10 FAVORITES (17) - Holidays PART IV: Religious Christmas Carols

HOLIDAYS EDITION #4

Joy to the World! As the Holiday Season comes to an end with the New Year, I want to finish up my Holidays Edition of 10 FAVORITES. As promised, this will be the best Christmas Carols that derive from religious traditions. Now, having been raised Catholic, most of these Carols are songs I heard every Christmas in church growing up. One thing I have noticed about most of these carols is that a lot of them are very difficult to sing well. Sure, you could sing some these carols slightly off-key and still be quite adequate, but the real test of these carols is if you can nail every note (which is why I tried to find the best versions of the songs on the web). So here they are:

THE 10 BEST RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS CAROLS

HONORABLE MENTION

What Child Is This? (Or really, Greensleeves)

A beautiful song with the poetic imagery of the manger scene set to the music of the famous "Greensleeves."

CHRISTMAS CAROL #10

We Three Kings (Of Orient Are)

This song was always fun to sing because of the "Star of Wonder" refrain and it was a good way for the kids in church to learn the story of the Magi.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #9

The First Noel

This song was always on the stereo for me growing up. My cousin's middle name is "Noelle" (because she was born a few days after Christmas) and so every time they got to the "Noel" chorus, I always thought they were singing about her! (Sometimes kids think anything!!!)

CHRISTMAS CAROL #8

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

This is such a fun song, especially when you get to the "Comfort and Joy" line. I've heard different arrangements and the one below (by the dynamic Annie Lennox) is one of the best.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #7

The Little Drummer Boy

I used to call this song the "Rum Pum Pum" song. I love the way it builds and builds in its melody and then goes back down (just like a little boy's emotions and excitement). Below, I just HAD to use the famous duet between the disparate Bing Crosby and David Bowie (I believe everyone has seen this duet!)

CHRISTMAS CAROL #6

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The best versions of this song are when choruses of people are singing it (much like at the end of It's a Wonderful Life).

CHRISTMAS CAROL #5

Silent Night

Quite possibly the most famous and most enduring Christmas Carol of all-time, but it is NOT #1. It still is a good song, but it is also quite deceptive. Some people think it is an extremely easy to sing, when actually it is an intricate melody that is very hard to get just right (believe me, it was difficult to find a really good version of the song and I figured I couldn't go wrong with Beyonce!).

CHRISTMAS CAROL #4

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Like "The Little Drummer Boy," this song rises and rises and as it rises, the subject of each verse gets grander and grander. It goes from a lamb to a shepherd boy to a king to the people. And it is really good when the song is belted (like below by Whitney Houston, back when she was the Whitney we loved!).

CHRISTMAS CAROL #3

Angels We Have Heard On High

Songs about angels, as I said earlier, are best when sung by large groups of people. Don't get me wrong, there are good solo versions of this song. But the "Gloria" chorus is really served best when multiple voices and octaves wash over the melody.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #2

O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)

When I was young, I first heard the english version of this song (which is the one almost everyone knows). But, growing up Catholic, I just HAD to hear the latin version as well. And that version is really quite beautiful (especially when sung by voices like the Three Tenors!).

AND...

CHRISTMAS CAROL #1

O Holy Night

This carol almost rivals "The Christmas Song" as my favorite carol of all-time. It is yet another song that builds until a glorious climax. Because of the range of the song, it is also notoriously difficult to sing. It is best when handled by the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and (below) Josh Goban.

There you have it: THE 10 BEST RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS CAROLS. Hope one of your favorites is on here. Next week, to celebrate the New Year, I will cover the most important Pop Culture moments of 2010. Until then:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

10 FAVORITES (16) - Holidays PART III: Traditional Christmas Carols

HOLIDAYS EDITION #3

Christmas time is here! And to follow my favorite Christmas films and my favorite Christmas TV specials, I feel it is time to devote 10 FAVORITES to the best Christmas Carols. Now, it being Christmas, there are a lot of religious overtones that seep into the holiday traditions. So, rather than run from the religious part of the holiday, I shall embrace it for next week's list. I will devote two week's worth of 10 FAVORITES to Christmas Carols: next week will be religious themed ones, while this week I will focus on traditional ones (that may or may not have a Christian background). Of the latter, there are several which come to mind as potential favorites. But, alas, I had to whittle the list down to ten (sort of!). Here they are:

THE 10 BEST TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAROLS

HONORABLE MENTION

A TRIPLE TIE - Frosty the Snowman AND Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer AND Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

These three songs do go together for me as they also share their titles with the successful Rankin & Bass animation specials from the late 1960's (of which I spoke about last week!). I loved hearing these songs growing up because they reminded me of the specials I adored.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #10

The Chipmunk Song

Sure, this song can be extremely annoying, especially if you don't like the high-pitched voices of the titular characters. But this song does have remarkable staying power. We always remember that the Chipmunks, like any other child, want Christmas to happen then and now. And, of course, Alvin is more concerned with his want of a Hula Hoop!

CHRISTMAS CAROL #9

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Some christmas carols are elaborately labored on with intricate melodies and poetic lyrics. Then there are those that are very simple and seem to be written from the words inside a Hallmark card. Usually, I don't like the latter kind. But with this song, it just gives me that warm Christmas feeling we all yearn for around the holiday season.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #8

The Twelve Days of Christmas

I believe this is every child's favorite Christmas Carol, or at least it was when I was young. The gifts which the true love gives to the singer (which mostly consists of birds and entertainers) are so fun for the children to say (and imagine!). The carol has made way for several parodies and several good versions (the best being below with the late John Denver and the Muppets, ba dum bum bum!)

CHRISTMAS CAROL #7

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Written by Tin Pan Alley writers Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine for the Hollywood musical diva Judy Garland (in the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis), this song is (to me) the power ballad of the Christmas season. Of course Garland's version is the definitive, but several artists (ranging from Frank Sinatra to Rod Stewart) have covered the song with decent results.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #6

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Yet another simple song to appear on the list. It also can be a very annoying song. But I cannot deny the reluctant charm this song has. Plus, I've always wondered what "figgy pudding" is.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #5

White Christmas

I love most of the songs by the great Broadway (and Film!) composer Irving Berlin. This one has become his most famous and his most enduring (ironic, considering that Irving Berlin was Jewish!). Below, is the finale of the 1954 film White Christmas (which was on my Christmas films list) featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney.

CHRISTMAS CAROL #4

The Carol of the Bells

I love the lush melody of this song. The song can be fully orchestrated (like by John Williams in 1990's Home Alone) or be played by nothing but the titular instruments (see the Claymation Chistmas!). The song is beautiful as an instrumental or with its lyrics (especially when sung by a great choir, like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir below).

CHRISTMAS CAROL #3

Deck the Halls

What would Christmas be like without a little Fa La La La La La La La La La? That's all that needs to be said!

CHRISTMAS CAROL #2

Silver Bells

This Christmas Carol's placement may surprise a lot of people. It is a little known ditty these days (yet it was extremely popular when I was growing up). I think what I love most about this song is that the imagery in it is very urban ("City sidewaks," "People passing," etc.). And (as a metro area-raised guy) it just appeals to me on that level.

AND...

CHRISTMAS CAROL #1

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire)

Written by jazz/pop singer-songwriter Mel Torme, and famously recorded by the legend that was Nat King Cole (quite frankly the definitive version!), this song completely embodies the imagery and emotional quotient of the season. It is my absolute favorite Christmas Carol and, for me, it just is not Christmas unless I hear this gorgeous tune.

So, there you have it: THE 10 BEST TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAROLS. Next week, I will list my favorite religious ones. As we go into December 25th, please keep the lessons of these songs in your hearts as you gather with your friends and families.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!