Good Xmas Music?

My brother wrote a very funny piece on the five songs he hates at Christmas which you can read here, http://zombiedante.blogspot.com/2011/11/5-terrible-songs-for-xmas-season.html

I am a total Scrooge during the season and as such loath Christmas music. I go to the well often about my seven years of working retail during the holidays as having jaded me and even though the years have advanced I still cringe when I hear certain songs from the holidays. With that said I can appreciate music from any genre and that even includes Xmas tunes. Ninety percent of it is pure saccharine injected artificial bullshit that is ungenuinely trying to pull at the heart strings. But, still there are at least five jams I dig. Here they are.

Do They Know It’s Christmas, Band Aid – I’m a child of the 80’s. I will never apologize for that. So, with that said I will own to liking a lot of bad 80’s music simply because it will remind me of simpler times when I was young and was living it up. This song is an example of that. I won’t say it’s good but there is something about it that when I hear it always puts a smile on my face. My favorite line of course is Bono in all his Irish bravado butchering the Tonight thank God it’s them instead of you. Always puts a smile on my face.

Christmas in Hollis, Run DMC –I like Run DMC. Always have, always will. To a white boy growing up in the suburbs they were my introduction to the whole rap genre and showed me how good it could be. Christmas in Hollis is Run DMC at the height of their game. It’s not one of their best in any way shape or form but is still listenable which for a Christmas song is saying something.

A Holy Joly Chirstmas, Burl Ives – I really only like this one cause it is my go to during the holidays to add a little levity. The Francone Xmas Fest is massive with twenty conversations going on at once. It is as loud as an F16 taking off and inevitably at some point as much fun as we do have a small argument or disagreement may arise. It is at this point where I will go to my always reliable smile producer. I will when the moment is right bust out the line, and kiss her once for me and start singing the chorus to this Xmas classic. Usually any disagreement anyone might be having is quickly forgotten.

Frosty the Snowman, Leon Redbone and Dr. John – Growing up in a house with my step dad Lou every year around the holidays he would whip out the Leon Redbone Christmas album. You either like Redbone’s unique and unusual voice or you don’t. I like it so therefore I also happen to enjoy his swap land version of this Christmas classic.

Christmas, The Who – This is not necessarily a standard Christmas song, but it’s my list and I can do with it what I want. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. The Who might be the most important rock band ever. There was a time I listened to Tommy so much I could have played the lead character in a Broadway production of it and not needed to memorize one line.