one song?" I mean, have you ever in your life seen a nativity with a drummer boy? Because I certainly have not. (Is he supposed to be like a shepherd with a drum? Seriously. I need to know more if I'm really going to be won over to all the pa-rum-pa-pum-pumming.)
ReplyDeleteGreat questions. I'm going to add in one of those creepy nutcracker guys with a drum to my nativity set so that it's more accurate!!
DeleteI actually hadn't watched/heard this yet, so thanks for sharing! I haven't heard anything they've done that HASN'T been amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a traditional Christmas song, but I seriously cannot get tired of listening to "Born to Die" by Shane & Shane. The title sounds like the song will be dark/depressing, but it's not- you should check it out!
ReplyDeleteOk so I've never commented before but here goes..... I typically hate "Little Drummer Boy" also but Jars of Clay has a pretty good version as well.
ReplyDeleteAlso in regards to the Michael Buble christmas CD; His version of Santa Baby is just disturbing
Anyway Merry Christmas!
Love Love LOVE Little Drummer Boy!!! So glad you like this version!!!
ReplyDeleteOk, to jump on the anti-Little Drummer boy bandwagon, I too, felt the same way for YEARS until I heard this version -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EEpRnSqRyQ
I dare you not to get chills. It's now my favorite Christmas song.
Most hated: Christmas Shoes. I cannot change the channel fast enough when that comes on. Ughhhhhhhhhhhh,
Oh my GOSH Erika, I can't believe you hate that song! When we were driving to and from Virginia, we listened to Christmas music nonstop (yep, 16 hours worth) and that song came on several times. I have to say I've never felt strongly in favor of or against it in the past. And yes, perhaps I'm a little hormonal right now. But listening to the words in the car just made me think about the whole message and before I knew it tears were rolling down my cheeks. I just listened to the Pentatonix version and guess what! Crying again! You touch on this in your retro blog post, about how sad it is that he had nothing to give the new king because he was poor so he gave the only thing he had... ah dammit, this is too much. No other song chokes me up like this! It's just so funny that you chose to post about it because it's been on my mind for days.
ReplyDeleteYou know which one I hate? Joy to the World. No good reason... I think people just get way too excited while singing it and it makes me angry. But that sad little drummer boy stole my heart, rum pum pum and all.
And I still vote yes for FB page.
It wasn't one of my favorites but I would listen to it when I was having a christmas music marathon though by marathon, I mean like an hour's worth. I can't listen it too much! This version is SOOO good! I really wish I was a good singer!
ReplyDeleteDare I say I've listened to it more than you? It's been stuck in my head for the last 3 days and I bought it on googleplay. This is the only Christmas song of Pentatonix that I like. I'm a purist when it comes to classic Christmas music, but for some reason, their version of this song just works out well in their style. I'm also going to dedicate a blog post to this song...it is definitely favorite at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI love anything with Michael Buble singing it. If you are into semi-classical, Il Divo has nice Christmas songs. Another favorite song is called I Believe by Natalie Grant.
P.S. FB page would be fun.
You need to download Bare Naked Ladies' version of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen. It has every homeless dog's favorite singer, Sarah McLachlan in it too. Holiday DJ Roomba would dig it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, from your last post, because I wanted to recommend a dip but I didn't want to post twice, because I'm lazy and tired and teaching seventh graders is HARD, I thought I'd post here. I recommend Beef Dip. Here's the deal.
2 cup Sour Cream
1 cup Mayo
1 Jar Dried Beef (It comes in the canned meat section [don't judge], in a clear jar with a blue lid. It's by Armour)
1 Tbsp. Dill (Maybe more, whatever works for you)
Salt to taste
1 Sweet Yellow Onion, shredded
Garlic Powder to taste)
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all ingredients.
Let sit overnight. (THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP. But I mean, come on, there's only three. But of the three, this one is like the MOST IMPORTANT)
Serve with toast points (or pita. or pita chips. or pretzels. or bread. you know, whatevs...)
This is a great version! Have you ever heard Jessica and Ashlee Simpson's version? I actually love that one too ;)
ReplyDeleteI love love love this version too! I always ignore songs on FB, even though i LOVE music, but i kind of hate taking the time to watch a video when i'm scrolling through FB! LOL. But i finally listened to it & was so glad i did. AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Pentatonix!!! I watched their whole season of "The Sing Off." They did some AWESOME covers on that show!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I absolutely HATE Feliz Navidad... I can't turn the radio off fast enough!! I also hate the Christmas shoes song and the song by Wham- "last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away"....
You should check out The Piano Guys on YouTube. They have a really cool version of "Angels We Have Heard on High"
So I feel like a crazy stalker because this is the 3rd one of your old posts I am commenting on in a row... BUT Little Drummer Boy is my favorite. I bought the Pentatonix Christmas EP last year, this one is on their new longer Christmas album. I am buying that one too. I am a sucker.
ReplyDelete