7. Mary's Boy Child - Boney M (1978)
Key Lyrics For a moment, the world was aglow, all the bells rang out There were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted "let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace". A huge hit for Harry Bellafonte in 1956, this calypso carol was covered by the German disco group Boney M in 1978. It isn't a bad song, but Boney M's cover is über cheesy and dreadfully catchy. If you get this song in your head, it will - like most Boney M songs - firmly worm its way into your brain and refuse to leave. This makes you want to blow your brains out. Boney M released several mixes and 'mega' mixes of the darn song so you never know what you are in for if the song appears on your favourite radio station. They made quite a few Christmas compilations, and if truth be told, Mary's Boy Child is the best of a bad bunch. But I think the song is a bit too joyful. I doubt lots of people ran around celebrating Jesus' birth, except for the shepherds and the wise men. I don't think church bells rang in Bethlehem and I think Jesus probably had quite a mundane entry into the world, without all the raging merriment in the song. This exuberance and catchiness make 'Mary's Boy Child' enjoyable to sing along to but it will stick in your head possibly until Easter.
Clare Simpson
Contributor
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!
See more from
Clare