Just wondering what others thought about the novelty songs that come out every Christmas season. "Twelve Pains of Christmas", "Grandma Got Run Over etc.", "Dominick the Donkey", and so on. What's your favorite? None of the above are even close for me, though they were the first ones to mind because I switch to another Christmas station when one of them comes on. I've got four local broadcast stations to choose from, besides the myriad internet stations.
I'll start the ball rolling. For oldies, it's "Snoopy's Christmas". I've even still got the 45 rpm single somewhere in the basement. For more recent stuff, Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "I Believe in Father Christmas" is a favorite, if a bit depressing. But my favorites are from the a cappella group Straight No Chaser. In order, they're "The Christmas Can-Can" and "The 12 (or 12-1/2) Days of Christmas". Their live concert renditions are even better than the recordings. Check out their website for an animated version of "Can-Can".
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:36 am
by franktangredi
I have a soft spot for I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, because we did it in assembly in second grade, and also because it's a neat song that has two different meanings depending on how old you are when you hear it.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:47 am
by geoffil
Anything by Trans Siberian Orchestra
Leona Lewis - One More Sleep
Mariah - All I Want for Christmas
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:49 am
by MarleysGh0st
I've always like Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.
I just saw this Pastafarian carol this week, though, and it's kinda nice.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:04 am
by silvercamaro
Okay, it's not a novelty song. It's an entire movie in two minutes!
Here's my new favorite Christmasy silly thing:
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:11 am
by tlynn78
Not novelty, but my fave is "Mary, Did You Know." I just recently heard an amazing a capella version of The Little Drummer Boy, by Pentatonix. YouTube it; it is FABULOUS. Goosebumps fabulous.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:29 am
by SportsFan68
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:40 am
by littlebeast13
I miss Dominick the Donkey... that and I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas were staples of the old Mecca Radio. Neither are on the CD we've been replaying for the last three years now...
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer never gets old. I don't know why, but it's the one Christmas song I never tire of no matter how many times I hear it. It also isn't on the current Mecca Xmas CD....
A few of my favorites I've had ingrained into my head the last three years....
Brian Setzer - The Man With the Bag (There's another version of this song on the CD as well, but I like Brian's version better)
Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLaughlin - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Shoutout to Esto who Kroxed in my LSWE this the year before it made the Mecca CD! Absolutely love the bass in this one...)
Cast of Glee - Let It Snow (I tore up YouTube trying to find out which two singers did this version... I was stunned it was a Glee production! I love this!)
Lady Antebellum - Baby It's Cold Outside (Yeah, all you classic singers can stick your tongue on a pole... nobody does the traditional holiday date rape song like Lady Antebellum!)
Trans Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter (Just awesome)
And then there is the mystery instrumental I love, but still can't figure out. I brought it to the attention of our current manager Tuesday night (who is about as interested in the Mecca Muzak as I am), and he's going to try to get a sample for his wife to listen to since she's a music teacher and might be able to recognize it...
I'm sure there's more I kinda like that we play... even Xmas music can grow on you after hearing it so many times, but this is a good starter list...
lb13
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:44 am
by gsabc
tlynn78 wrote:Not novelty, but my fave is "Mary, Did You Know." I just recently heard an amazing a capella version of The Little Drummer Boy, by Pentatonix. YouTube it; it is FABULOUS. Goosebumps fabulous.
Pentatonix was a contender on "The Sing-Off" and are indeed quite good. They're on my list of "To be purchased" along with SNC's latest. If you haven't seen Straight No Chaser in concert, do so, especially in their holiday tour. They do a "no microphone" version of O Holy Night that will also give you goosebumps.
For a cappella fans, The Sing-Off is returning starting next Monday, if memory serves. I'm looking forward to discovering a new group or two.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:55 am
by TheCalvinator24
littlebeast13 wrote:Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLaughlin - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Shoutout to Esto who Kroxed in my LSWE this the year before it made the Mecca CD! Absolutely love the bass in this one...)
This is a great arrangement and performance.
littlebeast13 wrote:Cast of Glee - Let It Snow (I tore up YouTube trying to find out which two singers did this version... I was stunned it was a Glee production! I love this!)
Blaine and Kurt (AKA Darren Criss and Chris Colfer). Those two also did a version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
I'm not a fan of Colfer's voice, but Criss is amazing.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:58 am
by ToLiveIsToFly
Christmas Wrapping - Waittresses
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:35 pm
by ne1410s
All I Want For Chrstmas Is My Two Front Teeth
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:51 pm
by danielh41
I've always been partial to "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:55 pm
by tlynn78
gsabc wrote:
tlynn78 wrote:Not novelty, but my fave is "Mary, Did You Know." I just recently heard an amazing a capella version of The Little Drummer Boy, by Pentatonix. YouTube it; it is FABULOUS. Goosebumps fabulous.
Pentatonix was a contender on "The Sing-Off" and are indeed quite good. They're on my list of "To be purchased" along with SNC's latest. If you haven't seen Straight No Chaser in concert, do so, especially in their holiday tour. They do a "no microphone" version of O Holy Night that will also give you goosebumps.
For a cappella fans, The Sing-Off is returning starting next Monday, if memory serves. I'm looking forward to discovering a new group or two.
Good info, thank you!
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 1:48 pm
by SpacemanSpiff
I'm with The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrappings" and "Two Front Teeth" (as done by Spike Jones) as well.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 1:54 pm
by jarnon
danielh41 wrote:I've always been partial to "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."
That's my favorite too. For an extra dose of novelty, listen to this version by the Neshaminy High School Select Choir. They easily won the B101 Radio Xmas Choir Contest last year.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 3:53 pm
by Bob Juch
"Merry Christmas from the Family" by Robert Earl Keen.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 3:59 pm
by elwoodblues
It seems like the threads about Christmas songs start earlier every year.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 6:46 pm
by mikehardware
I like "Carol of the Fryers". The first part is cute, the last bit of the song makes it special.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 6:55 pm
by Bob Juch
mikehardware wrote:I like "Carol of the Fryers". The first part is cute, the last bit of the song makes it special.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:26 pm
by Estonut
gsabc wrote:For a cappella fans, The Sing-Off is returning starting next Monday, if memory serves. I'm looking forward to discovering a new group or two.
I just started seeing promos for this on NBC. Yup, a 2-hour premiere on Monday at 9.
It appears that Jewel will be replacing Sara Bareilles this season. As long as Ben Folds is still a judge (and he is), I'm there.
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 9:35 pm
by Bob78164
I saw this song performed at a holiday assembly when I was in sixth grade, and I've never forgotten it. --Bob
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 6:44 am
by MarleysGh0st
Bob78164 wrote:I saw this song performed at a holiday assembly when I was in sixth grade, and I've never forgotten it. --Bob
I don't recall hearing this one before. Very nice!
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:54 pm
by lilclyde54
I must second that motion made by ne1410s for Two Front Teeth
Re: Favorite novelty holiday song - an opinion poll