Unfortunately not many bands/singers record Christmas songs these days. The Christmas Number One usually belongs to whoever won the X Factor or whichever charity tugged the hardest at our heartstrings. So year after year we tend to hear the same songs. Wizzard wish it was Christmas every day, Cliff dusts off his Mistletoe and Wine while Noddy screams 'IT'S CHRISTMAAAAASSS!!!' at any given opportunity. Even though it's only once a year you'd be forgiven for getting royally sick of the same tunes.
Having said that there are some songs that I really look forward to hearing. Some you may have heard before; others I'm going to guess you may not have. Hopefully my little playlist of Norris Approved Christmas songs will get you in the festive mood!
Queen- Thank God It's Christmas
For a band that are as huge as Queen, it's a mystery as to why their Christmas song is rarely if ever played on the radio. In fact you'd be forgiven for thinking that a Queen Christmas song doesn't even exist- but it does my friends. In between recording 'The Works' and 'A Kind of Magic' albums, Queen released this chilled out little track. It's really quite nice and jolly while perfectly capturing that feeling we all have on Christmas Day- thank God we finally made it!
The Darkness- Christmastime (Don't Let The Bells End)
Arguably the most well known song on my list. Back in 2003 when the Darkness were possibly the biggest band in the UK, everyone's favourite glam rockers of the new millennium decided to release a Yuletide rocker in the hope of getting Christmas Number 1. They lost out to Gary Jules and Michael Andrews' cover of 'Mad World' which had been part of the soundtrack to 'Donny Darko' but that doesn't stop this awesome song firmly cementing it's place in Christmas song history. Bonus points for the choir!
This song will always have a special place in my heart after seeing the band live in November 2011. Being we were so close to Christmas the band played this very song as it started to snow in the O2 Academy Newcastle. Meanwhile a drunken man slow danced with me throughout the whole song. Truly epic.
Madness- Inanity Over Christmas
This obscure Madness track was presumably a B-Side or something. I discovered it on a 3 track retrospective called 'The Business'. It's not the Christmassiest song I've ever heard. It's just completely insane. You can tell they had a lot of fun with it and that at the same time it was never really intended to join the likes of Slade and Band Aid. A definite must listen for fans of Suggs and co.
Michael Bolton- White Christmas
Ah 'White Christmas'... so many people have covered this song and we all know Bing Crosby recorded the definitive version. But my personal favourite version is one that I only discovered this year. Michael Bolton's version is everything you'd expect of him. If you hate him then avoid. If like me you actually secretly (and now no longer secretly) love him then you'll love it. Love it I tell you. Michael!!!
But I've saved the best for last. My personal favourite Christmas song. Until I hear this song on the radio or at work I can't truly get into the Christmas spirit. Don't ask me why, I've simply always loved it. In tribute to my very good friend Danielle Bage, here is my favourite Christmas song...
Chris Rea- Driving Home For Christmas
Pour yourself some hot chocolate, put on the fire and enjoy... unless you're actually driving home for Christmas in which case put this on IMMEDIATELY!! Chris Rea demands it!
So what do you think? Those are simply MY favourite festive tunes but maybe you have others that get you in the mood. Please tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message below or on my Facebook page.
Until next time!
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