Mostly, I f*ckin' hate it. There. I said it.

I'm not a Grinch by any stretch, but I find that when the retail industry starts the wheels of Christmas rolling on November first, I'm quickly tired of the whole thing by December. You walk through the malls and all you hear is Mariah Carey wailing the words to some old Christmas standard that the words sound vaguely familiar to, but you can't really tell what the song is because the crazy girl can't stick to the tune due to her vocal acrobatics. Not to mention the eleventy billion versions of "The Christmas Song" that are really unnecessary.

Personally, if I were in charge, I'd place a ban on all new Christmas recordings for at least a decade. I think we have enough as it is. But that's just me.

Now on the flip side, there is Christmas music that I find tolerable enough to be worthy of my personal collection, and I'm about to list it here.

Album - Various - A Very Special Christmas (1987)

Everyone who lived during the 80's knows this one: The Jimmy Iovine produced charitable record containing the hottest acts of 1987 and their takes on the Tunes. Personal favourites here are Eurythmics' cover of "Winter Wonderland", Alison Moyet's "Coventry Carol", and of course "Christmas In Hollis" bu Run DMC, which was featured in one my fave movies of the 80's, 'Die Hard'.

Album - Alexander O'Neal - My Gift To You (1988)

Not sure how many people would recognize this guy. Back in the 80's when I was listening to a lot of stuff penned and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (responsible for Janet Jackson's first three albums), I came across this artist. He had some minor dance hits with 'Criticize' and 'Fake' which I loved, and then I discovered this Christmas record. I think I bought this because it contains one of my favourite holiday songs, 'This Christmas', penned by Donny Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor and made popular in the 70's. Other highlights of this are a dance/funk take on 'The Little Drummer Boy' and several new tracks written especially for this record. My favourite one is 'Sleigh Ride', which is a dance remix of his hit 'Fake' with new holiday lyrics. Just great. But don't take my word for it, check it out yourself.

12" - Band-Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas (1983)

I don't think I need to say anything about this. Everyone knows this record. I bought 12" in 1986, three years after it was released and the Trevor Horn dance mix is just great. However, the Band-Aid 20 reincarnation recording was just awful. Unlistenable.

CD - Various - Christmas Remixed: Holiday Classics Regrooved (2003)

I discovered this while doing my college radio show a few years ago. The great world-music/dance crossover label Six Degrees came out with this one which is modern dance remixes of classic Christmas songs. Using the original recordings of such tracks as the original Mel Tormé 'Chestnuts Roasting' and Dean Martin's 'Jingle Bells', each remixer transforms the track into a danceable remix. artists include Duke Ellington, Mr. Christmas Bing Crosby, Johnny Mercer and Louis Armstrong, as well as The Cathredral Brass and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. The remix roster features Dan The Automator, Attaboy and Mocean Worker. You really have to hear this to get the idea.

(There is a volume 2 of this that I discovered in my research for this post.)

That's pretty much it. I don't have the stomach for anything else. But I will leave you with a couple of lists.

Top Xmas 5 songs I like in general1: Do You Hear What I Hear2: Oh Holy Night3: This Christmas4: What Child Is This5: The Little Drummer Boy

Top 5 'I never ever wanna hear these one's again' Christmas songs.1: John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (I'm sorry but this has just been overplayed for me.)2: Madonna - Santy Baby (ew ick, her vamping voice makes me ill)3: Any Artist - The Christmas Song (I am just sick up and fed with this one)4: Any Artist - Jingle Bell Rock5: Alvin & The Chipmunks - Christmas Don't Be Late (Nails on a Chalkboard)