Why are all the good xmas songs the old ones??

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 01-12-2014 02:18AM

People used to actually make Christmas songs, then for some reason people became too cool for them and then all the reality show nonsense happened meaning there was never even any challenge for Christmas #1.

There have been some decent Christmas songs in recent years, they just don't get any attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1rYmzQ8C9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SIr-f1obew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644U-jMpDUw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QDE-3Yiz3k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ydNJGczawU

Capt'n Midnight · 01-12-2014 02:27AM

yipeeeee wrote: »

Most if not all of the classics are from the 70s 80 and 90s.

Is this a sign of the music industry in general or what's the crack with it??

you missed the 1960's

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Gift_for_You_from_Phil_Spector

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgJtnEEJf8I

Capt'n Midnight · 01-12-2014 02:34AM

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Christmas songs are generally horrific regardless of year of release.

Been played to death but still ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8

interesting - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairytale_of_New_York#Background_and_song_development

yipeeeee · 01-12-2014 08:51AM

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

yeah i'm gonna say its more than likely because we grew up with the oldies

But every music station, shop radio station plays the old ones.

So it's not just a generation thing seems you find all generations in the above.

newmug · 01-12-2014 08:59AM

yipeeeee wrote: »

But every music station, shop radio station plays the old ones.

So it's not just a generation thing seems you find all generations in the above.

Its as simple as this really - modern music is sh1te.

fergiesfolly · 01-12-2014 09:41AM

Work in a shop over Christmas OP and then come back and tell us about all the classics.

Simon Cowell killed Christmas(songs)

Which in my book, gets him off the hook for all the tripe his acts have produced over the years.

razorblunt · 01-12-2014 10:34AM

Does anyone really give it a proper go nowadays? That Coldplay song Christmas Lights is just depressing, it's not a bad song but Xmas songs tend to fall into two categories the decent album tracks you'd listen to and the drunken folk at Xmas Party shout alongs. If its not the latter then its not deemed an Xmas song by the majority it would seem.

In fairness to Leona Lewis she gave it a decent crack last Xmas but I don't think her song went anywhere.

FWIW - David Essex Winter's Tale is the best Xmas Song.

pconn062 · 01-12-2014 11:01AM

I would suggest that the best Christmas music as actually written before 1900. Who since has written a better piece of Christmas music that Handel's Messiah? Or Mendelsohn's Hark the Herald Angels? Or Silent Night. Or Bach's Christmas Oratorio. So screw you 80's and 90's bands, you suck! :pac:

valoren · 01-12-2014 11:04AM

I'm sure that the Paul McCartney Frog song was regarded as pure sh1te when it was released 30 years ago too.

Grandeeod · 01-12-2014 12:15PM

Top 10 most played Christmas songs in the noughties.

1. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU Mariah Carey (1994)

2. FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues (1987)

3. MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY Slade (1973)

4. STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie (1980)

5. DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? Band Aid (1984)

6. DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea (1988)

7. LAST CHRISTMAS Wham (1984)

8. I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS Greg Lake (1975)

9. STEP INTO CHRISTMAS Elton John (1973)

10. WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME Paul McCartney (1979)

Source: PPL & PRS for Music

Mars Bar · 01-12-2014 12:36PM

I have wondered this too but I must listen to the newer ones posted here and see what I think.
Don't let the bells end by the darkness is the only one of this century that I feel will be around for years to come.

Grandeeod · 01-12-2014 01:31PM

Best selling Christmas songs of the noughties based on downloads and physical sales are-

1. Do they know its christmas. Band Aid 20. 2004
2. Christmas Time. The Darkness. 2003
3. Fairytale of New York. The Pogues. 1987
4. All I want for Christmas. Mariah Carey. 1994
5. Proper Crimbo. Bo Selecta. 2003
6. What hurts the most/Last Christmas. Cascada. 2007
7. Last Christmas. Wham. 1984
8. Happy Christmas (War is over) The Idols. 2003
9. I believe in Christmas. Tweenies. 2001
10. Puppy love/Sleigh ride. S Club Juniors. 2002.

whiskeyman · 01-12-2014 01:44PM

Lots of shops probably haven't bought any new Christmas CD compilations since the 90s, hence the same tunes over and over.

Smith & Burrows - 'When the Thames Froze' is one of my favourite 'newer' Christmas songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644U-jMpDUw
Lovely vibe to it.
It's from 2011, but it sounds like a classic.

Schwiiing · 01-12-2014 02:47PM

X Factor wrapped up the Christmas No 1 a few years back so no one bothers anymore. The Darkness had the last good original Christmas No1.

Allegedly Simon Cowell bought the rights to Killing in the Name Of and made a fortune of that and whatever X Factor ****e he put put that year. Also he allegedly bought the rights to several versions of Hallelujah all of which charted the year Alexandra Burke won it.

Patty O Furniture · 01-12-2014 04:11PM

Didn't Rage Against The Machine almost come close to beating Cowell's Christmas domination.

I like Deano's It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas/Let It Snow... & Driving Home For Christmas etc. & without fail Pogues & FONY,
but not Ronan Keatings phony FONY :mad:

paulbok · 01-12-2014 04:30PM

Patty O Furniture wrote: »

Didn't Rage Against The Machine almost come close to beating Cowell's Christmas domination.

I like Deano's It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas/Let It Snow... & Driving Home For Christmas etc. & without fail Pogues & FONY,
but not Ronan Keatings phony FONY :mad:

The Phony FONY?

Julian Casablancas, "wish it was Christmas Today" was a good tune, but I doubt it'll ever get the airplay say Slade do this time of year.

Several new Xmas tunes were released since 2000, (not counting covers) but very few have or will make it into the usual festive playlists.

Now here is a list of Xmas hits from a well known compilation, a few I don't recognise (with ?) but only 2 I can see from this century, and both are tenuous inclusions.

John & Yoko And The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York
Wham! - Last Christmas
Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
Cliff Richard - Mistletoe And Wine
Mud - Lonely This Christmas
Boney M - Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry
Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
Elton John - Step Into Christmas
Girls Aloud - Not Tonight Santa
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time
Pretenders - 2000 Miles ?
Coldplay - Christmas Lights
Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love
Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
Bing Crosby - White Christmas
Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Nat King Cole Trio - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
Doris Day - Winter Wonderland
Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The Crystals - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
The Jackson 5 - Frosty The Snowman
Alma Cogan - Never Do a Tango With An Eskimo ?
Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby
The Ronettes - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
The Crystals - Rudolph The Red
The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
Adam Faith - Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop) ?
Dean Martin - Baby, It's Cold Outside
Jim Reeves - Silver Bells
Burl Ives - O Little Town of Bethlehem
Nat King Cole - The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot
Frank Sinatra - I'll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams)
Johnny Mathis - When A Child Is Born
Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling
Il Divo - O Holy Night
Sinéad O'Connor - Silent Night
Bert Jansch - In The Bleak Mid Winter
Steeleye Span - Gaudete ?
Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo
Cliff Richard - Saviour's Day
Aled Jones - Walking In The Air
David Essex - A Winter's Tale
East 17 - Stay Another Day
George Michael - December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)
Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Peace Of Earth
Mick Hucknall - Happy This Christmas ?
Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells
The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
Band Aid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas?
The Weavers - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
The Spinners - The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Andy Stewart - Auld Lang Syne
Abba - Happy New Year

Patty O Furniture · 01-12-2014 05:04PM

paulbok wrote: »

The Phony FONY?

Remember his rendition of Fairytale Of New York, which was pretty dire

thelad95 · 01-12-2014 05:15PM

These are two Christmas songs released in recent years that I like compared to some of the cringeworthy classics:

Woshy · 01-12-2014 06:35PM

Tim Minchin - White Wine in The Sun is by far my favourite Christmas song and that's recent enough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

thelad95 · 01-12-2014 06:40PM

Woshy wrote: »

Tim Minchin - White Wine in The Sun is by far my favourite Christmas song and that's recent enough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

Fantastic song and one everyone can relate to without any religion or consumerism being shoved down peoples throats. Brought me to tears the first time I heard it.

Woshy · 01-12-2014 06:42PM

thelad95 wrote: »

Fantastic song and one everyone can relate to without any religion or consumerism being shoved down peoples throats. Brought me to tears the first time I heard it.

Definitely - what he sings about is what Christmas is really about to me. I found it especially comforting when living abroad and not being able to get home for Christmas.

I'm pregnant and hormonal at the moment so I know I'll be sobbing if I listen to the bit where he sings to his daughter!

Saralee4 · 01-12-2014 06:44PM

I haven't seen anyone mention The Darkness, 'Christmas Time' from 2004.

I have to say I love this song and it has all the traits of a really good Christmas song, heartbreak, fun, great melody, bells etc.

Jen Pigs Fly · 01-12-2014 07:00PM

As much as I love Christmas and Christmas songs, I can't help but to notice a hint of sadness in every song .... Every year I notice it more and more.

Maybe that's just me being cynical though

starlit · 01-12-2014 07:06PM

Unfortunately they are, my fav xmas songs are from the mid to late 80's. All I want for Christmas and last Christmas and with the exception of Britney spears and the darkness xmas songs from the '00's. I'm not a fan of every Xmas song like, I be the same with certain genres of music. I be selective of what music I am into.

Going Forward · 01-12-2014 07:09PM

Let's be thankful Cliff hasn't released some christian music this christmas.

Mars Bar · 01-12-2014 07:10PM

Saralee4 wrote: »

I haven't seen anyone mention The Darkness, 'Christmas Time' from 2004.

I have to say I love this song and it has all the traits of a really good Christmas song, heartbreak, fun, great melody, bells etc.

I mentioned it as did someone else. It's called "Don't Let The Bells End". Fantastic song! Really has a Christmas feel to it.

Aglomerado · 02-12-2014 10:43AM

I love the Darkness' one too.

This one Erasure brought out last year is rather good! Traditional with an Andy Bell/ Vince Clark twist!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdzG_01Q-5E

caustic 1 · 02-12-2014 11:32AM

[YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5n6X9sUznI][/YOUTUBE]

Maybe not the usual xmas tunes but one that gives them feels, well to me anyhow.

paulbok · 02-12-2014 12:01PM

Patty O Furniture wrote: »

Remember his rendition of Fairytale Of New York, which was pretty dire

T'was quite bad alright, but nothiing compared to the murdering he did of 'Friends in Time'.

stmol32 · 02-12-2014 12:36PM

thelad95 wrote: »

.... everyone can relate to without any religion or consumerism ....

I agree, I think every Irish person can relate to drinking white wine in the sun in the middle of December :pac:

Why are all the good xmas songs the old ones??

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