Sunday, December 20, 2009

On the 7th Day of Christmas, X-Mas Joy Shared with you her Favorite X-Mas Songs

Like most people; Christian or Jew, atheist or Hindu, I like Christmas songs. Even "Joy to the World" which I have a love-hate relationship with. Even though "Joy to the World was my second-least favorite nickname off of my first name, I still think it's a gorgeous song. Here's a list of 4 of my favorite Christmas songs, or the one's I'm thinking of right now, in no particular order really.

4) "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Ms. Judy Garland's introduction of this song to the world is still my favorite version of the song. "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was introduced in the film,"State Fair" in 1944-towards the end of World War 2.


3) Joni Mitchell's "River" Still has the power to stop me in my tracks whether I hear it in a store, on TV or my ipod. While not strictly a Christmas song, "River" tells the story of a broken relationship near the Christmas season.



Lyrics to "River" by Joni Mitchell.
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

2) "I'll Be Home For Christmas"
Many people associate Christmas Elvis with "Blue Christmas." Me, my favorite Elvis Christmas standard is possibly "I'll be Home for Christmas."



1) "Silent Night" I would be disowned if I didn't include the Mo Tab. No, I really do like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a lot even if my mom would turn it up loud on Sunday mornings to wake me up. Here's Walter Cronkite telling the WWI Silent Night Story as an introduction to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.






Now, this list of X-mas songs is by no means conclusive. I haven't even got to Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bing, Harry Connick, Rosemary Clooney, The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, The Muppets, or many others. What's some of your favorite Christmas songs?

7 comments:

Jules said...

Love Judy Garland's "Have Yourself..." Fun fact: did you know the original lyric she sang was at one time deemed too depressing, so it was rewritten to "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough"?

Love the idea--mind if I steal it for my blog?

Joy said...

Jules-I just read that this morning. Interesting stuff.

Sure, go right ahead!

Janette said...

I love the Glorias in Angels We Have Heard on High and Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. Makes my heart sing!

Sparklebot said...

Chipmunks.

Putz said...

this was an ESPECIALLY good blog and even though i don't keep in touch with you, i waqnt to wish you a merry christmas, i got started blogging with you and lucy and no surf sahra way back and i always appreciated your tolerance with my comments, but i think you have always been suspicious of me, but sa la vee

Joy said...

Janette-I like those too!
Sparkle-Alvin!!
Putz-Thanks. I'm not suspicious of you, I think you're great.

Ramanda said...

Meet Me In St. Louis is my favorite movie to watch during the holiday season!
Have you heard the Indigo Girls version of River?
Fabulous picks!