Now that we’re safely past Thanksgiving, it’s OK to jump feet first into the Christmas spirit. Not that the traditional Thanksgiving starting point seems to matter much anymore.
In order to put their listeners in the mood and to attract advertisers who want to get that Christmas buck or two, radio stations across the country throw out their standard playlists and embrace all-Christmas-all-the-time broadcasting.
That leads to a list discovered while surfing the Internet (honest, boss; it’s research). A Web site called spinner.com had nothing better to do than to list what its editors consider the 12 worst Christmas songs ever. The staff and management here do not necessarily agree with the choices. Go to spinner.com to register your complaints.
Here’s the bottom 12:
12) “Santa Baby” — Madonna,1987
11) “Wonderful Christmastime” — Paul McCartney, 1979
10) “Christmastime” — Smashing Pumpkins, 1997
9) “8 Days of Christmas” — Destiny’s Child, 2001
8) “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” — Bruce Springsteen, 1981
7) “Christmas Conga” — Cyndi Lauper, 1998
6) “Santa’s Beard” — Beach Boys, 1964
5) “Merry Christmas With Love” — Clay Aiken, 2004
4) “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” — The Ramones, 1989
3) “Oi to the World” — No Doubt, 1997
2) “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)” —John Denver, 1975
1) “Do They Know It’s Christmas” — Band Aid, 1984
Thankfully I’ve heard very few of these so it’s difficult to dispute many of the choices. I would say the Springsteen version of the Santa classic sounds pretty good to this old-time rock and roller.
But if the folks at spinner.com can do it, so can we. But, in the spirit of the season and an attempt to be positive, here’s my list of the 10 BEST Christmas songs ever. We won’t go back to the classics, although many are updated versions of those classics.
Now on with the countdown:
10) “Little St. Nick” — Beach Boys, 1964
9) “The 12 Days of Christmas” — The Muppets with John Denver, 1979
8) “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” — Dr. Elmo, 1979
7) “Jingle Bell Rock” — Bobby Helms, 1957
6) “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” — Brenda Lee, 1957
5) “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” — Bruce Springsteen, 1981
4) “Blue Christmas” — Elvis Presley, 1957
3) “Sleigh Ride” — The Ronettes, 1963
2) “Run, Run Rudolph” — Chuck Berry, 1958
1) “White Christmas” — Darlene Love, 1963
If you’ve never heard the Phil Spector-produced Darlene Love version of “White Christmas,” find it and listen. Bing Crosby, she’s not.
These lists, by their very nature, are subjective. So if you think such-and-such song should be on it or so-and-so song should not be, let me know at dick.lucinski@niagara-gazette.com. I might not agree, but it will be interesting.
Dick Lucinski is the managin
Columns
Related Photos
LUCINSKI: Worst and best of Christmas music
- Columns
-
-
HOPKINS: Big mistakes by Romney, Obama
Rick Santorum’s strong showing Tuesday in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado should come as no surprise.
-
DUVALL: Church shouldn’t be forced to offer birth control
In announcing that the federal government will require religious institutions to provide free access to birth control, President Obama touched off a heated debate about religious freedom — one he is likely to lose.
-
CONFER: Time to end the NFL’s blackout rule
Long ago, in a much simpler time, ticket sales accounted for the majority of revenues for professional football teams.
-
LEFFLER: Don’t wait to be productive
I’ve always been a bit of a night person. It started in college when I would stay up all hours of the night — doing homework. Or something.
-
DUVALL: Immigration, not economy, could tip 2012 election
In a handful of swing states that will decide the election, immigration will play a large — perhaps even determining — role in whether Barack Obama gets another four years.
-
TUCKER: Another side of the SPCA
With all the negative news about the SPCA of Niagara County, it seems a good time to weigh-in about the wonderful SPCA Serving Erie County.
-
ADAMCZYK: The return of The Slash
A recent column in this space about the myriad effects of personal technology (smartphones si, singing toothbrushes no) mentioned the curse of lifelong learning, that carousel of constant vocational training and retraining forced by a life on a globe spinning faster and flattening faster than society can cope, and that’s where the commentators keyed this in this week’s virtual mailbag.
-
Keppeler: Give me shelter
I hate the cold.
Most winter days in the Tonawanda News newsroom, I’m sitting here wearing my coat. (I’m doing it right now, as a matter of fact.) -
DUVALL: To the moon, Newt!
Normally I would jump at the chance to make fun of Newt Gingrich for saying something zany like how he plans to build American colonies on the moon.
-
CONFER: Federal spending derailed by Amtrak
We’ve been inundated with news reports about the fiscal woes of the U.S. Postal Service. Why is it that we never hear anything about another federal enterprise facing ongoing losses -- Amtrak?
- More Columns Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
