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Jamaican Christmas Music
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Jamaican Christmas Music - by Rosemarie Gordon-Cole

Christmas is not Christmas without the sound of music filling the air; telling of those experiences and sharing stories, or just to add a little laughter. As with every culture we Jamaicans put own spin on some of the good old Christmas classics and also add a few of our own.

New! Ever been to Jamaica for Christmas? Share it with us here! And of course there are those traditional ones that were re-recorded with a reggae beat.

Here are a few of the re-recordings done by some of your favorite Jamaican artiste:

1. Welcome Home To Jamaica by Fab 5

2. Christmas Jamaican Style by Unique Vision

3. Christmas is Coming by Cocoa

4. Lonely This Christmas by John Holt

5. We Wish You A Merry Christmas by The Ras Family

6. Jingle Bells by Don Carlos

7. O Come All Ye Faithful by Freddy McGregor

8. Drummer Boy by Michigan & Smiley

9. The Night Before Christmas by Eek-A-Mouse

10. Give Love on Christmas Day by Carlene Davis

11. Irie Christmas by Freddy McGregor

12. Christmas A Come by Eek A Mouse

13. Silent Night by Alton Ellis

14. Christmas in the Air by Sanchez

15. All I Want For Christmas by Ini Kamoze

16. Christmas Medley by Eddie Lovette and Laro

17. Christmas Reggae by Bob Marley, feat the Roots

18. We Wish You A Reggae Christmas by Yellow Man Tea

19. Jingle Bells by Skatallite & Prince Buster

20. Rich Man for Christmas by Lady Saw

Here are three favourite Jamaican Christmas Music(via Youtube)

Please Enjoy!

WELCOME TO JAMAICA (Fab 5)

CHRISTMAS IS COMING (Cocoa Tea)

CHRISTMAS JAMAICA STYLE (Unique Vision)

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Space will not allow me to list all the re-recordings, but I simply cannot move on without making mention of the 1989 album Blue Mountain’s Christmas Party, which features the likes of;

• Pam Hall
• Horace Andy
• Dean Fraser ( yes Dean doing “Deck the Hall”)
• Spanner Banner
• Coco Tea and Gregory Isaac among others,

... doing cover versions of songs like; Silver Bells, Ding Dong and White Christmas to name a few. This is really worth a listen!

In addition to the re-recordings are the classics with a Jamaican spin, like Barrington Levy and Trinity singing to the tune of Jingle Bells (One horse open sleigh)

“Riding through King Street on a CB400
I fly my natty dread moving down the line
I saw some bald heads who loved my natty dread
Oh what fun it is to ride on a CB400
I’m gonna flash my dread flash my dread
Flash my natty dread”

Or Yellowman’s version of the Christmas Song.
“Breadfruits roasting in an open fire
Mongrels nipping at your toes
Dancehall songs being sung by a choir
And we dress up in we bashment clothes”

Or Lovindeer’s “Black Bird In A Pear Tree” done to the tune of “Twelve Days Of Christmas”. If you know anything about Lovindeer you know you will be in stitches throughout this entire song as he is simply hilarious.

And the laughter continues with originals like:

“Santa Ketch Ina Mango Tree
Mango tree, Mango tree
Santa ketch up ina mango tree
Pa‑too bawl out, what a Christmas tree” 
 by  Faith D’aquilar

Or Mutabaruka’s “Postpone Christmas”

Even the dancehall industry has contributed to the Christmas music collection, one that comes to mind is “Rub A Dub Xmas” and features; Frankie Paul, Triston Palmer And Little John.

Whatever your taste in music is as a Jamaican I am positive you will be able to find something you like as the collection is endless.

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Also See: Christmas in Jamaica, Jamaican Sorrel & 'Chrismus' Poem

Note: You are welcome to visit my Jamaican Reggae Music Store at Amazon and buy your favourite Jamaican or Reggae Christmas mixes.

Posted: 10/28/2011

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