What is Your Favorite Christmas Song

[Marsha Gupton]

I have so many its difficult to name one.

[Cindi Hammons]

Marsha,

I voted for O Holy Night, but I have to say, you left off "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer!" Ha! Ha!

I like Christmas music too!

Cindi H.

[Alisa Stoll]

What Child is this? Mary did you know? are probably my two fav. Christian carols.

Silver Bells, White Christmas for generic Christmas songs

The one that drives me the craziest (not that I have far to go) - I'll be home for Christmas. I simply hate the build up about what they'll do to be there to have the song end "if only in my dreams".

Alisa

[Marsha Gupton]

Oh Cindi, how could I have forgotten, Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, when I live in Nashville. hahah

I forgot to include, Mary Did You Know. I just love that song.

[Vivian Cornwell]

I see several have already said, "Mary Did You Know." That is my favorite also.

[Charlene Clevenger]

I like the one that starts, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.... I think the real title is The Christmas Song.

[Barbara Moulton]

What Child is this? Mary did you know? are probably my two fav. Christian carols.

Silver Bells, White Christmas for generic Christmas songs

The one that drives me the craziest (not that I have far to go) - I'll be home for Christmas. I simply hate the build up about what they'll do to be there to have the song end "if only in my dreams".

Alisa

I feel exactly the same way about that song.

[Marsha Lynn]

I like the one that starts, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.... I think the real title is The Christmas Song.

I think that's my favorite, too. (At least of those mentioned so far.) Our favorite Christmas CD is Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas.

Marsha

[Charlene Clevenger]

My favorite Christmas CD is one I got from the value bin at the Christian book store. It's jazz carols played by some no-name piano. Really; they don't list the name of the artist on the cover. Anyway, I love it.

[Jill Mickelson]

My favorite is "There's a Song in the Air"
I heard Bill Pierce sing it once on a children's program
on a Saturday Morning.....

There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth,
For the virgin’s sweet Boy is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;
And that song from afar has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing
In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!

We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song
That comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,
And we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!
(here's the link if you want to hear it!)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/s/tsongair.htm

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

i voted for "Joy to the World" because it is such an amazing song and i felt it deserved a vote. *smiles* i can't choose my favorite. i have tried. i have read this thread many times and still can't determined my very favorite. They all have their place.

i agree with the thoughts on "I'll Be Home for Christmas". For i will not be home for Christmas - and i am sure that my mom will declare that my dreams does not equate my presence.

Great thread, Marsha - -

blessings all

[Cindi Hammons]

Yes! The Christmas song...done by Nat King Cole of course.

During our Hanging of the Greens service Sunday night, we will have the pianist play O Christmas Tree while the reading is done. I'm really going to have trouble keeping a straight face as I picture Schroeder playing his little red piano! Ha! I love the Charlie Brown Christmas and I'm thrilled that my kids watch the video all throughout the year! It's absolutely the best Christmas show.

Cindi H.

[Marsha Lynn]

Cindi, if you like that show, you should put this CD (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000XDJ/qid=1133622883/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-0192580-2971834?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) on your Christmas list. It's just piano, bass, and drum doing the songs from the special in light jazz (including The Christmas Song). You can listen to samples at Amazon. Heavenly. It's one thing I look forward to at Christmastime.

:)

During our Hanging of the Greens service Sunday night, we will have the pianist play O Christmas Tree while the reading is done. I'm really going to have trouble keeping a straight face as I picture Schroeder playing his little red piano! Ha! I love the Charlie Brown Christmas and I'm thrilled that my kids watch the video all throughout the year! It's absolutely the best Christmas show.

[Cindi Hammons]

I have a HUGE amount of respect for our military especially WWII and Vietnam vets. Everytime I hear I'll Be Home for Christmas, I think of the tremendous sacrifices these soldiers have made and continue to make for us every day. I guess I am also a closet romantic and this song makes me think of all the separations that happened (and still do), just like this news story records.

I know the song can be a real downer to others, and I certainly understand why, but it really means a lot to me.

Cindi H. certainly meaning no disrespect to those who dislike the song...just my thoughts.

These are some exerpts from an article by Sherry Grindeland a Seattle Times columnist. She is writing about her own family.

Sherry Grindeland / Times staff columnist

The song was written during World War II with the military in mind. It was sung by Washington native Bing Crosby. Walter Kent wrote the music, and James "Kim" Gannon wrote the words. According to information Seattle Times news researcher Sandy Freeman gleaned from the Library of Congress, Crosby's 1943 record was instantly popular — staying on the music charts for 11 weeks. It was the most requested song at Christmas USO shows and is still beloved by military men and women.

That's the family connection. My father was a Marine during World War II.

My parents were married at Paris Island, S.C., when my father finished boot camp. They have regaled my sisters, brother and me with stories of their first apartment — shared with another couple — splitting one bottle of beer on payday, and a marriage filled with enough love to cover the lack of material possessions.

When Dad's departure for the Pacific seemed imminent, Mother moved back to Illinois. Dad was sent to North Carolina to await orders.

My parents have never dealt well with separation. If Dad worked late, Mother waited up. When Mother played bridge at night, Dad would often drive her. And that's just in the last 10 years.

So when Mother said they desperately missed one another, I can only imagine how awful it was for those newlyweds. Add the anxiety of war, of not knowing if each goodbye was the last.

Dad told his part of the story. He and his fellow Marines got good news in late November 1944. Half would get leave for Christmas, the others for New Year's. Beyond roll call, they were doing nothing except sitting around and waiting.

By mid-December, Dad quit waiting. Other Marines were headed home on leave. Never mind that his name wasn't on the Christmas list. My straight-arrow, patriotic father, who tears up over "The Star-Spangled Banner," missed my mother so much he decided to go home for Christmas.

My father went AWOL — absent without leave — a crime punishable by court-martial.

Dad said he enlisted in the Marines to fight for the United States, not to sit in a barracks.

Mother said his unexpected arrival on her doorstep was the best Christmas present imaginable. They enjoyed every minute of the holidays and whenever they heard the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas," they felt it was being sung just for them.

Right after New Year's, the night he left, Dad told Mother she probably wouldn't hear from him for a while. He explained he had gone AWOL and expected to be punished.

It would have been interesting to see my father's face when he returned to camp. No one knew what to do with him. While he was gone, the New Year's leaves had been canceled and his unit had shipped out early. It was already on a ship headed to war. Sadly, many of his compatriots from that unit didn't survive their first battle.

Dad was reprimanded, but he added, "What were they going to do, shoot me? The enemy was doing that, and the government needed all the Marines it could get for the war."

He was busted back to private, fined, sent to California, then to battles in the Pacific. He earned a Purple Heart as his new unit fought from one island to another. He survived to come home for many more wonderful holidays.

But I'll never hear "I'll Be Home for Christmas" again without thinking about my father, who risked court-martial to be home with his family.

Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com

[Alisa Stoll]

Cindy,

The songwriter of I'll be home for Christmas couild have done it as I'll be thinking of home at Christmas. Or I wish I'd be home for Christmas. I'd rather be home for Christmas. My heart's at home for Christmas. etc.

Reflecting on everything that is being missed and longing to be there and I'd have no problem with it. It might even be fun to then switch the last line to upbeat and instead of ending "if only in my dreams" to "God can do anything" or "last minute miracles happen" "check your front door" etc.

It's not that I don't like sad songs - ask me at the quiz about some of my favorite sad songs.

Alisa

[Cindi Hammons]

True, it could have been written differently with good results. I think my interest is the WWII connection to the song.

The only thing that will be sad at the quiz is the performance of our team! They just aren't into it this year and are already talking about how next year will be better! That's okay with me. Even though they aren't quizzing well, they are learning some about Romans and they are having fun as well.

See ya next Saturday!
Cindi H.

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, Cindi. i hadn't thought of the military. The military - yeah - i understand the song in a whole new light.

Thanks for sharing.

[Dana Grant]

I have so many Christmas CDs, but this one is my all time favorite, and I listen to it often.

If you go to this web site you can hear some lengthy samples of what's on this CD. And yes, it is Lorie Line-- I'm telling you all, I'm a GROUPIE!!!! LOL

Here's the web site -- I encourage you to listen to some of these, they are GREAT.



Big Band holiday music! (http://lorieline.com/new_recordings/season4.shtml)

Oh -- you have to scroll down to the end of the page to get the list of samples.......don't give up!!

[Barbara Moulton]

I have so many Christmas CDs, but this one is my all time favorite, and I listen to it often.

If you go to this web site you can hear some lengthy samples of what's on this CD. And yes, it is Lorie Line-- I'm telling you all, I'm a GROUPIE!!!! LOL

Here's the web site -- I encourage you to listen to some of these, they are GREAT.



Big Band holiday music! (http://lorieline.com/new_recordings/season4.shtml)

Oh -- you have to scroll down to the end of the page to get the list of samples.......don't give up!!


LOL I guess it was inevitable that we find something we disagree on.

I hate Big Band Music.

[Dana Grant]

LOL I guess it was inevitable that we find something we disagree on.

I hate Big Band Music.

HA HA HA -- Well, it was bound to happen!! I love pretty much every type of music there is (ok, except COUNTRY & WESTERN), so I'm sure there's probably more musical styles we have a parting of the ways on.....LOL

Oh well, it was getting a little scary there, anyway.....LOL

But let me just tell you -- that's the ONLY Big Band CD that Lorie Line has done -- she's very versatile! (I'm telling you, I am a GROUPIE for the first time in my life!! LOL)

[Marsha Gupton]

At least you are not a rock star groupie. I think I have that CD.