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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 18:56:48 GMT -5
Let's go ahead and dive into the top 5 shall we! The first song to exit is our fourth least polarizing song in which all but one but inside their top 15. A third participant also loses their top ranking song.
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 18:57:02 GMT -5
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 19:03:36 GMT -5
Leaving first in the top 5 is “I Only Want You For Christmas” which is actually the oldest song in the rankdown as it was originally released as a standalone release in 1991. It was accompanied by a music video as well and just missed the top 40 on the country charts by one spot. This came in as our fourth least polarizing song as all but one participant placed this inside their top 15. It was also a steady top 10 contender for much of its run and only dipped outside of that twice. On the heels of losing their top ranking song, kw9461 also sees their second top ranking song exit while it’s now Cody Wants Out... ’s turn to lose his top ranking song. |
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 19:06:11 GMT -5
The second song to exit in the top 5 first appeared on the soundtrack to a 1992 major motion picture film...any guesses as to which song it is???
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 19:13:37 GMT -5
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 19:20:22 GMT -5
After just losing the oldest song in the rankdown, we now say goodbye to the second oldest song “A Holly Jolly Christmas”. This first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and was subsequently added to Alan’s first Christmas album a year later. This comes in as the 8th least polarizing song in which the majority of the participants actually put this inside of their top 5 or top 10 Unfortunately someguy becomes our next participant to lose his top ranking song just before the top 3. Two others put this in their top 15 while Kanenrá:ke is the Ebenezer Scrooge of this round as he put this down in his bottom 3. His ranking caused this to temporarily exit the top 10, but it quickly rebounded from there where it firmly planted itself back in the top 4 (where it belonged!). |
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 19:22:27 GMT -5
You came from near, you came from far...now gather 'round for the Top 3!
If We Make It Through December
Let It Be Christmas
The Angels Cried (with Alison Krauss)
Stay tuned for the grand finale of the Alan Jackson Christmas Rankdown!
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Post by castleoblivion26 on Dec 15, 2020 19:44:21 GMT -5
and "The Angels Cried" is #3. Looking at my list I kinda wish I put this as my #1, I wish it could be in the top 2
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LBTrocks
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Post by LBTrocks on Dec 15, 2020 20:02:45 GMT -5
"Let It Be Christmas" can leave next, thanks.
I think "The Angels Cried" will win, but I am pulling for "If We Make It Through December" personally. I love both tho, and both are in my top 5, so I'll be happy regardless if one of those songs win!
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 20:29:02 GMT -5
Sorry y'all I had to take the pups for a walk hehe...anyways lets reveal the next song so that we can unveil the top 2!
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 20:29:23 GMT -5
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 20:36:14 GMT -5
“If We Make It Through December” bows out next and along with it takes not one but two top rankings including Kanenrá:ke ’s and LBTrocks . While this got off to a shaky start thanks to yours truly, it quickly founds its way into the top five where it remained a solid top 4 contender for the remainder of its run. This comes in as our 7th least polarizing song thanks in part to almost everyone (but me!) putting it inside other their top 10 or top 15. The song of course was first made popular by the late Merle Haggard who released it in late 1973 for his Christmas album. While Christmas is a prominent theme of this song, Merle said the song is not considered a "pure" Christmas record as the subject of economics was also explored. My low ranking for this is due in part to the fact that I’m partial to the original version by Merle and I just never really find myself revisiting Alan’s much if at all. I was actually surprised to see how well this performed especially given that it bowed out in the bottom 3 of castleoblivion26 ’s most recent Anything & Everything Christmas Shuffle Rankdown. |
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taylor is terrified
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Post by taylor is terrified on Dec 15, 2020 20:37:54 GMT -5
Oooh, a perfect ranking! And I'm just in time for this finale! :)
I'd be happy with either of the Top 2 winning to be quite honest
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LBTrocks
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Post by LBTrocks on Dec 15, 2020 20:39:27 GMT -5
"If We Make It Through December" is a fantastic song, it's always been one of my favorites. Of course, I do prefer Merle's hands down, BUT I will say for a cover this was actually really good and Alan made it his own enough for me to be able to appreciate and find a reason to listen to this in additional to the original. So sad it couldn't win, but now I'm REALLY hoping "The Angels Cried" wins this lol.
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 20:39:43 GMT -5
And then there were TWO! VS. |
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 20:53:17 GMT -5
Before I reveal the final two songs I wanted to thank everyone that followed along and participated along the way! Some of y'all who don't usually listen to Christmas music still made it a point to submit a list for this rankdown and I greatly appreciate that. I'm sure I speak for others on here when I say that Christmas music brings me such joy and it's something that I very much look forward to each and every holiday season. This year more than most I for sure needed a little Christmas spirit!
Alright, on with the show!
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 20:56:19 GMT -5
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 21:04:46 GMT -5
“Let It Be Christmas” was likely the predictable outcome most of y’all were expecting, however it not only was our most polarizing song but actually was never the strongest contender for the winning song. That title goes to “The Angels Cried” which looked like it was going to go for a sweep as it was the strongest contender for the entire rankdown. As is the case with most rankdowns there’s always a hiccup at the end and it wasn’t any different here. Unfortunately the second to last list brought in it’s only non-top 20 ranking and a bottom 3 at that from kw9461 which meant this had to settle for second place. I was content with seeing either one of these songs win as both have remained two of my favorites of the holiday season. I'm especially happy to see "The Angels Cried" perform as well as it did because the song brings back so much nostalgia as is much the case for a lot of my days growing up with music videos on CMT. |
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taylor is terrified
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Post by taylor is terrified on Dec 15, 2020 21:06:54 GMT -5
The correct Top 2! We love to see it! Both incredible. Thanks for hosting tim and I'm excited to dive into the rest of the Alan Jackson Album Series! |
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LBTrocks
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Post by LBTrocks on Dec 15, 2020 21:16:49 GMT -5
 I knew I should have sat this RD out lol. Anyway, thanks for hosting tim and it was fun... until the end, that is lol  |
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 21:17:40 GMT -5
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 21:20:43 GMT -5
I'm excited to dive into the rest of the Alan Jackson Album Series! And that we shall! Again, this Christmas rankdown was actually the beginning of the album series as the timing just happened to be right that it felt like we should start with his two holiday albums first. Look for the official launch of his studio albums sometime right after Christmas! |
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 21:21:49 GMT -5
Anyway, thanks for hosting tim and it was fun... until the end, that is lol Even though I know how you feel about Christmas music I'm glad that you participated  |
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Post by castleoblivion26 on Dec 15, 2020 21:34:09 GMT -5
I do kinda wish I had put "The Angels Cried" at #1 but "Let It Be Christmas" would have still been in my Top 3 no matter what so I'm happy either way. The only way this rankdown would have been better is if "There's A New Kid In Town" had made it to the Top 3 as well (not to knock on "If We Make It To December" as I do love that one and am happy that did as well as it did, especially after it did poorly in my rankdown! Thanks tim for doing this rankdown, super excited for his non-Christmas albums as I've never listened to his full albums before so this will be fun! |
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Post by tim on Dec 15, 2020 22:42:46 GMT -5
super excited for his non-Christmas albums as I've never listened to his full albums before so this will be fun! Here's a teaser for y'all!  |
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Post by bboat11 on Dec 18, 2020 19:51:31 GMT -5
Getting caught up after being gone from Pulse for most of the past week! "Honky Tonk Christmas" is one that I just struggled to take seriously in large part because of the name-dropping of other Christmas songs. That's a tired trope with regular music. In this holiday context it's both tired and cheesy! "I Only Want You For Christmas", on the other hand, had a really great melody! I'm glad to see it be a top 5 contender! "Just Put A Ribbon In Your Hair" is basically the same theme, but they both do it so effectively and differently! "Holly Jolly Christmas" is really good! Definitely one of the best versions of that song aside from the super old original by Burl Ives or whoever it was. Probably the best version from a more modern artist. I figured it would be a top 5 contender. SHOOK to see "If We Make It Through December" at #3 considering how it got trashed in castle's shuffle rankdown! This is a nice song in general because it feels like a real song that isn't just specific to the Christmas season. Alan's and Merle's are both very good, although I would also give the edge to Merle. I do like "The Angels Cried", but I was not expecting it to be a #1 contender. This song is good, but I also figured it would get some more lower ranks due to its slow tempo and subdued melody. "Let It Be Christmas" was THE correct winner here. Talk about a career-defining Christmas song! It's easily his heaviest Christmas recurrent to this day. It's gotta have more airplay by now than the rest of his Christmas music combined. But it deserves it. That melody is just so nostalgic and warm, and immediately gets me in the mood for Christmas! Thanks for hosting tim! I'm excited to dive into his albums, as he is also an artist with whom I have not really familiarized myself outside of the singles! |
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Post by bboat11 on Dec 20, 2020 8:48:06 GMT -5
Oop, I'm updating my spreadsheet, and I just noticed that with this rankdown castleoblivion26 has officially overtaken tim for the most rankdown wins! Castle hits 120, while Tim is still at 119  Congrats!! |
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Post by castleoblivion26 on Dec 20, 2020 8:49:49 GMT -5
Oop, I'm updating my spreadsheet, and I just noticed that with this rankdown castleoblivion26 has officially overtaken tim for the most rankdown wins! Castle hits 120, while Tim is still at 119 Congrats!! Yay! Lol |
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Post by tim on Dec 20, 2020 19:11:56 GMT -5
Oop, I'm updating my spreadsheet, and I just noticed that with this rankdown castleoblivion26 has officially overtaken tim for the most rankdown wins! Castle hits 120, while Tim is still at 119 Congrats!! Yay! Lol  |
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