I’ve been trying to get into the Christmas spirit lately. My first step in that process was to pull out all my Christmas CDs. The problem? I couldn’t find them. I’m sure at one point in time I had several. They’ve either disappeared, Zilla’s thrown them out, or I decided I didn’t listen to them often enough and sold them in the Garage Sale of ’09. It doesn’t really matter, the end result is I don’t have any Christmas music.
Over the weekend I went onto my itunes account to try and update my selection. I figured it was the perfect time to discover new music that I’d love. Unfortunately, I was overwhelmed instead. I mean there are so many choices…traditional, jazz, choir, country, rock. It goes on forever. I did buy a few songs – o Holy Night by Michael Crawford and a few Trans-Siberian Orchestra songs. After that I just gave up. I think everyone and their brother has a Christmas album…I quickly learned that just because I like their music doesn’t mean they can sing Rudolph.
Can you help me build my Christmas music playlist? What are you favorite Christmas songs? Who are your must have artists? Are there any I should stay far away from?
I also wanted to share a picture I took over the weekend. We had our first Southern snow…a very rare occurance. A week ago we were in the 50s and 60s, enough for my mom’s roses to bloom. Saturday the girls were throwing snowballs. This just struck me as the perfect illustration of our weird weather pattern.
Southern Snow
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I love John Denver’s Aspen Glow CD. I like the song Aspen Glow too.
Vince Garibaldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas is excellent too.
For something different, Justin Hayward and the Moody Blues new Christmas songs. What Child Is This is very beautifully done.
For fun with young children, Raffi’s Must Be Santa and Up On The Rooftop.
What Child Is This is one of my favorites. I’ll definitely have to check that one out! And Charlie Brown is always a classic. I bet the girls would love that one. Thanks for the suggestions!
Kira
I love the classic christmas stuff like Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and Nat king Cole’s The Christmas Song. Some of the newer stuff I like (if you like country music) is Rascal Flatts did a few christmas song you can get on ITunes, all I like SheDaisy’s christmas songs. One other Christmas song I love but it makes me cry everytime I hear it is Christmas Shoes by Newsong. Such a good song. Im sure there are more, but like I said I kinda stick with the old classic singers. Its my parents fault, lol!
I can’t hear Christmas Shoes without crying. Inevitably it comes one while I’m driving into work and then I show up with a runny nose and red rimmed eyes and everyone wonders what’s happened.
But I love Rascal Flatts and SheDaisy and had no idea they’d done a Christmas album. Will add those to the list. Thanks!
Kira
If you like country music…I like both Rascal Flatts’ I’ll Be Home for Christmas and Sugarland’s new Christmas CD.
John Denver (as mentioned before) is a good one too.
Ooooh, Sugarland has a Christmas Album? I don’t think they’ve ever recorded a bad song. Definitely going on the list.
No Christmas music? Tragic! I just loaded all my CDs onto my iPhone and downloaded a couple must haves. I’m sort of a carol purist. I don’t really want to hear Mariah Carey sing Christmas carols. I’d rather hear Burl Ives or whomever recorded it back in the day. My must have list includes:
Christmas with the Chipmunks (yeah, I know)
Perry Como Christmas
Time Life Treasury of Christmas (3 CD set has all the oldies but goodies)
Bing Crosby’s White Christmas
I downloaded “The First Noel” by the Crash Test Dummies the other day. Hands down my favorite carol of all time. If you can get past the lead singers voice, it really blossoms into a gorgeously arranged carol.
And in the mail yesterday, I got two Straight, No Chaser Christmas albums. All acapella. 12 Days of Christmas is just crazy. Good stuff. And funny, too.
The Crash Test Dummies did Christmas? That has to sound crazy. I think I definitely have to check that one out. I’ve heard amazing things about Straight, No Chaser. Adding them to the list too.
I’m getting so many great suggestions. Thanks everyone!!
It’s not officially Christmas until I play A CHRISTMAS TOGETHER with John Denver and the Muppets. I especially like We Wish You a Merry Christmas where one of the muppets substitutes “piggy” for “figgy” pudding. Of course this sets off Miss Piggy -good Christmas fun.
I bet the girls would love that one! Will have to check it out.
How funny! I’m listening to Christmas music right now. I love the Pandora website. I can pick and choose my playlist and put together a wonderful mix. My favs are Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble but I like the instrumentals too.
Ok, I will not be adding Christmas Shoes to the list now that I know it will make me cry! (LOL)
They even made a movie out of it, Sherry. Made me cry too. It’s a really good song…just gets me every time. I love HC Jr. Will have to check that one out.
Christmas Shoes is an evil song. I get emotional enough around the holidays without them playing songs about poor children with dying mothers who want their mommies to look pretty when they go meet Jesus. Absolutely unnecessary. ;-(
I’ve heard my quota of Christmas Shoes for this season. I don’t want to hear it any more!
I have N SYNC’s since I was a fan. I still enjoy the CD. I also have Now That’s What I Call Christmas Volume 3, a lot of my favorite Christmas songs on that. Another CD I have is Rudolph, Frosty, and Friends Favorite Christmas Songs, all the songs are from the classic movies which happen to be my favorites. Like Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Little Drummer boy. I pretty much like any Christmas songs, I may have to check out Rascal Flatts myself.
I didn’t know they did a Now That’s Christmas album. I always love that they put so many songs I like in one place. I’ll have to try and find it!
Kira, avoid Bob Dylan’s album. I don’t care if it is for charity.
Get some Mannheim Steamroller. The first album is the best.
I’ve always heard about Mannheim Steamroller but I don’t think I’ve ever heard their album. Searching itunes now… Thanks for the suggestion!
Kira, chiming in late, but I really love Bette Midler’s Cool Yule CD. And James Taylor’s Christmas album that came out last year. Really nice!
I check them both out. Thanks, Leslie!
I like Josh Groban and Andrea Boccelli singing Christmas songs, they have wonderful voices. And if you like country Martina McBride has a good one. And you really can’t beat an old Nat King Cole classic for the holidays.
Love Josh Groban. Never thought about checking to see if he had a Christmas album. Thanks for the tip!
Wow, Josh Groban just has the most amazing voice ever! It’s just so angelic and pure… His version of “you lift me up” is my constant inspiration!