Christmas songs that ain't

corblimey

I was just moving my ever-expanding Christmas tunes playlist to my generic mp3 player, and I notice that quite a few of them are not actually about Christmas or anything related to it, but seem to be wheeled out only at this time of year (and let's be thankful for that )

For example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCvz7uflMIU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFRcMYjut4o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpevZ0-wUYQ

In fact, a lot of McCartney songs for some reason (Pipes of Peace - the video is about Christmas, sure, is the song?). Also I'm not sure the one mention of Christmas in 'Stop the Cavalry' qualifies it as a Christmas song. What else you got?

tomboylady

East 17 - Stay Another Day.

It's on probably every Christmas compilation I own. I know it was a Christmas number one, but there have been lots of others and you don't see Bob the Builder on every Christmas album!

Crazy Eye

tomboylady wrote: »

East 17 - Stay Another Day.

It's on probably every Christmas compilation I own. I know it was a Christmas number one, but there have been lots of others and you don't see Bob the Builder on every Christmas album!

whats left of east 17 are now resorting to playing in regency hotel this christmas , dinner and e17 live in concert for 49 euro ,how the mighty have fallen .
https://www.regencyhotels.com/Hotels/content.asp?pageID=1019

Miss Lockhart

The Power of Love is one of my favourites.

Crazy Eye

tomboylady wrote: »

East 17 - Stay Another Day.

It's on probably every Christmas compilation I own. I know it was a Christmas number one, but there have been lots of others and you don't see Bob the Builder on every Christmas album!

heres the christmas video for the song , still dressed up all street and gansta style with some show thrown in for christmas , its cheesy as hell

Scarinae

tomboylady wrote: »

East 17 - Stay Another Day.

It's on probably every Christmas compilation I own. I know it was a Christmas number one, but there have been lots of others and you don't see Bob the Builder on every Christmas album!

I've been thinking the sane thing for years! It might be because they put Christmas bells in the background at the end? I'm not sure!

Scarinae

... And they're playing Stay Another Day on Christmas FM right now!

Toto Wolfcastle

Stay Another Day was released in 1994, not long after I turned 9. I don't really remember it not being played at Christmas. It was always on the Christmas albums we played at home. To me it will always be a Christmas song. My husband is older than me and to him it will always be ridiculous that it's considered a Christmas song.

It doesn't seem to happen any more that Christmas number ones are considered Christmas songs. I had a quick look at the track listing of Now That's What I Call Christmas 2013 on Amazon to see if anything stood out and they're all Christmas songs with the exception of the usual Power of Love and Stay Another Day.

Zaph

The Power of Love is not a Christmas song. It just happened to be number 1 for a week in December and the video was nativity themed to coincide with the time of the year it was released. However it could just as easily have been released in July and no-one would have given it a second thought that it was a Christmas song.

Miss Lockhart

Zaph wrote: »

The Power of Love is not a Christmas song. It just happened to be number 1 for a week in December and the video was nativity themed to coincide with the time of the year it was released. However it could just as easily have been released in July and no-one would have given it a second thought that it was a Christmas song.

Of course. That's the point of the thread though.

Star Lord

Christmas number 1 when i was born was Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall. Queen were number 1 twice with Bohemian Rhapsody, in 75 and 91. I always find it weird how songs like Stay Another Day and Power of Love are considered Christmas songs, yet songs like the two above aren't!

we'llallhavetea

God I hate the power of love. It's like a big sh!te in the middle of my lovely Christmassy porridge. I'd ban it from the world if I could!

Mars Bar

I always associate Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" with Christmas even though it's not a Christmas song.

Scarinae

Jingle Bells isn't really anything to do with Christmas, is it? Christmas isn't mentioned at all, the lyrics are about riding around through the snow in a sleigh

Moonbeam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UK_Singles_Chart_Christmas_number_ones I was reading through them earlier.

A spaceman came travelling is my favourite non christmas christmas song:) I know it is sort of a christmas song but i was well in to my 20s before I knew that.

washiskin

Freiheit's "Keeping The Dream Alive" has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christmas yet our beloved Christmas FM had it on heavy rotation last year.....

That effing Frog Chorus too....

AND it seems every American top 10 seller hoiks a Christmas Album out before the record company pulls the plug.

Bring back Shakey......

Tombo2001

Crazy Eye wrote: »

heres the christmas video for the song , still dressed up all street and gansta style with some show thrown in for christmas , its cheesy as hell

Video might be cheesy but the song is a very good one imho.

The song of course is not about Christmas at all, its about grief. Not many songs deal with this issue. I can think of the top of my head of Julia and Mother by John Lennon, My Father by Nina Simone, Tank Park Salute by Billy Bragg......not too many others.

Stay by East 17 mightn't be quite as good as these but its still a fine song.

And as a song, it confronts the issue of death and grief more directly and explicitly than any of the above.

As for the video, if you understand that the singer wrote the song about his big brother who committed suicide, and he is singing 'if you've got to go away, I don't think I can take the pain' then its a little less cheesy when you see him sing it.

I'm guessing the other lads in the video were poncing about with their chains because it was too much of a hot topic for the record company to deal with.

merlie

I have these two non Christmas songs on my Christmas playlist, yet they
have a Christmassy feel about them

This song was the theme from the movie 'The Secret Garden'

omicron

Moonbeam wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UK_Singles_Chart_Christmas_number_ones I was reading through them earlier.

A spaceman came travelling is my favourite non christmas christmas song:) I know it is sort of a christmas song but i was well in to my 20s before I knew that.

Irish one is here.

r3nu4l

Walking in a Winter Wonderland. Doesn't mention Christmas at all but to me it's definitely a Christmas song

CrowdedHouse

Love of the Common People - Paul Young

I think this was a hit around Christmas, has a Christmassy sound (although the lyrics are kind of bleak despite the upbeat melody) It had mentions of cold and snow.

It's a favourite of mine anyway and always in my Christmas mix

Fowler87

Not a Christmas related tune at all but considering its the 1st December it is an apt tune for the (official now) start of the festivities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5m-RWyVinU

C.K Dexter Haven

r3nu4l wrote: »

Walking in a Winter Wonderland. Doesn't mention Christmas at all but to me it's definitely a Christmas song

There was a documentary on a while ago on TV about the secularisation of Christmas related music in the early to mid 20th century- songs like Winter Wonderland, Let it snow, Frosty the snowman, - all associated with Christmas but no mention of Christmas-

WoollyRedHat

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Video might be cheesy but the song is a very good one imho.

The song of course is not about Christmas at all, its about grief. Not many songs deal with this issue. I can think of the top of my head of Julia and Mother by John Lennon, My Father by Nina Simone, Tank Park Salute by Billy Bragg......not too many others.

Stay by East 17 mightn't be quite as good as these but its still a fine song.

And as a song, it confronts the issue of death and grief more directly and explicitly than any of the above.

As for the video, if you understand that the singer wrote the song about his big brother who committed suicide, and he is singing 'if you've got to go away, I don't think I can take the pain' then its a little less cheesy when you see him sing it.

I'm guessing the other lads in the video were poncing about with their chains because it was too much of a hot topic for the record company to deal with.

I didn't know that, makes it even more beautiful and heart wrenching, wow.

fryup

who remembers this ....

The Flying Pickets, xmas No 1 in 1983 (can you believe it :eek:) god i feel old

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F139hh2LPz0

no instruments just human vocals,

*the lead singer went on to play the part of Dougie in coronation st

santana75

Cant believe nobody has mentioned The winter Hymnal by the fleet foxes. Best non-related Christmas song ever(scary video though).......

An Riabhach

aya startin wha wrote: »

God I hate the power of love. It's like a big sh!te in the middle of my lovely Christmassy porridge. I'd ban it from the world if I could!

One of the most depressing songs ever.

An Riabhach

David Essex-"A Winter's Tale".

And come to think of it,"Walking In The Air" isn't really about Xmas either-tis just the video that goes with the song,and of course twas taken from the film "The Snowman".

An Riabhach

fryup wrote: »

who remembers this ....

The Flying Pickets, xmas No 1 in 1983 (can you believe it :eek:) god i feel old

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F139hh2LPz0

no instruments just human vocals,

*the lead singer went on to play the part of Dougie in coronation st

....and then the song was used in tv ad for paint!

delw

Any spice girls Christmas number one,god i really hated when they dominated christmas

April O Neill II

I love both 'The Power of Love' and 'Stay Another Day'.

The former doesn't feel Christmassy to be me at all though, but the latter very much does. Christmas is a sad time for a lot of people and it taps into this quite beautifully. It's actually one of my favourite Christmas songs. It's achingly beautiful.

Loughc

April O Neill II wrote: »

I love both 'The Power of Love' and 'Stay Another Day'.

The former doesn't feel Christmassy to be me at all though, but the latter very much does. Christmas is a sad time for a lot of people and it taps into this quite beautifully. It's actually one of my favourite Christmas songs. It's achingly beautiful.

Which song are you talking about? I read former and latter as being the same haha.

April O Neill II

Loughc wrote: »

Which song are you talking about? I read former and latter as being the same haha.

'The Power of Love' is the former, 'Stay Another Day' is the latter.

.jacksparrow.

That mad world song was number one at Christmas about ten years ago.

Jesus its the most depressing song ever, nothing Christmasy about it, he talks about dying in his dreams been the best dreams he ever has.

Hate it.

Kettleson

corblimey wrote: »

Also I'm not sure the one mention of Christmas in 'Stop the Cavalry' qualifies it as a Christmas song. What else you got?

Interesting point, I think the sleigh bells make a big contribution to giving it the Christmas stamp.

An Riabhach

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

That mad world song was number one at Christmas about ten years ago.

Jesus its the most depressing song ever, nothing Christmasy about it, he talks about dying in his dreams been the best dreams he ever has.

Hate it.

Awful-the kind of song that could also put make you fall asleep-even more dreary than The Power Of Love.

The original version by Tears for Fears is way better-although with the same lyrics-at least tis more alive with drums and proper bass guitar.

An Riabhach

Kettleson wrote: »

Interesting point, I think the sleigh bells make a big contribution to giving it the Christmas stamp.

If that's the one by Jonah Louie,I saw the video to that song on VH1 recently and at the end he is sitting in an armchair by the fire an a xmas tree,and the last line he sings "I wish I was at home for xmas",so there are direct references to xmas.

philstar

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

Love of the Common People - Paul Young

I think this was a hit around Christmas, has a Christmassy sound (although the lyrics are kind of bleak despite the upbeat melody) It had mentions of cold and snow.

It's a favourite of mine anyway and always in my Christmas mix

here's a more christmassy video to it....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J0YTOGTXMs

corblimey

Points taken on sleigh bells and the Christmas tree, although I've always taken the 'wish I could be home for Christmas' line to be related to the famous "it'll all be over by Christmas" saying associated with the WWII.

Here's another one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQcYGx_jzlU

This is a good one, it spent a week at number one a month before Christmas, is about a breakup and wasn't released in the States until April the following year, but dress the little whippersnappers up in fur clothing, hey presto, Christmassy!

An Riabhach

corblimey wrote: »

Points taken on sleigh bells and the Christmas tree, although I've always taken the 'wish I could be home for Christmas' line to be related to the famous "it'll all be over by Christmas" saying associated with the WWII.

Here's another one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQcYGx_jzlU

This is a good one, it spent a week at number one a month before Christmas, is about a breakup and wasn't released in the States until April the following year, but dress the little whippersnappers up in fur clothing, hey presto, Christmassy!

You've reminded me of a song from Steps-where in the video they are skiing and sledding,and they are living in a log cabin and you can see them playing games around the xmas tree.I don't think the song was about xmas though.
(b.t.w. I do not like Steps or S-Club 7!!)

corblimey

Seasan wrote: »

You've reminded me of a song from Steps-where in the video they are skiing and sledding,and they are living in a log cabin and you can see them playing games around the xmas tree.I don't think the song was about xmas though.
(b.t.w. I do not like Steps or S-Club 7!!)

Why, that would Heartbeat (now with added midgets)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq7iQPbiq1Y

Definitely one they only wheel out at Christmas, and at least it's not Tragedy

Toto Wolfcastle

The production values in that video are brilliant. That fight scene is amazing.

mud

fryup wrote: »

who remembers this ....

The Flying Pickets, xmas No 1 in 1983 (can you believe it :eek:) god i feel old


no instruments just human vocals,

*the lead singer went on to play the part of Dougie in coronation st

This is my 9-year-old nephew's favourite tune.

I'm so proud of him

gurl88

corblimey wrote: »

..and I notice that quite a few of them are not actually about Christmas or anything related to it..

For example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCvz7uflMIU

In Dulci Jubilo means "In sweet rejoicing" and is a traditional Christmas carol that goes back to the 14th century. The song by Mike Oldfield is an instrumental version of the same carol that describes the birth of Jesus. I don't think it can get more Christmas-y than that

salad dodger

Knocked off the #1 spot in dec 86 by Reet Petit

At the end of 1986 they had their only UK No. 1 single on 16 December with a cover version of Isley-Jasper-Isley's "Caravan of Love".[1] It was knocked off the top spot by Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite" on 23 December, denying the Housemartins the coveted Christmas No. 1 single.

Neither is overtly Christmassy but this has the more Christmas feel about it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lbFNdBgVRk

April O Neill II

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

That mad world song was number one at Christmas about ten years ago.

Jesus its the most depressing song ever, nothing Christmasy about it, he talks about dying in his dreams been the best dreams he ever has.

Hate it.

:eek:

OK, that version isn't great but I love love love the original. It's more uptempo to, so not nearly as depressing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFsHSHE-iJQ

April O Neill II

salad dodger wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lbFNdBgVRk

Aw wow, love this song. Blast from the past!

Kettleson

Maybe this is just me..Christmas '81.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMEHxKtR-3A

fryup

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

the xmas no1 for 1981 was the Human League don't you want me baby

the following year it was this.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0gryfllhhI

jersman

How are Power of Love, Stay by East 17 and that frog song by Paul McCartney classed as Christmas songs? There are so many Christmas songs to play why bother playing these non Christmas songs? They must be delighted to have their songs classed as Christmas songs as they are played every year on radio and TV and are on most albums.

I also hate the songs that show up on the Christmas countdown shows on the music channels on UPC that have absolutely nothing got to do with Christmas but were just released around Christmas eg. Mad world, the JCB song and Robbie with Nicole Kidman.

An Riabhach

Just remembered a few other "Xmas" songs:

Westlife-"I Have A Dream"
Kate Winslet-"What If"
Girls Aloud-"Will We Ever See The Day"
Spice Girls-"Goodbye My Friend"

Even Leona Lewis,who had an xmas number one herself,said that she wanted to see actual xmas songs be xmas number one again.
Seems that even former xfactor contestants/winners are fed up of xfactor crap being xmas number one.