Least favourite Christmas songs and carols

[wanderings]

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? I've just checked on the map, and I can't even see a river.

I love most things by John Rutter, he has a unique gift for melody.

Also like Last Christmas and Do They Know It's Christmas. And O Holy Night. But my favourite carols are Oh Come All Ye Faithful and Hark the Herald Angels Sing (along with descants!)

I think the Shepherd's Piping Carol must be quite difficult to get right as our choirmistress at school gave up on it with us (and we won national competitions, so weren't a rubbish choir by any means).

I'm not keen on loads of the ones already mentioned, however.

then the altos get any left over notes that the composer wants in the texture. The only thing worse than an alto line? I am glad you asked - it is a second alto line - all the bits that are too boring even for the altos

Yes this is true. If I were singing now I'd be a second alto, my voice has dropped massively since I was at school, but I was soprano or second soprano when I was in my school and county choirs, so we did tend to get the tune or the descant. Still love Rutter though, sorry!

In the bleak midwinter. The birth of Christ is a joyous event to remember.

Especially if not played/sung at what I consider the correct speed.

then the altos get any left over notes that the composer wants in the texture. The only thing worse than an alto line? I am glad you asked - it is a second alto line - all the bits that are too boring even for the altos

Why do composers and arrangers do this? Each of the main four choir sections can sound beautiful and has something specific to add to the piece's sounding great. Why would you only concentrate on the sopranos and tenors and not make full use of the altos and basses?

For any hymn-singing altos (and basses) out there, petition your church/choir music coordinator to choose 'Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer' and 'And Can It Be' as often as possible!

How could you not like Santa baby it's one of the best Christmas songs ever

I really like most of the above

Hate the one about the bells by The Darkness, and the Coldplay one that goes 'It doesn't even feel like Christmas' - bringing a bit of misery to the season!