You might assume from the name of this blog that my favorite part of the holiday season is all the lights. That’s a perfectly reasonable guess, but it happens to be wrong.
Instead, my favorite part of the holiday season is the music. Like my affinity for light bulbs, my love of Christmas music drives my kids crazy and exposes me to their ridicule and scorn. I have to indulge this guilty pleasure in private. But no matter.
There’s a reason why we keep going back to our favorite songs. Christmas music can conjure up happy memories from earlier times; serve as a soundtrack for this year’s festivities; and bind us to our loved ones as we listen – and sing – along together.
Since there are 12 days left until Christmas, I thought I’d offer my own picks for 12 songs to add to your playlist. I don’t claim that these are the best or most important or most influential. They’re just special to me.
So here they are:
Mary’s Boy Child / Oh My Lord by Boney M.
Emmanuel by Amy Grant.
Variations on the Kanon by George Winston.
Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC.
Reason for the Season by Stryper.
Iesus Ahatonnia (The Huron Carol) by Bruce Cockburn.
On Grafton Street by Nanci Griffith.
Sleigh Ride by Ella Fitzgerald.
Let It Go by Pentatonix.
10. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love.
11. Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.
Linus and Lucy by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
So there you have it. An eclectic set of songs that somehow managed to imprint themselves on the file folder in my brain whose label reads Christmas Songs. How about yours? Which songs help tell the story of your life? Feel free to add your own playlist in the comment box below.
As I am pressed for time… which is really only a choice to say that I enjoy distraction everywhere I am and so keep having to come back to unfinished work… I will offer my recent top 6. Nate King Cole’s Christmas Song; like you I am a huge Vince Gauraldi trio fan and his Skating song capturing the joy of falling snowflakes does it for me big time; Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas Is you had special meaning for me this year as a friend is battling cancer, and it Actually has all the elements to become a true Christmas Carol to be sung door to door especially as evidenced here in its simplicity with musical toy instruments played by the Roots; thanks to my son who has become a piano playing enthusiast I discovered the mysterious melancholy of Walking on the Air from the Snowman; and because he also plays the trumpet with his best Buddy I love the Hallelujah Chorus even more (limited audio quality video of their performance at a church talent show included here – Joe is the dark curly haired trumpeter playing down while His friend Tommy plays up; and finally I’ve been listening to Over the Moon this season, from E.T. The extra-terrestrial, the piano piece that played with the credits, expanded and performed by this incredible German composer — the music of this Spielberg film captures the sentiments of childhood for me, excitement, sadness, and joy — all of which are present each winter and often at Christmas. Loved this post. Can’t wait to listen to all yours Martin ! ❤️🎄❤️
Actually I see that I listed 7, E T was The bonus 7th track and the 6th Favorite was Mary did you know performed by Jordan Smith on the voice…his own mentor a world famous artist had never heard it until that moment. I also love his rendition of Mr. Grinch…But this live performance on the Voice was unforgettable for me.
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And Perhaps Martin the Blogger can merge all these posts together. Here is the key to my list of you tube links:
Most of these I haven’t heard! Love new music. I know people have a lot of feelings about this song, but I just love this version from Elf! Zooey DesChanel and Leon Redbone https://youtu.be/pjYUzpdKMZs
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Excellent selection Hannah! I love the entire Elf soundtrack!
7 replies on “This is my list of 12 songs of Christmas. What’s yours?”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uD5pqOsW1PU
Yes!! Classic!
As I am pressed for time… which is really only a choice to say that I enjoy distraction everywhere I am and so keep having to come back to unfinished work… I will offer my recent top 6. Nate King Cole’s Christmas Song; like you I am a huge Vince Gauraldi trio fan and his Skating song capturing the joy of falling snowflakes does it for me big time; Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas Is you had special meaning for me this year as a friend is battling cancer, and it Actually has all the elements to become a true Christmas Carol to be sung door to door especially as evidenced here in its simplicity with musical toy instruments played by the Roots; thanks to my son who has become a piano playing enthusiast I discovered the mysterious melancholy of Walking on the Air from the Snowman; and because he also plays the trumpet with his best Buddy I love the Hallelujah Chorus even more (limited audio quality video of their performance at a church talent show included here – Joe is the dark curly haired trumpeter playing down while His friend Tommy plays up; and finally I’ve been listening to Over the Moon this season, from E.T. The extra-terrestrial, the piano piece that played with the credits, expanded and performed by this incredible German composer — the music of this Spielberg film captures the sentiments of childhood for me, excitement, sadness, and joy — all of which are present each winter and often at Christmas. Loved this post. Can’t wait to listen to all yours Martin ! ❤️🎄❤️
https://youtu.be/Kn4Y3sHyfsg
https://youtu.be/hwacxSnc4tI
https://youtu.be/qqh2lrp13BQ
https://youtu.be/MbhvXKLmJJs
https://youtu.be/6MrldgLvmCw
https://youtu.be/LSfm6XzwNCI
https://youtu.be/kooY8Q4aHvE
Actually I see that I listed 7, E T was The bonus 7th track and the 6th Favorite was Mary did you know performed by Jordan Smith on the voice…his own mentor a world famous artist had never heard it until that moment. I also love his rendition of Mr. Grinch…But this live performance on the Voice was unforgettable for me.
And Perhaps Martin the Blogger can merge all these posts together. Here is the key to my list of you tube links:
Skating – Vince Guaraldi Trio
https://youtu.be/Kn4Y3sHyfsg
Nat King Cole Christmas Song
https://youtu.be/hwacxSnc4tI
Carey – Fallon Ask I want for Christmas is you
https://youtu.be/qqh2lrp13BQ
Walking in the Air
https://youtu.be/MbhvXKLmJJs
Jordan Smith Mary did you know
https://youtu.be/6MrldgLvmCw
Hallelujah Trumpets at the Church Youth Talent Show
https://youtu.be/LSfm6XzwNCI
Over the Moon
https://youtu.be/kooY8Q4aHvE
Most of these I haven’t heard! Love new music. I know people have a lot of feelings about this song, but I just love this version from Elf! Zooey DesChanel and Leon Redbone
https://youtu.be/pjYUzpdKMZs
Excellent selection Hannah! I love the entire Elf soundtrack!