I remember first hearing this song at Christmas in 1998, when I worked for Banana Republic, as it was on our Muzak tape. This was probably the only Christmas song we had to play during my years in retail that I actually liked, and it wasn't until just this moment that I finally discovered who recorded it!
I completely forgot about this song 'til I heard it at work today and it was re-done by some shit contemorary musician. I had to come home and find it and listen to this original that rocks by XTC - thanks-I haven't heard this since the 80's.
I think the Bangles may have borrowed a little from this intro for the intro/ main hook in Manic Monday. It sounds like they moved a few notes around and baroqued it up a bit.
WONDERFUL song! Heard it for the first time just a few days ago...the shifting chords and the C-Sharp minor effects give me goosebumps...sure it's a simple song, but you can say that about hundreds of unforgettable tracks of the rock and roll era.
Wow, glad I finally found this song after hearing it every Christmas in stores for nearly 5 years now. I would hear this at every retail place I've worked right around the holidays and never finding out what the song was. I heard it again this year and got the song title and it led me here finally.
Dear God... I don't believe in you. Listen to the words of THAT song they wrote, then listen to this one. Just another example of angry atheist inconsistency...
spirituality is a complex and soul wrenching thing, at BEST.
may i suggest that we only concentrate on the positive? if our diety is all knowing, then everones' honest search and journey is valid.
The goodnees i feel from this sing is incredible- despite Andy's question of a Santa like god granting favors hither and to- he embraces the love of a festival of love regardless of the reason.
@jssmrk - Andy has said he love Xmas songs and that's why he did this. The original idea was to actually have women in the Virgin Records offices sing the song and release it under "The Virgin Marys" but Virgin wouldn't let them do that. While he means the loving/caring parts of the song, it's still intended to be a mockery. The actual production credits say, "Produced by The Three Wise Men and The Good Lord."
@jssmrk There is nothing in consistent with loving what is good in this world and despising what is evil without having to pretend it is a gift from an imaginary friend. The inconsistency in religion comes in several forms. First is having to prentend that the evil and tragedy in this life is all part of God's plan while trying to struggle to avoid it. Another is coopting a pagan astronomical holiday as your own even against the Bible. Jeremiah 10: 2-5
@michalchik Ha I agree with all of your comments here. ;) Fellow atheist here. :D Enjoying this nice secular Christmas song because I just rewatched the season 1 Gilmore Girls episode that included this song. ;)
@32INCHSTRIPER Religion or specifically organised religion has messed up spectacularly, and this is from somebody who is a believer in a God/Creator. Let's all be happy and celebrate and make it our New Year's Resolution to work for peace in the world between all peoples. Sod the politicians and warmongerers, 2012 is OUR year and we will make Planet Earth a better place by putting aside differences and grudges - who will drink to that?
I sang this song when I was in 5° grade. My profesor made me the lead singer. I'll never forget it. Thanks for posting it, I had been looking for this for years - you can't get it easily and almost nobody knows it
When it came out, it was on a lot of college and other alternative stations. It was also on one of the early alternative Xmas compilation CDs (JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH-NEW WAVE CHRISTMAS).
There are two XTC Christmas songs, this and "Countdown to Christmas Party Time." The band released this song under the name "The Three Wise Men." If I remember correctly, they recruited some of Virgin's office staff for background vocals. You can pick up both tracks on the CD Rag and Bone Buffet.
The story is that Andy Partridge wrote the song and originally wanted some of the women at Virgin to sing the vocals and release it as by The Virgin Marys...but it was decided that might be too inappropriate/offensive. Writing credits are "Casper/Melchior/Balthazar" and production credits are "The Three Wise Men and The Good Lord," by the way. :-)
I worked in a Bath and Body Works store last Christmas and this was one of the most overplayed songs I heard--but it's still good. Yeah I wish they would play this instead of some of the terrible Christmas remixes.
Merry Christmas from Newfoundland
WhatsworsethanVEVO 2 months ago
I remember first hearing this song at Christmas in 1998, when I worked for Banana Republic, as it was on our Muzak tape. This was probably the only Christmas song we had to play during my years in retail that I actually liked, and it wasn't until just this moment that I finally discovered who recorded it!
Selectrolux 2 months ago
Merry Christmas from California :)
missalice0306 2 months ago
yeah thats why I was looking for it because I work in retail and I love this song!!! ive been looking for it since last year
Lilivalery86 2 months ago
I think many of us working in retail, perhaps have heard this song; then we're like: 'who is this?'. And I'm shocked, but pleasantly surprised.
As we're bombarded by hundreds of songs, this one and a select few catch my ear.
EasilyWowed 2 months ago
@EasilyWowed thats why i was looking for it :)
Lilivalery86 2 months ago
I completely forgot about this song 'til I heard it at work today and it was re-done by some shit contemorary musician. I had to come home and find it and listen to this original that rocks by XTC - thanks-I haven't heard this since the 80's.
pucksterz12 2 months ago
I think the Bangles may have borrowed a little from this intro for the intro/ main hook in Manic Monday. It sounds like they moved a few notes around and baroqued it up a bit.
tibet220 2 months ago
@tibet220 Maybe Prince, who wrote Manic Monday under his Christopher alias, had a copy of this???
MsBkirk 2 months ago
Once again never to disappoint us Its,XTC rising to the occasion.Be still my soul right.What next?
kellielovesroger 7 months ago
Got the 7" when first released & a lot of people thought it was Phil Collins !!!! Strange.
xtstevie 11 months ago
@xtstevie By the way, this song was included in the Turn It On Again forum's thread on non-crap Christmas sings!
MsBkirk 2 months ago
One of my favorite holiday songs! Awesome
ColorsBright 1 year ago
Good cover version by Darlene Love on her Christmas CD
dandydonaldo 1 year ago
Reminds me of Gilmore Girls! :D
Pippppaxx 1 year ago 5
WONDERFUL song! Heard it for the first time just a few days ago...the shifting chords and the C-Sharp minor effects give me goosebumps...sure it's a simple song, but you can say that about hundreds of unforgettable tracks of the rock and roll era.
joseph60us 1 year ago
Wow, glad I finally found this song after hearing it every Christmas in stores for nearly 5 years now. I would hear this at every retail place I've worked right around the holidays and never finding out what the song was. I heard it again this year and got the song title and it led me here finally.
alucard624 1 year ago
I love this song... ☺
DaBomb2244 1 year ago
best xmas song that has gone largely un noticed over the years.
classie60 1 year ago
XTC are the second most underrated band in existence. this has been proved by physics.
(wire are the first-most) Andy Partridge is John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George and Ringo, and 2 othe pop stars all rolled into one.
he turns music into a physical entity!!!
xyaqua 2 years ago
Dear God... I don't believe in you. Listen to the words of THAT song they wrote, then listen to this one. Just another example of angry atheist inconsistency...
jssmrk 2 years ago
Angry? yes.
inconsistant? no.
spirituality is a complex and soul wrenching thing, at BEST.
may i suggest that we only concentrate on the positive? if our diety is all knowing, then everones' honest search and journey is valid.
The goodnees i feel from this sing is incredible- despite Andy's question of a Santa like god granting favors hither and to- he embraces the love of a festival of love regardless of the reason.
I'll believe in Andy Partridge. He embodies love.
xyaqua 2 years ago
@jssmrk - Andy has said he love Xmas songs and that's why he did this. The original idea was to actually have women in the Virgin Records offices sing the song and release it under "The Virgin Marys" but Virgin wouldn't let them do that. While he means the loving/caring parts of the song, it's still intended to be a mockery. The actual production credits say, "Produced by The Three Wise Men and The Good Lord."
xnonsuchx 1 year ago
@jssmrk There is nothing in consistent with loving what is good in this world and despising what is evil without having to pretend it is a gift from an imaginary friend. The inconsistency in religion comes in several forms. First is having to prentend that the evil and tragedy in this life is all part of God's plan while trying to struggle to avoid it. Another is coopting a pagan astronomical holiday as your own even against the Bible. Jeremiah 10: 2-5
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik Ha I agree with all of your comments here. ;) Fellow atheist here. :D Enjoying this nice secular Christmas song because I just rewatched the season 1 Gilmore Girls episode that included this song. ;)
luvtheheaven5 3 months ago
@jssmrk
Christmas is about giving and happiness...Religion kills people...
32INCHSTRIPER 3 months ago
@32INCHSTRIPER Religion or specifically organised religion has messed up spectacularly, and this is from somebody who is a believer in a God/Creator. Let's all be happy and celebrate and make it our New Year's Resolution to work for peace in the world between all peoples. Sod the politicians and warmongerers, 2012 is OUR year and we will make Planet Earth a better place by putting aside differences and grudges - who will drink to that?
GloucesterAdam 3 months ago
I sang this song when I was in 5° grade. My profesor made me the lead singer. I'll never forget it. Thanks for posting it, I had been looking for this for years - you can't get it easily and almost nobody knows it
natttyV 2 years ago
Trust XTC to write THE BEST Christmas song that no one's ever heard of. Oh well.
Happy Christmas everyone :-)
TheMightyHartley 2 years ago 21
When it came out, it was on a lot of college and other alternative stations. It was also on one of the early alternative Xmas compilation CDs (JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH-NEW WAVE CHRISTMAS).
xnonsuchx 2 years ago
Just went to do the weekly shop in Morrisons and this was playing on the radio when I walked in.
Day = made.
vincentw00t 2 years ago
Please Lord, don't let the malls turn this into a Paul McCartney overplay.
SnoopySmurf 2 years ago
There are two XTC Christmas songs, this and "Countdown to Christmas Party Time." The band released this song under the name "The Three Wise Men." If I remember correctly, they recruited some of Virgin's office staff for background vocals. You can pick up both tracks on the CD Rag and Bone Buffet.
RSSMusicVideos 2 years ago
The story is that Andy Partridge wrote the song and originally wanted some of the women at Virgin to sing the vocals and release it as by The Virgin Marys...but it was decided that might be too inappropriate/offensive. Writing credits are "Casper/Melchior/Balthazar" and production credits are "The Three Wise Men and The Good Lord," by the way. :-)
xnonsuchx 2 years ago
Kaspar...was thinking the ghost! ;-)
xnonsuchx 2 years ago
XTC is an awesome band, leave it to them to do a Christmas song that does not make you gag.
xyaqua 2 years ago 22
@xyaqua one of the good crimbo songs your right
toptoon4ever 1 year ago
its a cool song. it is in gilmore girls season 1...
lotchken 2 years ago
I JUST watched it, the episode 10, and had to find out what the song in the end was
Ellalla 2 years ago
I worked in a Bath and Body Works store last Christmas and this was one of the most overplayed songs I heard--but it's still good. Yeah I wish they would play this instead of some of the terrible Christmas remixes.
brini0219 3 years ago 2
Did they have muzak's FM1 service? They play this song alot during this time of year.
PinePowerLI 3 years ago