The official Christmas FM thread

Declan A Walsh · 16-12-2022 12:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002878#Comment_120002878

I wish I could say the same!

Declan A Walsh · 16-12-2022 01:20PM

I enjoyed the Frankie Valli and Four Seasons version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town, which was played about ten minutes ago. I don't recall hearing that before on Christmas FM. That was followed by I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake, one of my old favourites. It was my first time hearing it this year on Christmas FM. Correction: I think I might have heard it last weekend!

Who is the presenter? She has a nice presenting style.

TRS30 · 16-12-2022 02:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002878#Comment_120002878

True, I'd actually turn it down a bit rather than change the channel.

Loughc · 16-12-2022 02:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120002218#Comment_120002218

I like the song. There I said it 😂

odyssey06 · 16-12-2022 03:22PM

Wasn't sure where else to post it... I doubt we'll hear it on air but I thought this audience would appreciate it.

Feliz Navidad - The Simpsons and The Bocellis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqVpyKd2mwo

Declan A Walsh · 16-12-2022 03:42PM

Bobby Helm's version of Jingle Bell Rock is certainly getting a lot of airplay so far on this year's run. I know that it has been played plenty of times in the past, but I think it is beginning to get to me!

TRS30 · 16-12-2022 04:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120003670#Comment_120003670

The Simpsons always goes down well in these parts.

Declan A Walsh · 17-12-2022 11:53PM

I heard Rock and Roll Christmas by George Thorogood and the Destroyers yesterday evening. I am lucky if I hear that song once during its annual license run. I wish Christmas FM would play it more often as it is really good. On the other hand, tonight I heard a bit of Dolly Parton's Horror (sorry Holly!!) Jolly Christmas - luckily it was close to the end!

Declan A Walsh · 19-12-2022 11:52AM

When I turned on Christmas FM a few minutes ago, Lonely This Christmas by Mud was on. I quickly turned it off! Unusually, this is a song that I have rarely heard on Christmas FM and that I am thankful for!

DvB · 19-12-2022 12:02PM

Hadn't really listened in over the weekend, but had it on in the car for the drive in this morning, Its clear that Frosty the snowman is the song of choice for me this year, I seem to hear one of the versions every time I turn th radio on... not as bad as last years Dolly Parton overkill but enough to be noticed and starting to mentally grate a tad.

Declan A Walsh · 19-12-2022 12:39PM

I heard Hey Mr. Christmas by Showaddywaddy a short while ago. I have not heard that song in a long time and I am pretty sure I never heard it before on Christmas FM. It is nice to hear that song again.

I like Straight with No Chaser!

Who is the presenter? I like her style of presentation.

sunbabe08 · 19-12-2022 12:47PM

https://youtu.be/2Fe11OlMiz8

this song was just played and I got excited!!!! Love it!!

dubstepper · 19-12-2022 02:21PM

They are giving Hippo song a good lash this year. Sad face.

I don't mind the Straight no chaser one.

Declan A Walsh · 19-12-2022 02:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014133#Comment_120014133

That Hippo song has been played quite a lot for, I would say, the last four years. The Straight No Chaser song gets a bit of an airing every year. I seem to remember that there was at least one other song by SNC that got played occasionally.

TRS30 · 19-12-2022 03:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013540#Comment_120013540

Was thinking the same, heard it a a few times over the weekend when out and about.

Declan A Walsh · 19-12-2022 04:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013540#Comment_120013540

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014569#Comment_120014569

It's the Jimmy Durante version that they are playing practically all the time.

sunbabe08 · 19-12-2022 07:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014133#Comment_120014133

i haven't heard that enough this year.

Posy · 20-12-2022 12:05AM

I have heard the Hippo song every time I've had Christmas FM on! And that's a song that I had actually liked- in moderation!! 😂

DvB · 20-12-2022 08:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016448#Comment_120016448

Heard it yesterday on the drive home for the first time since the start of the FM run. In moderation its grand, like you say, not sure multiple listens would be tolerable however.

Fr Tod Umptious · 20-12-2022 09:24AM

Christmas FM has been a regular in our house for a number of years now.

But I always noticed that I never heard David Essex "A winter's tale" on it.

And then I thought I also never heard The Flying Pickets ,"Only you", or The Housemartins "Caravan of love" or even East17 "Stay another day" on it

Is it because these are not "pure" Christmas songs rather songs that were big hits at Christmas?

For people of a certain age those 80s Christmas hits I mentioned are regarded as Christmas classics far more so than the likes of Ed Sheeran, or Taylor Swift or Michael Buble or some of the other stuff you hear on Christmas FM.

TRS30 · 20-12-2022 09:41AM

Heard Frosty again this morning, only listening for 10 minutes....

Loughc · 20-12-2022 10:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016909#Comment_120016909

I only heard east 17 stay another day on it yesterday which annoyed me as it is not a Christmas song. They purposely reshot the video to make it more Christmassy to milk the Christmas market.

TRS30 · 20-12-2022 10:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016986#Comment_120016986

Does that make it a fake Christmas song??

DvB · 20-12-2022 10:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120016986#Comment_120016986

Ah I'm happy enough to give that one a pass as I just like the song.*

*notwithstanding the songs actual background which is anything but Christmas related.

odyssey06 · 20-12-2022 10:27AM

It's a "temporal" association ... if I hear e.g. "Only You" I think back to 1980s Christmas childhoods.

But for people who didn't live through that December they don't have anything Chrismassy about it.

The Spice Girls 2 Become 1 is a bit like that also.

Declan A Walsh · 20-12-2022 10:32AM

Has Christmas FM ever played December Will Be Magic Again by Kate Bush? That's a good song.

DvB · 20-12-2022 10:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017080#Comment_120017080

Have never heard them play it, and it is quite distinctive.

TRS30 · 20-12-2022 11:35AM

Would be there specific reasons why certain songs are not played? i.e royalties etc.

Declan A Walsh · 20-12-2022 11:59AM

Just listening to Arlene Love's All Alone for Christmas. It features some of Bruce Springsteen's backing band The E Street Band. That reminds me that I have not heard any of Bruce's cover versions of Christmas tunes so far in this year's FM run: Merry Christmas Baby and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

On a positive note: it was nice to hear the Ray Conniff Singers version of Frosty the Snowman for a change, rather than Jimmy Durante's version! It is very pleasant too!

dubstepper · 20-12-2022 11:59AM

Some interesting comments on what does doesn't make a Christmas song? Is it the fact that it the lyrics mention Christmas, when it was released or the sound (sleigh bells etc).

East 17 had that tubular ringing which did give it a Christmas feel and was no 1 around that. No real mention of Christmas though.

Hippo song does mention Christmas but doesn't have a Christmas feel for me.

While Christmas Shoes clearly has the word, if little or no artist merit just saccharine sentiment in spades.

Something like White Christmas ticks all boxes

The official Christmas FM thread

Comments

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens