Christmas songs - Wham! Last Christmas

We come to simply one of my favourite songs ever. The innocence! Look at that cover. Hearing this always transports me back to 1984 and it was a very good year so I am happy to take the journey.

This is one of the most brilliant Christmas songs and it has it all: cheesy lyrics, almost breathy singing from George, one of the best videos ever made by any band ever. I know it has its haters (yes, my sister loathes this) but I cannot understand how anyone could not love this. It was kept off the number one spot by Band Aid and Wham donated all profits to charity. They are such heroes.

To the video. The enthusiastic waving when they arrive! The jumping around in the snow! The decorating of the tree! George looking moody in that ridiculous furry hood! Andrew's truly terrible white outfit! I love every single frame of it. I know every single frame of it.

Yet again we are indebted to the genius of George Michael.

Christmas songs - Karen Carpenter, I'll Be Home For Christmas

This is a song to glide around your kitchen to while wearing a long silk dressing gown and fluffy mules and clutching a snowball (the drink, not actual snow).

I've always loved this, it's sublime. And my go-to version was Barbra Streisand's obviously. No explanation necessary. However, I came across this gem from the much-missed Karen Carpenter. Nobody had a voice quite like Karen. I've just discovered The Carpenters did a Christmas album. Unrelenting joy!

Christmas films - Elf

I came late to Elf, I only watched it last Christmas but I blame everyone I know for not telling me how fabulous it is. If you've not seen this, then please do. Assuming you like Will Ferrell because if you don't then you're in trouble since he is in almost every scene if I recall.

I love Will Ferrell, just looking at his face makes me laugh. I do have a fairly infantile sense of humour and this story of an overgrown elf who ends up in Manhattan tickles my funny bone. My favourite line in the whole film is when he hears that Santa is coming to town.

I just laughed out loud watching it again. 

Before you scoff and claim to be too intellectual for such nonsense, let me tell you that the script is very witty, it has James Caan in it and Bob Newhart. Legend. If you are a Zooey fan, she's in it too and she isn't annoying.

So watch out for Elf this Christmas, it will be on at some point and you can thank me later.

Christmas songs - Wayne Newton, Jingle Bell Rock

Someone else who I had no idea about. Wayne Newton looks like a young Liberace doesn't he?  Ahhh, I love this song, it's so swinging. It's a proper earworm though so be warned before you click on the video. This song always makes me think of Mean Girls and that's no bad thing.

It's a classic for a cocktail party and I am delighted to see it forms a compilation of Christmas Cocktails. I am off to see what else is on that.

Christmas songs - Perry Como, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I never knew what Perry Como looked like until just now. A bit like a young George W Bush, no? Let's not be put off, I love this little ditty. As you will see, I love old school Christmas songs, you won't find any Mariah Carey here.

I was out Christmas shopping yesterday admiring the London lights and this song popped into my head as it is indeed, beginning to look a lot like Christmas out there.

Perry sings this with the Fontaine Sisters but I couldn't fit that in the title.  Let's skip along.

Christmas songs - Dean Martin, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

The chirpiest Christmas song ever. How could you be in a bad mood listening to this? In the course of looking for the right picture to go with this post, I discovered that Deano died on Christmas Day. How apt.

This is a song to jig around your kitchen to while you whip up a hot chocolate and watch snowflakes fall. It's also featured so beautifully in Die Hard which makes it the perfect song. Let it roll.

Christmas songs - Ray Charles, Winter Wonderland

Hooray! It's December and I can start my series on favourite Christmas songs. Nothing makes me happier than listening to Christmas songs while looking at a Christmas tree, wrapping presents, making mince pies, opening presents or staring into a crackling fire. Unleash the Christmas magic!

We start with possibly my all-time fave, Winter Wonderland. I pretty much love any cover of this but none are as sublime as Ray Charles. The little bells at the beginning, the way he sounds like he's just got up and knocked it out. That, my friends, is effortless. It's the version used in When Harry Met Sally too so it's all good.

It makes me want to don a cosy hat and walk in Central Park. Any park will do though. We'll frolic and play, the eskimo way...

Wilson Phillips - Hold On

This song has always been one of my guilty pleasures. Even now, several years later, I still can happily listen to it. I am sucker for harmony and this is so 90s and earnest.

Bridesmaids was amusing enough and had its moments but the entire ticket was worth the price alone for the scene with this song. I nearly fell of my chair. My god, Wilson Phillips must have been in heaven with such profile.

I love watching them sing along. Tee hee.

How they've aged - check it out. Ahhhh, such nostalgia, I am loving it.

Coming soon, my Christmas series - films, songs... watch this space. I can't do it before it's December because that would be wrong but I am very excited.

Queen - the 80s

Picking up where I left off, and I realised I missed one more hit from the 70s, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. I wonder if they ever had an off day? It's astounding how many hits they had and how they all still sound so good.

Another one of my all-time favourites, Another One Bites The Dust. This is so catchy and it starts beautifully.

Flash! I have no words. It's a miracle.

Under Pressure. A genuine 80s classic and what a pairing, Queen and Bowie. I am feeling a bit sad now as I can't imagine a greater pairing.

Radio Gaga. Not one of my absolute faves but still a great song and most bands would be happy if this was their finest hour.

I Want To Break Free. One of the finest videos ever made. Roger Taylor's face makes me laugh every time.

One Vision.  I don't know why I like this so much but I do.

A Kind of Magic. Again, not their greatest but Freddie makes it work.

Who Wants To Live Forever. This is very sad but a lovely song.

Finally, I Want It All. Something of a theme for my life I think. "I want it all and I want it now!"

Queen - the 70s

20 years ago this week we lost the great Freddie Mercury. Time for a little retrospective. In my opinion there was no greater lead singer/showman than Freddie, I touched on this in my Live Aid post.

I love Queen but I don't claim to be an anorak fan. I like the obvious songs that everyone loves. I always mean to delve deeper with Queen but somehow never quite get round to it. So with that disclaimer in mind, let's do my favourite Queen songs in memory of Freddie. Starting with the 70s.

Killer Queen. This is simply a fantastic song. I'm here to tell you that it's really hard on Guitar Hero.

Bohemian Rhapsody. Nearly 56 million hits on YouTube, wow. If you don't like this song, there's something wrong with you. It's wonderful.

You're My Best Friend. This song always reminds me of Peter's Friends. A film that I have a soft spot for. I love how Freddie sings this, it's very sweet.

Somebody to Love. A fabulous introduction and a great sing-along song. The genius of Freddie is he makes you think you can sing Queen songs. In reality, very difficult.

We Are The Champions. This song makes me quite emotional, I am not a sports fan at all yet it makes me want to wave a flag and sing along in a crowd.

We Will Rock You. Brian May chose this on Desert Island Discs. Normally if somebody picks their own song, I roll my eyes but kudos to Brian because have you ever heard better guitar than in this - I love how it makes you wait for it. I urge you to listen to Brian's desert island discs, the man is a joy to listen to. Really.

Fat Bottomed Girls. The hits just keep coming, apart from The Beatles, was any other band so prolific?

Don't Stop Me Now. One of my all-time favourite songs. I adore this so much, it's impossible to not sing along and to sit still. The very definition of a feel-good song.

That's my lot for the 70s. RIP Freddie and thank you for being a genius.