'I can't hear Mariah Carey for the 1,000th time!' Professional Santas on their most loved – and hated – Christmas hits

Santas on their most loved – and hated – Christmas hits. What brings joy to some is annoyance to others, as this group of individuals who embody the spirit of Santa Claus reveal what festive tunes get them in the mood for merriment.

For Paul Fessi, aka Green Santa, it's Eartha Kitt's sultry rendition of "Santa Baby" and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that get his heart racing. These classic tracks have an undeniable magic to them, transporting listeners back to a bygone era of enchantment and wonder. In contrast, he can't stand Spike Jones' over-the-top 1948 hit "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", which grates on him like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Cleve Freckleton, aka Rasta Claus, takes a more modern approach to festive music. He'd rather hear a grime Christmas song or a punk version of Silent Night than the same old Mariah Carey tracks for the umpteenth time. His own rendition of Santa brings a fresh energy to the character, as he's not afraid to break convention and celebrate diversity.

Then there's Keith Leech, who finds himself embracing the jolly spirit of Jingle Bells despite his initial reservations about Donny Osmond's Christmas crooning. For him, it's all about the nostalgia and the sense of shared experience that comes with festive music.

Nigel Harvey, aka Santa Himself, wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Christmas songs. His love for Jona Lewie's "Stop the Cavalry" is palpable, a heartfelt plea that captures the essence of the holiday season. While Nat King Cole's "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" might strike a chord in others, it holds a painful reminder of loss and hardship.

Last but not least, there's Simon Anthony, who has discovered his inner Santa through sheer force of will. His love for Prokofiev's Sleigh Ride is unmistakable, a nod to the classic sounds of yesteryear that never fails to put him in the mood for Christmas cheer.

In the end, what sets these Santas apart is their unique perspective on festive music. While some find solace in familiar classics, others revel in innovation and experimentation. Whether it's grime or punk, soulful ballads or catchy pop tunes, each has found a way to make Christmas music that works for them – and that's the true spirit of the season.

I love how these Santas have their own take on what makes Christmas music special! It's like they're spreading joy in their own way, even if it's not everyone's cup of tea. I mean, who wouldn't want to hear a grime Christmas song or a punk version of Silent Night? It's all about finding that unique vibe that gets you pumped up for the holidays! And let's be real, it's all about the nostalgia and shared experience too - like Keith Leech and his Donny Osmond obsession lol. But what I love most is how each one has their own story to tell with Christmas music. It's not just about the same old Mariah Carey tracks for everyone!

I think what these Santas are trying to say is that Christmas music isn't just about nostalgia or familiarity, it's about finding something that speaks to you on a deeper level. Like, if one person can get excited by Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" and another by Prokofiev's Sleigh Ride, then that's what makes the season special. It's all about embracing your own unique vibe and not being afraid to be different

You know when you're trying out this new music genre on someone and they just can't vibe with it ? Like, I get it, tastes are different. The thing is, though, what makes Christmas songs special isn't just about whether we like the same tunes or not – it's about embracing the spirit of giving and joy that comes with this time of year . It's about finding common ground with those around us and sharing in the love and magic of the season . So even if someone's "Santa Baby" isn't your jam, let's try to appreciate their unique perspective on festive music and maybe – just maybe – we can find a little bit of that holiday cheer for ourselves .

I'm so done with holiday playlists that are just a bunch of tired old songs ! I mean, come on, can't we get some new music in there? But at the same time, I love how these Santas are all about expressing their own unique vibes and tastes when it comes to festive tunes . Like, who knew there was such a thing as grime Christmas songs?! It's so cool that Cleve Freckleton is all about celebrating diversity and breaking conventions - that's the true spirit of Christmas, right? And I'm with Paul Fessi on the classic tracks - "Santa Baby" and Rudolph are like, the ultimate winter jams . But overall, it's amazing to see how music can bring people together (or drive them crazy ) during the holiday season!

I FEEL LIKE IT'S TIME FOR PEOPLE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THEIR CHRISTMAS MUSIC PREFERENCES! I MEAN, SOME TRACKS ARE TRULY CLASSIC AND GIVE ME CHILLS EVERY TIME, WHILE OTHERS JUST MAKE ME WANT TO SCREAM AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS. LIKE, WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GOOD "SANTA BABY" OR "STOP THE CAVALRY", BUT SPIKE JONES' "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH" JUST TAKES IT TOO FAR!!!

I'm low-key glad someone's still makin' waves with "Santa Baby" ️ It's like, I get why some people might find it a bit too much, but Eartha Kitt just exudes this sultry vibes that gets me every time . On the other hand, I'm not sure what's so wrong with Spike Jones' song... it's just a fun novelty track . But hey, to each their own! Maybe it's 'cause I'm an old soul at heart , but there's somethin' about Jingle Bells that just makes me wanna rock out . And can we talk about how underrated Jona Lewie is? His "Stop the Cavalry" is like the ultimate Christmas jam . What's your go-to festive banger?

️ I'm not sure about this article at all. What's with the random quotes from these "Santas" they call themselves? Can't we just have a normal conversation about Christmas music without all the theatrics? And what's up with the conflicting opinions? Some people love Eartha Kitt, while others can't stand Spike Jones... it's like they're not even trying to present a balanced view. Where are the sources for these claims? Are they based on actual surveys or just the writer's personal biases?

omg u guys i just love this article its so funny how ppl have diff opinons about christmas songs like paul fessi his "santa baby" fave is literally my jam too and cleve freckleton's rasta claus vibes are everything but i gotta say keith leechs love for donny osmond is kinda funny lol dont get me wrong im a total nostalgic when it comes to jingle bells and nigel harveys "stop the cavalry" fave is giving me all the feels tho its interesting how everyone has their own unique way of embracing christmas music i think that's what makes it so special

can't believe how much i love this article ️! like, who knew there were so many different Santas with their own unique tastes in christmas tunes? i mean, green santa's got eartha kitt's "santa baby" on repeat (same here btw), while rasta claus is all about that grime life. and then there's nigel harvey, aka santa himself, rocking out to jona lewie's "stop the cavalry". it's so cool to see how these individuals have found their own way to celebrate christmas through music . also gotta give props to simon anthony for his prokofiev's sleigh ride love - that's some serious holiday spirit right there

I'm like totally stoked about these Santas, you know? I mean, they're all about embracing their differences and finding what gets 'em pumped up for Christmas . Paul Fessi's got his sultry vibes goin' on with Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but then he's like, "Ugh, Spike Jones is so cheesy!" And I'm over here thinkin', "Hey, don't knock it till you try it, man?" But for real though, Cleve Freckleton brings a fresh energy to the table with his grime Christmas beats .

And then there's Keith Leech and Nigel Harvey, who are all about that nostalgia life . It's cool how they find common ground in their love for classic tunes like Jingle Bells and Stop the Cavalry. But what really gets me is Simon Anthony's passion for Prokofiev's Sleigh Ride – it's like he's transported to a whole different world .

But, you know what? I'm still not sure if I completely agree with myself on all this... maybe some of these Santas are just too extra for my taste . Guess that's the beauty of it, though – each person has their own unique way of celebrating Christmas, and that's what makes it so special .

️ I think what's really cool about these Santas is how their tastes in festive music reflect their personalities. Like Paul Fessi's love for retro vibes, while it might not be everyone's cup of tea. And then there's Cleve Freckleton's bold attempt to put a modern spin on Christmas tunes – that takes guts! For me, it's all about the nostalgia factor – I've got a soft spot for old-school Mariah Carey tracks too, but I can appreciate how others find new and exciting ways to celebrate the season. The thing is, at the end of the day, it's all about what brings you joy and makes you feel festive ️