The 10 best Christmas songs of all time...
... in my opinion
by our Christmas correspondent Alfi Shipp
As Christmas approaches I felt it appropriate to conduct a personal
countdown of the best Christmas songs of all time. So here goes
10. Slade- Merry Christmas Everybody.
One of the ones you hear constantly on the radio in the build up to
Christmas, but never get sick of. Slades yearly income is probably
generated from the regular re-charting of this song.
9. Frank Sinatra- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
Such a smooth, easy listening, relaxing Christmas classic, the one your
Nan always insists is put on.
8. Spike Jones- All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth.
Written by a school teacher, after realising that most of his students
had at least one of their front teeth missing when he asked what they
wanted for Christmas. A humorous one that you rarely hear, which is
probably for the best as Ive just listened to it 3 times in a
row and dont want to hear it again. Its still at number
8 though, despite sounding like a young Herbert the pervert from Family
Guy.
7. Bing Crosby- White Christmas.
Although its not gonna happen this year, we can still dream. Although
it nearly did last year, but by the time Christmas day came around it
was just that shitty sludgy brown stuff. A timeless classic.
6. Wizzard- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.
Although once a year is enough, this song is an undeniable classic.
Oh and the video is hilarious.
5. Elvis- Blue Christmas.
Despite being attempted by many an artist (including Cambridges
very own Ill Murray), the kings version is the best of them all.
His voice is perfect for the song, which is why his version was the
one that made the song famous.
4. Wham! - Last Christmas.
Lets be honest, we all say we dont, but we all secretly
love this one. George Michael at his best pre- Snappy Snaps. Its
just so catchy and gets stuck in your head for weeks in the build up
to Christmas. Either the original, or the Manic's version.
3. Band Aid 1984- Do they Know Its Christmas.
The original Band Aid contained a list of artists as long as Santas
naughty list (some of them probably on both), including Bono, Paul Weller,
Bob Geldof, Boy George, George Michael, Paul McCartney and even Pete
Burns, along with many others. Written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure,
the song has been re-recorded and released by many other Band Aid collectives,
but has never bettered the 1984 version.
2. The Darkness- Christmas Time (Dont Let The
Bells End).
Its everything you want from a Christmas song, is it not? Its
cheesey, has a shitty cliché video, and to top it all off the
lyrics include Bell End and Ring in Piece. In
the words of trusty friend Wikipedia: The song is a take on the
usual structure of Christmas songs. It features the usual mention of
festivities, Santa Claus and bells, delivered with Justin Hawkins' trademark
falsettos. The track was just beaten to the 2003 Christmas number
one spot by Gary Jules cover of Mad World, which isnt even
a fucking Christmas song!!?
1. The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl- Fairytale Of New
York.
Could it be anything else? A Christmas song about a drunken Irish immigrant
on a fucking massive bender in New York on Christmas Eve, which results
in an argument between a couple, which then results in the best Christmas
song ever made. Simple.