The official Christmas FM thread

Declan A Walsh

I just tuned in a few minutes ago and the presenter introduced himself as Mark. I am guessing Mark Fennell.

Loughc

ChristmasFM playlist was in full force today. Some crackers in it tho. But I did hear grown up Christmas list 4 times today and I switched off every time, can’t stand that song.

Loughc

I heard "This is Christmas" Goo Goo Dolls yesterday and it reminded me that if it wasn't for ChristmasFM I would have not known the song,

ChristmasFM also introduced me to Hey Mister Christmas by Showaddywaddy which is an all time classic!

What songs have you been introduced to by listening to ChristmasFM?

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122797899#Comment_122797899

The first one for starters! I had heard the second one before, but it is a good one.

Other songs that I was introduced to by Christmas FM and would not have known otherwise:

Christmas Time - Bryan Adams

It's Christmas Time - Status Quo

Christmas is Just Around the Corner - Barry Manilow

Happy Christmas - Neil Diamond

Merry Christmas Darling - Christina Perri's version…and probably The Carpenters' version as well!

Christmas Shoes - Newsong

Various from Straight No Chaser

Some song by Gwen Stefani!

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122795978#Comment_122795978

& No wham?? You did well there.

Agree on that grown up christmas list one, as much as a like Natalie Cole's voice that song was borderline bannable for me having heard it so much the last couple of years.

Apart from Christmas shoes the only other one that really grinds my gears is that Dolly Parton one that got played to deaths the year before last.. If I never hear that agin it'll be too soon!

jacool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122797899#Comment_122797899

Feliz Novidad - Jose Feliciano, which I now consider an essential part of the Christmas music pantheon.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122798259#Comment_122798259

Yep still no wham hits and I’m actively hoping to hear it, it’s a banger.

so far I haven’t heard Slade, Wizzard, the pogues or shaking Stevens as well as wham. I did catch 30 seconds of Mariah tho.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122800286#Comment_122800286

Haven't listened in yet myself. Have a lot going on at the moment so head isn't in the right place for Christmas at the moment.

Manc-Red_

Looking forward to listening in from December. Car, kitchen and in the shower 😀

DvB

WFH today so have Christmas FM on in the background, haven't heard a DJ yet but currently listening to Christmas Shoes… still awful. Hoping I don't hear it too often this year, I really do not like it.

Red Silurian

Having the old-folks over for a tradition at Christmas Eve. Gonna use Christmas FM for a bit of background music on the smart speakers

DvB

Just 2 weeks to go til Launch day!!

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122837716#Comment_122837716

Flew in!! Can’t wait!

DvB

Hard to fathom that this is back live next week!!

Andrew93

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122852245#Comment_122852245

Next Wednesday 27th am i right? Usually launch at midday too i think. Want to book up my teams calendar in advance 😅

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122853247#Comment_122853247

Thursday, 28th November at 12 noon.

DvB

'Gifting' Garvan Rigby hosting the early slot this morning, first time I've heard him online this year, normally hear him in the car on the way in to work on the breakfast slot.

DvB

Is Christmas Fm down for anyone else at the moment? WFH & it stopped playing, tried logging in using various browsers but no joy. Have cleared cache & history etc but still timing out when I try to log in.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122856811#Comment_122856811

Yep not working for me either just tried it now.

Loughc

Still working if you go through TuneIn

webpal

nor me

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122856854#Comment_122856854

Grand, not just me so! Have switched to classical & carols for now.

BK5

Picked up a new radio today so we can listen to Christmas FM in work next week.

DvB

Christmas FM back online via the website. Ended up using TuneIn whilst it was down, good to know that's still there as a back up if the site goes down.

BK5

ieradio.org is a really good internet website for listening to all the Irish radio channels, they have Christmas FM on it all year round.

Posy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122853288#Comment_122853288

Can't believe the 28th November is next week. 🫣

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122858927#Comment_122858927

Honestly I assumed DvB made a mistake when he said it’s back on fm next week.

But on the upside my tree is going up next week.

Posy

I only have 3 more tree free days left, then it's decorating time. 😁

Jude13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122856150#Comment_122856150

He's what I think of when I hear Christmas FM in my head. Makes me all homesick.

SarahLil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122858927#Comment_122858927

I was only saying the same this morning only a week to go

pigtail33

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122859388#Comment_122859388

I thought the same! But if anyone knows how many days, hours and minutes there are until Christmas FM launches, it's DvB!!

DvB

Giggidy!

Loughc

Yes I need one!

Loughc

🚨Big news! Tomorrow morning at 8:35am, tune in to Christmas FM Online for the exclusive first play of a brand-new version of Do They Know It’s Christmas?! 🎶🌟

Goodwill Gareth and Tinsel Trish will join all of Ireland’s independent radio stations in this special simultaneous broadcast on Brekkie! 🥐

Don’t miss this magical moment, live tomorrow on Christmas FM Online! 📻✨

DvB

New Band Aid 40 version currently being played…. instant reaction is it lacks the punch of the original.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122880802#Comment_122880802

I tuned in for it too. My expectations were low, but it exceeded them. It was much better than I expected, but certainly not up there with the original. It is definitely better than Band Aid 30 - the Ebola virus one, and indeed Band Aid 20. I am not sure yet how it compares with Band Aid 2. If I am not mistaken, Chris Martin and Bono were among the vocalists. That is three and four Band Aids, respectively, that they have now been involved in.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122880839#Comment_122880839

On full listen I agree, probably the 2nd best version, whilst band aid II was underrated IMO this was a tad better.

The other versions were for me very forgettable.

Be interesting to see what version gets the most air time on Christmas FM this year now.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122880839#Comment_122880839

Maybe I'm mistaken but is this Band Aid version not all previous versions remixed together?

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122880971#Comment_122880971

Yep, essentially a 'best of' the previous versions, & then remixed & remastered etc etc etc. Slightly different arrangement too.

Its not bad. Will never beat the original but better than expected IMO.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122880971#Comment_122880971

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122880977#Comment_122880977

I did think bits sounded familiar alright! I thought I heard someone that sounded like Simon Le Bon doing his bit from the first version! I had assumed that this was going to be another version of Band Aid, but that does make sense.

DvB

One more sleep folks!

pigtail33

It's Christmas FM Eve!

DvB

Any guesses for first song this year?

I have a suspicion they'll go back to 'Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas' by Bing Crosby.

Smell the glove

Dont they always just play Andy Williams?

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122892877#Comment_122892877

Nope.

They did the last 2 years but 'Its beginning to look like Christmas' has been the kick off song more than any other.

Posy

I hope they go with 'It's beginning to look like Christmas' for the first song.

DvB

Launch day!!!

12 noon, have booked in a 30 minute slot on my outlook calendar to stop anyone looking for me for the launch, normally would prefer to be WFH but what can you do 😃

BK5

Myself and a workmate issued a meeting invite yesterday for 12pm just so we are all present when Christmas FM goes live.

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122894957#Comment_122894957

That is brilliant! I love that idea!!

BK5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122895072#Comment_122895072

There is one member of the team who doesn't like the idea 😄😄 Bah Humbug!