Today the column does not claim originality; you must have already read the exceptional Christmas selections by Dimitris Papaspyropoulos a few days ago, here at Mix Grill. Gimme 10 presents roday its own, slightly different song list for the December 25th feast, which is much more ancient than Christianity. The songs I picked of course are by far more recent. Next Friday I will take a day off to make my flashback for the ending year and to write a little letter to Santa Claus. Merry Christmas to all and see yoy here on the first day of the new year!
1. O Holy Night – Nat King Cole
(Adolphe Adam-John Sullivan Dwight)
This song was written in 1847 by Adolphe Adam, based on a French poem by Placide Cappeau and translated in english in 1855 while it has been covered in many other languages. Here we listen to it covered by the colossus Nat King Cole, in one of its most classical recordings.
2. White Christmas – Bing Crosby
(Irving Berlin)
Here we have the single with the highest selling in the history of discography. It was initially aired at 1941 Christmas on a radio show and it was released in 1942 summer, as part of a song collection from the movie Holiday Inn by Mark Sandrich. It didn't do very well at first, but it turned out to be a huge hit, won the Academy Award for best Song and is considered more classical than the classics, although its most well known version is a 1947 cover.
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin
(Sammy Cahn-Jule Styne)
It was written in July 1945, during one of the hottest days ever; that's what gave the inspiration for the title. It is considered to be a Christmas song due to its reference to snow, but it's really a love song created by Jews, so as you can see that's a bit controversial...
4. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town – Frank Sinatra
(J. Fred Coots-Haven Gillespie)
It was initially aired in 1934 and has not missed any new year's celebration since. It is one of those songs that come with a 'moral' lesson, as it urges children to be good, so as Sant to bring them the cobetable present.
5. Christmas – Foivos Delivorias
(Foivos Delivorias)
One of the most perceptive songwriters in the international music scene in a modern song for Christmas. Here Delivorias manages to express in an incomparable way how modern man sees this ancient feast, as well as give his own sense to it. A diamond on the crown of his best album, released in 2003 entitled O Kathreftis (The Mirror).
6. Only At Christmas Time – Sufjan Stevens
(Sufjan Stevens)
From 2001 to 2006 (except for 2004 during which he was recoding Illinois like a maniac) Stevens had been recording extemporary EP which he gave as presents to family and friends. In the end of 2006, he gathered tham all and released them in a beautiful box, along with stickers, a poster and a book with lyrics and accords, under the title Songs For Christmas. In the 2002 EP there is, among others, this slow song, the best to slow things down on a festive winter evening...
7. Xristougenna Panta Tsakonomaste (On Christmas we always fight) – Dionysis Savvopoulos
(Dionysis Savvopoulos)
The initial song from Xronopoios (Time-maker) in 1999, the last record by Savvopoulos with original material. He is escorted by Typaldos' children choire in a special song that refers to Christmas feast, only to speak about other things as well. The lyrics also contain the word 'malakes' (assholes)...
8. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono
(John Lennon-Yoko Ono)
Lennon dreamt about writing a song that would each or even surpass the old standards like White Christmas and by this one he almost did it. With the assistance of Yoko Ono, the Plastic Ono Band and Harlem Community Choir, he records one of the best songs in his solo career, enriching it with an eternal message against war.
9. Merry Christmas Baby – Chuck Berry
(Lou Baxter-Johnny Moore)
An old rhythm ‘n’ blues, Christmas standars, here covered by Chuck Berry. Lazy rhythm, blues phraseology and a pass-by White Christmas, so that we know where we stand...
10. Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano
(Jose Feliciano)
It was written in 1970 and since then it has become one of the most popular Christmas songs, due to the simple, bright melody, as well as the very simple Spanish and English lyrics. So we close with very high rhythm!
1. O Holy Night – Nat King Cole
(Adolphe Adam-John Sullivan Dwight)
This song was written in 1847 by Adolphe Adam, based on a French poem by Placide Cappeau and translated in english in 1855 while it has been covered in many other languages. Here we listen to it covered by the colossus Nat King Cole, in one of its most classical recordings.
2. White Christmas – Bing Crosby
(Irving Berlin)
Here we have the single with the highest selling in the history of discography. It was initially aired at 1941 Christmas on a radio show and it was released in 1942 summer, as part of a song collection from the movie Holiday Inn by Mark Sandrich. It didn't do very well at first, but it turned out to be a huge hit, won the Academy Award for best Song and is considered more classical than the classics, although its most well known version is a 1947 cover.
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Dean Martin
(Sammy Cahn-Jule Styne)
It was written in July 1945, during one of the hottest days ever; that's what gave the inspiration for the title. It is considered to be a Christmas song due to its reference to snow, but it's really a love song created by Jews, so as you can see that's a bit controversial...
4. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town – Frank Sinatra
(J. Fred Coots-Haven Gillespie)
It was initially aired in 1934 and has not missed any new year's celebration since. It is one of those songs that come with a 'moral' lesson, as it urges children to be good, so as Sant to bring them the cobetable present.
5. Christmas – Foivos Delivorias
(Foivos Delivorias)
One of the most perceptive songwriters in the international music scene in a modern song for Christmas. Here Delivorias manages to express in an incomparable way how modern man sees this ancient feast, as well as give his own sense to it. A diamond on the crown of his best album, released in 2003 entitled O Kathreftis (The Mirror).
6. Only At Christmas Time – Sufjan Stevens(Sufjan Stevens)
From 2001 to 2006 (except for 2004 during which he was recoding Illinois like a maniac) Stevens had been recording extemporary EP which he gave as presents to family and friends. In the end of 2006, he gathered tham all and released them in a beautiful box, along with stickers, a poster and a book with lyrics and accords, under the title Songs For Christmas. In the 2002 EP there is, among others, this slow song, the best to slow things down on a festive winter evening...
7. Xristougenna Panta Tsakonomaste (On Christmas we always fight) – Dionysis Savvopoulos
(Dionysis Savvopoulos)
The initial song from Xronopoios (Time-maker) in 1999, the last record by Savvopoulos with original material. He is escorted by Typaldos' children choire in a special song that refers to Christmas feast, only to speak about other things as well. The lyrics also contain the word 'malakes' (assholes)...
8. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono
(John Lennon-Yoko Ono)
Lennon dreamt about writing a song that would each or even surpass the old standards like White Christmas and by this one he almost did it. With the assistance of Yoko Ono, the Plastic Ono Band and Harlem Community Choir, he records one of the best songs in his solo career, enriching it with an eternal message against war.
9. Merry Christmas Baby – Chuck Berry
(Lou Baxter-Johnny Moore)
An old rhythm ‘n’ blues, Christmas standars, here covered by Chuck Berry. Lazy rhythm, blues phraseology and a pass-by White Christmas, so that we know where we stand...
10. Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano
(Jose Feliciano)
It was written in 1970 and since then it has become one of the most popular Christmas songs, due to the simple, bright melody, as well as the very simple Spanish and English lyrics. So we close with very high rhythm!
* Photos by http://www.brunnvalla.ch/e/fatherchristmas8.htm καιι www.wikipedia.org.
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