Christmas music, as most of us know, gets airtime earlier and earlier. I believe I was shopping in Macy’s–before Halloween– and realized I was humming a Christmas tune. Then I realized the same tune was playing over the store’s speakers and had seeped into my mind.
That kind of subliminal trickery is exactly what the marketers want. “Christmas is coming! Don’t you have your shopping done yet?†The lyrics are all about a Silent Night, but the stores want cash registers a-ringing.
In my innocence, I brought my item to the checkout woman who looked at me with an eyebrow arched. “Sure,†she said, “I hear you humming. You get to take your purchase and leave. I’ll be stuck listening to the same Christmas tracks for the next three months.â€
Which brings me to my topic. Because we listen to Christmas songs over and over and over, we develop tolerances for some versions over others. If you think about it, what other genre of music has such a diverse group of artists singing the same songs?
For instance, I’ve yet to hear Aerosmith do a Christmas album, but everybody from Bing Crosby to Bruce Springsteen to Garth Brooks has covered the oldies and goodies. Groups like Trans-Siberian Orchestra speed up the tempo of our beloved Christmas favorites, and others, like Tony Bennett, slow them down in a cool-cat jazz style. There are classic instrumentals,  chipmunks crooning, and dogs barking. A little something for everybody.
Over the years I’ve developed a litmus test on the song Oh Holy Night. To me it is a hard song to master, and if I get goose bumps listening to the artist he/she goes on my list as a winner. If I feel nothing, well, don’t waste my time.
Currently the standings are:
- Michael Crawford
- Andy Williams
- Josh Groban
- Martina McBride
I’d love to hear Chris Isaak take it on, or Alison Krauss. I know Heart has a new Christmas album out, but haven’t checked to see if they preform Oh Holy Night.
How about you? Any thoughts on the best Oh Holy Night singer? Who would you like to hear tackle this Mt. Everest of songs?
Currently it looks like Movable Type is the top blogging
platform out there right now. (from what I’ve read)
Is that what you’re using on your blog?
I don’t know! My website is in the amazingly capable hands of Wallace/Carlson’s media team. You could email them for advice. http://www.wc-print.com
Maybe you can help me. I downloaded a version in 2008 on my desktop and burned it onto a cd. Since then I got rid of the CPU and can not find the cd anywhere. Anyway, it is a male vocalist that I do not believe is live (cd quality) the singer does not have the wavy Vocal pattern that all of the other male singers you listed use. The guy I am thinking of is much bolder and goes straight to his highs and lows with no choppy patterns. It’s not OoOohHhH HoOoLlYyyy NiiIiIght. It’s Oh Holy Night! Anyway this guy was absolutely fantastic.. I couldn’t believe that it was possible to go straight from highs to lows with such passion and sound so flawless. If its not on your list it’s because you haven’t heard it yet… There is no backup singers, i do not believe it was from a performance but it in the realm of possibilities. I thought it was from the 60’s or 70’s but I could be way off. Could have been 2008 for all I know. I have looked since for countless hours 10+ at an absolute minimum, ask my brother, he thinks I’m crazy. As a fellow Oh Holy Night geek, I thought I would reach out to someone that might be able to help me look. Who knows, you might put that rendition at the top of your list.. Please help!
Hey Ben,
You certainly have me intrigued. I love a stellar Oh Holy Night, as you know. Hmmmm…I’ll ponder the possibilities and get back to you if I have some ideas. In the meanwhile, does anybody else have suggestions on who this mystery vocalist might be?