It's nearly that time of year...

[pauliepoos]

I had Girls Aloud's Christmastry on earlier as I was making my Christmas cake. Bish bash bosh, whoo, only an hour to go but it's not looking very brown yet.

And I've re-discovered my collection of different versions of Sleigh Ride. When Spice Girls' version came on I thought it was S Club Juniors and Calvin was singing, but it turned out to be Victoria.

Wilhelmina Slater's Vanessa Williams' live version is quite nice.

[Steven]

Christmastry is ace. 'Christmas Round at Ours' is the best Christmas No.1 that never was.

[thelovelykate]

theactresswhosings said:

Though the best Christmas Album of all time is the Phil Spector one

"Christmas Baby - Please come home" off that album is definately my favorite Christmas song - I even have it on my i-Pod for constant - none Christmastime listening. I just love how Darlene Love goes completely mental at the end.

I also love "All I want for Christmas is You" and (rather embarrassingly) 'Merry Christmas, Everyone' which I believe is by Shakin' Stevens. Class.

[The Moog]

I love Christmas and I love Christmas songs. Well, most Christmas songs.

But my favorite ones are:

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World or the James Dean Bradfield version
Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rea
The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
All I Want For Christmas Is You - i have a soft-spot for this after playing it with a band one Christmas. Its just 100% fucking fun. I also like the My Chemical Romance version
It May Be Winter Outside - Love Unlimited
She Came Home for Christmas - Mew
Carol of the Bells - It's ace.

[Bungle]

Following Murray Gold's consistency in ripping off writing a new song for each Doctor Who Christmas special, here's this year's effort, no doubt 'inspired' by Fairy Tale of New York.

www.myspace.com/silvascreenrecords

I like it, actually, despite its barely disguised roots.

[jetsetwilly]

It's disturbingly Maddy Prior/folk-rock. Couldn't they persuade Kylie to sing it?

In other news, I found myself putting Christmastry on my iPod earlier, and I blame this thread completely.

[Bungle]

It's no good, I've had to dig Christmastry out. Amazing. Love it.

[pauliepoos]

When I think my world could fall apart
And I'm damn near broken in my heart
And my world is falling down
In my mind I will keep you safe from harm
Till you're lying in my arms
Until then I'll wait somehow

I'll be waiting...

[Gordon]

1. Fast Food Rockers - I Love Christmas
2. Girls Aloud - Not Tonight Santa
3. Eurythmics - Winter Wonderland
4. Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
- listen out for Cher amongst the backing singers
5. Cyndi Lauper - Home On Christmas Day
6. The Carpenters - Merry Christmas Darling
7. En Vogue - Jingle Bells (Euro Mix)
8. Diana Ross - Winter Wonderland
- Diana has one of the finest Christmas albums!
9. Childliners - Gift of Christmas (Motiv8 Remix)
10. Prince - Another Lonely Christmas

11. Cristina - Things Fall Apart
12. Saint Etienne - I Was Born On Christmas Day
13. Solid HarmoniE - Give Love On Christmas Day
14. Whitney Houston - One Wish
15. Celine Dion Don't Save It All for Christmas

Annie & Al Green - Put A Little Love In Your Heart always strikes me as a Christmas song too.

[Bungle]

The time for me to make my Christmas CD is rapidly approaching, so please do continue to contribute with any off-beat and upbeat Christmas songs so I can track them down in time...

[pauliepoos]

Now don't laugh, but Michael Ball's version of Driving Home For Christmas is my favourite festive tune at the moment.

It's just so laid back, it's almost as if it should be sung in French and in a romantic comedy starring Carole Bouquet in heels.

[Nurse Dunkley]

If we're having an embarrassing christmas songs amnesty, then one of my favourites is Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop) by Adam Faith.

[Muinimula]

All I Want For Christmas Is You is the obvious choice, but how about the often forgotten New Year by Sugababes mark 1? A beautifully melancholic Christmas song, and a top 12 smash.

[Steven]

And don't forget 'Iodine' by Siobhan Donaghy. Not a Christmas song per se, but:

We're like turkeys in a box
Our feathers all plucked off
And we're all ready for Christmas Day

I once played that for the family during Christmas dinner, just to really create a special ambience.

[Elly]

I'm very much enjoying 'Don't Shoot Me Santa' by The Killers. Okay, it isn't very festive, but it's cute and funny in a morbid Pulp Fiction kind of way, and if you download it from itunes, the proceeds go to Project Red, so you can at least feel a bit smug about purchasing it.

And the video is interesting...



I think the scene where redneck Santa makes Brandon 'squeal like a pig' was probably cut.

[pauliepoos]

I was asked to make a Christmas cd with Dancing Queen on (as you do) so I put Bridal Dancing Queen on, from Muriel's Wedding, and d'ya know what, it actually does sound quite Christmassy.

I'm quite partial to Kelly Clarkson's My Grown Up Christmas List at the moment, even if has a stool moment to rival Westlife.

[Muinimula]

pandarama said:

And don't forget 'Iodine' by Siobhan Donaghy.

I once played that for the family during Christmas dinner, just to really create a special ambience.

Oh, of course. I actually have Iodine on a mix-tape in my car. And I love you for doing that.

[boxedjoy]

This is a recent, obscure, one, but Sally Shapiro's "Anorak Christmas" makes me want to play in the snow with my One True Love, even in June.