FreeThinker
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(Just talking about the ones generally associated with x-mas, because I have very little exposure to those from other cultures. I'm not excluding Chanukka, Quanzaa, or any others out of bias, but out of ignorance--I simply don't know enough about them to dicuss them)
People keep calling them all 'carols', but most aren't.
You've got your three basic categories.
They sing about x-mas from a spriritual viewpoint.
Examples include "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", "Silent Night" (tolerable if performed with appropriate subtlety), and "Angels We Have Heard On High" (really pretty damn good).
They sing about x-mas, but are not carols, as they are not about the birth, but about the annual celebration.
Examples include "Deck The Halls", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", and the insufferably repetitive "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".
Gordon Lightfoot's "Circle Of Steel" is a good one, as is Stan Rogers' "First Christmas", along with "Christmas At Denny's", a beautifully sad song about the people who end up eating or working there on Christmas (if anyone knows who did it, or where to get it, let me know).
These songs have nothing whatsoever to do with x-mas, but get hauled out along with the rest. They only sing about winter.
Examples include "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow", and "Jingle Bells" (pretty vapid song about a sleigh-ride, but the story behind the guy who wrote it is interesting).
Generally, I don't care for this type of song since I can't stand winter, but "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a fun one.
What are your picks and pans in any of the given categories?
People keep calling them all 'carols', but most aren't.
You've got your three basic categories.
1: Christmas Carols
They sing about x-mas from a spriritual viewpoint.
Examples include "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", "Silent Night" (tolerable if performed with appropriate subtlety), and "Angels We Have Heard On High" (really pretty damn good).
2: Christmas Songs
They sing about x-mas, but are not carols, as they are not about the birth, but about the annual celebration.
Examples include "Deck The Halls", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", and the insufferably repetitive "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".
Gordon Lightfoot's "Circle Of Steel" is a good one, as is Stan Rogers' "First Christmas", along with "Christmas At Denny's", a beautifully sad song about the people who end up eating or working there on Christmas (if anyone knows who did it, or where to get it, let me know).
3: Winter Songs
These songs have nothing whatsoever to do with x-mas, but get hauled out along with the rest. They only sing about winter.
Examples include "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow", and "Jingle Bells" (pretty vapid song about a sleigh-ride, but the story behind the guy who wrote it is interesting).
Generally, I don't care for this type of song since I can't stand winter, but "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a fun one.
What are your picks and pans in any of the given categories?
