The Hyperion Institute

THE TOP TWENTY RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS CAROLS

#20 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – The one editorial change I made was to take out Go Tell it on the Mountain to put this song in, and only because it shows up in Blackadder’s Christmas Carol, and I have to give props to my boys. (It’s a better song, too. The only reason we missed it is I believe extreme fatigue.)

#19 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – I think more people should speak poetically like this. I’ll call you upon a three o’clock cloudy. Well, maybe best left to the professionals.

#18 Do You Hear What I Hear? – Never a good conversation to have with a schizophrenic. Good song, though.

#17 Little Drummer Boy – This video has to be the most bizarre music combo of all time. But you know what? IT WORKS!!!! (The chitchat at the beginning is utterly priceless.)

#16 Sweet Little Jesus Boy – The first time I heard this song, I thought the singer just had bad grammar. (The lyrics go, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy, we didn’t know who you was.”) Once I educated myself, this became one of my very favorites. If I was in charge this song makes at least #6. I think it doesn’t get the credit it deserves because so many people can’t sing it.

#15 The First Noël – A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z (Get it?)

#14 We Three Kings of Orient Are – If you do nothing else today, make sure you watch this video. It’s from Claymation Christmas, one of the greatest specials. IFI: not for nothing, but nowhere in the Bible does it say there were three kings. Or that they were kings. Just sayin’.

#13 What Child is This? – Dude, Greensleves (the full song), is one of the best pieces of music ever. If it doesn’t get forever associated with the carol I think it’s as revered as Für Elise.

#12 O Little Town of Bethlehem – Do you know what’s going on in Bethlehem right now? Sad sad sad. Luckily, you have me.

#11 Away in a Manger – How well would this hymn be remembered if it was called “Away in a Trough”? The rest of the year, every time you hear “manger” you’ll think “trough” and have a hard time not laughing.

#10 O Come All Ye Faithful – There is a Twisted Sister version of this song. It took all my power not to paste that. Instead, you get hot Irish girls, so it ain’t all bad.

#9 Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly – Great song, but for me, forever associated with CHRISTMAS STORY. You know what? Screw Kaida’s five video rule. I’m putting it up!

#8 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – If you haven’t yet, make sure you read the column where I talk about playing “Hark” in the Church Christmas play in 3^rd grade. Inspiring stuff.

#7 We Wish You A Merry Christmas – Along with #9, not very religious, huh? Still, if it’s good enough for Wikipedia, it’s good enough for me. IFI: Kaida had this #3 until a last minute switch. I feel you need to know these things.

#6 O come, O come, Emmanuel – this one is hard to sing, but is one of my very favorites to hear, if it’s done right.

#5 Joy to the World – All morning I’ve tried to come up with a good Jeremiah the bullfrog joke here, but I have struck out. Sniff sniff. This is probably my #2. (IYI: I found this picture under "Joy to the World." I have no idea what it's supposed to mean.)

#4 Carol of the Bells – this video is also from Claymation Christmas, and under penalty of death IS NOT TO BE MISSED! The look on their faces when they get hit with the mallets is priceless. I think this is a tad over-ranked, but that woman would have put it higher if she could.

#3 Angels We Have Heard on High – I think this has to be the most fun Christmas song to sing, if only because you get to really belt out those “Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria, In Excelcius Deo….”

#2 O Holy Night – Another one that’s just impossible to sing, but absolutely gorgeous if done right. I tried with all my might to find a beautiful version for you, but when it’s all said and done I couldn’t deprive you of Cartman getting shocked with a cattle prod. (Note: I spent 40 &*%*&% minutes looking for the clip, but I can't find video. However, this is the audio, so just ignore the anime and listen. Hilarious.)

and the number 1 religious Christmas Carol......

#1 Silent Night – Every Hundred years or so the Germans get something right.

Honorable Mention: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks; Mary's Boy Child; Ding Dong Merrily on High; Angels, From the Realms of Glory; O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree); Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow; I Wonder as I Wander; Here We Come A-Wassailing; The Holly and the Ivy; I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day; I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In); Good Friends, Rejoice; Go Tell it on the Mountain; Good King Wenceslas; Fum, Fum, Fum!; Christ Is Born in Bethlehem; Il est né, le divin Enfant!; Christmas is Coming

[For an explanation of how this list came about (the actual rankings were mostly Kaida, in case you feel the need to blame someone), check out the original post on Rank Everything. Later in the month we'll have Funny Christmas ditties and the best non-religious songs ever]

Since it is the season or kindess and all I'll let slip the comment about Germans (ugh). Also, I'm just glad you got it right and have Stille Nacht and not the English version. Two Christmas carols which should be left in German…Stille Nacht and O Tannenbaum. Ahhh…this takes me back to my youth….you might be too young to remember but Julie Andrews used to have Christmas specials. I remember watching them and trimming the tree as Dad put up the lights and then "supervised." Every time the Vienna Boys Chior would appear and…sniffle…it was just so beautiful.

Bonne Noel, Mon Amie!

Oh & 17 - right on spot. You've created a grand list - thanks.

FOLLOW UP --

Julie Andrews Christmas Specials

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8u3j6poaVU&feature=related
12 Days of Christmas (German)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYjTc6k12c
A funny bit w/ John Denver as Mozart

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubi9QAMNS5U
Carol of the Bells (a most excellent rendition - of course I am bias)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ-z114HXIU&feature=related
with Peggy Lee (& I believe it is the scene before the next one listed - Hark the Herald - you can see Peggy in the window of the start of Hark the Herald & Julie has the same white cloak) - I believe Peggy is supposed to be the Sugar Plum Fairy --- ends w/ the two singing "Baby It's Cold Outside" (possibly the only time you'll hear it sung by two dames)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8v1EOasbAk
Hark the Herald

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFyDEo62m-M&feature=related
A medly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvdjY461fgA&feature=related
A Christmas Message

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TowZ8QI0MBo&feature=related
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

and if you don't like Julie - then "you are worse than Hitler" (if you know who says that almost nightly and where - I'll be pleasantly surprised)

Bravissimo! Could be nice though to have audio tracks linked to the images
which are not YOUtubed - then we could hear ALL of the songs....and learn....

Anonymous - Thanks for the kind words. At the time I wrote this, audio-only files were beyond my ability. As it was the column took almost 30 hours to compile.

If I re-post it next Christmas maybe I can do that!

(Not for nothing, but use a name next time, even if it's made up. When you comment, there is an option for Name/URL. Pick that and you can choose any name you want (and leave the URL slot blank if you wish). No one needs to know who you "really" are, but everyone needs a name!)