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PaperclipPerfector  11mo ago (text post)   3499 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for November 24, 2023

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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What are some of your favorite Christmas carols?

In preparation for Advent, I'm going to teach my kids some songs this year, and while we'll be doing the hokey kiddie stuff like Jingle Bells, I want to sing a few more serious and cool ones like Gaudete, Christus Est Natus or the Coventry Carol (okay, maybe we won't sing that one).

Also, tomorrow is the Feast of Christ the King. Here's an early happy liturgical new year to those following such things!

The Sussex Carol: https://youtube.com/watch?v=wxaLyJ5G4zM&pp=ygUbc3Vzc2V4IGNhcm9sIGtpbmcncyBjb2xsZWdl

Good King Wenceslas: https://youtube.com/watch?v=6QwOMUsPdyI?si=yeaNFIIlHw4d2FAp

If you want one a little less used, Angelum ad Virginem: https://youtube.com/watch?v=YrcnLtv_vLI?si=aTZyhFPsrX5b7IKi

And you can’t beat Hark the Herald Angels for pure bombast.

The First Noel it's a very abbreviated retelling of the Christmas story and is easy to sing for lay singers.

You know, I'm not sure what makes a Christmas song into a "carol" actually. I should look into it. Anyway: this Bing Crosby rendition of "Faith of Our Fathers" really moved me when I heard it. Great song with a nice message. I have this record and it sounds awesome on scratchy, poppy vinyl.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=AEuGAEg1u7c?si=AJH_lvsce8kGH2lc

I always assumed the divide was secular vs religious. Most Christmas songs you hear around town seem to be romantic / sexual, which saddens me.

Your one seems to be about religion but not per se religious, so it’s interesting :)

carol

12 Days of Christmas

Jerusalem by Willam Blake & Hubert Parry (not a Christmas carol but still highly recommended)

The Happiest Christmas Tree.

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

The nativity Canon: https://youtube.com/watch?v=NAC-_gbLLPM

The sea monster spat out Jonah, like a newborn from the womb.

Hah, how many Greek orthodox are on this site anyway? ;)

For kids, O Little Town of Bethlehem is a good one.

I personally like In the Bleak Midwinter, but it is a bit...bleak.

  • Carol of the Bells
  • O Holy Night
  • Mary's Boy Child

I guess the latter two work better as solos, though.

Also, while your linked video of Gaudete is my second-favorite recording of that song, allow me to share an even better one.

I rather like Christmas carols, and I grew up learning a bunch at school and church, so I’ll give you a lot. First, some of the ones I learned as a child:

  • Adeste Fideles/O Come, All Ye Faithful
  • Angels We Have Heard on High
  • Away in a Manger
  • Ding Dong, Merrily on High
  • From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
  • God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
  • Good King Wenceslaus
  • Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
  • I Saw Three Ships
  • In Dulci Jubilo
  • O Come, Little Children (Ihr Kinderlein Kommet)
  • O Holy Night
  • O How Joyfully (O Du Fröhliche)
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Silent Night
  • The First Noel
  • We Three Kings
  • What Child Is This

Kids tend to especially like “Angels We Have Heard” and “Ding Dong, Merrily” for the lengthy slurs in the refrains.

Others that I learned as an adult and rather like:

  • A Babe Is Born All of a Maid (this is also frequently set to a modern tune, but I vastly prefer the one I linked)
  • On This Day, Earth Shall Ring (Personent Hodie)
  • Sussex Carol
  • The Seven Joys of Mary

Then of course there are the many fantastic Advent hymns (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came; Savior of the Nations, Come, etc.), and plenty of other good Christmas hymns that I wouldn’t consider quite carols.

I've been whistling Good King Wenceslaus to myself since Friday. Don't know why I started but... Can't stop...

It’s a great tune. Definitely not the worst earworm to have.

Soul Cake (The Souling Song)

God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

We Three Kings of Orient Are

Ive always had a special fondness for

I Saw Three Ships

And

We Three Kings

I expected that second link to take me to a movie about the Gulf War starring George Cloney and Ice Cube, but instead it was one of Markey Mark's old songs.

Still, not bad for a boy band.

You've made me yearn for a terrible, terrible cover of We Three Kings by George Clooney, Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg.

Well, this isn't that, but ... I offer it to you in its absence.

Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes? That isn't a lot if things

Who hasn't? It's a very compelling yearn.

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