I know, I know, Christmas is already over, and most of us are probably quite happy not to hear another ‘Last Christmas’ for the next 11 months (or years, if you work in retail^^). And yet, there will be another Christmas next year. I would love to listen to some of your favourite Christmas songs, especially the ones that are not widely know, or maybe are well-known but only in your country/region, etc.
I’ll start with a few German ones I like: Winterkinder (Rolf Zuckowski) Schneemann (Peter Alexander)
What are your favourite (non-standard) Christmas songs?
Very interesting topic! Another German one even though more an advent than a Christmas song: Tochter Zion
There is a guy named Helmut Bickel on YouTube who arranged it beautifully for guitar! Definitely worth a listen!
I guess, metal singers singing Christmas songs at some point counted as non-standard or novelty. While it’s not unusual anymore, I do yet like this version of the song
And of course, there is this one. Traditionally, people in Finland can’t resist eating huge amounts of Christmas ham during the holidays. The song below explores the problem in greater detail (I found a cover in German language, so that at least some of you can understand the lyrics).
I dont see it as a problem at all. My family tore up a 17 pound ham already.
Swine…
This was a beutiful song. I dont know why it made me sad and happy at the same time. Thanks for turning me on to it.
Here is my oddball christmas song, one of my favorite bands thats currently still putting out music. This is one of their older song, I tried to do it this year but I just could not memorize the words in time. It definitely hits.
bullseye! The composition, instrument arrangement, eerie vocal… It makes me feel nostalgic and usually nostalgia is filled with a warm fuzzy feeling while it has an undercurrent of sadness; missing simpler times, missing certain people, desire to drop some of todays worries etc. THIS song does that to me.
Ah @judi , this reminds me of one I heard on the radio at my mum’s place over the holidays. I have no idea if it’s widely known in Germany and Austria or not: Verwandtschaftstreffen (Weihnachtsversion) by RIAN
Happy songs in minor key evoke such feelings. Nothing in lyrics to suggest that, but you don’t feel fully comfortable during the song. The mood of minor key forces you to expect that something “bad” is about to happen or, as you mentioned, it is a distant memory you remember with the dose of sadness. I have the full playlist of these songs, Lou Reed - Perfect Day or Willie Nelson - Blue Sky are great examples.
This i-VII-iv-VI-i progression is known to have a melacholic yet uplifting feel so no surprise.
The music itself is rather simple, safely grounded on its underlying chords.
This quote from the composer nails it: “I wanted to write a symphony about perfect innocence, the innocence with which we’re born and which we lose.”
He chose the right progression to go with that
The story behind the song is quite the rollercoaster:
Cool info Lieven. I like this sequence so much. I was looking for other songs with this also but my wife has become obsessed with this song. She wants me to play and sing it. I told her it is a small child singing it. But I did a little exploration anyway and I cant believe what I found, it is so wierd. So I will share.
I found a great live rendition of ‘Walking In The Air’ by Iron Maiden way back in 1987 supporting the ‘Somewhere in Time’ release. Just after the 3:00 mark that melody is very clear. It is part of an instrumental called ‘Walking on Glass’ that they played right after the epic song ‘Ryme of the Ancient Mariner’
The crazy thing is, I saw this tour that year in February when they came to Tucson, Arizona. The opening act was Vinny Vincent Invasion. I was a sophmore High School student and I am certain they played this. I dont remember this instrumental unfortunatly, but I absolutely remember them playing ‘Ryme of the Ancient Mariner’. I also recall a bunch of my friends were pissed because WASP was supposed to be the opening act but for some reason they were not. I was a big metal head back then.
Its so cool how music has such ties. It does make sense, Iron Maiden is from London I think and this great song you turned us onto was shown on the BBC in the 70s so It probobly inspired Steve Harris to some extent. Like you said that chord progression has that Melancholy but uplifting mix plus that loss of innocence feeling. Exactly the type melodic feel Iron Maiden would have been searching for.
Aside
Dave Murry and Adrian Smith were so killer back then. I know Iron Maiden has put out a ton of stuff over the years but I just feel the mid 1980 were their prime. Steve Harris is an Amazing writer and was full in control then and Bruce Dickenson was just amazing vocalist. Paul diAnno RIP was no slouch either.
