For me it's HAPPY XMAS (War Is Over) from John & Yoko. It says a lot more than Paul's WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME (though Paul's is still a good Christmas tune, with a lot of festive feeling)...

I'll say Happy Xmas (War Is Over). When I worked at Kmart eight years ago they would play all these Christmas songs over the intercom over and over and over and Paul's song Wonderful Christmastime was one of them. I would hear it twenty times in an eight hour shift and it drove me up the wall.

happy xmas (war is over) is the best song without a doubt

Pretty much agreed.....John's then Paul's.....and then probably the Ringo christmas album.....not really fond of the Beatle's own christmas specials as very little of it was music oriented.....

John and Yoko's song is the better - I can still enjoy listening to it after all these years. Macca's song is twee and annoying but, unfortunately, unforgettable!

Totally agree with everyone on this one. Paul's shows great infectious melody writing but it does drive you bonkers. Bet both songs figure high on their royalty cheques.
Happy Xmas (war is over) does stir up more passion for me. Also the production is tons better and theres no sleigh bells that I know of on it. lol

What about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae? That was an enjoyable track....I think it's the b-side to "Wonderful Christmastime"...

And as much as so many Beatles fans love to pick on poor Yoko, I'd argue that her part of the singing on HAPPY XMAS adds to the song.

Quoted from Joe_Karlosi, posted July 19, 2004, 4:38pm at here

And as much as so many Beatles fans love to pick on poor Yoko, I'd argue that her part of the singing on HAPPY XMAS adds to the song.

Lol, I reluctantly agree!

Quoted from An_Apple_Beatle, posted July 19, 2004, 12:23pm at here

the production is tons better and theres no sleigh bells that I know of on it. lol

LOL!

Actually, I think Phil Spector co-produced it so there were bound to be sleigh-bells on it whether it was Christmas or not!

Quoted from Joe_Karlosi, posted July 18, 2004, 3:49pm at here

For me it's HAPPY XMAS (War Is Over) from John & Yoko. It says a lot more than Paul's WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME (though Paul's is still a good Christmas tune, with a lot of festive feeling)...

It's not a battle between ONLY Happy Xmas and Wonderful Christmastime. There are quite a few Beatle Christmas offerings:

1. Christmas Time Is Here Again (available as a booted track for many years, but also a sizeable portion is officially now on the Free As A Bird CD single). From the 1967 Xmas Fan Club recording.

2. Ding Dong Ding Dong (George's seasonal offering off Dark Horse. More of a New Year song, for sure, but then John's Happy Xmas also has elements of seeing out the old year, and welcoming the new.)

3. Ringo has a WHOLE album of Christmas songs, including standards (Drummer Boy for example) and Ringo's version of his old band's Christmas Time Is Here Again.

4. Paul's Rudolph the Red-nosed Reggae (the flip of Wonderful Christmastime) is also a Christmas ... tune.

My winner is the Fabs' Christmas Time Is Here Again, with Happy Xmas a worthy second place-getter.

Quoted Text

Happy Xmas (war is over) does stir up more passion for me. Also the production is tons better and theres no sleigh bells that I know of on it. lol

It does have sleigh bells on it. I think it's a necessity in many Christamas songs. I think Ringo's "Come On Christmas, Christmas Come on" is good -- but could have greatly benefited by sleigh bells.

Happy Xmas (war is over).  One of my favorite 20 Lennon songs

Quoted from Herecomesyoursun, posted August 2, 2004, 8:25pm at here

Happy Xmas (war is over).  One of my favorite 20 Lennon songs

I agree