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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to think that certain songs just shouldn't be heard at Christmas.

96 replies

vienna1981 · 06/12/2014 14:52

For example, the Mariah Carey thing which is just terrible. Then there's that East 17 dirge which isn't even a Christmas song in the first place. No amount of church bells in the final two minutes can make it so. "All Around My Hat" by Steeleye Span is
another oddity. I like the record, even though it sounds like the Wombles on account of the Mike Batt production, but it's not Christmassy by any means (their other hit, "Gaudete ", is).

OP posts:
SkyHighWhy · 07/12/2014 11:00

Ah but but but ... All Around My Hat includes the following line:
"Fare thee well cold winter and fare thee well cold frost" which is at least wintry. thus making it a winter song at least.

Gaudete, means 'rejoice' and is entirely about the birth of Jesus. Hence, a genuine Christmas song.

HTH.

Trills · 07/12/2014 11:10

Stay Another Day could have been East 17's Back For Good but the bells got it put into the "Christmas song" box.

Good for getting it brought out every year, not so good for overall classic consideration.

JunkBox · 07/12/2014 11:32

I hate that the Lily Allen Bollox from the John Lewis ad last year is now being peddled as a Christmas song. (the ad was shite too!!)

It has nothing to do with Christmas and is actually quite depressing, I cant listen to it (especially sung by LA).
But because it accompanied a cartoon of woodland animals and a Christmas tree then of course it must be a Christmas ballad! Hmm

vienna1981 · 07/12/2014 11:51

Cliff Richard. Undoubtedly had a few Christmas hits but they are so sanctimonious they should never again see the light of day.

OP posts:
LineRunner · 07/12/2014 15:09

In the vid of Mistletoe and Wine he does a kind of skating action dance, throwing his strangely long arms from side to side with one leg up in the air at a time. It's quite frightening.

Buttercupsanddaisys · 07/12/2014 15:30

Just loving linerunners description of Cliff's vid of M&W... Gotta google it now Grin

Like others, and for the same reason, never ever want to hear Little drummer boy again.

Clawdy · 07/12/2014 15:36

DD and I love the vid of Mistletoe and Wine! LineRunner if you watch that swinging arm thing, the singers almost have to duck away at one point! And then that strange gargling chorus bit....we love it!

LineRunner · 07/12/2014 18:13

He really goes for it.

His other great dance was the bendy leg flap in Power to all our Friends.

DMCWelshCakes · 07/12/2014 19:37

Have just introduced half-Italian DH to "Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey". He's now looking vaguely traumatised. Grin

On a separate (falsetto) note, The Darkness and Don't Let the Bells End? Best guitar solo in a novelty Christmas song.

LineRunner · 07/12/2014 19:39

Justin Darkness is deffo a legend.

Joshuajosephspork · 07/12/2014 19:50

I adore Kirsty MacColl and love The Pogues but loathe Fairytale of New York

SnookyPooky · 07/12/2014 19:51

Hate Fairy Tale of New York, load of old shite.
Love Santa Claus You Cunt by Kevin Bloody Wilson (not for the easily offended).

Clawdy · 07/12/2014 20:02

Ha ha forgot the bendy legflap....Xmas Grin

diddl · 07/12/2014 20:04

Decided to listen to The Darkness Christmas one & found myself listening to I Believe...

touching youuuu touching meee & thinking mm, not very ChristmassyHmm!

alemci · 07/12/2014 20:07

I like Wombling Merry Christmas but it's probably because I used to love the wombles as a child.

diddl · 07/12/2014 20:12

I love In the Bleak Midwinter.

BlueThursday · 07/12/2014 21:39

Years ago while on holiday in Tunisia (in August) the resort played A Spaceman Came Travelling. I thought it so weird, but I'm guessing as it doesn't strictly state 'Christmas' in the lyrics a non-Christian person might not pay too much attention to the meaning

NoArmaniNoPunani · 07/12/2014 21:43

All Christmas songs are shit and should never be played again. Even the Pogues has been ruined by overplaying now.

Did anyone hear Mariah singing 'All I want for Christmas' live recently and totally not hitting the right notes?

Waitingonasunnyday · 07/12/2014 21:46

I think I love all the songs mentioned. Never heard of the hippo one though, will have to you tube it.

I remember being a lovesick preteen when Jason Donovan did a lovely Christmassy song. Was it when you come back to me? Just remember it being the end of term and I wouldn't see the boy (who never knew I existed) until January and how would I survive???

AliceLidlDonkey · 07/12/2014 22:03

JunkBox you must have read my mind, because I was about to say the same thing.

I like the song by whoever sang it before Lily Allen, but it's NOT a Christmas song, has sod all to do with Christmas and is not the slightest bit festive.

And now next year we're going to be subjected to the bloody lonely penguin song from the same company as well.

Every year I am a bit shocked to realise that one of my all time favourite songs is by Shakin' Stevens, of all people! Ask me the rest of the year and his name would not come up at all. But at Christmas, he's almost top of the list. Ah Shakey, Merry Christmas to you too Grin

apotatoprintinapeartree · 07/12/2014 22:10

Troika isn't a Christmas song, it was adopted by to be one, and if you don't recognise the title I will try and link, its what many people associate with Christmas.

A useless bit of information there Xmas Grin

DoJo · 07/12/2014 22:28

LineRunner et all - did anyone notice one of the creepiest snowmen in the world in that video? Just watched it to enjoy Cliff's reckless use of his own limbs, and was completely distracted by one of the weirdest looking snowmen in the bottom right hand corner!

LineRunner · 07/12/2014 22:54

DoJo, I will have to watch the whole thing again now. Darn you.

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2014 23:00

The best Christmas song really is Proper Chrimbo. IMO.

My DB informed me that the NYPD doesn't actually have a choir. Shock

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2014 23:02

How about this?