Personally I can’t stand Mariah Carey and that dreadful wailing number of her’s! Give me Sinade O’Connor singing silent night. Or Johnny Cash away in a manger. I even forgive Chis de Burgh at Christmas
Try serving in a department store over Christmas which only has two albums and plays them on a continuous loop. 'Little Drummer Boy' by Boney M still sends me into a rage.
Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer. Be thankful Europe that you are spared from this ear bleeding nightmare that vomits from American airwaves every Christmas.
That Wham one is a nauseating piece of festering vomit. I work in a retail environment and that one is played ad nauseum, along with a hundred equally horrific covers of it. That, and the festive stool Mariah Carey dumped out.
Good list, indeed a collection of festive poo. My least favorite is that wretched "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" by Springsteen. It is ubiquitous and annoying this time of year. Cheers!!
As a man born in New Jersey in 1960 and didn’t leave till he was 26 years old, I DESPISE the Springsteen monstrosity. It was inescapable! I even head it after I moved to Silicon Valley. 🤮
OMG yes. Or should I say, NO. I actually saw him do this song live god-knows-when back in the day, and it was amusing with all the fawning over Clarence. But over the years I grew to truly hate the song, not the least due to the fact that I heard it countless times every year. I started playing a little game where I tried hard to NOT hear it at all during the season. Came close a couple of times, once even hearing it at all during freaking gas station. But it took until last year for me to finally succeed in my goal of NOT hearing that sleigh wreck of a song. All I had to do was move to Portugal…
Believe it or not, there is Frank Sinatra version of this song that is pretty good, and I am not a fan of Christmas music. But Frank's version is a full swinging horn section orchestra drums slamming dripping with swagger good time! 👍Also both Frank Sinatra & Dean martin both have a great version of "Let it Snow" too.
I was hoping for something controversial, but you are spot on about all of these. I would throw 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey into the mix, it's probably not her fault but that bloody song is everywhere. Also Maroon 5, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ is a crime against music, if you have been lucky not to hear it, keep it that way. Happy Christmas to all at Classic Album Review and thanks for everything you have done this year.
I agree with you about Mariah Carey. I can't stand the bloody song. Each time there is a festive top 50 on TV, it's always number one and def Cliff Richard songs. I can't stand mistletoe and Wine, Just like the Millenium prayer- it's cringe making and any Jackson 5 song with the young Michael with that shrieking voice of his. I've got nothing against Band Aid- it's a festive classic. One last song i hate is Wizzard- that's another annoying song. I'm glad Taylor bloody Swift wasn't on the list but i do find her annoying-she's everywhere. Anyway Merry Christmas to all.
If I'm being honest I absolutely cannot stand Christmas music full stop, regardless of me being a music lover in general. But the absolute worst is Feliz Navidad. Also if I hear that new one by Ed Sheeran and Elton John one more time I may end up committing myself to the funny farm for the remainder of the Christmas period. Merry Christmas Baz, keep up the great vids 👍
A local radio station (with a very limited selection of songs for some reason) where I live plays Feliz Navidad about every two hours or so during its nonstop Christmas agenda from late November through early January. Sidenote also played on this station are FOUR different artists' renditions of Wham's "Last Christmas". ☹I guess the music world was bound & determined to "get it right" when it came to this song, I suppose.
@discontinuedmodel232 my god that don't sound good mate, my thoughts and prayers go out to you. To be honest I try to avoid radio stations at all costs now as I find them pretty repetitive all year round. I try and use Spotify/UA-cam Music in the car. Unless my wife and kids insist on the old Christmas gubbins crap 😫
I am not a McCartney fan and never have been and you're right about the song. Bit of a boring video too. So far i have only heard this song once wherever i have been and that's enough. The song just drags too
No, Kevin. Her Christmas song is the last, great Christmas song ever written. It's right up there with the golden classics. A masterpiece. The fact that she's been exploiting it every year since it came out is less admirable, though...
@@TibetanFox68 I agree. Mariah follows you everywhere. I was out on Thursday and i must have heard her at least 5 times. I have a fave Xmas tune which never get's played. You may like it or hate it but i like it because it's a good rockin' tune and it's Status Quo- It's Christmas Time. It has a fun video which you could see they all enjoyed doing it.
@@monkeytennis7477 Another great jazz oriented christmas song is "Good Morning Blues", specificaly the 1938 version by Count Basie with Jimmy Rushing singing the vocal.
Back when I worked at Target they would play nothing but Christmas music throughout the entire shift starting in November. NOVEMBER! All I wanted for Christmas was some headphones.
I love Christmas in general, probably the last thing in this country that we actually keep as a tradition. I mean let's face it. Everyone is miserable for the over 11 months of the year.
I haven't met anyone yet that's in the mood for Christmas, and I feel every year it's harder to find anyone that sees as nothing more than a drag on already stretched finances
@AreJayCee as long as you've got family, that's all it's about. Just a sprinkling of remembering what the meaning of Christmas is all about too ie Christ, spending time with family is enough for me plus the amazing food of course. Even if it's just seeing a few people in Santa hats, how these people are still just about willing to make a bit of effort. Sadly, I do agree that it's in decline like most things now
I HATE "Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" By Paul McCartney. Sounds like he composed and recorded that cheesy bag of moldy puke in 10 minutes. It's played RELENTLESSLY and considered a "Christmas Classic"..... It's not allowed to be played in our house.
You should listen to John Waters Christmas album. It's got some really good and really bad stuff... Also, the Kinks "Father Christmas" is by far the best rock Christmas song ever, and it is VERY Kinks with it's dark undertones in the lyrics with happy jingle bells ringing in the beginning and end. Classic.
They fed many hungry people as a collective Christmas gift in 1985. Then they all partied on New Year's Eve, welcomed the New Year in style, and forgot about the starving millions: "You're what? Still hungry? Didn't we feed you for Christmas? What's the matter, you don't expect to eat every day, now, do you? Get real!"
The Beach Boys in the 70's would take their songs and add Christmas lyrics to them. For example 'Loop de Loop' (1968) was reworked into 'Santa's Got An Airplane' (1977). I love The Beach Boys, but some of their reworked Christmas songs were pretty bad.
I know I'm in the minority here, but I can't stand John & Yoko's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by not just them, but ANYONE. Such an over-covered song. One of my faves for winter or Christmas is Homer & Jethro and June Carter Cash's version of "Baby It's Cold Outside", although I don't particularly like that song.
You let Sir Paul off the hook. I love his silly love songs, but I don’t want the world filled with his silly Christmas songs. I look around me and see that is so. 😁
I took my car into the shop the other day because it was making this horrible screeching noise. It took the mechanic a couple of days to figure out that it was the Mariah Carey CD in the player!! 😵💫🤨🤪
Very entertaining. I’m no fan of the whole Christmas thing. I only know two of the songs (Wham and Band Aid) and I don’t have strong opinions either way. I suspect I’ve dodged a bullet with the other eight. What amused me was the Cliff Richard album from The Daily Mail. It’s as if they decided that the album wasn’t bad enough and so found a way of damning it for eternity. Keep up the pithy comments. They always hit the spot!
1) Everyone knew what your #1 would be. 2) The guy who mentioned Wonderful Christmastime in the comments is spot on. 3) We agree on Rolling Stone magazine. 4) Your distaste for Last Christmas by Wham! is clearly and understandably tainted by the music video. It’s a great song if you can somehow manage to “unsee” the video. 5) The gift of this list is knowing that I haven’t heard any of the eight songs which remain after the two I do like. 6) Everyone knows that 99% of all Xmas music recorded after the 60s is garbage anyway.
I'm not a fan of Christmas songs, but they are everywhere for a couple of months. I have learned the best way to deal with them is to make them all dirty. I sing (in my head) the nastiest lyrics I can think of that fit the song.
I'll nominate Santa Baby - as done by absolutely anybody. If I could expunge one song off of the face of the Earth forever, it would be this one. It's gross and disgusting.
I hope you do a list of your favorite Christmas songs as well. Some of mine: Thanks For Christmas - XTC (as The Three Wise Men) Father Christmas - The Kinks I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake And my number 1: A Christmas Song - Jethro Tull. This is usually the last song I'll listen to before I go to bed on Christmas Eve.
Played a lot of Xmas songs over and over in 25 years in radio. Worst IMO- Bob Seger’s version of ‘Little Drummer Boy’. Turns me atheist for four minutes.
Cant agree Wham last christmas. Maybe along with darlene love alone this christmas and chris Rea Driving home for christmas are my top christmas songs. They are meant to be a bit cheesy ,warm and cosy . Cheer up for gods sake. !
Someone once told me for the old Brenda Lee song Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree they misheard the lyrics “Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie” as “Later we’ll have some f**kin’ pie”! Listen to it and you’ll see! It’s forever changed the song for me and I can’t unhear it! 🤣
'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey. OK, I get why people like because I admit it, it's a good pop song. BUT these years it's EFFING EVERYWHERE EVERY EFFING DAY FOR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. And the weird thing is I'm pretty sure it's a fairly recent phenomenon - I mean, without checking I'm pretty sure it didn't even get to number 1 the year it was released, and while it was always there in the '90s, it was never played anywhere close to the extent it is now. It's just so effing ubiquitous, so effing omnipresent - you can't go anywhere in December without hearing it and then that's it - it's stuck in your head for the rest of the day. I'd also add 'Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time' by McCartney, just because it always sounded so absolutely half-arsed, lazy and unimaginative. I mean, the chorus alone - 'siiiiiimply, haviiiiiing, a-wonderful-Christmas-time'. Come on, a child could've written it. I will say though, I don't actually mind 'Last Christmas' by Wham TOO much - again it's overplayed, and it's schmaltzy and saccharine, but there is something about it that does make me feel a bit Christmassy.
@@Terence-g2q I didn't know that, that's quite something considering how much she's sold over the years. But yeah, considering just how much it is played/streamed, I'm actually not surprised. While she's not exactly a one hit wonder, I do wonder how many people could actually name any other songs by her.
I'm a huge Mariah Carey fan, and I absolutely loved this song when it first came out. I still love it, but you're absolutely right about it being overplayed to death every Christmas. Ironically, when this song first came out the Christmas song which was overplayed to death was Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". While I thought Mariah's song would be popular over the years to come, I didn't expect it to become a Christmas standard. Mariah Carey was a massive musical artist in the USA during the 1990's through the mid 2000's and 18 number one singles yet most Gen-Z music listeners only know her for this Christmas song.
Most of these songs people don’t know about (except Wham! and Band Aid). At least in Sweden. ”Fairytale Of New York”. I hate that song, every year some dude comes along and say all christmas songs sucks except that, because I have good taste. Year after year, and this guy looks exactly like someone who would say that. Would you invite him for christmas dinner? No, don’t think so.
Full respect to Andy Williams but is it f*** The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. It's dark, cold, it rains constantly, we spend way too much money, eat too much just because we can and have to tolerate people we'd rather not have to at any other time. Spring - now that's a wonderful time. Hell, pretty much any other time of year is wonderful.. A fine list, Sir. All the best to you and yours.
There are SO MANY horrible xmas songs! For me, the worst are the cutey-patootie guy/gal duets with their ecstatically squealing shaky voices and cheerful ploink-ploink-ploinky-ploink pianos and bells. The worst of the worst are the ones where they don't just sing along with the melody but keep adding pauses and then speeding up. Or the song starts with an adorable spoken exchange between the duo; "Hey Chad! What do you love the most about cwismas?!?!?!", "OH TIFFANY, I'm SO GLAD you ASKED!".
I must be the only person who detests Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody. To descend from the Slade Alive! album to that pub singalong was truly sad in my view.
Well it blocked ‘I love You Love Me Love’ from being one of the few Christmas Number Ones to hit the top in November. For that alone we can be grateful. Glitter had the beating of the rival Christmas single by Wizzard but not Slade.
I’m utterly stunned that Having a Wonderful Christmas Time by McCartney wasn’t a runaway winner. It’s not only the most vomit inducing Christmas song ever, it’s one of the worst songs period.
I would say the Paul McCartney one. Its the most McCartney song I've ever heard and its unbearable. I'm not trying to say he's a bad songwriter, but Lennon's "granny music" comments are fully applicable here.
Absolutely. Ironic that a guy he shared a group with managed the same feat. Lennon's 'Merry Christmas (War is over)' is so bad they could replace waterboarding with it as a form of torture.
I actually love and adore two songs on your list...Last Christmas and Feed The World. Both have wonderful catchy tunes and that warm beautiful Christmas feeling. I always feel better after listening to them. I also love Step Into Christmas by Elton John.
I wasn't aware of that Spice Girls song. Thanks for that. 😠 From what I understand it was just "Sporty" and "Baby", but put out in the band name... the others were either leaving the group/having babies.
Honestly all the groups and individual artists mentioned here I never listen to, let alone their Christmas songs. I'm sure they are cringe worthy. The best modern Christmas songs. I believe in Father Christmas, Phil Spector's Christmas with the Ronettes among others, Trans-Siberian, John Lennon's (Yoko removed with an alternative mix). All the Beatles Christmas message releases ("Happy Kris Cringle"), one of the best ones with Tiny Tim singing Nowhere Man with George Harrison in the studio, a true Christmas treat. Merry Christmas.
Band Aid _and_ Wham!? Unforgivable! 'Last Christmas' is a pure pop joy, and Band Aid is pop pomposity at its best! By the way - Last Christmas also has its royalties go to international charities - so basically the top 2 singles from Dec '84 pump money into charities. For me it's Mariah's warbling, East 17's horrible turd, and I think the post-2000 version of Band Aid which had nothing going for it - even managing to lose the tune of the original. Oh, and I also hate Yoko's singing on 'War is Over'.
In my opinion Fairytale of New York is not just the worst christmas song of all time, but one of the very worst singles ever released. The lyrics, the music, the singing (if you can call it that) all utter garbage that should never be played publicly again!
There's a song called One Last Christmas by some country artist. It's about a kid with cancer. Nothing on this earth can overtake how horrible this song is.
I'm glad you didn't mention Slade Merry Xmas everybody & status quo its Christmas time. I love both of them, they get played every year on the big day :)
Maybe "Don't Shoot Me Santa" can be redeemed if you listen to it IMMEDIATELY after watching the "Futurama" episode "Xmas Story" which introduced the world to Robot Santa, who went around killing everyone deemed "naughty" (which was basically everyone due to a bit of malfunctioning software). At the end of the episode, the gang all sing "Santa Claus Is Gunning You Down" (a parodic version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town").
I count myself fortunate that I've never heard most of these songs. Of your list the one I hear everywhere this time of year is Wham's Last Christmas which for the life of me is NOT a Christmas song, just a break-up song that happens to happen on that day. The most absurd Christmas song is the (I kid you not) collaboration between the Chipmunks and Canned Heat on "Christmas Time is Here Again." One particularly miserable December I almost lost it over "It's The Happiest Time of the Year" and was about to do major mayhem in a store I couldn't find my way out of while that song went on foreeeever. I was about to smash the place, had a rather heavy bottle poised to do some big time smashing when it ended and Elvis came on singing "Blue Christmas."
I know that I'm in the minority here, but I can't stand McCartney's "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time." Yes, it's a catchy melody but rather simplistic for someone of his talent. And don't even get me started on the cheesy synth work. Completely cringe.
In no particular order, my 3 worst: The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End). Bo' Selecta - Proper Crimbo. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.
Can’t argue with any of those Barry; or all of the other suggestions. I’ll throw in those by David Bowie and Bing Crosby ( what was that all about), Elton, Macca, Wizard, and my top 2 Turkeys - Slade ( The Bohemian Rhapsody of Xmas songs, good at the time but no more please), and the ever popular Fairy Tale of New York which makes me feel I’ve just trod in reindeer shit. However, delving into Santas other sack a few gems can be found so here’s my 10 that get an annual airing : 1. Anything from the splendid Tull Christmas album, Jack Frist and the Hooded Crow is my favourite. 2. Greg Lake 3. Jona Lewie 4. Chris de Burgh ( indeed) 5. Chuck Berry - Run Run Rudolph 6. Nat King Cole - Christmas Song 7. Dean Martin - Let it Snow ( oh yes) 8. Ronettes- Sleigh Ride 9. Samara Joy - Warm in December 10. Lindsey Stirling - Carol of The Bells. Wishing you and yours all the best, Barry and to quote your salvo - hope you’re well, safe and keep listening ……to great music 🎄
Surprised there's only 10 on the list tho........ Even the best ones are only just bearable & cheesy as hell ! Slade at the top for me if i had to name one......
I absolutely detest Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You
@@PryorTravis Ditto
I almost spit out a mouthful of coffee when I heard you say "a turd in the eggnog".
Brilliant !
Not an image that's easy to forget.
Personally I can’t stand Mariah Carey and that dreadful wailing number of her’s!
Give me Sinade O’Connor singing silent night. Or Johnny Cash away in a manger.
I even forgive Chis de Burgh at Christmas
Always throw up a bit in my mouth when any version of Santa Baby plays
Especially Taylor Swift. At least Madonna kind of tried.
Only Eartha Kitt can pull off Santa Baby.
I hate that song!! Any version!
Try serving in a department store over Christmas which only has two albums and plays them on a continuous loop. 'Little Drummer Boy' by Boney M still sends me into a rage.
Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer. Be thankful Europe that you are spared from this ear bleeding nightmare that vomits from American airwaves every Christmas.
Not only the worst Christmas song, but the very worst song of all time.
First time I heard it, when it came out in the 80's, it was mildly amusing. Now I never want to hear it again. EVER. The 80's got a lot to answer for.
That Wham one is a nauseating piece of festering vomit. I work in a retail environment and that one is played ad nauseum, along with a hundred equally horrific covers of it. That, and the festive stool Mariah Carey dumped out.
You obviously never come out alive of the Whamageddon contest then …. 😳
Good list, indeed a collection of festive poo. My least favorite is that wretched "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" by Springsteen. It is ubiquitous and annoying this time of year. Cheers!!
As a man born in New Jersey in 1960 and didn’t leave till he was 26 years old, I DESPISE the Springsteen monstrosity. It was inescapable! I even head it after I moved to Silicon Valley. 🤮
OMG yes. Or should I say, NO. I actually saw him do this song live god-knows-when back in the day, and it was amusing with all the fawning over Clarence. But over the years I grew to truly hate the song, not the least due to the fact that I heard it countless times every year. I started playing a little game where I tried hard to NOT hear it at all during the season. Came close a couple of times, once even hearing it at all during freaking gas station. But it took until last year for me to finally succeed in my goal of NOT hearing that sleigh wreck of a song. All I had to do was move to Portugal…
Have a listen to the Bob Rivers parody of this song, you might feel better😂
Believe it or not, there is Frank Sinatra version of this song that is pretty good, and I am not a fan of Christmas music. But Frank's version is a full swinging horn section orchestra drums slamming dripping with swagger good time! 👍Also both Frank Sinatra & Dean martin both have a great version of "Let it Snow" too.
Hear Hear
I was hoping for something controversial, but you are spot on about all of these.
I would throw 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey into the mix, it's probably not her fault but that bloody song is everywhere. Also Maroon 5, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ is a crime against music, if you have been lucky not to hear it, keep it that way.
Happy Christmas to all at Classic Album Review and thanks for everything you have done this year.
I agree with you about Mariah Carey. I can't stand the bloody song. Each time there is a festive top 50 on TV, it's always number one and def Cliff Richard songs. I can't stand mistletoe and Wine, Just like the Millenium prayer- it's cringe making and any Jackson 5 song with the young Michael with that shrieking voice of his. I've got nothing against Band Aid- it's a festive classic. One last song i hate is Wizzard- that's another annoying song. I'm glad Taylor bloody Swift wasn't on the list but i do find her annoying-she's everywhere. Anyway Merry Christmas to all.
The song is alright, but it's so overplayed. You go christmas shopping, already a hellish experience, and every store you go into you hear it.
I agree on Maroon 5. I heard that for the first time the other day, it’s revolting.
Anything by Maroon 5 is a crime against music.
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Well don't stand so close to it!
lol , thanks , that made me laugh
Ahh man I love this by Nat King Cole!
There used to be people selling hot chestnuts on the street of NYC, and the song is from the '50's.
An oldie but a goodie
Dude! All these years you’ve been mishearing the lyrics! It’s “Jeff’s nuts”
I can't believe no one has mentioned Cliff Richard "Mistletoe and Wine". Perhaps the PTSD has wiped it from your memories.
Agreed. I can even live with Millennium Prayer in comparison to this.
'children singing Christian rhyme'... 😒
The worst of the worst!
No, I actually like this one, mainly because it stopped Kylie & Jason getting the Christmas number 1 😂
I heard that Cliff uses the 'PTSD wipe it from your memory' technique quite often 😆🙄👍✌️
I feel the way you do about Band Aid's Do They Know Its Christmas about Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You
If I'm being honest I absolutely cannot stand Christmas music full stop, regardless of me being a music lover in general. But the absolute worst is Feliz Navidad. Also if I hear that new one by Ed Sheeran and Elton John one more time I may end up committing myself to the funny farm for the remainder of the Christmas period. Merry Christmas Baz, keep up the great vids 👍
Feliz Navidad is the Macerana of Christmas songs 🎵!
A local radio station (with a very limited selection of songs for some reason) where I live plays Feliz Navidad about every two hours or so during its nonstop Christmas agenda from late November through early January. Sidenote also played on this station are FOUR different artists' renditions of Wham's "Last Christmas". ☹I guess the music world was bound & determined to "get it right" when it came to this song, I suppose.
@discontinuedmodel232 my god that don't sound good mate, my thoughts and prayers go out to you. To be honest I try to avoid radio stations at all costs now as I find them pretty repetitive all year round. I try and use Spotify/UA-cam Music in the car. Unless my wife and kids insist on the old Christmas gubbins crap 😫
@@jamesthorley4442 Christmas Must be Tonight by The Band is very good. Other than that I like the old classics.
Wonderful Christmas time - Paul McCartney has to be the worst ever. Bland, and just repeats the same turgid lyrics over and over again. BORING.
No no no , it is full of Christmas spirit unlike Lennon's turgid Happy Xmas (war is over) which should have the samaritans phone number included
I do despise that song as well
The Shins did a pretty good cover of that song.
I am not a McCartney fan and never have been and you're right about the song. Bit of a boring video too. So far i have only heard this song once wherever i have been and that's enough. The song just drags too
I think you mean Billy Shears😂😂😂😂😂
Mariah Carey, her one is the worst imo, I just switch it of. Loathsome,
No, Kevin. Her Christmas song is the last, great Christmas song ever written. It's right up there with the golden classics. A masterpiece.
The fact that she's been exploiting it every year since it came out is less admirable, though...
@
That’s your opinion not mine
@@Kevin-1969 Nope. I was being objective.
I don't hate it, but I wish they'd stop playing it so much, along with Last Christmas. There's so many better Christmas songs that barely get airplay.
@@TibetanFox68 I agree. Mariah follows you everywhere. I was out on Thursday and i must have heard her at least 5 times. I have a fave Xmas tune which never get's played. You may like it or hate it but i like it because it's a good rockin' tune and it's Status Quo- It's Christmas Time. It has a fun video which you could see they all enjoyed doing it.
All you need is the Charlie Brown Christmas album by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
That's my absolute favorite, in the red colored vinyl with silver sparkles edition 🥰🎄
@@monkeytennis7477 Another great jazz oriented christmas song is "Good Morning Blues", specificaly the 1938 version by Count Basie with Jimmy Rushing singing the vocal.
Queen's thanks god its christmas?
100%. It is absolutely atrocious
Back when I worked at Target they would play nothing but Christmas music throughout the entire shift starting in November. NOVEMBER! All I wanted for Christmas was some headphones.
November? Thats kinda late to start appealing to the consumers.
‘Never mind Wired For Sound - he should be wired up to the mains!’ I’m still laughing hysterically
"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is rich people telling middle class people, be glad you're not poor people. (...thank God it's them instead of you.)
Basically yes, but it was definitely not meant that way.
Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" is the worst
Hot Take: I like Cliff's "Mistletoe & wine"
I love Christmas in general, probably the last thing in this country that we actually keep as a tradition. I mean let's face it. Everyone is miserable for the over 11 months of the year.
I haven't met anyone yet that's in the mood for Christmas, and I feel every year it's harder to find anyone that sees as nothing more than a drag on already stretched finances
@AreJayCee as long as you've got family, that's all it's about. Just a sprinkling of remembering what the meaning of Christmas is all about too ie Christ, spending time with family is enough for me plus the amazing food of course. Even if it's just seeing a few people in Santa hats, how these people are still just about willing to make a bit of effort. Sadly, I do agree that it's in decline like most things now
"turd in the eggnog" that's an image for Christmas
I HATE "Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" By Paul McCartney. Sounds like he composed and recorded that cheesy bag of moldy puke in 10 minutes. It's played RELENTLESSLY and considered a "Christmas Classic".....
It's not allowed to be played in our house.
Just about sums all his solo output
@@thecolorgreen7046 McCartney wrote some of the greatest and some of the worst songs.
@@JJG86 👍
hear hear... awful song
That Kim Wilde and Mel Smith one,
'Rocking around the Christmas tree'
Is F'ing horrendous.
yep, that's a shocker and compounded by a video which tries to be funny and isn't.
You should listen to John Waters Christmas album. It's got some really good and really bad stuff... Also, the Kinks "Father Christmas" is by far the best rock Christmas song ever, and it is VERY Kinks with it's dark undertones in the lyrics with happy jingle bells ringing in the beginning and end. Classic.
Surely Thanks God It's Christmas by Queen is the worst Christmas song ever made!
I do love Queen ... but absolutely loathe this cynical cashing in on their 'Live aid' performance ..
Yes, very dreary.
I'm with you there.
100%
@@waynegoucher4503 Except that it came out BEFORE Live Aid. The Queen song inspired by Live Aid was "One Vision".
“Turd in the Eggnog!” Lol😂😂😂😂
They fed many hungry people as a collective Christmas gift in 1985. Then they all partied on New Year's Eve, welcomed the New Year in style, and forgot about the starving millions: "You're what? Still hungry? Didn't we feed you for Christmas? What's the matter, you don't expect to eat every day, now, do you? Get real!"
I really can't stand Paul McCartney's "Simply having, a wonderful Christmas time"
100% agree. The worst of the worst.
Agree, it’s crap, sounds like it was written by a child
Something about that song really gives me the creeps.
@
Sounds like it was written on a Bontempi childs organ bought in Woolworths in 1975
Since I first heard it while suffering a bad cold, this thing comes back to me on heavy rotation whenever I get sick in wintertime.
The Paul McCartney one for me, it makes me puke from my soul.
Solo McCartney has always made me puke
@@alfching2499I tend to agree, he can be very schmaltzy but I quite like Wonderful Christmastime. At least its not Mull of Kintyre.
@@alfching2499 RAM is a good album.
The Beach Boys in the 70's would take their songs and add Christmas lyrics to them. For example 'Loop de Loop' (1968) was reworked into 'Santa's Got An Airplane' (1977). I love The Beach Boys, but some of their reworked Christmas songs were pretty bad.
"Winter Symphony" and "Morning Christmas" rule
I kind of like Little Saint Nick
Wonderful Christmas Time and Happy Xmas (War Is Over). It's ironic that two of the worst Christmas songs ever were written by Beatles.
All of them.
ALL. OF. THEM.
I know I'm in the minority here, but I can't stand John & Yoko's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by not just them, but ANYONE. Such an over-covered song. One of my faves for winter or Christmas is Homer & Jethro and June Carter Cash's version of "Baby It's Cold Outside", although I don't particularly like that song.
Yep it's a total turd
Where do I sign?!
Thank you for putting Last Christmas by Wham on this list! I hate that song! This time of the year you cannot escape it!
You let Sir Paul off the hook. I love his silly love songs, but I don’t want the world filled with his silly Christmas songs. I look around me and see that is so. 😁
I took my car into the shop the other day because it was making this horrible screeching noise. It took the mechanic a couple of days to figure out that it was the Mariah Carey CD in the player!! 😵💫🤨🤪
Very entertaining. I’m no fan of the whole Christmas thing. I only know two of the songs (Wham and Band Aid) and I don’t have strong opinions either way. I suspect I’ve dodged a bullet with the other eight. What amused me was the Cliff Richard album from The Daily Mail. It’s as if they decided that the album wasn’t bad enough and so found a way of damning it for eternity.
Keep up the pithy comments. They always hit the spot!
Yes, Greg Lake & The Pogues with Kirsty - brilliant ! Those two songs get better every year I hear them 😀
We Are the World was worse. A bunch of American artists jumping on the bandwagon and telling everybody, "See? We're GOOD people too!"
1) Everyone knew what your #1 would be. 2) The guy who mentioned Wonderful Christmastime in the comments is spot on. 3) We agree on Rolling Stone magazine. 4) Your distaste for Last Christmas by Wham! is clearly and understandably tainted by the music video. It’s a great song if you can somehow manage to “unsee” the video. 5) The gift of this list is knowing that I haven’t heard any of the eight songs which remain after the two I do like. 6) Everyone knows that 99% of all Xmas music recorded after the 60s is garbage anyway.
I'm not a fan of Christmas songs, but they are everywhere for a couple of months. I have learned the best way to deal with them is to make them all dirty. I sing (in my head) the nastiest lyrics I can think of that fit the song.
I can only imagine "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". LOL
@@d-phil8585 Enjoy the holidays, my friend.
I'll nominate Santa Baby - as done by absolutely anybody. If I could expunge one song off of the face of the Earth forever, it would be this one. It's gross and disgusting.
That long beat at 7:10; that's comedic genius right there. Another awesome video Barry
I think that 'Must Be Santa's by Bob Dylan is a great Christmas song along with the unedited 'Fairytale of New York'
Mitch Miller's version is fun too. What's weird is I think Must Be Santa is an enjoyable Christmas song that very few have recorded.
Siiimply haviiing awonderfulchristmastime
That's pure granny rock with a Christmas theme.
WTF was he thinking putting that out?
@@dj71162 It's that part of McCartney. For every Yesterday or Eleanor Rigby there was one of them.
There’s enough material around for an All The Worst album - Once Upon A Long Ago, My Love, Press To Play, Mary Had A Little Lamb, etc, etc.
😂😂😂😂
I hope you do a list of your favorite Christmas songs as well. Some of mine:
Thanks For Christmas - XTC (as The Three Wise Men)
Father Christmas - The Kinks
I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake
And my number 1: A Christmas Song - Jethro Tull. This is usually the last song I'll listen to before I go to bed on Christmas Eve.
I pretty much hate all Christmas songs as they've all been played to death. Actually The Greedies - A Merry Jingle is ok but it's a piss take
Played a lot of Xmas songs over and over in 25 years in radio. Worst IMO- Bob Seger’s version of ‘Little Drummer Boy’. Turns me atheist for four minutes.
I lost the will to live when Lynyrd Skynyrd released a Christmas song album.
Cant agree Wham last christmas. Maybe along with darlene love alone this christmas and chris Rea Driving home for christmas are my top christmas songs. They are meant to be a bit cheesy ,warm and cosy . Cheer up for gods sake. !
What about Paul McCartney's absolutely ghastly "Wonderful Christmas Time?"
Yep. Can't stand that one.
Great song.
Your brutally honest review/ assessment of number 1 was hilarious and thoroughly entertaining (made me laugh). Thank you and keep up the good work.
😂😂😂... miss the gratuitous f' bombs, but bollocks and turds will suffice... disagree with Last Christmas though.😂😂😂
There are so many worse Xmas songs out there.
Try me
The Christmas Shoes, Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, Madonna's version of Santa Baby.
"Mistletoe and Wine" is far far worse than anything on this list
I know it's considered a classic but I just cant stand "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee. I'm beyond sick of that song.
Someone once told me for the old Brenda Lee song Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree they misheard the lyrics “Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie” as “Later we’ll have some f**kin’ pie”! Listen to it and you’ll see! It’s forever changed the song for me and I can’t unhear it! 🤣
'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey. OK, I get why people like because I admit it, it's a good pop song. BUT these years it's EFFING EVERYWHERE EVERY EFFING DAY FOR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. And the weird thing is I'm pretty sure it's a fairly recent phenomenon - I mean, without checking I'm pretty sure it didn't even get to number 1 the year it was released, and while it was always there in the '90s, it was never played anywhere close to the extent it is now. It's just so effing ubiquitous, so effing omnipresent - you can't go anywhere in December without hearing it and then that's it - it's stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
I'd also add 'Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time' by McCartney, just because it always sounded so absolutely half-arsed, lazy and unimaginative. I mean, the chorus alone - 'siiiiiimply, haviiiiiing, a-wonderful-Christmas-time'. Come on, a child could've written it.
I will say though, I don't actually mind 'Last Christmas' by Wham TOO much - again it's overplayed, and it's schmaltzy and saccharine, but there is something about it that does make me feel a bit Christmassy.
This comment is so basic and predictable that ai could’ve written it
😂😂😂😂😂
It’s said she’s made more $$$ from that one than all her other stuff put together….
@@Terence-g2q I didn't know that, that's quite something considering how much she's sold over the years. But yeah, considering just how much it is played/streamed, I'm actually not surprised. While she's not exactly a one hit wonder, I do wonder how many people could actually name any other songs by her.
I'm a huge Mariah Carey fan, and I absolutely loved this song when it first came out. I still love it, but you're absolutely right about it being overplayed to death every Christmas. Ironically, when this song first came out the Christmas song which was overplayed to death was Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". While I thought Mariah's song would be popular over the years to come, I didn't expect it to become a Christmas standard. Mariah Carey was a massive musical artist in the USA during the 1990's through the mid 2000's and 18 number one singles yet most Gen-Z music listeners only know her for this Christmas song.
“On which hangs this particular Christmas bollock” Total belly laugh.
Most of these songs people don’t know about (except Wham! and Band Aid). At least in Sweden. ”Fairytale Of New York”. I hate that song, every year some dude comes along and say all christmas songs sucks except that, because I have good taste. Year after year, and this guy looks exactly like someone who would say that. Would you invite him for christmas dinner? No, don’t think so.
You’re a Swede?! Did you mention Triad?! No, you didn’t …..😳🙄🤨🤦
“I Believe In Father Christmas” by ELP never ceases to bring me to tears of agony that eventually give way to tears of joy.
The only Christmas song I like is the Bowie/Crosby Little Drummer Boy one. Everything else I could stand to never hear again.
Full respect to Andy Williams but is it f*** The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. It's dark, cold, it rains constantly, we spend way too much money, eat too much just because we can and have to tolerate people we'd rather not have to at any other time. Spring - now that's a wonderful time. Hell, pretty much any other time of year is wonderful.. A fine list, Sir. All the best to you and yours.
Plus all the agro of trying to suss out what gifts to get people.
I am a birder and every spring I go around singing It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Exactly!!!
I hate all christmas songs! Humbug!
There are SO MANY horrible xmas songs! For me, the worst are the cutey-patootie guy/gal duets with their ecstatically squealing shaky voices and cheerful ploink-ploink-ploinky-ploink pianos and bells. The worst of the worst are the ones where they don't just sing along with the melody but keep adding pauses and then speeding up. Or the song starts with an adorable spoken exchange between the duo; "Hey Chad! What do you love the most about cwismas?!?!?!", "OH TIFFANY, I'm SO GLAD you ASKED!".
I must be the only person who detests Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody. To descend from the Slade Alive! album to that pub singalong was truly sad in my view.
Well it blocked ‘I love You Love Me Love’ from being one of the few Christmas Number Ones to hit the top in November. For that alone we can be grateful. Glitter had the beating of the rival Christmas single by Wizzard but not Slade.
Yeah just you
Slade gets everybody singing at parties or in the pub
I’m utterly stunned that Having a Wonderful Christmas Time by McCartney wasn’t a runaway winner. It’s not only the most vomit inducing Christmas song ever, it’s one of the worst songs period.
The Beach Boys', 'Little Saint Nick' is pretty annoying.
Never heard of 7 of them...........just lucky I guess?
Wonderful Christmas Time - Sir Paul. Not just the worst xmas song, but probably Mac's worst song in his entire catalog...
What about We All Stand Together??
I thought for sure that was gonna top this guys list 😅
@katoness I seriously struggle to believe that the same man wrote Yesterday.
@@mattmckeon1688 Well, I'm sure you are aware a whole contentious debate about that one.
@@katoness Junior's Farm?
I would say the Paul McCartney one. Its the most McCartney song I've ever heard and its unbearable. I'm not trying to say he's a bad songwriter, but Lennon's "granny music" comments are fully applicable here.
I was sitting in a dentist's waiting room last year and that excruciating McCartney thing was on repeat ... I almost lost my mind.
Absolutely. Ironic that a guy he shared a group with managed the same feat. Lennon's 'Merry Christmas (War is over)' is so bad they could replace waterboarding with it as a form of torture.
@@Metalbutty it's better than Macca's effort.
@@jimmycampbell78Quite different, but better? no.
@@rcpsammy7186 'You can have the dental work with the anaesthetic _and_ Wonderful Christmas Time, or without either'.
'Without, please'
oh I dunno Last Christmas has a dark theme that many covered and it gave it something
Yeah, I thought that was a bit harsh. It's not a favourite of mine by any means but it's a long way from being in my top ten worst.
8 Days of Christmas by Destinys Child is an absolute abomination.
I can't stand "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney.
For me it's that Mariah Carey one, can't stand it.
I actually love and adore two songs on your list...Last Christmas and Feed The World. Both have wonderful catchy tunes and that warm beautiful Christmas feeling. I always feel better after listening to them. I also love Step Into Christmas by Elton John.
Crap
A friend of mine absolutely loathes Last Christmas with a fiery passion..
I wasn't aware of that Spice Girls song. Thanks for that. 😠 From what I understand it was just "Sporty" and "Baby", but put out in the band name... the others were either leaving the group/having babies.
A very good definitely not overplayed christmas song is the wonderful home for Christmas by Kate Bush.
I craked up when you said "a turd in the eggnog' classic!!
Honestly all the groups and individual artists mentioned here I never listen to, let alone their Christmas songs. I'm sure they are cringe worthy. The best modern Christmas songs. I believe in Father Christmas, Phil Spector's Christmas with the Ronettes among others, Trans-Siberian, John Lennon's (Yoko removed with an alternative mix). All the Beatles Christmas message releases ("Happy Kris Cringle"), one of the best ones with Tiny Tim singing Nowhere Man with George Harrison in the studio, a true Christmas treat. Merry Christmas.
Band Aid _and_ Wham!? Unforgivable! 'Last Christmas' is a pure pop joy, and Band Aid is pop pomposity at its best! By the way - Last Christmas also has its royalties go to international charities - so basically the top 2 singles from Dec '84 pump money into charities.
For me it's Mariah's warbling, East 17's horrible turd, and I think the post-2000 version of Band Aid which had nothing going for it - even managing to lose the tune of the original. Oh, and I also hate Yoko's singing on 'War is Over'.
In my opinion Fairytale of New York is not just the worst christmas song of all time, but one of the very worst singles ever released. The lyrics, the music, the singing (if you can call it that) all utter garbage that should never be played publicly again!
There's a song called One Last Christmas by some country artist. It's about a kid with cancer. Nothing on this earth can overtake how horrible this song is.
We agree on Do They Know it's Christmas. Ugh!
I must say one of your faves Jethro Tulls Christmas song is absolutely horrendous and should be definitely on your list.
I'm glad you didn't mention Slade Merry Xmas everybody & status quo its Christmas time. I love both of them, they get played every year on the big day :)
Despite not even being particularly into your particular genre of music, your content is absolutely outstanding and consistently makes me chuckle 😂
Wonderful Christmas Time is another turkey.
Maybe "Don't Shoot Me Santa" can be redeemed if you listen to it IMMEDIATELY after watching the "Futurama" episode "Xmas Story" which introduced the world to Robot Santa, who went around killing everyone deemed "naughty" (which was basically everyone due to a bit of malfunctioning software). At the end of the episode, the gang all sing "Santa Claus Is Gunning You Down" (a parodic version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town").
Thank you so much for this list! I 100% agree with your pick for number one! I've been making the case for that for years!
I count myself fortunate that I've never heard most of these songs. Of your list the one I hear everywhere this time of year is Wham's Last Christmas which for the life of me is NOT a Christmas song, just a break-up song that happens to happen on that day.
The most absurd Christmas song is the (I kid you not) collaboration between the Chipmunks and Canned Heat on "Christmas Time is Here Again."
One particularly miserable December I almost lost it over "It's The Happiest Time of the Year" and was about to do major mayhem in a store I couldn't find my way out of while that song went on foreeeever. I was about to smash the place, had a rather heavy bottle poised to do some big time smashing when it ended and Elvis came on singing "Blue Christmas."
I know that I'm in the minority here, but I can't stand McCartney's "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time." Yes, it's a catchy melody but rather simplistic for someone of his talent. And don't even get me started on the cheesy synth work. Completely cringe.
In no particular order, my 3 worst: The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End). Bo' Selecta - Proper Crimbo. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.
McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime is my No.1 stinker - Jesus Christ it's abysmal.
Can’t argue with any of those Barry; or all of the other suggestions. I’ll throw in those by David Bowie and Bing Crosby ( what was that all about), Elton, Macca, Wizard, and my top 2 Turkeys - Slade ( The Bohemian Rhapsody of Xmas songs, good at the time but no more please), and the ever popular Fairy Tale of New York which makes me feel I’ve just trod in reindeer shit.
However, delving into Santas other sack a few gems can be found so here’s my 10 that get an annual airing :
1. Anything from the splendid Tull Christmas album, Jack Frist and the Hooded Crow is my favourite.
2. Greg Lake
3. Jona Lewie
4. Chris de Burgh ( indeed)
5. Chuck Berry - Run Run Rudolph
6. Nat King Cole - Christmas Song
7. Dean Martin - Let it Snow ( oh yes)
8. Ronettes- Sleigh Ride
9. Samara Joy - Warm in December
10. Lindsey Stirling - Carol of The Bells.
Wishing you and yours all the best, Barry and to quote your salvo - hope you’re well, safe and keep listening ……to great music 🎄
Pretenders....2000 miles, the best one
By a considerable distance (A fantastic tribute to James Honeyman-Scott)
It's Ms Hynde so of course it's good.
@Ruda-n4h I love the song and video
@@crispybug very hypnotic and tinged with sadness
the worst Christmas song is by Bruce Springsteen, Santa Claus is coming to town. I can't turn it off fast enough
Surprised there's only 10 on the list tho........
Even the best ones are only just bearable & cheesy as hell !
Slade at the top for me if i had to name one......