Australian Jingle Bells
Dec 3rd 2006, 9:22 am
#16
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Posts: 9,316
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
Pity those of us still living here! 
I don't know what the problem is with this country, but it seems that somewhere around the end of October every year, the entire nation is under some sort of cultural obligation to dust off a certain CD (which I can only assume is entitled The UK's Naffest Christmas Tunes) and stick it on "repeat" for the next two months.
You simply cannot escape the bloody thing; it is played in every public place, every shop, every restaurant (last night we heard it in a Chinese restaurant, of all places!), every supermarket, etc. NON STOP.
It comprises a bizarre assortment of tired old clapped-out 80s tunes that we'd all tried to hard to forget. (The only exception being Feed the World, which does not deserve to be lumped in with such poor company).
Incredibly, none of these tunes are proper Christmas carols; they're merely secular "seasonal songs" which talk about Christmas in a vague sort of way instead of celebrating the message behind the event.
But what really sticks in my craw is the fact that this CD suddenly becomes the nation's voice throughout the entire Christmas period. What's the deal there? Whatever happened to individuality, initiative, variety and imagination? Whatever happened to traditional Christmas carols? Whatever happened to someone saying "Hey, isn't it time that thing went out in the wheely bin? Let's try a new set of tunes this year!"
It's one thing to celebrate a genuine tradition; it's quite another to demonstrate one's slavish adherence to the musical equivalent of second-hand tat.
I don't know what the problem is with this country, but it seems that somewhere around the end of October every year, the entire nation is under some sort of cultural obligation to dust off a certain CD (which I can only assume is entitled The UK's Naffest Christmas Tunes) and stick it on "repeat" for the next two months.
You simply cannot escape the bloody thing; it is played in every public place, every shop, every restaurant (last night we heard it in a Chinese restaurant, of all places!), every supermarket, etc. NON STOP.
It comprises a bizarre assortment of tired old clapped-out 80s tunes that we'd all tried to hard to forget. (The only exception being Feed the World, which does not deserve to be lumped in with such poor company).
Incredibly, none of these tunes are proper Christmas carols; they're merely secular "seasonal songs" which talk about Christmas in a vague sort of way instead of celebrating the message behind the event.
But what really sticks in my craw is the fact that this CD suddenly becomes the nation's voice throughout the entire Christmas period. What's the deal there? Whatever happened to individuality, initiative, variety and imagination? Whatever happened to traditional Christmas carols? Whatever happened to someone saying "Hey, isn't it time that thing went out in the wheely bin? Let's try a new set of tunes this year!"
It's one thing to celebrate a genuine tradition; it's quite another to demonstrate one's slavish adherence to the musical equivalent of second-hand tat.
1. John & Yoko And The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
2. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
3. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
4. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
5. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
6. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time
7. Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
8. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling
9. Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo
10. The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
11. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
12. The Jackson 5 - Frosty The Snowman
13. Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me
14. Samantha Mumba - All I Want For Christmas
15. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
16. Robbie Williams - Walk This Sleigh
17. Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry
18. Ronan Keating feat. Maire Brennan - Fairy Tale Of New York
19. Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews - Baby, It's Cold Outside
20. Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby
21. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love
Disc: 2
1. Cliff Richard - Mistletoe And Wine
2. Aled Jones - Walking In The Air
3. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
4. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
5. Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
6. Mud - Lonely This Christmas
7. Matt Monro - Mary's Boy Child
8. Peggy Lee - Winter Wonderland
9. Adam Faith - Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop)
10. The Supremes - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
11. Ella Fitzgerald - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
12. The King Singers - While Shepherds Watched
13. Stacie Orrico - O Come All Ye Faithful
14. The Weavers - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
15. The Spinners - Twelve Days Of Christmas
16. Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells
17. Steeleye Span - Gaudete
18. Bert Jansch - In The Bleak Mid Winter
19. Sinéad O'Connor - Silent Night Holy Night
20. Norah Jones - Peace
21. Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World
22. Bing Crosby/David Bowie - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy
23. Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer
Disk 1 - Track 15. Wouldn't be Christmas without it
Dec 3rd 2006, 9:27 am
#17
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Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
Disc: 1
1. John & Yoko And The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
2. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
3. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
4. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
5. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
6. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time
7. Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
8. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling
9. Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo
10. The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
11. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
12. The Jackson 5 - Frosty The Snowman
13. Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me
14. Samantha Mumba - All I Want For Christmas
15. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
16. Robbie Williams - Walk This Sleigh
17. Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry
18. Ronan Keating feat. Maire Brennan - Fairy Tale Of New York
19. Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews - Baby, It's Cold Outside
20. Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby
21. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love
Disc: 2
1. Cliff Richard - Mistletoe And Wine
2. Aled Jones - Walking In The Air
3. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
4. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
5. Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
6. Mud - Lonely This Christmas
7. Matt Monro - Mary's Boy Child
8. Peggy Lee - Winter Wonderland
9. Adam Faith - Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop)
10. The Supremes - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
11. Ella Fitzgerald - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
12. The King Singers - While Shepherds Watched
13. Stacie Orrico - O Come All Ye Faithful
14. The Weavers - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
15. The Spinners - Twelve Days Of Christmas
16. Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells
17. Steeleye Span - Gaudete
18. Bert Jansch - In The Bleak Mid Winter
19. Sinéad O'Connor - Silent Night Holy Night
20. Norah Jones - Peace
21. Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World
22. Bing Crosby/David Bowie - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy
23. Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer
Disk 1 - Track 15. Wouldn't be Christmas without it
1. John & Yoko And The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
2. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
3. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
4. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
5. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
6. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time
7. Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
8. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling
9. Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo
10. The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
11. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
12. The Jackson 5 - Frosty The Snowman
13. Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me
14. Samantha Mumba - All I Want For Christmas
15. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
16. Robbie Williams - Walk This Sleigh
17. Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry
18. Ronan Keating feat. Maire Brennan - Fairy Tale Of New York
19. Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews - Baby, It's Cold Outside
20. Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby
21. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love
Disc: 2
1. Cliff Richard - Mistletoe And Wine
2. Aled Jones - Walking In The Air
3. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
4. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
5. Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
6. Mud - Lonely This Christmas
7. Matt Monro - Mary's Boy Child
8. Peggy Lee - Winter Wonderland
9. Adam Faith - Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop)
10. The Supremes - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
11. Ella Fitzgerald - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
12. The King Singers - While Shepherds Watched
13. Stacie Orrico - O Come All Ye Faithful
14. The Weavers - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
15. The Spinners - Twelve Days Of Christmas
16. Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells
17. Steeleye Span - Gaudete
18. Bert Jansch - In The Bleak Mid Winter
19. Sinéad O'Connor - Silent Night Holy Night
20. Norah Jones - Peace
21. Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World
22. Bing Crosby/David Bowie - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy
23. Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer
Disk 1 - Track 15. Wouldn't be Christmas without it
So why is the 2nd disc so rarely played (or is it just me)? I heard Gaudete at the Chinese restaurant the other night, but there was nary a Christmas carol to be seen!
Adding them all up, it seems that there's only 6 genuine carols in the whole bunch. What a gyp.
Dec 3rd 2006, 10:01 am
#18
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Posts: 9,316
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
Oooh, I'd forgotten Gaudete! Good old Steeleye; one of my favourite bands, even today!
So why is the 2nd disc so rarely played (or is it just me)? I heard Gaudete at the Chinese restaurant the other night, but there was nary a Christmas carol to be seen!
Adding them all up, it seems that there's only 6 genuine carols in the whole bunch. What a gyp.
So why is the 2nd disc so rarely played (or is it just me)? I heard Gaudete at the Chinese restaurant the other night, but there was nary a Christmas carol to be seen!
Adding them all up, it seems that there's only 6 genuine carols in the whole bunch. What a gyp.
Naturally you lack the affection of growing up with them and obviously they have to be schmaltzy to appeal to the mass market required to get them to number 1. I'm not sure why they put Slade and Wizard so close on the album as these are the keynote Christmas songs at any Christmas disco.
Dec 3rd 2006, 10:04 am
#19
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
...So why is the 2nd disc so rarely played (or is it just me)? ...
Dec 3rd 2006, 10:18 am
#20
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 10,158
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
With 2 doses of Cliff, which one would you play?
This is so true... what a terrible song to open a CD with!
And equally, to end it.
Dec 3rd 2006, 12:19 pm
#21
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
With 2 doses of Cliff, which one would you play?
Dec 3rd 2006, 1:15 pm
#22
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Joined: Sep 2006
Location: 'stralia
Posts: 2,383
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by wongstonn
...as performed at my daughter's kinder Christmas Concert. Sing to the tune of Jingle Bells.
Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
With an esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
And we're singing Christmas songs
It's summer time and I'm in my
Singlet, shorts and thongs
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day...hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Xmas time is beaut
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute
Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
With an esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
And we're singing Christmas songs
It's summer time and I'm in my
Singlet, shorts and thongs
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summer's day...hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Xmas time is beaut
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute
This is fantastic!!
I have wondered what carols there are in Australia - would seem a tad bizarre to be singing about a snowy midwinters night, robins, snowmen etc! Do they make sandmen?! It has also occured to me that parents of little children would have to learn all new words to childrens songs & rhymes - must be hard work! Are there classes in 'How to not embarrass your child by teaching them the wrong words'?!
Dec 3rd 2006, 2:42 pm
#23
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Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by esperanza
This is fantastic!! I have wondered what carols there are in Australia - would seem a tad bizarre to be singing about a snowy midwinters night, robins, snowmen etc! Do they make sandmen?!
I have wondered what carols there are in Australia - would seem a tad bizarre to be singing about a snowy midwinters night, robins, snowmen etc! Do they make sandmen?!
It has also occured to me that parents of little children would have to learn all new words to childrens songs & rhymes - must be hard work!
There are some different children's songs and rhymes, but all the traditional ones are sung in exactly the same way as they are in the UK.
Dec 3rd 2006, 7:20 pm
#24
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
This is one I didn't come across in the UK (although I may have had a sheltered life).
Galumph went the little green frog one day.
Galumph went the little green frog.
Galumph went the little green frog one day
and his eyes went glumph glumph glumph
(open and shut fingers on each galumph and glumph))
But we all know frogs go (clap) la di da di da (wave hands side to side while doing the la di da di da)
(clap)La di da di da(wave hands), (clap)la did da di da (wave hands)
We all know frogs go (clap)la di da di da (wave hands).
They don't go glumph glumph glumph.
Galumph went the little green frog one day.
Galumph went the little green frog.
Galumph went the little green frog one day
and his eyes went glumph glumph glumph
(open and shut fingers on each galumph and glumph))
But we all know frogs go (clap) la di da di da (wave hands side to side while doing the la di da di da)
(clap)La di da di da(wave hands), (clap)la did da di da (wave hands)
We all know frogs go (clap)la di da di da (wave hands).
They don't go glumph glumph glumph.
Last edited by MartinLuther; Dec 3rd 2006 at 9:08 pm.
Dec 3rd 2006, 9:27 pm
#25
Trainee Domestic Goddess
Joined: May 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 138
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
[QUOTE=MartinLuther]This is one I didn't come across in the UK (although I may have had a sheltered life).
Perhaps, it's a regular feature on Tikkabilla on CBeebies.
Perhaps, it's a regular feature on Tikkabilla on CBeebies.
Dec 3rd 2006, 10:12 pm
#26
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Originally Posted by baglady
Perhaps, it's a regular feature on Tikkabilla on CBeebies.
Dec 4th 2006, 3:06 am
#27
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Chippendale, Sydney
Posts: 8,735
Re: Australian Jingle Bells
Talking of christmas songs, we've been listening to this at work. Pure genius...
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