Note : This thread is for people who don't mind discussing Christmas-related things over a month in advance

Since X Factor came on the scene (and before, probably), any attempt at a good old-fashioned Christmas single has either been in vain or just rubbish, or both (IMO).

What is the most recent Christmas pop song that you still enjoy listening to? And, as a side-note, what is your favourite one of all time?

The most recent for me, ironically enough, is the 2004 version of "Do They Know its Christmas?". It was the last song that I could sing along with my friends to, although it kinda spoils that it was a twenty-year-old idea/song that was modernised too much.

Before that, I guess it would be The Darkness' "Don't Let the Bells End", since at that time the dodgyness of the title went completely over my head (I was only 12 ). Above all it had a catchy chorus, Queen-esque Guitar work and a traditional Christmas vibe about it.

BUT my most favourite one of all is Harry Belafonte's "Mary's Boy Child"...its one of the oldest ones I know and my dad would play it when I lay under the Christmas tree staring at the lights above. Such a beautiful piece of music, and can't wait to have it back on my iPod come December 1st.

Honestly, the last christmas song i remember that i liked in recent years i think is East 17 Stay Another Day. Honestly though i think christmas songs from 80s and 90s were the best and still are to this day. I think my favourite is either Elton Johns Step into Christmas or I wish it could be christmas everyday.

I actually really liked Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) - The Darkness. It gets stuck in my head every year!

Apart from that, I don't really know, I just listen to the older songs.

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas

"Another Rock and roll Christmas, another Christmas Rock and Roll!"

Leader Leader Leader Leader!

GG for Christmas Number 1(with all profits going to Great Ormond Street Hospital)

I didn't even realise that it was a Christmas song. It doesn't make me think of Christmas in the same way as the Christmas disco standards - Slade, Wizzard, Jona Lewie, etc.

Last Christmas by Wham is probably the last one that has joined the ranks of Christmas disco standards that you hear for a second or two and immediately think of Christmas.

Mariah Carey-All I want For Christmas.

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas
quite liked Frankie Goes To Hollywood's The Power of Love, but Mariah's is more fun and sounds like the Phil Spektor ones which is why it sounds so good, I think.

'I believe in Father Christmas' Greg Lake...........lovely

I love all the older songs for christmas like Rhudolph The Red Nose Reindeer ,and so on,,You know all those ones..,Brings back my childhood

Jonah Lewie - Stop The Cavalry was another good one.

The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" was the last truly great Christmas song. Everything since has been mediocre or completely shite.

Good call.

Released in 1987, that's three years newer than my Last Christmas and definitely a Christmas classic.

Mariah Carey-All I want For Christmas

The one and only!

I'm not a fan of festive songs but this is the best by a country mile.

Always On My Mind PSB
Deserved No 1 and stayed off the Pogues.......

The 'last' as in 'most recently released'? The Darkness one... not a bad effort at all. But one in a whole decade is a woeful result. In the 90s Mariah Carey's and St Etienne's "I was born on Xmas day" get my vote. Other than that the best ones date from the 80s and before. People have lost the knack in penning a good Christmas hit.

Really? I guess its because when we were younger my parents put the same cd on, on christmas day when we went down to get our presents and this was always the second song on the Christmas CD.

That my favourite too

The Darkness were robbed of an Xmas no1 IMO it was a great OTT daft xmas song.

This:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My5Bzf0PQhc

mr blobby all 3 of the spice girls song (2 become 1, too much, and goodbye) and teletubbies lol anything apart from pop idol or xfactor crap

Bit before my time but I first heard this in the film The Odessa file, and it remains a favourite to this day. They don't make them like this any more, pity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOmNeQHyLA4

Last Christmas by Wham!

Who remembers this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMhSjDqvRs