What's Your Favorite Christmas Song to Play?

MaryO · #1 12-12-2011, 02:08 AM

Just wondering if you guys play any Christmas music, and if so, what's your favorite to play on the drums? Today I spent some time behind my kit working on Billy Squier's Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You and really had some fun with it.

So what gets you in the holiday spirit when you're at the kit?

IDDrummer · #2 12-12-2011, 02:54 AM

OK, don't laugh, but there are actually two Christmas albums I enjoy playing along with. One is "A Very Special Christmas," which has a variety of artists. In fact, I think that Billy Squier song might be from a later volume of Very Special Christmas?

And this is the one that might make you want to laugh - I like to play along with The Partridge Family Christmas album. (ID ducks so tomatoes don't hit him, LOL!) Seriously, I liked the album when I was a kid, and still enjoy it. It's got Hal Blaine on drums and is pretty fun, and brings back good memories. I'm a sentimental sap!

Pollyanna · #3 12-12-2011, 05:30 AM

None. Absolutely none.

I recently had to leave my funky, inner city flat to move in with my frail old Dad in the suburbs. I was doing the grocery shopping and the shopping centre was full of horrible little children playing horrible little Xmas carols on their horrible little instruments.

They were cashing in on the sympathy donations "Aww, look at the sweet child" while playing with utter soullessness. There was one talented Chinese kid playing classical pieces on violin and he stood out like a beacon in a darkness - I dropped him a couple of coins.

Christmas? Little Drummer Boy and We Three Kings have good melodies - We Three Kings, has a good melody but the rest? Bah! Humbug!

:)

#4 12-12-2011, 05:39 AM

i had none whatsoever, until i found this:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?...eature=related

Neil · #5 12-12-2011, 03:43 PM

Stryper Winter Wonderland and Twisted Sister let it snow. They're pretty fun, I think Twisted Sister is more fun to play.

larryz · #6 12-12-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDDrummer

OK, don't laugh, but there are actually two Christmas albums I enjoy playing along with. One is "A Very Special Christmas," which has a variety of artists. In fact, I think that Billy Squier song might be from a later volume of Very Special Christmas?

And this is the one that might make you want to laugh - I like to play along with The Partridge Family Christmas album. (ID ducks so tomatoes don't hit him, LOL!) Seriously, I liked the album when I was a kid, and still enjoy it. It's got Hal Blaine on drums and is pretty fun, and brings back good memories. I'm a sentimental sap!

I have the Partridge Family Christmas Album too. I love it and David Cassidy's voice. Actually, I have a few other PF albums on vinyl. Hal Blaine was the drummer on most of their regular studio recordings. Can't beat that. The tv show was really good.

Billy Squier christmas song? he probably tore his t-shirt off in the video too I bet...

toddbishop · #7 12-12-2011, 04:10 PM

Probably the Charlie Brown Christmas song.

MaryO · #8 12-12-2011, 04:27 PM

Billy Squier christmas song? he probably tore his t-shirt off in the video too I bet...

LOL, man makes ONE mistake....

Actually, I really like Billy. Saw him couple of years ago live with Ringo's All-Starr band and he plays, looks and sounds great. He's aged well. One of my many guilty pleasures from the 80's.

And I can't tell you how interesting I'm finding it that the GUYS are loving on David Cassidy. Who knew??? lol.

#9 12-12-2011, 04:27 PM

This is a great version of Little Drimmer Boy by a great Christian band Whiteheart.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_u...?v=tHOgHsKViD4

IDDrummer · #10 12-12-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryO

And I can't tell you how interesting I'm finding it that the GUYS are loving on David Cassidy. Who knew??? lol.

I actually met David Cassidy a while back, at a music convention (I used to work in music retail). He was a sweetheart of a guy and very friendly. A lot of the people we met were snotty and pissed off that they actually had to go out and promote their music, but David was not that way at all.

And that's my fun fan story for the day, lol!

alparrott · #11 12-12-2011, 05:00 PM

Not strictly a drummer's Christmas carol, but "Carol of the Bells". I like to divide up the melody between limbs, it turns into four over three and (when the "ding... dong .... ding .... dong" part comes in) two. When I teach polyrhythms, I like to use that carol because it's so well known.

larryz · #12 12-12-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryO

Billy Squier christmas song? he probably tore his t-shirt off in the video too I bet...

LOL, man makes ONE mistake....

Actually, I really like Billy. Saw him couple of years ago live with Ringo's All-Starr band and he plays, looks and sounds great. He's aged well. One of my many guilty pleasures from the 80's.

And I can't tell you how interesting I'm finding it that the GUYS are loving on David Cassidy. Who knew??? lol.

Yeah, you're right. Here I am dissing Billy Squire while loving David Cassidy in the same sentence! Ha! No, Billy is definitely an 80s guilty pleasure. Everybody Wants You is pretty cool.

#13 12-12-2011, 07:03 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XiUPx01XQo

this one should work, this be mah fay-vrit!!

#14 12-12-2011, 07:10 PM

'Killing in the Name of' by Rage Against the Machine.

For the uninitiated, it became Christmas No. 1 over here in 2009 as a protest against reality TV show chart toppers.

Devils Haircut · #15 12-12-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediocrefunkybeat

'Killing in the Name of' by Rage Against the Machine.

For the uninitiated, it became Christmas No. 1 over here in 2009 as a protest against reality TV show chart toppers.

Haha, awesome!

I'm not sure if mine counts as a christmas song, but the name suggests that it's at least seasonal... I enjoy playing Chick Corea's "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" around christmas.

Mitchthedrummer · #16 12-12-2011, 10:14 PM

I don't play metal but I love playing the August Burns Red version of Carol of the Bells.

fixxxer · #17 12-12-2011, 10:21 PM

Even though I'm not a jazz drummer, I find myself playing along with the Charlie Brown Christmas every year. Fun brush work!

#18 12-12-2011, 10:31 PM

Father Christmas .... by the Kinks

MaryO · #19 12-12-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhzoso

Father Christmas .... by the Kinks

Nice choice! Love that tune.

con struct · #20 12-13-2011, 01:05 AM

I like this one.

PQleyR · #21 12-13-2011, 01:55 AM

I don't recall ever playing any, but if I did I think it would be this one, which is also my favourite christmas song too. And one of my favourite guitar tones on record!

Don't Let The Bells End

Zickos · #22 12-13-2011, 04:49 AM

Absolutely none. I work in retail and I hear Christmas music for 8 hours a day from before Thanksgiving through Christmas. I HATE CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!

Next time I'll tell you how I really feel.

B-squared · #23 12-13-2011, 07:19 AM

Who does that surf version of "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland"? I love playing surf music: Quick tempos, sixteenth note fills, and Stratocasters with whammy bars. A good guitar player friend of mine used to bend the neck to get that sound.

ineedaclutch · #24 12-13-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-squared

A good guitar player friend of mine used to bend the neck to get that sound.

I call this the redneck whammy bar. And I love it. Great for acoustics too.

caddywumpus · #25 12-13-2011, 06:53 PM

Drums: The Christmas Song (chestnuts roasting on an open fire...)
Guitar: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Marimba: Silent Night
Singing in a vocal quartet: Most Wonderful Time of the Year
In an orchestra: Sleigh Ride (whip cracks and xylo licks!)

#26 12-15-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PQleyR

I don't recall ever playing any, but if I did I think it would be this one, which is also my favourite christmas song too. And one of my favourite guitar tones on record!

Don't Let The Bells End

I'd completely forgotten about this song and The Darkness.

I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. On balance it probably is even though parts of the guitar on this sound Smiths-esque and therefore acceptable. Very small parts, mind.

GRUNTERSDAD · #27 12-15-2011, 02:01 PM

Grandma got run over by a reindeer. Catchy little tune.

tard · #28 12-15-2011, 04:04 PM

AC/DC, mistress for christmas...lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmEod...8l0.4.3.6l13l0

Zickos · #29 12-15-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

Grandma got run over by a reindeer. Catchy little tune.

ARRG!!!!!!!! I read that and now it will be stuck in my head all day. ARRG!!!!!!

Drumolator · #30 12-18-2011, 08:36 PM

We played my favorite Chirstmas song to play at church this morning: "O Holy Night." My favorite Christmas song to hear is just about anything from Trans Siberian Orchestra. Peace and goodwill.

8Mile · #31 12-18-2011, 09:58 PM

That Billy Squier Christmas song is one of my favorites. It's a good tune! 30 years old now... wow. http://youtu.be/xG9QyKxYUxw

My favorite to play would be God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. I like this version the best: http://youtu.be/HGVNzgUxE-g

Tharris526 · #32 12-20-2011, 08:52 AM

Please come home for Christmas, by the Eagles. Not so much for the drums, but just my favorite Christmas song....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeShHAZk3to

Nuka · #33 12-20-2011, 07:41 PM

Although I don't play it: Slade's Merry Christmas.

Mainly because in the video watch the drummer: about half way through someone talks to him and tells him to play off time to the backing track, and so he does. Brilliant! lol

shadowtick · #34 12-21-2011, 04:20 AM

This http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTGlUMvbhSw