Help me find a Christmas song that sounded like the A-Team!

December 25, 2012 11:33 PM

Help me find a Christmas song that sounded like the A-Team!

I heard a song on the radio today while driving in the Seattle area, sometime around 1:30 or so. It was an orchestral christmas song, it may have been a medley, I definitely recognized it, although now I can't for the life of me remember the melody. The sound was like the A-team theme, a 70's/early 80's orchestral group with some rock drums in there. Probably electric bass, although I couldn't tell in the car. Lots of strings and horns, but not a lot of guitar (if any, I'm not sure that there was any guitar in there at all). At first I thought it was super cheesy, but as it kept going I started moving my head along with the music, and by the time it was over I was determined to find it. Of course, we had a family gathering and I couldn't look it up, and now I have no idea what it was.

I need to find this, my soul cries out for it. Plus, it will probably drive my wife crazy, and that is always a plus (well, I guess not always, but in this case it would be).

So, think early 80's orchestral rock version of christmas music. What is it, and where can I find more of it?

posted by markblasco to media & arts (7 answers total)

Longshot: the Mocean Worker remix of the Cathedral Brass' "Joy to the World." Appears on Christmas Remixed, among others.
posted by mumkin at 11:46 PM on December 25, 2012

Mannheim Steamroller? Not exactly horns but it's certainly cheesy. Also I think there are some more orchestral versions of their songs.
posted by mmoncur at 11:50 PM on December 25, 2012 [1 favorite]

Wizards in Winter by the Trans Siberian Orchestra? Cheesy, electronic, and so earwormy that it will have you posting on MeFi at the crack of dawn to track it down.

Sorry no link, on my phone.
posted by apparently at 1:41 AM on December 26, 2012 [2 favorites]

What station were you listening to? You might be able to find their playlist online.
posted by zippy at 2:10 AM on December 26, 2012

My vote would go to something by the Trans Siberian Orchestra too. Carol of the Bells is always on the radio (or it feels that way - I seem to catch it waaaay too often), and while it definitely has guitar, it's three and a half minutes that feels like twenty. It starts with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and morphs into "Carol of the Bells" so it's like a medley and it is so earwormy and cheesy that though it drives me crazy, I can't bring myself to hate it.
posted by peagood at 7:39 AM on December 26, 2012

It's not a guitar rock band, it was definitely a full orchestra, and no synths, so none of the traditional epic christmas bands. Think of a late 70's action movie score, but christmas music. It distinctly sounded like it was recorded in the 70's or early 80's, it was not a modern recording.

I don't know the station, we're in the Seattle area, but I don't know what station my wife had on at the time. The only other thing I can remember is that right after that song, they played an aaron nevile christmas song.
posted by markblasco at 8:12 AM on December 26, 2012

I was able to figure out the station, and sure enough they had it listed. Mannheim Steamroller, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. It sounds different now that I'm not in the car, but still full of awesome. Thanks everyone!

Here it is!
posted by markblasco at 8:22 AM on December 26, 2012 [1 favorite]