Q: What is your favourite holiday song? Specify which version you’re talking about because let’s face it, there are a billion versions of them all.
Elizabeth DiCesare, Campus News Editor: Since Hallowe’en is hands down my favourite holiday, The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my go-to movies for the Christmas season. It is definitley more of a Christmasy film, but mixes in an interesting, hallowe’en-ie twist that makes it just flat-out awesome, so naturally this is one of my favourite holiday songs. Also, what is better than Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel singing together in Elf? Nothing.
Carly Basch, Life Editor: The entire A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi Trio is beautiful
Shelby Blackley, Sports Editor: CHRISTMASSSSSSSS! Honestly, if you gave me a million generic Christmas songs, I’d be the happiest person alive. It’s what’s getting me through exams. But right now, it’s “Santa Slays” by Fight Fight Fight. Not necessarily well known, but a great song nonetheless. If you wanted to look at the more generic side of Christmas, it’s definitely this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEU7EhF8jV8. Whoever came up with “Rudolph” is A GENIUS.
Katelyn Cullum, Lead Reporter: Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, my favourite Christmas song is “All I want for Christmas is you” and more specifically, my favourite version is from my favourite Christmas movie, Love Actually.
Justin Fauteux, Editor-in-Chief: Working at a grocery store for five Christmases kind of ruined most holiday songs for me, but for some reason I still enjoy Charles Brown’s “Bells Will be Ringing”. I just love the bluesy, yet Christmasy, feel to it. That being said, I like bluesy Christmas songs, not depressing ones (ahem, Josh Grobin). Also, although I’m not a huge fan of “The Boss” (AKA the most overrated musician of all time) I’ve also always enjoyed Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”.
Devon Butler, Opinion Editor: Because my absolute favourite Christmas movie is A Muppets Christmas Carol this is the obvious choice. But the entire movie is filled with delightful musical gems and important life lessons like wherever you find love it feels like christmas. Additionally for some reason, any version of “Auld Lang Syne” makes me cry. Especially this version mostly because J-stew’s inexplicable beauty makes me weep.
Marissa Evans, Lead Reporter: Usually I’m not someone who is big on Christmas music. I know that for some people as soon as Dec. 1 (sometimes all it takes is Nov. 1) comes they start listening to Christmas music, but that was just never really me. I know all the songs, but it wasn’t actually until this year when I put the effort in to listen to some Christmas music playlists on YouTube. Having done that I realized what is probably my favourite. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is definitely the one I enjoy listening to and singing the most. Doesn’t matter what version it is. A close second though would have to be one of the songs off of Relient K’s Christmas album, which are all the conventional songs but just done in a different style.
Alanna Fairey, Lead Reporter: This holiday song has two of my favourite things: Christmas and country. Every time I hear “Where Are You Christmas” by Faith Hill, I know that the Christmas season is among us. I have always loved this song ever since I was a little girl. I remember that I used to dance to this song for my family when they would come over for Christmas parties (yes, I know I was weird). The Grinch is one of my favourite Christmas movies. Even though I hated the Jim Carrey version, the song kind of forces me to tolerate it. Every time I hear it play — whether on my Ipod or on the radio — I become so excited for Christmas time. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t listening to this song right now. Also, I think this song is hilarious. It’ll be a hit at your next Christmas party.
Lindsay Purchase, Local/National Editor: My favourite Christmas song, at least among the ones I don’t really get to hear on the radio, is “Snoopy’s Christmas” by the Royal Guardsmen. Something about overcoming differences and violence to come together for Christmas … just, I don’t know. I like it. The first time I hear it every season, this lyric always causes me to choke up with Christmas happiness: “Snoopy was certain this was the end when the Baron cried out ‘Merry Christmas, my friend!’” Moral of the story: be nice to your enemies on Christmas.
Kate Turner, Photography Manager: This is the greatest Christmas song of all time, don’t even try to argue. Also, this video taught me some of the best dance moves in my repertoire. Oh, and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes did a cover, so its just that much more amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wS-k66MKgs. I really DO wish it was Christmas today…they know what they’re talking about. Sidenote: I miss fat Horatio Sanz.
Stephanie Truong, Graphics Editor: I love The OC and I love this song. Ron Sexsmith is already an eargasm and him singing Christmas songs is something so fantastic I can barely handle it. Let this wonderful tune twinkle loudly through your home for a warm, folky, and sentimental moment this holiday season.
Wade Thompson, Visual Director: This won’t be able to compare to Steph’s use of “eargasm” but I’ll do my best. One Christmas Eve, when I was probably seven or eight, we were driving home from my grandparents’ house and listening to the radio. A very odd and hilarious song came on the station that we were so very perplexed by. It was called “Six White Boomers” and sung by a man named Rolf Harris (we would later find out… trying to find a song in days before Napster too… Such a pain in the ass) It wasn’t a “classic”. It wasn’t a carol that we had ever heard before. And it was definitely not something that sounded like it should have been playing around here. Either way, we fell in love with it almost immediately, and it has been given play time every holidays since. Oh, and The Chipmunk’s “Twelve Days of Christmas” does too. Hilarious. I can vividly remember giggling harder listening to this song than almost anything else during my childhood.
Cristina Rucchetta, Lead Photographer: My favourite holiday song would have to be “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” While it is a generic Christmas song, it reminds me of the many Christmas Eves and Christmas Days spent at my grandparents’ houses and it was always played when we put up all our decorations. Another song I love listening to every Christmas season is “Santa Claus Lane.” I was a huge Hilary Duff fan when I was younger and will always have a soft spot for this song. Oh, and obviously the entire Michael Buble Christmas album is the greatest.