Cynthia Presents The 12 Rankdowns of Christmas (12/11-12/22)

[Deleted]

In the Rankdowns queue thread, I mentioned a while back that I wanted to so something called 12 Rankdowns of Christmas. As a play on the well-known 12 Days of Christmas, there will be a mini-rankdown of Christmas songs every day for 12 days leading up to December 25! (Actually, this rankdown will run from Dec. 11 to Dec. 22, so it can be finished by the weekend before Christmas.) This is an idea I had b/c there are SO many songs, and I know it will be a busy time for everyone; so I wanted to create a fun way for people to knock out a quick rankdown or two (or twelve, if you are so inclined) without having to put a lot of time or thought into it.

1. Each day will have its own theme with 10 to 20 songs, except for the 12th one, which has 25 - I really meant it when I say "mini"!
2. You are not required to participate in each rankdown; you can submit to as many or as few days you wish. However, any rankdown you submit must include all of the songs, and only those songs, given for a particular day. No omissions and no mixing and matching allowed.
3. The deadline for each rankdown will be 5 pm CST on the day before the rankdown. (I.e., December 11's rankdown is due on December 10 at 5 CST, December 12's rankdown is due on December 11, etc.) No extensions will be granted for any day, because you can't get a deadline more last-minute than this lol.
4. If you do participate in multiple rankdowns, you do not have to submit them all at once, but make sure all submissions are made in the same PM. Do not send me separate PMs for each individual submission. Just make new replies in the same PM thread. This is the most important rule of them all! My inbox is already messy enough.
5. For the Holy Christmas and Classic Christmas rankdowns, you can rank those songs based on whatever version of the song is your favorite. If you choose to rank any of those songs based on a version other than what I've listed, please mention it in your PM so I can give that cover a mention during the reveal. For all the other rankdowns, you must rank based on the version by the given artist.
6. Rankings will be determined by median scores; ties will be broken average rank. Using median will likely result in a lot of necessary tiebreakers but I think that will ultimately be more reflective of overall popularity for these rankdowns.

I will update this post later with playlists but if you want to get a head start, everything is on YT except Prince's Another Lonely Christmas, which is on Spotify.

SPOILER: Click to show

{The Themes}

Dec. 11: An Animated Christmas
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - Alvin & The Chipmunks
Christmas Time Is Here - A Charlie Brown Christmas
Frosty the Snowman - Frosty the Snowman
It Feels Like Christmas - Muppet Christmas Carol
Linus and Lucy - A Charlie Brown Christmas
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
We're a Couple of Misfits - Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer
When Christmas Comes to Town - The Polar Express
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Dec. 12: A Silent Christmas
I have an unhealthy obsession with this song; it is far and away my most favorite traditional carol, so much so that I even snuck a cover of it into the rock rankdown. Apparently I'm not the only one who has a problem - according to Spotify, Silent Night is the most covered Christmas song ever, with approximately 26,500 different artists offering at least one rendition of it. We really don't need that many covers of any one song but I suppose people like me are the reason why there are so many. Even I don't have it in me to sift through all 26,500 versions however, so I've not-so-randomly selected a few to be ranked against each other. We will settle once and for all who has the definitive Silent Night! (Or I'll judge you for eternity for getting it wrong lol)

Beyonce
Boyz II Men
Christina Aguilera
Demi Lovato
Fantasia
Josh Groban
Kelly Clarkson ft. Trisha Yearwood and Reba McEntire
Keyshia Cole
Pentatonix
Mariah Carey
Martina McBride
Mary J. Blige ft. Marc Anthony
Michael Buble
The Temptations
The Three Tenors
Tori Kelly

Dec. 13: A Novelty Christmas
12 Pains of Christmas - Bob Rivers
All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) - Spike Jones and His City Slickers
The Chanukah Song - Adam Sandler
Christmas At Ground Zero - Weird Al
Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man This Christmas) - The Weather Girls
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer - Elmo and Patsy
I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas - Gayla Peevey
Lonely Jew On Christmas - South Park
Nuttin' For Christmas - Barry Gordon
Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney - Ella Fitzgerald
What You Want For Christmas - Quad City DJs

Dec. 14: A Sad Christmas
Another Lonely Christmas - Prince
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Christmas Blues - Holly Cole Trio
Christmas Lights - Coldplay
Christmas Eve Can Kill You - The Everly Brothers
Christmas Shoes - Bob Carlisle
Every Christmas - Kelly Clarkson
Every Year, Every Christmas - Luther Vandross
Get Me Through December - Alison Krauss
Last Christmas - Wham!
The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot - Nat King Cole
Miss You Most (At Christmas Time) - Mariah Carey
Please Come Home For Christmas - Charles Brown
River - Joni Mitchell
What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas? - The Emotions

Dec. 15: A Chestnuts Christmas
This is the second of two days where the list is comprised of the same song from different singers. Let's see whose version of The Christmas Song is the most liked! (Note: Nat King Cole's original version will appear in the Classic Christmas rankdown; don't rank him here)

The Carpenters
Christina Aguilera
Celine Dion
Ella Fitzgerald
Fantasia
Jessica Simpson
Johnny Mathis
Luther Vandross
Mary J. Blige
Michael Buble
*NSYNC
Ray Charles
The Stylistics
Toni Braxton
Whitney Houston

Dec. 16: A Rockin' Christmas
Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) - The Darkness
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
Don't Shoot Me Santa - The Killers
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl
Father Christmas - The Kinks
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth - David Bowie & Bing Crosby
Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight) - The Ramones
Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade
Must Be Santa - Bob Dylan
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
Silent Night - Stevie Nicks
Sock It To Me Santa - Bob Seger and The Heard
Thank God It's Christmas - Queen
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Dec. 17: A Country Christmas
All I Want For Christmas Is You - Vince Vance and the Valiants
Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
Born On Christmas Day - Brad Paisley
Christmas Cookies - George Strait
Christmas In Dixie - Alabama
Country Christmas - Loretta Lynn
Gold and Green - Sugarland
Hard Candy Christmas - Dolly Parton
If We Make It Through December - Merle Haggard
Let It Be Christmas - Alan Jackson
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe - Randy Travis
O Holy Night - Martina McBride
Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison (or Willie Nelson)
Present Without a Bow - Kacey Musgraves ft. Leon Bridges
Ringing the Bells For Jim - Johnny Cash
Santa Can't Stay - Dwight Yoakam
Shimmy Down the Chimney (Fill Up My Stocking) - Alison Krauss
Thank God For Kids - Oak Ridge Boys
Til Santa's Gone (Milk and Cookies) - Clint Black
Where Are You Christmas - Faith Hill

Dec. 18: A Hip-Hop/R&B Christmas
Christmas In Harlem - Kanye West ft. CyHi the Prynce and Teyana Taylor
Christmas In Hollis - Run-DMC
Christmas Just Ain't Christmas Without the One You Love - The O'Jays
Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow
Gee Whiz, It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
Let It Snow - Boyz II Men & Brian McKnight
Little Drummer Boy - Destiny's Child
Little Drummer Girl - Alicia Keys
Player's Ball (Original Christmas Version) - Outkast
Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto - James Brown
Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto - Snoop Dogg
Sleigh Ride - Tamar Braxton
Sleigh Ride - TLC

Dec. 19: A 21st Century Christmas
8 Days of Christmas - Destiny's Child
Candy Cane Lane - Sia
Christmas Time - Backstreet Boys
Christmas Tree - Lady Gaga
Christmases When You Were Mine - Taylor Swift
December - Ariana Grande
Everyday Is a Holiday - Katy Perry
I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You - *NSYNC
I'll Be Home - Meghan Trainor
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - *NSYNC
Mistletoe - Justin Bieber
Mommy, Is There More Than One Santa Claus - Kris Allen
My Only Wish (This Year) - Britney Spears
Not Just On Christmas - Ariana Grande
O Holy Night - Michael Paynter
Oh Santa! - Mariah Carey
One More Sleep - Leona Lewis
Perfect Christmas - S Club 7
This Gift - 98 Degrees
Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson

Dec. 20: A World Peace Christmas
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid 30
Give Love On Christmas Day - Jackson 5
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake
I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day - Bing Crosby
I Want to Come Home For Christmas - Marvin Gaye
Let There Be Peace On Earth - International Children's Choir
My Grown-Up Christmas List - Amy Grant
Put a Little Holiday In Your Heart - Leann Rimes
Someday At Christmas - Stevie Wonder

Dec. 21: A Holy Christmas
Angels We Have Heard On High - Josh Groban & Brian McKnight
Ave Maria - Leslie Odom, Jr. / Leona Lewis
Away In a Manger - Faith Hill
Do You Hear What I Hear - Carrie Underwood
Emmanuel God With Us - Amy Grant
The First Noel - Nat King Cole
Go Tell It On the Mountain - Sara Evans
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Pentatonix
Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child - Fantasia and Kelly Clarkson
Joy To the World - Whitney Houston / Mariah Carey
Mary Did You Know - Pentatonix
O Come All Ye Faithful - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Enya
O Holy Night - Celine Dion
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Sarah McLachlan
We Three Kings of Orient Are - Dolly Parton
What Child Is This - Andrea Bocelli & Mary J. Blige
Who Would Imagine a King - Whitney Houston

Dec. 22: A Classic Christmas
A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) - Nat King Cole
Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland or Frank Sinatra
Here Comes Santa Claus - Gene Autry
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jackson 5
I'll Be Home For Christmas - Doris Day
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
Last Christmas - Wham!
Let It Snow - Dean Martin
Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
My Favorite Things - Barbra Streisand
O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - The Jackson 5
Silver Bells - Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell
That's What Christmas Means to Me - Stevie Wonder
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett

Feel free to leave suggestions if there's a missing classic that you think warrants special attention. With that said, keep in mind that the max for any list is 25 songs (and preferably no more than 20) because I want to keep this as simple as possible. Some lists have less room to expand than others.

If you have any questions that weren't answered in this OP, just ask! You do not have to be tagged to participate and if you want to be untagged just let me know.

Also, castleoblivion26 is currently revealing songs for his Country Christmas rankdown, which will be open soon; if you prefer one big rankdown instead of a bunch of small ones or 20 country songs is just not enough room to cover all the twangy holiday tunes you want to hear, you should definitely check that out!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tagging bells, tagging bells, tagging all the way}Billy franklin Albie austin awesomecharts Az Paynter yuh yuh bat1990 bboat11 Beno beyoncelover Linnethia Monique boysilver400 carriefan15 castleoblivion26 CF15 chicken077 Choco Pollen LBTrocks Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast crazyb dm2081 Doc Indie Party Rock Dylan :) edph1 nick64 when the pawn... ★Disco★ fearlessarrow rainie frenchfry YourFaveIsAFlop ry4n Ginger Spice Sambalada .indulgecountry james518 @jamesflame Who The Hell Is Leo?✔ Zeebz born matteeeb Kanenrá:ke Juanca Mr. Thonk Eyes jtd Thee Stallion Juan Carlos The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 Khia kmbgs Ky Leaf Rocky Codex lyhom #LisaRinna Libra The Bode Blend (Moose) @mirza musicfan134 Caviar Normi @pjscott11 pnobelysk Raccoon Harx raylatch98 Golden Bluebird Red rgreen0625 Gray. someguy Snowbeast zaclord 🌈 Daniel Collins tamed09 Au$tin †ealsünset Rose Wintur Web BackwoodsBarbie toomuchboy woods vann wavey. wheatsquares33 willapted33 YotamTS

[Daryl the Beryl]

Pass, but thanks for the tag.

[Who The Hell Is Leo?✔]

Im bookmarking
Sound fun

[Deleted]

Is the New Jack Swing Rankdown still going to happen? I think that its around these days too. Anyways I am 50 50 on this as of now, so I will see.

[castleoblivion26]

I will definitely be participating as I really like the different list!

Also thanks for the shout out to my rankdown! You do have a few songs that I do not have in mine! Everyone participate in both!

[Pollen]

I'm interested in trying this.

I see all the love for *NSYNC here but no Backstreet Boys?

(psssst "It's Christmas Time Again" can work for 21st century lol)

[bboat11]

What a cool idea! I love this so much! I will do my best to do all 12!

@antigonerising Regarding your comment about us being able to request additional classics... "O Holy Night" is pretty much Martina McBride's most definitive Christmas song... I would probably include that one instead of "White Christmas" in the Country list. Of course it's not life-or-death, and I'm thrilled she's being included either way! But it would be nice if that song was able to sneak in somewhere :-)

[castleoblivion26]

Nov 6, 2017 0:36:16 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

What a cool idea! I love this so much! I will do my best to do all 12!

@antigonerising Regarding your comment about us being able to request additional classics... "O Holy Night" is pretty much Martina McBride's most definitive Christmas song... I would probably include that one instead of "White Christmas" in the Country list. Of course it's not life-or-death, and I'm thrilled she's being included either way! But it would be nice if that song was able to sneak in somewhere :-)

I need to second this because Martina's "O Holy Night" is incredible

[Green Baron]

Novel concept, but not for me.

[bboat11]

Nov 6, 2017 0:37:34 GMT -5 castleoblivion26 said:

Nov 6, 2017 0:36:16 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

What a cool idea! I love this so much! I will do my best to do all 12!

@antigonerising Regarding your comment about us being able to request additional classics... "O Holy Night" is pretty much Martina McBride's most definitive Christmas song... I would probably include that one instead of "White Christmas" in the Country list. Of course it's not life-or-death, and I'm thrilled she's being included either way! But it would be nice if that song was able to sneak in somewhere :-)

I need to second this because Martina's "O Holy Night" is incredible

Lol or maybe she and Celine should go head-to-head, since they are always compared to each other anyway!  

[born]

Oh my Gosh. QUEEN of Rankdowns. I skipped the Halloween one but this, OMG I'm so excited:)

"Every Christmas - Kelly Clarkson" I'm already emotional

PS: I wanted 1 or 2 Ariana bops too but it's okay I guess
EDIT: Just noticed the 21st Century category PLEASE "Santa Tell Me" or "Winter Things"

[willapted33]

I'll do a few of these (sad, urban, 2010s are the most likely)

[Spidey]

I'm down for this!

[Az Paynter]

Can we request songs to feature in the 21st Century Christmas list? I want to shamelessly plug Michael Paynter's version of 'O Holy Night'.

[MilesW1998]

Let's be honest, we all know what'll win Classic Christmas, it's so obvious.

[willapted33]

Nov 6, 2017 5:09:14 GMT -5 MilesW1998 said:

Let's be honest, we all know what'll win Classic Christmas, it's so obvious.

and in this case, what will win and what should win are two entirely different things

[Albie]

Simply merry.

[franklin]

In!!

[Caviar]

I'm in as well.

My only suggestion is to add Keyshia Cole's "Silent Night" as well. I find it better than Christina's!

[born]

Nov 6, 2017 4:26:44 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

Can we request songs to feature in the 21st Century Christmas list? I want to shamelessly plug Michael Paynter's version of 'O Holy Night'.

Girl you remind me of myself, plugging Taylor everywhere, the only difference being that Taylor has more than one fan in the world so there's always someone who agrees with me.

[Red]

You've got most of the heavy hitters, but you asked for suggestions, and you're about to get them.

Okay, big ones first: Where's "Fairytale of New York" and "Christmas Wrapping"?! The latter, okay, it's not THE most popular Christmas song, but it has endured over the years....but I'm shocked that the former wasn't on the initial list. That's one of the modern Christmas songs. For the "Rockin'" set, I'd recommend some more UK rock, the likes of Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody", and especially The Darkness' "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)". And surely, somehow, there has to be a place for Weird Al's "Christmas At Ground Zero" somewhere.

I'm definitely going to try and take part.

[Deleted]

Red I've never heard of Fairytale of New York or Christmas Wrapping and based on the YT view count for FONY this is apparently unforgivable. The rockin' set is definitely the one I needed the most help/suggestions from so your entire post will definitely be taken into account! As for Weird Al, Novelty Christmas seems the obvious place for him.

bboat11 I'm cool with switching the Martina entry if OHN is her more definitive Christmas tune! I just adore her version of WC.

Pollen BSB and born Ariana are definitely on the 21st century list! (Ariana's there twice, in fact, b/c I couldn't make up my mind which song I liked more.) That list is mostly in place already, I just have it pending b/c I knew for a fact that I would be adding something from Sia's album. Even if her album is all the way bad, it's likely to be an entertaining kind of bad lol. And yes, Az Paynter, I will reward your shameless promotion and add Michael Paynter lmao.

(Dammit I should have done an international Christmas day. Why didn't I think of that before???)

Here are some more exclamation points because I obviously love them so much. !!!!!!!

List updates and youtube links will all be added this weekend. A few people are super on the ball and have submitted some lists already! For everyone else I'm obviously fine with receiving submissions at the moment but just be aware you might be asked to add some songs later. If any new songs are added to a rankdown you've sent already I'll drop a message in your PM asking you to add that song in wherever you see fit. I hope to have all lists set in stone before Thanksgiving, though.

[Az Paynter]

Cynthia you continue to be one of my favourites.

ETA: Also I just opened a thread for it in the Holiday forum, if anyone wants to start acquainting themselves with it.

Nov 6, 2017 11:27:34 GMT -5 born said:

Girl you remind me of myself, plugging Taylor everywhere, the only difference being that Taylor has more than one fan in the world so there's always someone who agrees with me.

Kindly go procreate with yourself.

[Green Baron]

Red, I'm surprised you didn't bring up Corey Taylor's "X-M@$"

[Caviar]

Nov 7, 2017 22:34:06 GMT -5 @antigonerising said:

Red I've never heard of Fairytale of New York or Christmas Wrapping and based on the YT view count for FONY this is apparently unforgivable. The rockin' set is definitely the one I needed the most help/suggestions from so your entire post will definitely be taken into account! As for Weird Al, Novelty Christmas seems the obvious place for him.

bboat11 I'm cool with switching the Martina entry if OHN is her more definitive Christmas tune! I just adore her version of WC.

Pollen BSB and born Ariana are definitely on the 21st century list! (Ariana's there twice, in fact, b/c I couldn't make up my mind which song I liked more.) That list is mostly in place already, I just have it pending b/c I knew for a fact that I would be adding something from Sia's album. Even if her album is all the way bad, it's likely to be an entertaining kind of bad lol. And yes, Az Paynter, I will reward your shameless promotion and add Michael Paynter lmao.

(Dammit I should have done an international Christmas day. Why didn't I think of that before???)

Here are some more exclamation points because I obviously love them so much. !!!!!!!

List updates and youtube links will all be added this weekend. A few people are super on the ball and have submitted some lists already! For everyone else I'm obviously fine with receiving submissions at the moment but just be aware you might be asked to add some songs later. If any new songs are added to a rankdown you've sent already I'll drop a message in your PM asking you to add that song in wherever you see fit. I hope to have all lists set in stone before Thanksgiving, though.

Did you review my suggestions?

[The Bode Blend (Moose)]

Sorry lambs, Mariah doesn't stand a chance against these all-time classics.

[The Bode Blend (Moose)]

I will definitely be doing Animated, Novelty, Rockin', and Classic. Probably World Peace too. I'll most likely pass on Country, Hip-Hop, and 21st Century, but I may consider doing the others I haven't mentioned.

[fearlessarrow]

I don't even care about Taylor in the 21st century category, I just need the perfection that is "Underneath the Tree" in there tbh lol

[born]

^Same. I actually prefer "Wrapped In Red" but I know they're both excellent and faves so I don't care.

[Deleted]

Damn, I wanted to use 4 Carats tho

Caviar I totally missed your post the first time around, I'm so sorry! I'll add Keyshia as well. (I'm listening to it now and this is beautiful!) To anyone else if you have said something and you see that I post without acknowledging, harass me to make sure I am paying attention lol