Talon guide to Christmas music, for the people

Posted: December 14, 2018

With Christmas being right around the corner, everyone is listening to Christmas music and I’m here to tell you my top five favorite Christmas songs and ranking the Talon members favorite Christmas songs.

1. “White Christmas” by the Drifters

Explanation: Best Christmas song, hands down. What’s makes this song amazing it’s beat which is just a person singing, “dup dup, dup dup dup” and it really makes the whole song more up-beat and happy. Two singers have solos in this song and their voices are very different but they go together in a perfect way. If someone tells me this song isn’t good, I’ll stop talking to them completely because, clearly, they have no idea what they’re talking about and that’s bad for my mind.

2. “All I want for Christmas is You “by Mariah Carey

Explanation: This could have been number one in my opinion but I have to deduct points because it’s the most played song on the planet. The song is only played at Christmas time and I still feel like I hear it a thousand times a year. Overplayed songs are the most annoying thing ever and I’m willing to take a stand. Still, in terms of Christmas music, its clearly one of the greatest Christmas songs ever.

3. “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano

Explanation: Obviously a classic song that everyone knows and will sing along to. The funniest part is most people singing don’t even know the words, which in my opinion, is a positive. A song has to be catchy for everybody to think they know the words but still not really know what they’re saying. It’s actually very impressive. This one is a very obvious top five choice and I think most people in the world would put in there top five too.

4. “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt

Explanation:  What makes this song amazing is the opposite of makes White Christmas great, this song is all about the words. The words are clever, funny and the beat is great but what really makes the song amazing is the writing. Also, the whole concept of the song is basically asking for things she wants because she’s been good. She even tells Santa that she’ll be good again next year if she gets what she wants, which is just hilarious. Imagine saying that to your parents. I’m going to try it on mine, I’ll let you know if they buy it or not.

5. “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Michael Bublé

Explanation: I know I have the same song twice but let me explain. I can’t be bias and not put the same song in twice just because it’s the same song. I’m a man of honor and integrity and I’m always going to tell the truth. Buble puts a different spin on the song that’s incredible to me so he made my top five too. And if I had a sixth song, it would be Bublé’s White Christmas because it’s truly amazing. I would rank his entire Christmas album as the best Christmas album of all time. He sings all of the classic songs but they’re different and more fun in general.

Honorable Mentions: White Christmas by Michael Bublé, Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bruce Springsteen, Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Margeret Whiting, Jingle bell Rock by Bobby Helms

Talon Staff picks

with Luke’s rating

Michael DiNardo

“All I want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey

“Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms

“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby

“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” by Bing Crosby

Rating:3.9

Explanation: Overall not a horrible list but a couple major mistakes that simply can’t happen. The biggest mistake I see is Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande. This just makes me mad. This song shouldn’t be on anyone’s top five Christmas song list because it’s not even a good song at all. To me, it’s annoying and I’m not a fan. Also, It’s more of a pop song and Christmas isn’t really a time for pop songs, except (All I Want For Christmas is You). Also, Michael has the third best White Christmas version out there after the Drifters and Michael Buble.  And one more thing, I don’t like the song “It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas”. I’ve always found it to be annoying.

Dylan Kiratli

“All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey

“Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms

“Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams

Rating 6.3

Explanation: Overall a very good Christmas list with no major slip ups. A couple things I didn’t like were, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree seems too high on the list. And It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year shouldn’t be on the list at all. There are a lot of songs that I’d put above the songs on Dylan’s list but I think it’s a really solid list anyway.

Jake McCabe

“Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano

“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” by Elmo & Patsy

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Gene Autry

“Jingle Bells” by Frank Sinatra

“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Jackson Five

Rating 2.1

Explanation: What a mess this list is, it’s truly horrible and the fact that I had to,listen to all five songs is really, really sad. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is quite possible the worst song ever, no exaggeration. Then Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was a good song when we were four but now it’s just not good. I think Jingle Bells is the most overrated song ever and it’s not even close. The only reason Jake got any points was because he had Feliz Navidad and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. And, I’m always open to listening to a little Jackson Five. But overall one of the worst Christmas song lists every created.  I’m more than a little worried about McCabe.

Annika Johnson

“Why Can’t it be Christmas All Year” by Rosie Thomas

“Just Like Christmas” by Low

“Angels we have Heard on High” by Sufjan Stevens

“Run Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry

“Little Saint Nick” by The Beach Boys

Rating: 6.4

Explanation: Very good list, to me. I love the songs “Run Run Rudolph” and “Little Saint Nick”. Probably some of the most slept on songs every year. Once again there are no bad songs, but I could have used so more up beat songs. I love the fact that none of these songs are very mainstream, she clearly listens to Christmas music a lot and didn’t just look up the best  Christmas songs on the internet, which is definitely a positive.

Patrick Cullinan

Silver Bells by Bing Crosby

O Little Town of Bethlehem by The Moog Machine

O Come O Come Emmanuel by The Piano Guys

O Holy Night by Josh Groban

Silent Night by Celtic Women

Rating: 4.2

Explanation: Overall I don’t hate this top five but still a lot of things that could have been fixed. This is more of a list of classics, which isn’t a bad thing but at some point I want something a little more up -beat. No bad songs on the list just a lot of average songs that don’t get me going. Definitely a respectful list, nothing too horrible but nothing great either.

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