As Mark has mentioned, some carols have bad theology. Other Christmas songs go beyond this—they are simply annoying. The always-on-top-of-things Gawker released its list of 10 most annoying Christmas songs.
- Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer
- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
- Baby It’s Cold Outside
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
- River
- Do They Know It’s Christmas?
- Last Christmas
- The Christmas Shoes
The reasons Gawker gives for placing these songs in the annoying category are interesting, and some even hilarious. Go over and have a read, and even a chuckle.
Do you agree or disagree with the choices? What songs would you include in or exclude from this list?
the archives near Emmaus 
I hate #’s 1, 2, and 3. I actually like 4. And I am not sure I recognize the names of the rest.
Brian,
I agree with you. I haven’t made up my mind about #4. I do like Glee cast’s version of #9—mainly because the tune is catchy. Gawker’s comment about “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is hilarious: “Another entry in the ‘creepy lyrics’ category is this song that is basically about date rape.”
drummer boy is a cute song. the rest, yeah pure rubbish.
Jim,
Cute, yes. Any thoughts as to what should replace Drummer Boy as an annoying song?
‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ and ‘Santa Baby’ totally creep me out. I am surprised the latter did not make the list. Nothing like a sensual song dedicated to Santa.
Brian,
“Santa Baby” did make #4 here: http://www.ipopculture.net/2010/12/top-10-most-annoying-christmas-songs/
Maybe that should be the replacement for “Little Drummer Boy”?
It should be. ‘Little Drummer Boy’ is 100 x’s better than ‘Santa Baby’!
You missed one santa baby.
@arm5: That is what we’ve been discussing. ‘Santa Baby’ is terrible. See the above comments.
Little drummer boy, when done well, is great. Santa kissing mummy is just plain disturbing! 🙂
I agree with above comments except Drummer Boy. The chorus has become deafening after working past Christmases in a retail environment. Yuck!
May I submit for your approval the addition to the list of The Carpenters’ “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”? I love the Carpenters otherwise but the lyrics,
“Christmas future is far away
Christmas past is past
Christmas present is here today”
???
Wow…. that was epic….
🙂
Mark: Agreed! That and “Baby It’s Cold Outside” are probably the most disturbing on the list.
Carly: Haha! I didn’t even think much of that part until you mentioned it. I guess I just tended to skip right over it in my mind to get to the good part.
Possibly (okay, probably) not appropriate, but I personally like this Norwegian Christmas ditty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjQgBFe_Pw0
It’s certainly makes it into the ‘creepy’ category, but it is part of a mockumentary so that is sort of its aim…
@Carly: I have never recognized those lyrics in the song. I must block out the verses subconsciously.
@Brian- its only on The Carpenters’ version. I like the regular version of the song but whenever I hear those lines from The Carpenters’ version I get the feeling I’m being patronized. haha.
@Carly: It sounds like it belongs on a soundtrack for a Scrooge movie.
Carly: The Carpenter’s version would have been perfect except for that opener.
Jason: That is definitely in a category of its own.
@JohnDave- I totally agree with you! I guess we’ll just be stuck muting the first 10 seconds of the song.
Carly,
I’m considering Amy Grant’s version as a replacement for now. 🙂
Little drummer boy is one of my favorites . . . for sentimental reasons 🙂 .
Scratch that last comment of mine. I thought Amy Grant’s was as musically interesting but it’s not. There are other songs of Grant that are, but “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is not one of them.
Bobby,
Sentimental reasons? 🙂
@JohnDave- Thanks for the heads up- I’ll steer clear of that version too! 🙂
First of all, HAHAHA!
Second, Santa Baby should be on that list somewhere. I was also extremely happy to see Little Drummer Boy on that list. That one is hard to get through.
Josh,
It looks like you’re in the minority with Drummer Boy. Yet even other lists have it as annoying. They need to put Santa Baby at like 6.5 or something.