Christmas Songs: The Great Divide Between Love and Madness
From Eartha Kitt's sultry "Santa Baby" to Keith Leech's grudging acceptance of Jingle Bells, our festive friends reveal their most cherished – and despised – Christmas tunes. While some can't get enough of Mariah Carey, others are desperate to hear something different.
Paul Fessi, aka Green Santa, confesses that his favourite Christmas song is "Do They Know It's Christmas?", a Band Aid classic that highlights the plight of global inequality. He'd rather not be subjected to Spike Jones' over-the-top "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", which he finds "just so cheesy".
In contrast, Cleve Freckleton, aka Rasta Claus, swears by "Winter Wonderland" and "When a Child Is Born". His unorthodox approach to Christmas – wearing dreadlocks and playing reggae tunes – has earned him a loyal following among kids with special needs. They adore his inclusive vibe, which sets him apart from more traditional Santas.
But not everyone is as jolly. Keith Leech, the man behind the beard, confesses that "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses drives him bananas due to its earworm chorus. His experience of playing Father Christmas has left him with a warren of embarrassing anecdotes – including being virtually rugby-tackled by a grateful mother.
Nigel Harvey, aka Santa Himself, cites Jona Lewie's poignant "Stop the Cavalry", which speaks to his own experiences as a performer and his emotional connection to the role. He shares a harrowing story about meeting a child who'd been in a coma for six months – only to speak after meeting him.
Simon Anthony, donning a Santa hat and wearing braces, laughs at how everyone grins and bears Donny Osmond's Christmas tunes out of affection rather than love. His own love for classical music leads him to Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride", which he finds magical.
The world of Christmas songs is a vast, messy divide – one that can drive people mad with its repetition or bring them together in a shared moment of festive joy. As our interviewees demonstrate, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question: what makes the perfect Christmas tune?
From Eartha Kitt's sultry "Santa Baby" to Keith Leech's grudging acceptance of Jingle Bells, our festive friends reveal their most cherished – and despised – Christmas tunes. While some can't get enough of Mariah Carey, others are desperate to hear something different.
Paul Fessi, aka Green Santa, confesses that his favourite Christmas song is "Do They Know It's Christmas?", a Band Aid classic that highlights the plight of global inequality. He'd rather not be subjected to Spike Jones' over-the-top "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth", which he finds "just so cheesy".
In contrast, Cleve Freckleton, aka Rasta Claus, swears by "Winter Wonderland" and "When a Child Is Born". His unorthodox approach to Christmas – wearing dreadlocks and playing reggae tunes – has earned him a loyal following among kids with special needs. They adore his inclusive vibe, which sets him apart from more traditional Santas.
But not everyone is as jolly. Keith Leech, the man behind the beard, confesses that "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses drives him bananas due to its earworm chorus. His experience of playing Father Christmas has left him with a warren of embarrassing anecdotes – including being virtually rugby-tackled by a grateful mother.
Nigel Harvey, aka Santa Himself, cites Jona Lewie's poignant "Stop the Cavalry", which speaks to his own experiences as a performer and his emotional connection to the role. He shares a harrowing story about meeting a child who'd been in a coma for six months – only to speak after meeting him.
Simon Anthony, donning a Santa hat and wearing braces, laughs at how everyone grins and bears Donny Osmond's Christmas tunes out of affection rather than love. His own love for classical music leads him to Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride", which he finds magical.
The world of Christmas songs is a vast, messy divide – one that can drive people mad with its repetition or bring them together in a shared moment of festive joy. As our interviewees demonstrate, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question: what makes the perfect Christmas tune?
... I mean, Cleve Freckleton's reggae vibes might be cool for kids with special needs, but is it really necessary for the whole family to get into it? And don't even get me started on Donny Osmond's Christmas tunes 
. Can't we just stick to some good old-fashioned Bing Crosby or Ella Fitzgerald instead of this...this... festive chaos? 
I'm still not convinced about these "inclusive" Santas either, all dressed up in their dreadlocks and whatnot. Give me a break! 
"winter wonderland" is def a solid choice for me too 
it's like the ultimate earworm and everyone's just faking it 
. I'd argue that the perfect Christmas tune is subjective and can vary greatly from person to person - which is what makes the holiday season so special 
.
- his inclusive approach to Christmas is everything! 
like Keith Leech and Nigel Harvey? It's all about finding that one song that gets you in the holiday mood, you know? 
. Like, who wouldn't love Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"? 
. And honestly? I think that’s what makes Christmas songs so great - there's something for everyone! 
. I mean, Paul Fessi's fave song is fire 
! And I love how Cleve Freckleton's inclusive style is giving me all the feels 
. What about you? What's your go-to Christmas jam? 
I'm over the whole "classic" Christmas song vibe - Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is like nails on a chalkboard, but my fave is actually some weirdo indie band's acoustic cover of it 
. And Paul Fessi with "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is like super relatable 
I mean, what happened to the classics like "White Christmas" or "Silent Night"? Those are some real Christmas jams 
. Meanwhile, Cleve Freckleton's unconventional approach to Christmas has created a sense of community and belonging among kids with special needs 
. The fact that Donny Osmond's tunes elicit both love and eye-rolling from people says something about the complexities of human taste in music, don't you think? 
