Non-Christmas Songs that remind you of Christmas

Batgurl

Speaking of Christmas songs...

Settle a debate between me and my mother:

‘Somewhere only we know’ - the Lily Allen version of the Keane song, used in the John Lewis ad.

Christmas song or not a Christmas song?

DvB

Batgurl wrote: »

Speaking of Christmas songs...

Settle a debate between me and my mother:

‘Somewhere only we know’ - the Lily Allen version of the Keane song, used in the John Lewis ad.

Christmas song or not a Christmas song?

For me it'll always be a Keane song. Nonetheless thats a good question, many songs with no association with Christmas have been hijacked as such through videos or their use in adverts, the power of love by FGTH being a prime example, both its video & a cover of it were used to associate it with Christmas. East 17's stay another days is about the singers brother commiting suicide, yet stick in a few bells & some snow in the video & bam, christmas tune...

For me, Somewhere only we know is not a christmas tune, but its all relative, so if others enjoy it as such, fair play to them.

Jude13

Yeah, not a Christmas tune for me.

PaulT21

Batgurl wrote: »

Speaking of Christmas songs...

Settle a debate between me and my mother:

‘Somewhere only we know’ - the Lily Allen version of the Keane song, used in the John Lewis ad.

Christmas song or not a Christmas song?

Not wanting to come between a mother and child:D but its not in my opinion a Christmas song but certainly Winter themed and guaranteed to pull on the heart strings as do all John Lewis Christmas ads:). Then again I have some songs on my Christmas Playlist which many would not consider Christmas Songs so each to their own:D:D

DvB

Theres a new thread, songs with no association with or mention of christmas, but which can be associated with Christmas.

Littlehorny

DvB wrote: »

Theres a new thread, songs with no association with or mention of christmas, but which can be associated with Christmas.

Spice Girls song Two Become One was the Christmas number 1 in 1996 and is always played on the Christmas music channels but it's not one bit Christmassy as a song imo.

DvB

Littlehorny wrote: »

Spice Girls song Two Become One was the Christmas number 1 in 1996 and is always played on the Christmas music channels but it's not one bit Christmassy as a song imo.

yeah, theres plenty of christmas No's 1's that have been treated like that on the various music channels. Saw the flying pickets 'only you' on regularly last year which had zero connection (IIRC) to christmas other than being a christmas No.1 or to flip that thought, does being christmas No.1 lift you into the very bracket of being a christmas song?

Batgurl

Or does simply being in a Christmas ad?

For me the song ‘Here comes the girls’ will always be associated with Christmas because of the Boots Christmas party ad

otnomart

DvB wrote: »

yeah, theres plenty of christmas No's 1's that have been treated like that on the various music channels. Saw the flying pickets 'only you' on regularly last year which had zero connection (IIRC) to christmas other than being a christmas No.1 or to flip that thought, does being christmas No.1 lift you into the very bracket of being a christmas song?

Oh for me Only You is def a Christmas song, because of The Office finale which was set at a Christmas Party.
I prefer Yazoo's version though !

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

Theres a new thread, songs with no association with or mention of christmas, but which can be associated with Christmas.

Good idea! :pac:

New thread started for song that are not Christmas songs but remind you of Chrismas.

So absolutely E17 - Stay Another Day is not a Christmas song but it is always played at Christmas due to it being a Christmas number 1.

Loughc

otnomart wrote: »

Oh for me Only You is def a Christmas song, because of The Office finale which was set at a Christmas Party.
I prefer Yazoo's version though !

Oh good choice, that song always reminds me on that scene and Christmas Special, auld Dawn and Tim.

TRS30

Loughc wrote: »

So absolutely E17 - Stay Another Day is not a Christmas song but it is always played at Christmas due to it being a Christmas number 1.

This song came straight into my mind as soon as I saw the thread title!

pigtail33

Batgurl wrote: »

Speaking of Christmas songs...

Settle a debate between me and my mother:

‘Somewhere only we know’ - the Lily Allen version of the Keane song, used in the John Lewis ad.

Christmas song or not a Christmas song?

For me, the original Keane song doesn't remind me of Christmas, but if I hear the Lily Allen version, then it does as I associate that one with the John Lewis Ad. Actually most of the songs used in the John Lewis ad make me thing of the specific ad they were in and therefore Christmas

Space Dog

Kate Winslet's What If is a Christmas song for me although the lyrics don't have anything to do with it. So is Tori Amos' Winter Carol.

Caranica

Frankie Goes to Hollywood's The Power of Love is not a Christmas song but has a winter video and is always classed as one because of it.

toffeeshel

Louis Armstrong- wonderful world. Was it used on a Christmas ad? It always reminds me of Christmas

Batgurl

Not sure if this counts but I can’t hear Wet Wet Wet’s song ‘Love is all Around’ without singing the wrong (Billy Mack) lyrics

That and ‘Lemon Tree’ by Fools Garden.

“I wonder how, I wonder why, Santa and his reindeer are able to fly...”

PTH2009

Wake me up before you go go by Wham
Rule the world by Tears for fears

Think it just the general 80s party vibe of those tunes. Lots of others too

Littlehorny

pigtail33 wrote: »

For me, the original Keane song doesn't remind me of Christmas, but if I hear the Lily Allen version, then it does as I associate that one with the John Lewis Ad. Actually most of the songs used in the John Lewis ad make me thing of the specific ad they were in and therefore Christmas

I have both versions on my spotify list and when the Lily Allen version comes on I wouldn't think of Christmas but when the song is on telly with the video showing how they made the brilliant John Lewis ad then it does turn into a Christmas song:)

DvB

One I never got was the frog chorus by Paul McCartney, not a Christmas song at all (unless I've missed something) but saw it played regularly the last few years on the TV christmas music channels.

TRS30

PTH2009 wrote: »

Wake me up before you go go by Wham
Rule the world by Tears for fears

Think it just the general 80s party vibe of those tunes. Lots of others too

Christmas songs or not. Two absolute bangers!

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

One I never got was the frog chorus by Paul McCartney, not a Christmas song at all (unless I've missed something) but saw it played regularly the last few years on the TV christmas music channels.

It was used in a Christmas ad i think. Hence the link.

TRS30

Loughc wrote: »

It was used in a Christmas ad i think. Hence the link.

Correct.

https://www.tvadmusic.co.uk/2014/11/debenhams-found-it-christmas-2014/

razorblunt

It's amazing how, if you hear songs enough times around a certain time of year then it becomes synonymous with it for you.
I still don't think 2Become1 and Stay Now are Xmas songs though weirdly Power of Love always makes it feel like it should be Xmas.

Little Mix - Love Me Like You sounds like a Xmas song due to similar bells and I think they actually released an Xmas version with more bells too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WpoKRnoPRU&ab_channel=littlemixVEVO

freshpopcorn

Littlehorny wrote: »

Spice Girls song Two Become One was the Christmas number 1 in 1996 and is always played on the Christmas music channels but it's not one bit Christmassy as a song imo.

I did work experience in a supermarket just before Christmas and it wasn’t something I enjoyed every evening when it was about going home time 2 become 1 used play. I loved it at the time.

Littlehorny

Even though neither of the songs have the word Christmas in them, I think. I would consider Let It Snow a Christmas song but wouldn't consider Baby It's Cold Outside a Christmas song even though most do.

I think the Coldplay song Viva La Vida songs a bit Christmassy because it has bells playing on it.

ExMachina1000

Smack my bitch up - The Prodigy

Party and excess

Jude13

I was not expecting that one. For me its Baker Street. Too long and adult story to tell here.

freshpopcorn

Leon Jackson ‘’When you believe’’(Winner if the X-factor)
I remember I went to Limerick Christmas shopping on about the 22nd/23rd of December just when the schools close for Christmas holidays.
There was such an atmosphere around the place.
I was in The Crescent and I queue up for over half an hour to buy DVD’s and bought the single from a stand at the till in HMV/Virgin Mega Store.
Remember those days The X-Factor was popular, DVD’s/CD’s were selling, massive queues of people on top of one another with out masks inside in shops and shopping centers were really busy.

DvB

ExMachina1000 wrote: »

Smack my bitch up - The Prodigy

Party and excess

great song, never associated it with christmas myself though. But appreciate the sentiment!

DvB

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Leon Jackson ‘’When you believe’’(Winner if the X-factor)
I remember I went to Limerick Christmas shopping on about the 22nd/23rd of December just when the schools close for Christmas holidays.
There was such an atmosphere around the place.
I was in The Crescent and I queue up for over half an hour to buy DVD’s and bought the single from a stand at the till in HMV/Virgin Mega Store.
Remember those days The X-Factor was popular, DVD’s/CD’s were selling, massive queues of people on top of one another with out masks inside in shops and shopping centers were really busy.

Hated the fact for a few years the christmas No.1 was practically reserved for the x-factor winner though. Funnily enough other than rage against the machine getting it as a protest vote kind of thing I cant remember any of them since before x-factor, (Mad world, the last one that springs to mind) though that may be an age thing more than anything else.

*edit*
went back & checked the list of christmas no.1's & actually remember a couple (since x-factor started), clean bandit & Ed Sheeran, the rest I had no idea of... shame, I remember growing up and the christmas TOTP being a real big deal to see wjho got the coveted No.1 spot... now its always had its novelty ones, but it just seems so less a big deal now... I blame x-factor for that.

Loughc

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I did work experience in a supermarket just before Christmas and it wasn’t something I enjoyed every evening when it was about going home time 2 become 1 used play. I loved it at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buvF_qOEh3E

MFPM

'Put a little love in your heart' - Al Greene and Annie Lennox, it's linked to the Scrooged Movie but it isn't a Christmas song as such.

'Only You' by Yazoo as others have said simply because of The Office finale.

Smell the glove

DvB wrote: »

One I never got was the frog chorus by Paul McCartney, not a Christmas song at all (unless I've missed something) but saw it played regularly the last few years on the TV christmas music channels.

It was released in November for the Christmas market. It's a song associated with Christmas but has nothing to do with Christmas.

odyssey06

Smell the glove wrote: »

It was released in November for the Christmas market. It's a song associated with Christmas but has nothing to do with Christmas.

Rupert does look like he is permanently wearing a red Christmas jumper. Thats about it.

Rather bizarrely it is from a Rupert short movie released on the bill with Give My Regards to Broad Street:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_My_Regards_to_Broad_Street_(film)

DvB

Smell the glove wrote: »

It was released in November for the Christmas market. It's a song associated with Christmas but has nothing to do with Christmas.

Have to be honest i never in the least associated it or still associate it with Christmas, despite it being used in an advert its got nothing christmassy shout it. But thats the beauty of Christmas and what different people associate with it, we all love it (well on here anyway) yet all have our own unique associations and traditions. Love it.

Batgurl

David Essex - A Winters Tale.

Only ever plays at Christmas but no mention of the holiday in the song. I remember getting it as a cassette tape in a selection box when I was younger, so it has double Christmas meaning to me

Smell the glove

Batgurl wrote: »

David Essex - A Winters Tale.

Only ever plays at Christmas but no mention of the holiday in the song. I remember getting it as a cassette tape in a selection box when I was younger, so it has double Christmas meaning to me

I would definitely class it as a Christmas song. One of my favourites!

Caranica

Batgurl wrote: »

David Essex - A Winters Tale.

Only ever plays at Christmas but no mention of the holiday in the song. I remember getting it as a cassette tape in a selection box when I was younger, so it has double Christmas meaning to me

Omg I had that selection box too, think it was a square Mars one. I remember stupid details. The cassette was black with gold writing

burgershack

The wish - Bruce Springsteen
(Pittsburgh) A good man is hard to find - Bruce Springsteen

Though they both mention Christmas you would'nt class them as holiday songs.
"The wish" is a love letter to his Mother and "Pittsburgh" is about a lonely widowed Mother

Beechwoodspark

Only you - the song from the office Christmas special. Can still remember the first time I saw that special - brilliant stuff

Keeping the dream alive by freiheit - first heard this on tubridys radio show last year - he described it as a christmassy atmosphere type song - if you don’t know this google it!

Winters tale - David Essex - always loved this and I associate it with late December early Jan more than Christmas itself - I think it was a Christmas number one though?

The power of love - Frankie goes Hollywood - the song is not overly christmassy but the video is

2000 miles by the pretenders - it’s not the Christmas build up until I hear this - usually in one of the big shopping centres in mid November - great song

And finally - one of the few pleasures of the busy period of work leading up to Christmas is to play driving home for Christmas by Chris rea on your way home!!

VeVeX

Coldplay - Yellow

A friend of mine was very sick around Christmas time after eating yellow snow.

Posy

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Only you - the song from the office Christmas special. Can still remember the first time I saw that special - brilliant stuff

Oh yes, I'm the same. The Christmas special of The Office was fantastic, and that was a great scene.

Loughc

Posy wrote: »

Oh yes, I'm the same. The Christmas special of The Office was fantastic, and that was a great scene.

Same still vividly remember the scene, still gives me goosebumps. So well written.

PaulT21

Any opinions on Chris De Burgh's, A Spaceman Came Travelling?

I love it and its not Christmas without it but I'm not sure Main Stream Religion would agree with the premise of the story as told by Chris

Smell the glove

PaulT21 wrote: »

Any opinions on Chris De Burgh's, A Spaceman Came Travelling?

I love it and its not Christmas without it but I'm not sure Main Stream Religion would agree with the premise of the story as told by Chris

It's a fantastic song. And a Christmas cracker. It is a bit of an odd topic for a Christmas song but that chorus guaranteed it success!

Jude13

My OH put it on when we were not long together and I thought "wtf is that, the lady in red guy has a Christmas song" . I love it now. It's a real belter. Also strangely brings back memories of Club 92 in leopardstown.

TRS30

Jude13 wrote: »

Club 92 in leopardstown.

Between this and Call cards, having a full on retro morning

DvB

Jude13 wrote: »

My OH put it on when we were not long together and I thought "wtf is that, the lady in red guy has a Christmas song" . I love it now. It's a real belter. Also strangely brings back memories of Club 92 in leopardstown.

To be fair to Chris De Burgh his back catalogue before 'Lady in red' is actually quite good, I loved 'Spanish Train' when I heard it first & to this day still give it a listen when it comes up on my iTunes or suchlike.

TRS30

DvB wrote: »

To be fair to Chris De Burgh his back catalogue before 'Lady in red' is actually quite good, I loved 'Spanish Train' when I heard it first & to this day still give it a losten when it comes up on my iTunes or suchlike.

Or who can forget 'Don't pay the ferryman......'

geminiman63

Borderline......about the absurdity of war..
Chris De Burgh at his best from the early 80's ,
One of Irelands most underrated singers.