The Best Christmas-Themed Song By a Rocker?

[Norbert]

I've been hearing tons of them, and most Christmas-themed songs make me
cringe.

McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" is just too goofy, childlike,
fruity, musically insubstantial and repetitive.

Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is too dreary, reminiscent of that
song about a racehorse by Peter, Paul, and Mary, and befouled by Yoko's
wretched vocals. And the Vietnam War was *not* over at that time,
however much anyone may have wanted it to be.

The Kinks and Billy Squier also have songs dealing with Christmas
ineffectively.

No, the best such song is "Christmas" from the Who's Tommy. It's an
excellent, powerful song with great playing from all the guys (Moon
really shines), innovative backing vocals that may have been Entwistle's
creation -- and a dark edge, since it expresses the frustration of
Tommy's parents as to their son's obliviousness to the day and his (they
assumed) need for salvation.

It is the best Christmas song in rock music.

[super70s]

Post by Norbert
I've been hearing tons of them, and most Christmas-themed songs make me
cringe.
McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" is just too goofy, childlike,
fruity, musically insubstantial and repetitive.

I agree. Like when he came up with "Freedom" after 9/11, it sounded
like he phoned that one in.

Post by Norbert
Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is too dreary, reminiscent of that
song about a racehorse by Peter, Paul, and Mary, and befouled by Yoko's
wretched vocals. And the Vietnam War was *not* over at that time,
however much anyone may have wanted it to be.

However the billboards they placed in 12 major cities across the world
in Dec. 1969 read "War is over! If you want it," and during the
background chorus they sing "War is over if you want it, war is over
now." It was probably just a shorthand title.

Post by Norbert
The Kinks and Billy Squier also have songs dealing with Christmas
ineffectively.

I always thought "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Emerson, Lake &
Palmer was a nice Christmas song.

Post by Norbert
No, the best such song is "Christmas" from the Who's Tommy. It's an
excellent, powerful song with great playing from all the guys (Moon
really shines), innovative backing vocals that may have been Entwistle's
creation -- and a dark edge, since it expresses the frustration of
Tommy's parents as to their son's obliviousness to the day and his (they
assumed) need for salvation.
It is the best Christmas song in rock music.

[Bruce]

Post by super70s
I always thought "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Emerson, Lake &
Palmer was a nice Christmas song.

It's actually by Greg Lake solo.

Here are my favorite Christmas songs.


1 - Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
2 - Mambo Santa Mambo - Enchanters
3 - White Christmas - Drifters
4 - Please Come Home For Christmas - Charles Brown
5 - Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
6 - Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
7 - White Christmas - Ravens
8 - Sleigh Ride - Ronettes
9 - Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
10 - Cool Cool Christmas - Sabers
11 - Old Fashiond Christmas - Kenny Williams
12 - Dig That Crazy Santa Claus - Oscar McLollie
13 - Merry Christmas Baby - Charles Brown
14 - Silent Night - Ravens
15 - A Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
16 - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda lee
17 - Rockin' And Rollin' With Santa Claus - Hepsters
18 - Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
19 - Silent Night - Temptations (1980 version)
20 - Christmas Celebration - BB King
21 - Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Elvis Presley
22 - Santa Claus - Sonny Boy Williamson
23 - Hey Santa Claus - Moonglows
24 - Jingle Jangle - Penguins
25 - Christmas In New Orleans - Louis Armstrong
26 - Just A Lonely Christmas - Moonglows

--

[super70s]

Post by Bruce

Post by super70s
I always thought "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Emerson, Lake &
Palmer was a nice Christmas song.

It's actually by Greg Lake solo.

It's the final track on The Best of Emerson, Lake & Palmer CD (with no
reference to it being a solo Lake recording, only the "original single
version") so I didn't know any different.

[Silver Skull]

Post by Norbert
I've been hearing tons of them, and most Christmas-themed songs make me
cringe.

Generally, everything about Christmas these days makes me cringe.

Post by Norbert
McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" is just too goofy, childlike,
fruity, musically insubstantial and repetitive.

In other words, like most of his output then ? ha ha

Post by Norbert
Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is too dreary, reminiscent of that
song about a racehorse by Peter, Paul, and Mary, and befouled by Yoko's
wretched vocals. And the Vietnam War was *not* over at that time,
however much anyone may have wanted it to be.

Most things that John Lennon did after 1967 were befouled by Yoko Ono in
some way or another.

Post by Norbert
No, the best such song is "Christmas" from the Who's Tommy. It's an
excellent, powerful song with great playing from all the guys (Moon
really shines), innovative backing vocals that may have been Entwistle's
creation -- and a dark edge, since it expresses the frustration of
Tommy's parents as to their son's obliviousness to the day and his (they
assumed) need for salvation.
It is the best Christmas song in rock music.

I quite liked "Another Rock'n'Roll Christmas" by Gary Glitter. It's
still on Spotify but you won't hear it on the radio anymore.

[Norbert]

It's the damndest thing. Yoko destroyed everything of value in Lennon's
life -- his most important friendships and professional partnerships,
his marriage, and to a large extent what was left of his mind -- and, in
return, Lennon acted as her servant.

I've seen similar situations among acquaintances and family members who
became slaves to cults or narcissists -- only they didn't give up
*quite* as much as Lennon did (though they probably would have if they
had had all that JL had).

[Geoff]

Post by Silver Skull

Post by Norbert
I've been hearing tons of them, and most Christmas-themed songs make me
cringe.

In other words, like most of his output then ? ha ha

Hardly. Certainly some and many not at all.

But what Christmas songs aren't cringe worthy ?!!

geoff

[Blueshirt]

Post by Geoff
But what Christmas songs aren't cringe worthy ?!!

"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" ... I love it!

I think it's criminal that the single never made it to No.1.