Many Christmas carols and songs have run through our heads and our memories for many, many years. Have you ever wondered which songs were just plain terrible? Look no more, for this list contains the 10 worst Christmas songs of all-time!
1. Dominick the Donkey
What role would a donkey ever have in saving Christmas? If you're a donkey named Dominick that lives in Italy, you would serve an important role. With gifts made in Brooklyn, Santa Claus is unable to have his reindeer climb the high, steep hills of Italy and enlists the help of Dominick in order for all of the Italian children to have a wonderful Christmas. The song was originally recorded by Italian American singer Lou Monte in 1960 and song missed the Billboard Hot 100 charts, peaking at #114.
2. Santa Baby
Originally released in 1953, "Santa Baby" is a tongue-in-cheek song about a woman wanting luxurious gifts such as a yacht and jewelry from Tiffany's for Christmas from Santa Claus. Addressing Mr. Claus as "Santa Baby" is pretty creepy and should make a reasonable person slightly uncomfortable. Eartha Kitt (best known to most of us as the voice of Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove) sang the original version and her voice alone demonstrates perfectly the spirit of this novelty song.
3. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Looking at the title alone should leave you pretty creeped out about this song. Mommy must have received a mighty generous gift from Santa this Christmas in order for her to give good ole' Saint Nick a little smooch. Oh, what a laugh it would have been if Daddy saw it? Not if there's a baseball bat involved. To give this song the extra creeps, listen to the Jackson 5 version.
4. Wonderful Christmastime
Written and performed by Paul McCartney, "Wonderful Christmastime" has McCartney performing vocals and all instruments. The lyrics serve are simple and explain the spirit of Christmas. The only problem with this song is that it is smothered in synthesizers and is considered by music critics one of McCartney's poorest compositions. Even McCartney thinks so despite receiving around $400,000 in royalties each year for the song.
5. Frosty the Snowman
Most would consider this blasphemy for including "Frosty the Snowman" on this list and I understand. Listen to the lyrics carefully, however. Not once is Christmas mentioned. This is a winter song at best. As a winter song, it's definitely a gem and even served as inspiration for the classic 1969 Rankin/Bass Productions animated television special of the same name. Jimmy Durante's version of the song is perhaps the most popular for "Frosty the Snowman" and is the version heard in the animated special.
6. The Holly and the Ivy
British folk Christmas carols are usually good. "The Holly and the Ivy" is not good. The unusual lyrical transitions from the features of a holly and an ivy to the birth of Jesus Christ and the repetitive nature of the music makes this carol pretty unbearable for listening. Try listening to "Good King Wenceslas" instead.
7. Last Christmas
The British music duo of Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael (not the George Michael from Arrested Development), better known as Wham!, released 1980s classics such as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Careless Whisper," but the duo's 1984 single "Last Christmas" did not chart in the U.S. and was a major hit in the U.K. The song is infectiously catchy, but the song's length at almost 7 minutes and the numerous repeats of "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart..." could get annoying. And the tune serves more as an "unrequited love" song rather than a Christmas song.
8. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Why would a kid ever want a hippopotamus as a Christmas gift? More so, it's the only gift the kid wants! As another Christmas novelty song released in 1953, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is sung by then 10 year old Gayla Peevey, whose voice, even for a 10 year old, is incredibly annoying. I'd rather listen to Russell Crowe's singing in Les Miserables.
9. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Written by composer Albert Hague for the 1966 animated television special based on Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a classis, nostalgic Christmas tune, but isn't the most brilliantly composed ditty. The lyrics are so strange ("You're a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce!") that it very well could have come from a Dr. Seuss book. The fun fact about this song is that it was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft, who was best known as the long-time voice of Tony the Tiger.
10. My Favorite Things
First of all, I'm not knocking this song solely for its composition. Regarding a Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein II song as terrible would be blasphemy. I'm more knocking "My Favorite Things" for being interpreted as a Christmas song. The song originated from the 1959 musical The Sound of Music, so why is it supposed to be a Christmas song? Maybe raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, brown paper packages tied up with string, etc. are supposed to be gifts, which serves as part of the commercialization of the holiday. Great song, just incorrect interpretation.
