Dave Gee: Life from Right Field

'Tis the season to be jolly... and whether you're looking forward to a traditional White Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere, or a t-shirt & flip-flops BBQ Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere, you're sure to have a few good festive tunes playing on the cd player/radio/tv.

Here's a few songs you may want to add to your Christmas mix-list...

* TV Allstars - Do They Know It's Christmas

The original charity song that kicked off a generation of charity song. The original Band Aid version was released a way back in 1984, and featured the likes of Duran Duran, Culture Club, Spandau Ballet, Wham, U2, and Sting.

A number of cover versions followed, notably Band Aid 2's version in 1989, produced by hitmakers Stock/Aitken/Waterman and featuring pop acts including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Bros, and Bananarama.

Sensational Swedish Schlager singer Shirley Clamp released a version in 2004, which is still popular around Christmas in Sweden.

But the best modern cover version of the song is by Germany's TV Allstars, a group made up of singers and pop artists from the country's Pop Idol tv talent shows...


* Hot Pantz - (I'd Like To) Give U One 4 Christmas

This novelty Christmas single from 2005 was unfairly picked by music website Popjustice as "still the worst Christmas song of all time". A hasty description I would suggest for a catchy-albeit-slightly-tacky festive single.

The song was written by Barry Upton (who helped form Steps, and wrote their debut single "5,6,7,8". It sounds like a budget version of the hit pop group, with Upton securing the services of Southampton glamour girls Shelley and Kelly to front the song.

Unfortunately the Brits didn't think the joke was funny, with the single peaking at #64 on the UK Singles Chart. I think it's worth another look/listen tho!...



* Paul Holt - Fifty Grand for Christmas

Paul Holt was rejected from the UK TV talent show The X Factor, with judge Simon Cowell telling Holt he'd give him £50,000 if he did ever manage a #1 UK single.

This Christmas novelty song was his big attempt in 2004, but unfortunately for Holt it only reached #35 on the charts. A catchy song nonetheless...



* Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

She may be crazier than a crazy homeless crazy person on crazy crack, but in 1994 she recorded what has become probably the most successful Christmas single of recent times.

All I Want For Christmas Is You became the "best-selling holiday ring tone of all time" in the United States in 2006, and the track was there year voted "the UK's favourite Christmas song".

It has been covered by many artists over the years, including The Cheetah Girls, My Chemical Romance, a duet by Swedish singers Agnes Carlsson & Måns Zelmerlöw, and by popular teen star Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana).

A spoof version of the song, called "All I Want For Christmas Is... Jews" was released on the internet this month by stand-up comedy troupe Hot Box...