Christmas Songs.

A week before Christmas,  I put the Christmas tree and decorations up whilst listening to Christmas songs.  Some things have changed over the years.....

Once upon a time, I had an LP "Now that's what I call Christmas" album.  Yes, I'm old enough to have had a record player!  But not old enough to refer to it as a gramophone!

Then I had a similar album on cassette for many years and more recently the Christmas CD from Pop Stars (talent show that came before X factor).  It was the year that Michelle McManus won and Sam and Mark came second and third.  Hmmm, Sam and Mark still seem to have work, but I've never seen Michelle McManus from that day to this!

But I digress.  I now listen to Christmas Songs downloaded to my laptop.  This year, my daughter Vicky helped me trim the tree, so we enjoyed the Christmas songs together. Well, when I say "enjoyed", I mean I enjoyed them and Vicky enjoyed some of them.

What came up for us though was - some of the Christmas songs have such sad lyrics.  I don't just mean sentimental lyrics that make you cry after a few too many sherries.  I mean really sad songs.  Band Aid, for example "Do they know it's Christmas - feed the world."  Lovely, and really gives me the feel of Christmas, provided I don't think about the lyrics too much....  and yes, I have donated to UNICEF on several occasions.

Then there's The Pogues - Fairytale of New York.  Yes we always laugh at the lyrics in the middle bit "You scum bag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot, Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it's our last"... a good giggle, but the lyrics as a whole are melancholy.

Vicky also thought Queen's "Thank God it's Christmas" had a sad message in it.

The list goes on .... "Blue Christmas without you"  ... "Lonely this Christmas"

So, it's a good thing that these are balanced by some more cheery festive tunes: the tongue in cheek "Santa Baby" (orignally Eartha Kitt, and covered by many, including Kylie),  Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody" and Wizard's "Wish it could be Christmas every day." and even "We wish you a Wombling Merry Christmas" - the Wombles (Mike Batt).

 What's your favorite Christmas song?