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Original poster

Least favourite Christmas songs and carols

131 replies

wanderings · 02/12/2019 09:24

Come hither, Scrooges, let's have a bah humbug musical moan. Which seasonal songs make your heart sink every time you hear the first few notes? My nominations are:

Santa baby - just plain ugh.

Santa Claus is comin' to town: no wonder some children are scared of Santa!

Last Christmas.

I wish it could be Christmas every day, for obvious reasons.

Slow ones, like I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Any rendition of a carol where the rhythm has been totally messed up, especially if it's sung slowly and with no accompaniment.

Also the really sad ones: Christmas shoes, The little boy that Santa Claus forgot, the cat carol. Warning - do not listen to the cat carol unless you really want to be bawling your eyes out, especially if you love cats, it is the saddest Christmas song I have ever heard, by a long way, and makes grown men cry. It claims to have a happy ending, but it really doesn't. Before you Google, you have been warned!

I love carols, except away in a manger (because I've heard it so many times), and I saw three ships: how did three ships sail into landlocked Bethlehem? Shock I've just checked on the map, and I can't even see a river. Halo

OP posts:
Original poster
wanderings · 02/12/2019 14:05

@Puppylucky I wish it could be Christmas every day? Because, like Scrooge, I can't think of anything worse than it being Christmas every day. One day a year is more than enough, to say nothing of the months before December! (I wish Christmas was only twelve days, not the quarter of a year it seems to be.)

@thistimelastweek Agree about Once In Royal, especially the line "Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as he".

@SpiderCharlotte Thanks for reminding me about the spaceman one: 'twas light-years of time since his mission did start!

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 02/12/2019 14:08

Little Saint Nick - Christmas comes this time each year. Really?? Who have thought it?

ReginaGeorgeous · 02/12/2019 14:10

I bloody hate that John Lennon one, War Is Over. Such a horrible, whiney noise.

I used to like I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day until the school decided it would be in their Christmas performance this year. I've had to listen to my four year old shrieking practicing it daily for the last month.

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Christmas Events & celebrations Music
acatcalledjohn · 02/12/2019 14:49

@WhentheRabbitsWentWild Try the Bob Chilcott version of Mid-Winter. I hate the traditional version, but the Chilcott version is glorious.

Anything if it is sung by Bruce Springsteen, to the point where I equally dislike Christmas songs because of his cover versions.

Sia's drunken ramblings in "Sanna's coh-ing foh ass".

Ritascornershop · 02/12/2019 15:01

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - horrible song about capitulating to bullies. Also the tempo annoys me.

EcocabbyRickShaw · 02/12/2019 15:30

Another vote for the Cliff Richard one. If my daughter wants to be really, really annoying she sings it to me. Whether it's Christmas or not.

I hate the Maria Carey one too but I haven't told DD in case it's another stick to beat me with

Toddlerteaplease · 02/12/2019 15:35

Any thing by 'crooners'
And I loath silent night.

AgentCooper · 02/12/2019 15:35

@IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere I feel the same about Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses. It just feels so naff!

Fairytale of New York depresses the fuck out of me. My mum used to put it on in July if she was really tipsy Confused

FaithInfinity · 02/12/2019 15:55

I feel the same about The First Noel. It goes on...and on...how lazy is the composer they use the same tune for the verse and chorus?!

My worst is The Darkness. Incessant whiney excuse for a singer and my family know I hate it and play it at every opportunity!! Angry

WildRosie · 02/12/2019 16:20

The Mariah Carey one. I refuse to type the title.

The East17 one because it isn't a Christmas song. And it's shit anyway.

An orchestral medley we performed in school orchestra about a hundred years ago. It was called 'Prelude For Christmas'. Awful.

Little Drummer Boy. All versions.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. All versions.

Thank God It's Christmas. Queen.

Rockin Around The Christmas Tree. All versions.

Merry Xmas (War Is Over). John Lennon et al.

That thing The Darkness shrieked about years ago.

Fairytale Of New York. Enough.

When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney.

Any Cliff Richard Christmas song.

WildRosie · 02/12/2019 16:24

Forgot to mention the Phil Spector Christmas album, whatever it's called. Full of schmaltzy American shite.

Ritascornershop · 02/12/2019 16:36

Phil Spector’s album has Winter Wonderland on it, and that song is brilliant, let me count the ways! Especially the Macy Gray version, and the Cyndi Lauper version is a close second (Darlene Love’s isn’t too bad either).

UnitedRoad · 02/12/2019 16:40

I hate hate hate Santa Baby

Also I have stalls at lots of craft fairs, and if I hear Feliz Navidad (the Michael Buble version) again this year, I’ll cry.

AdoptedBumpkin · 02/12/2019 16:42

The Holly and the Ivy. Pointless.

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 02/12/2019 16:43

I love most Christmas songs, the only ones which are banned in our house are:

  1. Boney M - Mary's Boy Child (could drive my OH to murder I'm sure)
  2. Rod Stewart's version of Silver Bells
  3. Annie Lennox - The First Noel

Nope nope nope nope nope nope.

GuppytheCat · 02/12/2019 16:49

O Little Town of Bethlehem- seems to go on forever.

Not if you sing it to the Archers' theme tune it doesn't...

Stravapalava · 02/12/2019 17:38

I hate The Holly and the Ivy - it goes on and on and on and on and on...

I also don't like the tune of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Redglitter · 02/12/2019 17:43

I HATE Fairy tale of New York. It's awful

And why Stay Another Day is classed as a Christmas song I have no idea.

lolaflores · 02/12/2019 17:50

If anyone could wipe Feliz Navidad from the memory of the entire world, I would be grateful.
A more greater waste of oxygen and muscle use I cannot find. Its Poundland music for Shite Xmas where u have lost the will to live and just want it all over after pudding is finished. It brings the most sincere feelings of despair to me as it is the least happy sound inbthe world.

Dowser · 02/12/2019 18:01

When a child is corn
In the bleak mid winter
Stay another day

The rest I can tolerate until boxing day

Courtney555 · 02/12/2019 18:05

Fairytale of New York. Hate hate hate. To the extent I judge someone who says it's their favourite Christmas song Blush

Driving home for Christmas is relentlessly dull as well.

DirtyTicket · 02/12/2019 18:05

Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys. Absolutely hate it. But not as much as I hate that bloody Mariah Carey one.

KeithPartridge · 02/12/2019 18:08

Ah no I love Driving Home for Christmas. It's my favourite. It reminds me of when I was single, living away from home and driving miles at Christmas to see mum and dad. Dad has passed away now and the line in the song about a thousand memories is so true.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/12/2019 18:09

Mistletoe and Wine - worst ever.

Buggered-about traditional carols, especially when sung by anyone putting in twiddly bits, or singing all breathy and trying to put 'expression' in. Leave them alone!

There should IMO be a law banning anyone but proper choirs from making recordings of carols.

smemorata · 02/12/2019 18:12

Not if you sing it to the Archers' theme tune it doesn't...
Ha! Great tip. Now I just have to convert the rest of the congregation.

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