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I haven't popped into this thread yet, because the Christmas Mood hadn't really struck me until this morning. Sorry for my later-than-usual weighing in on this subject!
First things first: redlemon! Don't ever let me catch you badmouthing Vince Guaraldi again! The man was a genius, and at least a thousand times hipper than any of us. It just so happens that I spent $1.99 this very morning to download the sheet music to "Christmas Time is Here". It's one of my very favorite Christmas songs. Dianna Krall's version is melancholy and moving and sweet, all at once. Very nice. I also very much like "The Christmas Song", a.k.a. "Chestnuts Roasting". But I'm a jazz dude at heart.
I may get flayed alive for this, but... IMO Sir Paul wasn't the stronger of the Beatle songwriters. John's "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" whips the crap out of "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime". Paul's stuff is so plastic, you know? So cute and predictable and trite. "Wonderful Christmastime" may be the very pinnacle of McCartney ickyness--the song is about as authentic and heartfelt as a plastic christmas tree.
There are lots of great Christmas songs, but any of them can be drained of life and joy. "Silent Night" becomes deathly and dirgelike when slowed down to nothing by a mall choir.
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