At our house, Christmas music started playing before Thanksgiving. The tree went up Thanksgiving day, was decorated and Christmas shopping is almost complete (no thanks to me). One thing I've noticed is that there is a limited number of Christmas songs, so you end up hearing the same ones over and over (and over).
It struck me the other day that there should be a law prohibiting anyone but Burl Ives recording "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas." No, I didn't hear another version (maybe the law already exists and I didn't know it), but as I listened and sang along, I decided that was the only version I wanted to hear. Somehow, I can't picture Taylor Swift singing that song.
Some songs - Jingle Bells for example, can be sung by anyone and sound good. But when anyone other than Bing Crosby (not to be confused with Bill Cosby) sings "White Christmas" it just doesn't come out right.
There are other songs which "belong" to a single artist - Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" is one that comes to mind (although the Porky Pig version is pretty good). What about you?
What songs would you limit to a single artist?
6 comments:
I can't say I'm particularly attached to any specific singer's version of a Christmas song to the exclusion of another, but I can certainly see how one might be preferable.
I also love Burl Ives' "Holly Jolly Christmas", but certainly don't mind hearing Alan Jackson's version from time to time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP2vR_XQ8Io
Merry Christmas, my good man.
Thomas, I like Alan Jackson a lot. I heard him in concert (when he was 2nd tier to Randy Travis). He put on a good show. I hadn't heard his version of Holly Jolly, so, I listened to the youtube link you posted. Somehow, IMHO it's just not up the Ives' standard...
I agree that it's not as good as Ives' version. Some other originals that can't be beat are Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock" and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".
I had a collection of over 20 Christmas CDs, but most were of the obscure and off beat (including 2 Reggae discs), so I can't answer the question. I do know that ever since I heard Sarah McLachlan & Bare Naked Ladies version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman a few years back, it makes every other version I have heard since pale in comparison.
so I am behind...but I say White Christmas by Bing Crosby is the BEST. What do you think?
Or The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) by Nat King Cole only. Of course Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree...I could go on.
Alli, never too late. I agree White Cristmas by Bing sets the standard for that song (and see my other post about Christmas trees in public square).
Nat King Cole's Chestnuts and Brenda Lee's Rockin' are also good standards, but I've heard other versions that come close on those. I guess the song isn't up to the same standard for me....
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