It's that time of the year......

.......of peace and goodwill to all men; of excited children's faces when they realise that Santa has been; of the magic of the nativity story, handed down from generation to generation. It is also the time of year when you buy your annual copy of the Radio Times; you play board games or charades for the first time in twevele months (unless you are very middle class); and you get excited about another chance to see the Royle Family when Denise is pregnant ("Jesus").But most importantly, it is the time of year to indulge in that most British of  yuletide traditions and argue about which is the best Christmas song ever - and indeed if some songs (The Spice Girls 2 becomes 1 and Stay Another Day for example) are actually Christmas songs. Just for the record, they are (sadly) as both were released and were No 1s at Christmas. It doesn't have to mention snow to be a Christmas song!To save you a lot of bother this year I have compiled a list below to put the debate to bed. You're welcome.Firstly, let me say, another who mentions Mariah Carey in this context will be off my Christmas card list. Most overrated Christmas song ever. And don't get me started on Slade or Wizzard!In no particular order (unit the end) here goes;Band Aid - if nothing else, for Bono's line.Driving Home for Christmas - Rea. The M6. I say no more.In Dulci Jubilo - yes, you heard that right - a classicSaviour's Day - for pure Christmas comedy. You've got to have one Cliff in there for all the Mums!O Holy Night - Groban. In my top three.Mary's boy child - the Harry Belafonte version - magnificent.Wonderful Christmastime - Macca in trainers at his most cheesy. Yes, even cheesier that the Frog Chorus, which is actually genius.A Spaceman Came Travelling - weird but brilliant. The key change in the last chorus - oh yes!The Power of Love - a great song at any time of year. Johnson. Legend.The Holly and The Ivy - lovely stuff.Peace on Earth - Little Drummer boy - pray silence for Bing Crosby and David Bowie. That cardigan.But course, there can only be one winner. Do I really need to tell you? If you don't agree, you are simply wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Merry Christmas!It was Christmas Eve babeIn the drunk tankAn old man said to me, won't see another oneAnd then he sang a songThe Rare Old Mountain DewI turned my face awayAnd dreamed about youGot on a lucky oneCame in eighteen to oneI've got a feelingThis year's for me and youSo happy ChristmasI love you babyI can see a better timeWhen all our dreams come trueThey've got cars big as barsThey've got rivers of goldBut the wind goes right through youIt's no place for the oldWhen you first took my handOn a cold Christmas EveYou promised meBroadway was waiting for meYou were handsomeYou were prettyQueen of New York CityWhen the band finished playingThey howled out for moreSinatra was swinging,All the drunks they were singingWe kissed on a cornerThen danced through the nightThe boys of the NYPD choirWere singing "Galway Bay"And the bells were ringing outFor Christmas dayYou're a bumYou're a punkYou're an old slut on junkLying there almost dead on a drip in that bedYou scumbag, you maggotYou cheap lousy faggotHappy Christmas your arseI pray God it's our lastThe boys of the NYPD choirStill singing "Galway Bay"And the bells were ringing outFor Christmas dayI could have been someoneWell so could anyoneYou took my dreams from meWhen I first found youI kept them with me babeI put them with my ownCan't make it all aloneI've built my dreams around youThe boys of the NYPD choirStill singing "Galway Bay"And the bells are ringing outFor Christmas day#ben2b40