With Christmas here, it is time to unwrap the Top 10 songs from last year's Facebook updates I did last year- Enjoy - Please forgive some of the YouTube links which may have gone bad in the past year...
Two of my favorite things are Music Countdowns and Christmas!
...And now- the Top 10!
10. Christmas Eve /
Sarajevo 12/24, Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Inspired by an elderly cello player in war torn Bosnia- this
song features two classics in one- the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of Christmas
tunes. Listen for both the Carol of the Bells and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
featured against an orchestra, hard rock guitars... and a single cello
9. Happy Xmas (War Is
Over), John & Yoko / The Plastic Ono Band
A protest song disguised as a Christmas song! This song has been
covered many times, and quite frankly, all the covers suck... because they do
not get the protest song angle- any way here it is... Ironically, Number 9...
Number 9... Number 9...
Official Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN4Uu0OlmTg
8. Wonderful
Christmastime, Paul McCartney
It is estimated that Sir Paul makes $400,000 per year on
royalties for this song. Some love it, a lot hate it. I will tell you this-
Christmas time doesn't start in my mind until I hear this for the first time
each November.
This is the video that explains the deeper meaning of this
song. Well, not really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y
7. Same Old Lang Syne,
Dan Fogelberg
Believe it or not, this song is based on a true story. One thing
not true- She didn't marry an architect- She married a Gym Teacher...Anyway,
Jill kept this story secret to preserve Dan's marriage. Although this song was
not originally considered a Christmas song, it has since evolved into one. For
me I always loved the song- Even before high school I loved the lyric:
"Just for a minute we were back in school... and felt the old familiar pain"
Tribute Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYIWeow6W14
6. Last Christmas, Wham
I never liked this song. Until one summer, at a Japanese Karaoke
bar, my good buddy Tomoda-san stepped up to the mike and rocked it out. I never
loved this song. Until two years ago in Germany, when visiting a Christmas
Market, a street organ walked by, and out came -not Stille Nacht, not Oh
Tannenbaum,- but this song. Is it Cheesy? Let me put it this way -Barry
Mannilow's team sued George Michael for plagiarizing "Can't Smile WithoutYou" - And forced a settlement! As part of the
settlement ,for one year, all of the proceeds from this song went to Ethiopian
Famine Relief. Here is the biggest selling song in UK History to not hit number
1... Tell me you don't smile when you hear it the first time each Fall...
Official Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI
5. Christmas is Coming,
The Payolas
This Vancouver band ran into airplay issues in the US- primarily
because no US radio station really wanted to play songs associated with the
word "payola". I discovered this tune when hunting around the WRSU
record library for Christmas songs. The contrast of the upbeat modern rock
track vs. holiday angst lyrics make this song surprisingly refreshing. It took
me about 10 years to find it on CD, and I haven't stopped listening to it since then.
4. All I Want For
Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey
The most surprising thing bout this countdown? This song... For
an artist that I really don't enjoy at all, this song is awesome. I always
credited that to her picking a good song to cover, until I found out this was
an original composition! Brilliant song, Brilliant recording. Great stuff...
and the mandatory dog parody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZCRyI8eZec
one last one: jimmy fallon, the roots, and
mariah- with school toys.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWEfszb9h8Q
3. Christmas (Baby
Please Come Home), U2
The original version by Darlene Love was selected by Rolling
Stone as the Greatest Rock and Roll Christmas Song in 2010- and was cited for
its "raw emotion and sheer power". I heard this cover version first-
and thought the same of Joshua Tree era Bono's voice... Power and emotion,
along with a kick ass drum intro. As for Darlene Love? She is singing
background vocals on this version too!
2. Christmas is the time
to say 'I Love You', Billy Squier
As far as I know this the only song on the countdown featured on
Rock Band. As the 'B' Side to 'My Kind of Lover', this song hit it big in 1981-
and in my mind kicked off the Renaissance of Rock Christmas songs that started
in the 80s and is pretty much overplayed now... For the record- if you do not
like this song, you do not like Christmas, and you do not like music. End of
story! By the way--- Darlene Love, the original performer of yesterday's song number 3 song, covered this song!
Yo, MTV Rocks... Check
out this sweater! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPf2snTB2wo
1 . Do They Know It's
Christmas, Band Aid
"This record was recorded on the 25th of November 1984.
It's now 8 AM in the morning of the 26th. We've been here 24 hours and I think
it's time we went home. So from me - Bob Geldof, and Midge, we'd say, 'Good
morning to you all, and a million thanks to everyone on the record. Have a
lovely Christmas. Bye.'"
The video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQzJAKxTrE
