Team Crunch are a Christmassy bunch. Like most cheery folks we love Christmas parties, Christmas presents, Christmas food, Christmas jumpers… the whole caboodle.
One thing you’ll have a really hard time getting our near-200 strong workforce to agree on though, is music. And when the festive season kicks in, we all tend to get a little bit more opinionated. Perhaps it’s all that port.
I personally run for cover at the sound of those opening bars from Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. Sure, it’s a well written, excellently performed ditty, but over the last few years I’ve heard it enough times that it could be considered a cruel and unusual punishment. My toes curl at the thought of it. Give me Reuben’s less-than-conventional “Christmas is Awesome” or Bad Religion’s surprisingly festive Christmas covers album any day.
I asked a few other Crunchers where they stood on Christmas hits and misses. Here’s what they revealed:
Tom McKiddie Accountancy Services Manager
My favourite is Elton John’s “Step into Christmas”. I shouldn’t have to justify it… Legend! A very close second is “Little Drummer Boy” by Bowie and Crosby. The worst is “Santa Baby” – a truly awful song that was made even worse when Kylie did it.
“Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley. Everyone loves a bit of misery at Christmas don’t they? My least favourite Christmas song is definitely Slade – “Merry Christmas Everybody”. The opening shriek literally sends shivers down my spine.
Will Stapley Managing Editor
The best one is “Alan Partridge in a Pear Tree”. Admittedly he never gets to the end, but in my mind that helps make it a classic. Worst one is East 17’s “Stay Another Day”. In so many ways, this song is truly awful. Doesn’t stop me singing along to it, though.
Chloe Ali Accountant
Alma Cogan’s “Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo” is just annoying! When it plays in shops I want to put ear-muffs on! Frank Sinatra’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is very special to me and always brings back great memories of Christmas time with my family. Plus the words say it all. Whether you have loved ones around or not; hopefully next year will be better and it gives hope to look forward to the new year.
Claire Beveridge Content Producer
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses is my favourite. Least favourite is probably “All I Want For Christmas” because it’s painfully over-played and makes me cringe inside. That being said, gimme a few large festival snowballs and I would get up and dance to it.
Best Christmas song ever is “Stop the Cavalry”. It’s so obnoxious and rubbish and I LOVE IT. Worst one is defo Diana Krall’s “Jingle Bells”… the end bit where it’s just crazy jazz improv and she says ‘I’m just crazy ’bout horses” makes me want to curl up in a ball and never celebrate Christmas again. Worst part is it’s my Step-Dad’s favourite Christmas song, so he puts it on full blast. Hell.
Salesforce Lead Sarah Govier identified her favourite as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” , giving the edge to the one-and-only Frank Sinatra as Crunch’s favourite Christmas crooner, with the most favourable mentions.
Just as I was about to congratulate Mariah Carey on producing the worst Christmas song though, Sarah reminded me that this was a thing, for which I will never forgive her.
Let this be a reminder that no matter how terrible the music on the radio might be, there is always something worse out there.
From all of us at Crunch, have a *ahem* ‘cheeky’ Christmas.
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Tom McKiddie
Tom Pearson
Islam Aly
Jenny Cartwright
Will Stapley
Chloe Ali
Claire Beveridge
Matt Beaumont
Ivan Overton
Pernille Hansen
Stina Laketwig
James Hobbs
Nick Jackson
Nick Wilkins
Amy Fitter