meridian_rose

In years past I used to post regular holiday song entries here tagged as the music recs/holidays and then mostly just links at Tumblr (tagged favourite songs tag
I've changed things up in the last couple of years.

I have a playlist at Spotify https://open.spotify.com/user/meridian-rose/playlist/4UrPv754SpyE7Z3HtcLr6e?si=U0n4-st6SDisf3LJIsmHHA

and Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaNMLczMdhM0pxvUaXEYo9J4VmaNWeEx2

The playlists include all the songs on my list I could find though there may be some variations on version/artist between the spotify and youtube playlists.

There are some new additions and this year I'm grouping by theme for this post, though the playlist order reflects the older order I'd chosen with the newer additions at the bottom. Some of the songs do meet more than one theme!

Some of my favourite holiday songs, new discoveries, and songs that feel like the holidays to me.


Winter Solstice & Pagan
Ring Out Solstice Bells – Jethro Tull
Santa Claus is Pagan Too – Emerald Rose (cover version on Spotify, original artist on Youtube)
The 13 days of Solstice" Yule Carols by Karina Skye. Described as a pagan 12 days of Christmas the somewhat tongue in cheek lyrics include "4 elements, 3 money spells, 2 pentacles, and a robin in a fir tree"
See also Gwyl Canol Gaeaf in the Foreign Language section

Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve – Kelly Clarkson
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer – Dr Elmo
Here Comes Santa Claus – Bob B Boxx and the Blue Jeans but there are other covers
(It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus – Harry Connick Jr.

Christmas Day
I Saw Three Ships – traditional carol
Adeste Fideles/Come All Ye Faithful – Nat King Cole though I also like the Bing Crosby version; plenty of choral performances of this traditional carol are available

Boxing Day/St Steven's Day
Good King Wenceslas – "went out on the Feast of Stephen" ie the 26th aka Boxing Day in the UK and Canada. Traditional carol.

Traditional and Crooner Classics
It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas – Bing Crosby
Sleigh Ride – there are many versions, instrumental and with lyrics, I went with The Ronettes
We Singers Make Bold (Merry Christmas) – The Spinners is my favourite version but that's hard to find an online version for but there are some traditional choral versions
The Christmas song (As in "chestnuts roasting on an open fire") – Nat King Cole
Silver Bells – Dean Martin
Rest Ye Merry Gentleman –Nat King Cole
Christmas in Killarney - Bing Crosby
12 Days of Christmas – traditional
Mele Kalikimaka – Another Bing Crosby classic but for the playlists I went with Seth MacFarlane
Deck the Halls – traditional
Let it Snow – Dean Martin

Carols
Gaudete – Steeleye Span's version is my favourite. I've also added an Erasure version which combines the traditional song with their own spin and grouped it at the playlist with the Steeleye Span version.
Carol Of The Bells – there are many great versions of this with and without lyrics; music by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914 and lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on the Ukrainian folk chant "Shchedryk", originally about the new year source/read more
There's also, at Youtube only, a "Carol of the Bells Meets Metal" performed by 331E Rock
O Christmas Tree/O Tannenbaum –Mario Lanza "This is a German song, based on a traditional folk song, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree by the early 20th century and sung as a Christmas carol. source/read more
The Holly and Ivy – another you'll find with or without lyrics. I've gone with the Mediaeval Babes in the playlists
In Dulci Jubilo – Mike Oldfield for preference but you can find some amazing choral performances. "In dulci jubilo (Latin for "In sweet rejoicing") is a traditional Christmas carol. In its original setting, the carol is a macaronic text of German and Latin dating from the Middle Ages" source/read more
Ding Dong Merrily On High - traditional
Boar's Head Carol – I've gone with the Westminster Cathedral Choir but again a traditional carol with lots of versions. " Although the modern versions of the song makes no mention of Christmas, the original verses does so in “The boar's head we bring with song, in worship of Him that thus sprung, of a Virgin to redress all wrong; Noel”" source/read more

Foreign Language
Dos Trocitos De Madera – you can read more about this song at this post
C'était la veille de Noël (It was the Eve of Christmas Day)– another Spinners song, with French and English lyrics; there are some wholly French performances, mostly by children's choirs and I've included a French version on the Spotify and Youtube playlists
Yule Winter solstice Gwyl Canol Gaeaf – Welsh Winter Solstice tune (not on the Spotify playlist)
Petit Papa De Noel – Tino Rossi

Contemporary
Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime -Paul McCartney
Stop the Cavalry – Jona Lewis
Merry Christmas Everyone -Shakin' Stevens
Santa's Beard -Beach Boys
Merry Christmas Everybody -Slade
I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
Baby It's Cold Outside - Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews, don't @ me about the lyrics read this instead
Winter Wonderland –I went with the Rod Stewart & Michael Buble version for something even more modern
Merry Christmas Baby - Beach Boys


Comedy and Fandom related
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer – could also go here given there's an animated film based on and featuring the 1979 'novelty song'
(and technically the Seth MacFarlane cover of Mele Kalikimaka since I discovered his music via his TV work)
Let it Snow – a second version, this one from Glee's Lucas Grabeel
Captain Picard sings "Let it Snow!" at Youtube only a fanvid where clips from ST:TNG have the crew, mostly Picard sing "Let it Snow" or rather, "Make it So" – I think it was OldToadWoman who introduced me to this gem!
Christmas Means Nothing Without You - Anna And The Apocalypse. A song from the Christmas Zombie Musical movie from 2017, "Anna and the Apocalypse"


Youtube playlist