Perhaps more than any other holiday, music goes hand in hand with Christmas. Carols, kitschy pop tunes and sacred songs all find a place by the yuletide fire.
With that in mind, we asked a few members of the local music scene to award their Tinsel Trophies in three categories of Christmas tunes.
First, we asked for a favorite from the magical years of childhood.
Second, we asked them for their favorite song of today.
Last but not least, we asked them for a song that sets their teeth on edge, one they wish they could bury deep on Santa's Naughty List.
Participants included Thomas Root and Michael Palumbo, both music professors at Weber State University. Singers Kristi DeVries and Korene Greenwood also weigh in, as does singer/songwriter Danielle Vaughn. BJ Parker, manager of Brewskis nightclub and a member of the band AK Charlie, and Derek Keith, musician and owner/operator of Ogden's DK Recording Studios, also offered their favorites and cringe-worthy picks.
A child's view
Thomas Root -- Root's childhood favorite is not even a traditional holiday tune --Gene Autry's "Back in the Saddle."
"I can't recall why I associate it with Christmas, except that I was into cowboys and Indians in a big way, and along with all my cowboy Christmas requests, that one fell right in line."
Danielle Vaughn -- Vaughn remembers with love the same cowboy, Gene Autry, and his composition "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
"I love the song, but I really love the whole record. I love it for its old-fashioned, vintage sound, from the instrumentation to Gene's honest vocals. He's a great storyteller with his singing. As a child, I really enjoyed listening to him introduce each song, then sing it with his distinct enthusiasm. I found a replica of the record in CD form, and now play it for my kids."
Michael Palumbo -- Palumbo picks the 1962 release by Bing Crosby, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" "I believe his was the first solo rendition shortly after The Harry Simeone Chorale recorded it."
BJ Parker -- Parker picked "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley. "It reminds me of being little and listening to records during the holidays with my Grandma Obin."
Kristi DeVries -- DeVries has fond memories of her mom singing Christmas carols. "I loved all of them then. My mom was a singer and played piano. That is how I learned to sing harmonies, is my mom and I would sing all those lovely Christmas songs."
Korene Greenwood -- When she was a toothless tyke, Greenwood had a song she could relate to -- "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."
"My mom taught it to me. It was especially fun when I didn't have teeth in the front, and I would sing it with that little lisp. It was perfect."
Derek Keith -- Keith's boyhood pick is from the album "A Christmas Together," with John Denver and the Muppets.
"I thought he (Denver) looked like one of them and made a solid addition to the Muppet crew. My favorite song on the record was called 'Little Saint Nick' because Animal had these little parts at the end of the 'run, run reindeer' bridge and he would scream, 'Run! Run! Run! -- YEAH!' I am laughing just thinking about it."
Perennial faves
Thomas Root -- Root picks "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," written by Mel Tormé and Bob Wills, first recorded by crooner Nat "King" Cole in 1946.
"It's harmonically so interesting, from a music theory standpoint -- great analyzing for my classes!"
Danielle Vaughn -- Vaughn loves the style found in Ella Fitzgerald's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
"I find this upbeat version from the mid-'40s to be a great tune for helping me feel that endless sense of Christmas cheer, festive goodwill, and the happiest of tidings. It's perfect and lively for holiday parties, too -- pure classic. I love to sing right along with her and perform the tune in her style whenever given the chance."
Michael Palumbo -- He stays with "Do You Hear What I Hear?" "I like it because it's very classical, has a message that never gets syrupy -- and it remains timely."
BJ Parker -- Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" remains Parker's top holiday hit to this day for a very simple reason. "(It's) by the best singer of all time."
Kristi DeVries -- DeVries picks out "O Holy Night" as a lifelong favorite.
"It's really beautiful. And I have had the privilege in recent years to go to rest homes and sing at Christmas. Seeing how that will resonate with these people, and seeing how it brings back the fond memories of their past, is the gift right there."
Korene Greenwood -- Greenwood's hands-down favorite is "If We Make It Through December" by Merle Haggard.
"It is a timeless song. It is about a daddy and his little girl, and how can he possibly provide a Christmas this year, and whether she will understand if he can't bring that to the table.
"And the chord progression -- I like that. It goes through a minor chord there that is just touching. The message is not happy, but it is moving and very, very appropriate for this hard year."
Derek Keith -- Keith reaches back to his childhood years in Detroit for his favorite, "I Want to Come Home for Christmas" by Marvin Gaye from the album "A Motown Christmas."
"In this time of senseless war, this song is a reminder to me that our past has not altered our present. There are soldiers out there fighting to protect our freedoms every day, and they will probably fight on Christmas Day when they should be home safe with their families. Marvin Gaye's voice carries that message to my soul."
Lumps of coal
Thomas Root -- Root could definitely do without "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" -- and anything else by Alvin and the Chipmunks, for that matter.
"(It) has always has been the most annoying music I've ever heard. Still sort of wonder how they did the voices back then, though. Would have liked to have been in the studio --no electronic enhancement to speak of then, just the speed of the tape, I guess."
Danielle Vaughn -- If Vaughn has to pick the worst of the many holiday tunes that make her recoil, she's going with Paul McCartney's "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time."
"It's got to go! The synthesizer riff is beyond cheesy ... and the words are cliché. Gag me with a spoon every time it comes on the radio. I don't even know what kind of mood the song is going for. It just makes me cringe, and then gets stuck in my brain. Yikes!"
Michael Palumbo -- Palumbo's answer is succinct and encompassing: SDLqThere are so many bad songs about Christmas that I can't even begin to name them."
BJ Parker -- Parker has the opposite reaction to holiday tunes than does Palumbo.
"I honestly can't say I have a least favorite Christmas song. I'm a sucker for them all -- give me some Wham any day!"
Kristi DeVries -- Because of the commercialism associated with holiday tunes, there are not many holiday tunes DeVries enjoys nowadays.
"I mean, you walk into the stores way before Thanksgiving, and they're playing Christmas songs! Give me a break. It kind of ruins everything. I guess if If I had to pick one, it would be 'Here Comes Santa Claus.' It just drives me nuts on so many levels."
Korene Greenwood -- Greenwood didn't have to think long to pick the one that irks her -- Kenny G doing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
"I absolutely hate that song, but it's really more about Kenny G in general. I mean, he's very, very talented, but he hits me wrong."
Derek Keith -- Keith also weighs in on The Chipmunks as a whole with vehement disfavor -- but their take on "Frosty the Snowman" frosts him the most.
"That song literally makes my ears bleed, and my skin crawl. My kids will play that CD relentlessly. They love to sing it directly into my ears, as loud as they can, so that they can witness the look of complete and utter misery on my sad Christmas face."
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