Eastbayri.com

Christmas songs — or “holiday songs” for the PC crowd — can have a polarizing effect on merry revelers this time of year. While some tunes can often inspire even the Grinches to get into the spirit of things (“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”), others are regarded as the musical equivalent of holiday fruitcake (“Jingle Bells” by the Singing Dogs).

Musicians in particular have strong opinions about the merry melodies that follow us wherever we go this time of year. We thought it would be fun to ask some local music-makers about their favorite seasonal songs. They didn’t disappoint.

Mark Cutler, Riverside

Leads a variety of roots-rock bands (including Men of Great Courage, Tiny String Band) and also performs solo.

“One of my favorites is ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ I like Christmas songs that were written around World War II and how they were about being away from home. This was about a solider who misses home and that really resonates with me,” said Mr. Cutler, noting that “White Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” are around a similar theme. “Frank Sinatra’s version was great and Bing recorded a good version, too.

“I also love ‘Christmas Time is Here’ from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’ The Christmas songs with a little sadness really get me,” he said.

Mark Cutler’s new single, “Let’s Celebrate,” is available for download from iTunes.

Becky Chace, Barrington

Folk- and rock-based singer performs with friend and guitarist Brian Minisce.

They say great minds think alike. So do bandmates, apparently.

In addition to their own musical projects, Becky Chace and Mark Cutler play together in Forever Young, a Neil Young tribute band. As did Mr. Cutler, Ms. Chace chose “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as her favorite holiday song. However, she had a different performer in mind: Judy Garland, who first introduced the song in the 1944 musical, “Meet Me in St. Louis.”

“Her unrivaled voice, coupled with the sentimental lyrics, captures the range of emotion evoked by Christmas: joy and sorrow, comfort and longing,” said Ms. Chace. “In this original version the lyrics refer to the future with the last line, ‘Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow,’ which was of particular meaning to the World War II soldiers serving overseas at the time. Sinatra changed the line in the ‘50s to make it less mournful with ‘Hang a shining star upon the highest bow.’ I love the original for the way it makes your heartache but gives you hope for a brighter future. These days I think we should go back to the original!”

(For what it’s worth, Mr. Cutler said he likes “muddle” too. “Frank thought it was too depressing,” he said. “(But) it’s just a great song.”)

Becky Chace performs Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Church Street Coffeehouse in Warren (see 8 Days for details); and Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Tyler Point Grille in Barrington.

Joan Roth, Bristol

Long-time musical educator and director of Bristol Interfaith Choir, which presented the 31st annual “Many Moods of Christmas” concert over the weekend in Bristol.

At 85, Mrs. Roth has seen more than her share of sheet music and voice students (she taught for many years at the Wilbur School in Little Compton and Roger Williams University before her retirement). Not surprisingly, then, for her to pick just one Christmas song would be impossible.

“Having been involved in singing all my life, I have too many favorites,” she said. “Of course, like everyone else, I feel that Christmas wouldn’t be complete without ‘Cantique de Noel’ (‘O Holy Night’ — I love it in French).”

She also enjoys folk-based songs such as “Il Est Ne” (France), “Bel Bambino” (Italy), “The Huron Carol” (French-Canadian) and “Good People All” — sometimes called the “Wexford Carol” (Ireland) — because, she said, each one reflects the style of music in each respective country.

“I used to tell the kids in school that when immigrants came to this country they brought more than what was in their suitcases. They brought their music, traditions, food, etc., and we in America have benefited,” said Mrs. Roth.

She doesn’t turn her nose at the “pop” Christmas songs, either. Mrs. Roth singled out “The Secret of Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby in one of his “priest” movies (“Say One for Me”). “It never caught on, but has a lovely melody and the last two lines are ‘The secret of Christmas is not the things you do at Christmastime/but the Christmas things you do all year through,’” she said.

Allysen Callery, Bristol

Alternative-folk singer/songwriter

Ms. Callery chose “The Coventry Carol,” by John Denver, which she first heard on Denver’s “Rocky Mountain Christmas” album.

“He got kind of a bad rap for being corny, but he was an intensely spiritual man,” she said. “’Coventry Carol’ is a song about King Herod’s Massacre of the Innocents, a decree that all male children under the age of 2 were to be slain, and the pain it must have caused Jesus to be the indirect cause of.

“It doesn’t ring with holly, or jingle bells, but for me it sums up a side of Christmas often not remembered, but just as important. And, it’s an absolutely beautiful song.”

Allysen Callery will perform at “An Evening of Christmas Music” on Friday, Dec. 23, at the Church Street Coffeehouse at the First United Methodist Church, 25 Church St., Warren.

Robert Arsenault, Bristol

Chairman of the Performing Arts Department at Mt. Hope High School in Bristol and co-founder of the Community String Project

Mr. Arsenault picked “We Need A Little Christmas,” a march from Jerry Herman’s Broadway musical, “Mame.”

“It lifts my spirits wherever I hear it,” he said. “I happen to love the band arrangement by Frank Cofield. Just as our students were showing signs of fatigue in our concert band rehearsal at the high school this morning, we placed ‘We Need A Little Christmas’ on the music stands. By the second measure of music, toes were tapping, flutes were trilling and the trumpets singing out the melody!”

You can hear “We Need a Little Christmas” along with the Guitar Ensemble, vocal groups and bands at the Mt. Hope High School Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.

Mark MacDougal, Warren

Founder of 75orLess Records and member of the rock trio Six Star General

Mr. MacDougal puts a positive spin on a seemingly cynical song by one of the great British rock groups.

“I like my holiday music on the upbeat side, so I’ll choose arguably the most rockin’ Christmas song ever, ‘Father Christmas’ by The Kinks from 1977,” he said. “Sure, the lyrics are dark and it’s about Santa Claus getting robbed by children, but Christmas-themed power-pop is a rare thing.

“Plus, it’s not all bleak. One sensitive child mugger does ask Santa to give his father a job for Christmas, so there’s hope for a Christmas redemption in that child’s future.”

Six Star General plays a free vinyl release show with The Blood Moons and Soma Nova at The Apartment in Providence on Friday, Dec. 30.

Emerson Torrey Jr., Bristol

Plays guitar in Good Time Charlie

Mr. Torrey, who’s played in several alternative rock bands over the years, chose a familiar holiday chestnut that can’t be avoided this time of year.

“I always liked ‘Feliz Navidad’ by Jose Feliciano because I always wanted learn another language — and Spanish is sexy.”

Good Time Charlie plays The Common Pub in Bristol on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Joe Fletcher, Warren

Leader of the Americana band Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons

There are many “amazing” Christmas songs, said Mr. Fletcher, so it’s hard for him to choose just one.

“If I may cheat, I’m going to call it a tie between Mitch Miller’s ‘Must Be Santa’ and James Brown’s ‘Let’s Make Christmas Mean Something This Year.’

“To me, both capture the mysterious and majestic ideas that Christmas is supposed to be about. ‘Must Be Santa’ is a childhood favorite of mine, but Mr. Brown captures an adult side of things for me when he pleads and screams for us to treat one another with kindness for just this short time.”

You can download Joe Fletcher’s music at www.reverbnation.com/joefletcher.

Tom Perrotti, Portsmouth

Executive director, Common Fence Music in Portsmouth

“I like Mel Torme’s ‘The Christmas Song’ because it describes a contemporary American and secularized scene featuring the three Fs as the Holy Trinity: family, friends and food. But, it also suggests a more traditional Christmas with the ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.’ But I mostly like the song because it reminds me of Columba Razza Perrotti, my paternal grandmother, who roasted the chestnuts.”