It's the holiday season again and that means holiday music. Which songs define the season for you? Do you have a list of songs you simply can not bear to hear?

I'm not much for traditional Christmas type music, never have been really. So, this time of year, I spend lots of time trying to avoid Jose Feliciano singing Feliz Navidad. That song makes me want to run shrieking like a banshee every time I hear it. I don't know why, but it gets on my nerves like no other. And please tell me I'm not the only one who cringes when "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" plays. My musical tastes for the holidays probably leave much to be desired by some. It's not a Christmas for me until I hear "A Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues and "I Believed in Father Christmas" Greg Lake.

I cannot listen to 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', sung by Judy Garland, without crying; it's so poignant.
I love just about any Christmas song sung by Harry Belafonte. That man's voice is like liquid velvet.
I love the 'Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth' duet by Bing and Bowie.
'Feed the World' is another perennial favourite, as well as Lennon's Christmas song.
There are many others that I truly enjoy, but I think the above listed ones cover my favourites. My husband particularly enjoys 'The Carol of the Bells'.

Although I can appreciate holiday music, I can no longer stand to listen to it. I work with the public and for one month out of the year, I am subjected to the same songs being played over and over for eight hours straight. At home or in the car, I will change the station if I hear a Christmas song. My friends and family call me a scrooge but then, they were not the ones listening to it all day for the past seven years.

You have no idea how many versions of Jingle Bells, I have had to endure. And I've never even seen a one horse open sleigh.

I'm feeling your pain on Jingle Bells today. I think I've now heard every version ever recorded including the dogs barking. I tried to convince my daughter that she can teach our dog to bark jingle bells, but she's not having it. I've also never seen a one horse open sleigh but I'm inclined to tell someone exactly where they can take one by now.

I do love Bowie and Crosby doing Little Drummer Boy. Oh and of course, Happy Christmas by John Lennon which I just heard today.

Carols quietly played on a guitar, first class choirs doing something uplifting, and Merryn Caddell singing 'The Cat Carol' which has me sniffling every time I hear it. These are about all I'll really listen to; the rest is background music, some familiar and pleasant, and some that miss the mark altogether by overdoing it. 'O Holy Night' sung badly - brrr!

I always love "Stop the Cavalry" Jona Lewie. listen here

I have to admit it, I'm a sucker for holiday music. I love traditional Christmas carols, and almost anything from the 40's or 50's. My personal favorites for carols are Angels We Have Heard on High, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear and Silent Night, sung in German. For the vintage music, I'm particularly fond of the romping sort of Christmas songs you might hear on the soundtrack of A Christmas Story. Also, Christmas isn't Christmas for me without John Denver and the Muppets A Christmas Together, or the score to the Charlie Brown Christmas special. And the last few years I've been really enjoying Gary Hoey's take on Christmas music, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I know it's been overplayed, but I love Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24. One thing I can't stand, though, is Mannheim Steamroller.

Edited to add: How could I forget Nat King Cole. Talk about liquid velvet!

Not a big fan of holiday music. Yet when I want to hear such music, I prefer original songs instead of covers of the same 'ol chestnuts, or if it has to be the oldies, then a different take on them. Over The Rhine just released a nice holiday album of mostly original material. As for great takes on old stuff, there are a couple nice surf instrumental and power pop comps which do the covers nicely. Always a classic is the "James Brown's Funky Christmas" record. Can't hardly beat "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto" for an excellent holiday tune with a message that one can dance to.