Christmas songs - not what they used to be ?

yorksrob · 5 Dec 2021

Listening to Radio 2 (and their irritating propensity to play too much modern music anyway) I've been stuck by the number of newish xmas songs and how bland they seem to be in comparison to those from my youth.

I think one issue is that too many artists try and reproduce a sort of generic faux-jolly format which seems to sound the same.

If your look back to the xmas his of the past, most of them were true to their genres rather than falling into stereotype. As examples, both Slade and Wizard's songs could have stood up as banging glam tubes if you changed the lyrics. The Pogues 'Fairytale in New York" sounds as though it could have come from the Irish folk canon. East Seventeen's "Stay Another Day" is just a very good song of you take the sleigh bells off.

Perhaps modern artists should just write one of their usual songs and put some sleigh bells on !

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GusB · 5 Dec 2021

yorksrob said:
Listening to Radio 2 (and their irritating propensity to play too much modern music anyway) I've been stuck by the number of newish xmas songs and how bland they seem to be in comparison to those from my youth.

I think one issue is that too many artists try and reproduce a sort of generic faux-jolly format which seems to sound the same.

If your look back to the xmas his of the past, most of them were true to their genres rather than falling into stereotype. As examples, both Slade and Wizard's songs could have stood up as banging glam tubes if you changed the lyrics. The Pogues 'Fairytale in New York" sounds as though it could have come from the Irish folk canon. East Seventeen's "Stay Another Day" is just a very good song of you take the sleigh bells off.

Perhaps modern artists should just write one of their usual songs and put some sleigh bells on !

This is merely a sign that you're turning into an Old Fart, nothing more

yorkie · 5 Dec 2021

It's a combination of factors.

@yorksrob is around 10 years older than his real age culturally

but he is not wrong in his observation that most modern music is rubbish, though not all of it is.

eastwestdivide · 5 Dec 2021

I reckon most music of any era is/was rubbish. The old stuff can seem better now because only the good stuff survives (for varying definitions of ‘good’). The poor new stuff hasn’t been weeded out yet.

yorksrob · 5 Dec 2021

GusB said:
This is merely a sign that you're turning into an Old Fart, nothing more

yorkie said:
It's a combination of factors.

@yorksrob is around 10 years older than his real age culturally but he is not wrong in his observation that most modern music is rubbish, though not all of it is.

I admit, there's probably an element of that !

I think the last really memorable xmas tune that I like is "Christmas time, don't let the bells end" by The Darkness, which is at least this century !

dakta · 5 Dec 2021

yorksrob said:
Listening to Radio 2 (and their irritating propensity to play too much modern music anyway) I've been stuck by the number of newish xmas songs and how bland they seem to be in comparison to those from my youth.

I think one issue is that too many artists try and reproduce a sort of generic faux-jolly format which seems to sound the same.

If your look back to the xmas his of the past, most of them were true to their genres rather than falling into stereotype. As examples, both Slade and Wizard's songs could have stood up as banging glam tubes if you changed the lyrics. The Pogues 'Fairytale in New York" sounds as though it could have come from the Irish folk canon. East Seventeen's "Stay Another Day" is just a very good song of you take the sleigh bells off.

Perhaps modern artists should just write one of their usual songs and put some sleigh bells on !

Totally with you. My personal bugbear though are those downtempo rehashes of older, classic tunes. No you cannot improve on things, to insist on the attempt is cringe. Write a fresh song if you must, but leave the poor legends alone!

yorksrob · 5 Dec 2021

dakta said:
Totally with you. My personal bugbear though are those downtempo rehashes of older, classic tunes. No you cannot improve on things, to insist on the attempt is cringe. Write a fresh song if you must, but leave the poor legends alone!

Oh yes, the one someone did of Tears for Fears was pretty gloomy. The original was much better.

dakta · 5 Dec 2021

what happens is you end up with two versions of the same song in the radio station's library, the newer of the two regardless of quality and atmosphere invariably elbows the older track out of the way for playtime, and before you know it your driving home to a pretty gloomy youth's 'ice white LED tree' infested christmas

D6968 · 5 Dec 2021

Killing in the name, by Rage Against the Machine was the last decent Christmas No1.

Gloster · 5 Dec 2021

The only one I like, as a non-celebrant, is Tannenbaum. However, when everybody else is singing ‘O Christmas Tree’, I am singing ‘The people’s flag is deepest red...’

Mike99 · 5 Dec 2021

I heard an interview in the run up to Christmas with Justin Hawkins lead singer of The Darkness (Rock Group) which I thought might be a nightmare (Ozzy Osborne ish) but he is the most lovely, gentle bloke you could imagine, he said his Christmas Day would be at home in Lowestoft, they go round his Nans in the morning with presents and then all back to his Mums where they deliberately have too many round the table!! so its all family family.
On Christmas No 1's in the very recent years it's been dominated by Lad Baby and Sausage Rolls. My favourite was probably Whitney Houston in 1992 with 'I will always love you'. I noticed it was followed in 1993 by Mr Blobby!! which might be the worst Christmas No 1 but that award must surely go to that idiot in 1972 singing Long Haired Lover from Liverpool.

Master Cutler · 5 Dec 2021

Greg Lake, I Believe in Father Christmas has to be one of the best Christmas songs ever released. Ticks all of the boxes.

Cambus731 · 5 Dec 2021

I agree. Greg Lake's I Believe in Father Christmas was the best imo

I could happily never hear Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody ever again. And that's coming from someone who likes quite a bit of Slade.

Gloster · 5 Dec 2021

Those of you who don’t work in supermarkets (and other retail outlets) think yourselves lucky that you haven’t got a recording of the same dozen songs going round and round on repeat. Your favourite Christmas song probably wouldn’t be after a month of that.

GusB · 5 Dec 2021

Gloster said:
Those of you who don’t work in supermarkets (and other retail outlets) think yourselves lucky that you haven’t got a recording of the same dozen songs going round and round on repeat. Your favourite Christmas song probably wouldn’t be after a month of that.

It's funny how retail outlets can put you off certain things for life. I worked for a McBurger chain (won't say which) when the Lion King was released and they had jolly meal promotion on the go, as well as the film soundtrack on a loop. There's a certain Elton John song which I cannot bear to listen to.

Similarly, when I was in my teens and early 20s I played in various bands and orchestras, most of which would invariably be involved in at least one Christmas concert. Every time I hear "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" I don't even hear the proper tune - just the part I used to play!

yorksrob · 5 Dec 2021

Master Cutler said:
Greg Lake, I Believe in Father Christmas has to be one of the best Christmas songs ever released. Ticks all of the boxes.

Yes, that is a good one. Definitely not run of the mill.

Bevan Price · 5 Dec 2021

Expecting to hear interesting music on BBC Radio is optimistic. With a few exceptions, most of the interesting music consists of album tracks that never gets played there. There are a few good singers (e.g. Adele), but many of the songs on radio are dull, repetitive styles and often too formulaic. The popular music industry needs a big shake-up, just as happened in the 1960s (Beat Groups), 1970s (British Punk) or 1990s (Britpop).

I agree with those who think that Greg Lake did one of the best Christmas songs, with honourable mentions for John Lennon (Happy Christmas War Is Over) & Elvis Presley (Blue Christmas)

Cletus · 5 Dec 2021

I hate nearly all Christmas songs. They should be good enough to play all year around.

Music is for life, not just for Christmas!

There is one good Christmas song, with the catchiest chorus and that's a "comedy" song.

Edit:

forgot to mention the classic indie Christmas single - St Etienne (and Tim Burgess)

pdeaves · 6 Dec 2021

My favourite is the Goons' "I'm walking backwards for Christmas", and that was a summer hit!

AM9 · 6 Dec 2021

In my view, the best Christmas sing along tunes were from the glam rock era (when my kids were growing up) which brought gems from Slade, Wizzard, Mud, Wings, - and Greg Lake of course. Probably the best 'modern' chistmas are New York Fairy Tale, and Chris Rea's Drving Home For Christmas, which for many is a very relevant to the Christmas 'routine' (and an antidote to The Road To Hell).

nlogax · 6 Dec 2021

That Saint Etienne track remains the ultimate 1990s Christmas track, thanks @Cletus for the reminder!

Some of the others mentioned here are indeed awful. And as much as I've always loved RATM's Killing In The Name it's never been a Christmas tune. I suppose it's the same argument as 'Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?'.

Big yes to Greg Lake's effort which is as festive as any song gets, a big HELL NO to Chris Rea's 'Driving Home For Christmas'. I actually think that's the secret first part of 'The Road To Hell'.

Master Cutler · 6 Dec 2021

Mike Oldfield In Dulci Jubilo is another classic that hits the Christmas spot.

Ediswan · 6 Dec 2021

Cletus said:
forgot to mention the classic indie Christmas single - St Etienne (and Tim Burgess)

I had completely forgotten that was a Christmas song. It works any time of year.

Ashley Hill · 7 Dec 2021

Never Mind The Presents by The Barron Knights from 1980(?)always makes me laugh. It's not very PC so the BBC won't play it no more. Likewise Kevin Bloody Wilsons request for a bike to Santa,I can't write the title as its too rude.
Yes,Greg Lake,excellent. As is Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses.

yorksrob · 7 Dec 2021

I do quite enjoy Chris De Burgh's "A Spaceman came a traveling" which probably isn't a la mode these days.

David Essex's "Only a Winter's Tale" has become another favourite of mine in recent years.

DarloRich · 7 Dec 2021

Has Chris Rea set off yet?

Typhoon · 7 Dec 2021

Not a great fan of Christmas hits but Bob Dylan - 'Must be Santa' (with accordion) and some of 'A Christmas Gift for You' (such as 'The Bells of St Marys', 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' and 'Parade of the Wooden Soldiers') are perennials.

I listened to alternatives of 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' but they are not a patch on Darlene Love's version, largely too saccharine and mulled wine. At least U2 put some energy into it. The trouble with many modern day remakes is that they add nothing to the original, ok for Radio Quiet but that is it. I don't know who they are for. When I was growing up, they would have gone down well with my parents, aunt and uncle, neighbours but those days are gone - I've lived through The Beatles, Punk, 'Blue Monday' and the like, Britpop. I haven't put this music behind me. I want some innovation, either that or I'll stick with the oldies (but goodies).

I do agree with others upthread that The Darkness is worth a listen, especially if you are following the lyrics.

bearhugger · 7 Dec 2021

DarloRich said:
Has Chris Rea set off yet?

He's currently sat in Wetherby Services recharging his electric vehicle!

AM9 · 7 Dec 2021

DarloRich said:
Has Chris Rea set off yet?

Probably not for this year. He does (according to the song) drive home for Christmas like so many people in recent decades actually do.

nlogax · 7 Dec 2021

Was listening to a random Christmas hits playlist on Spotify this morning and someone had poisoned the well with a bloody Coldplay track. What's wrong with people?

Christmas songs - not what they used to be ?

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