What are your must-hear holiday tracks, and how soon will you start listening to them? Here’s why I’m asking: I already am.
Normally, I would hate me, too. Until this year, I’d always been a day-after-Thanksgiving girl. I’d be home in Happy Valley visiting my family, and that’s when my mother would break out Aaron Neville’s Soulful Christmas, I’d try again to steal her copy of Elvis’ If Every Day was Like Christmas (because "Santa Claus is Back in Town" is the sexiest Christmas song ever), and my sister would pretend that she wasn’t happy to hear the return of Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics. (Am I the only one who’s touched by the South Park boys’ rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"?)
But this year, Josh Groban (pictured) had to go and release his album Noel in October, which meant I had to snag it off the office giveaway table for my mother. I don’t know about you, but I’m powerless to resist any version of "Ave Maria" because of a compulsive need I have to rank it. (Much like "O Holy Night," which, by the way, Celine Dion sings the holy bejesus out of). Ever since I broke the Noel seal, I’ve been pausing on the Traditional Holiday Music channel on my television when I’m working the high end of the dial, and sitting through some Kenny Loggins/Olivia Newton-John duet in hopes of hearing some old dreamy version of "I’ll Be Home For Christmas." (The last two holidays were less than ideal for me, so that’s why I’m especially vulnerable this year.)
So, now that I’ve cruelly snapped some of you into the holiday spirit — still resisting? maybe the "All I Want for Christmas is You" scene from Love Actually will help — tell me what songs you can’t wait to hear.
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I too got the fever early this year, also courtesy of Josh Groban and I’m Jewish to boot…
Songs that get me every time – Sarah Mclachlan’s cover of River, Another Aud Lang Syne (cheesy but oh so good) and any version of O’Holy Night and I so agree with you, Celine carries that song to places no one else can. When she hits that last Noel…
Elvis’ It’s Christmas Time cd is a must, as is any version of “Last Christmas.”
Generally, we start listening to them during prep for Thanksgiving dinner. I have to confess, though, that if someone looked at my ipod’s top 25 played a few Christmas songs would be found.
My number one all-time christmas album is the jazzy soundtrack to Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. Its swingy sentimental good times that I always bust out after Thanksgiving.
Oooh…lots! The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” is always fun. I think “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by John Mellencamp is great and I also love “Father Christmas” by the Kinks. It might be the sadistic side of me coming out but even as a little kid, the idea of these young street toughs mugging Santa Claus made me giggle a little. Pass the figgy pudding.
I can’t stand Christmas music because of the radio stations that start playing it on Nov. 1. But one song that I always listen to is “Christmas Eve: Sarajevo” by Trans Siberian Orchestra.
1. The Little Drummer Boy
2. All I Want for Christmas is You
3. Deck the Halls
4. Silent Night
5. It’s Beginning to Look…
6. Have yourself a…
Basically all the classics
Mariah’s “All i for christmas” is definitely a fav! OH and i just LOVE the whole CD “A very special Christmas” it brings me back to the days when my BFF and I would roller skate around her basement excited for Santa! Yeah, seriously! Then of course who doesn’t love the classic ‘baby it’s gold outside’ especially by dean or on Elf
This may be the most embarassing thing I’ve ever confessed, but my parents used to play Neil Diamond’s Christmas CD all the time when I was in middle school and high school and I used to claim that I hated it, but I secretly love it and want to buy it. ‘Little Drummer Boy’ is my fave by him.
I love all Christmas music. I’m that girl.
Anytime I hear Nat King Cole singing “The Christmas Song,” I have to stop and smile because I just love it. Also, every year I go in search of the best version of “O Holy Night.” For some reason I just adore Harry Connick Jr’s version but Celtic Woman took the lead last year. Speaking of HCJ, his Christmas album is so much fun because of the bluesy jazz he adds to every number. Glad to know I’m not the only who has broken out the Christmas tracks already! Bring on Christmas!
I, too, used to be a strictly day-after-Thanksgiving gal, but this week I faltered because it was cold outside and I just wanted to hear the comforting strains of “Christmastime is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Now I’m all about Perry Como and good old Bing until Dec. 25.
There are so many choices! I adore the duet between The Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Another favorite is the Band Aid song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” As a kid, I loved “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” I could go on . . .
Christmas- Baby please come home is my all time fave. I also LOVE Carol of the Bells which the version I love is off the Home Alone Soundtrack. I have no shame.
I’m a huge fan of the first Harry Connick Jr. Christmas album…it’s usually the first one I listen to. His version of Ave Maria kills me–you think it’s going to be all piano and then all of a sudden, about 3 minutes in, he starts singing. Sure he can’t hit the notes the way Josh Groban can, but there’s so much emotion behind Harry’s notes. Also love the Red Baron song (is it called “Christmas Bells”?). And I love me some Herb Albert, The Ray Conniff Singers, and the all-time best Andy Williams. This year, though, I have to track down that Sufjan Stevens Christmas album that came out last year.
It has to be All I Want for Christmas is You. I’m not a Mariah fan but that song is just too catchy.
I love Christmas music!! I’m still trying to hold out for the day after Thanksgiving, though, we’ll see if I last… I’m not too picky about the Christmas music I listen to, but I have to admit that the *NSYNC Christmas album is a classic in my rotation. (In my defense, I’m 19 and it came out when I was about 10…it’s been a staple of my childhood Christmases.)
I am broke, and I’m on strike. Can we wait till at least Thanksgiving weekend to discuss Christmas. It’s depressing me. but putting in my two cents worth, Josh Groban’s Believe from the Polar Express movie, brought me to tears the first time i heard it. Damn, now i’m going to have to put it in my ipod.
Mariah Carey’s Christmas CD is one of my all time favorites.. I’ve been known to play it in June. I also love the music from a Charlie Brown Christmas special- I can’t play it at work because I always want to start dancing like the kids do in the special.
For me it is always “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevy – I can’t explain the joy when that song comes on and I rarely ever hear it but when I do, everything is right with the world.
And a second song is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas”. This is the song that I crank up like I’m rocking out to U2 and belt at the top of my lungs – yes I am embarrased but only for a few minutes.
Listening to Bing Crosby sing White Christmas does it for me…it reminds me of my sister and that the holidays are all about family.
John Lennon’s War is over. Anytime that comes on, I just start belting out the chorus.
Also second Home Alone’s Carol of the Bells and Boston Pop’s instrumental version of Sleighride. There’s a version of Maria (the one about the nightingale song) sung by a young girl that I adore, but I’ve never managed to find out who sings it.
this is going to sound ridiculous but I love the Nsync Christmas cd. Just something about the poppy tune of christmas songs makes me want to go and wrap presents.
One of my all time favorite Christmas albums would have to be Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” with special appearances by The Andrew Sisters. It’s completely old school, and who doesn’t love “Mele Kalikimaka”?
I second the mention of Sarah MacLachlan and the Barenaked Ladies’ “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” It’s my absolute favorite. I also love Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
Bruce Springsteen’s rendition of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” has got to be my all-time favorite Christmas song, followed closely by the Vince Guaraldi songs from the Charlie Brown Christmas special.
But I’m strictly an after-Thanksgiving girl.
Definately The Pogues “Fairytale of New York,” I love that song. Also, Bing Crosby and David Bowie “Little Drummer Boy,” Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” The Chipmunks “Hula Hoop Song,” John Lennon “War is Over,” Trans Siberian Orchestra “Christmas Eve Sarejevo,” Neil Diamond “O Holy Night,” and Mel Blanc “The Hat I Got for Christmas is Too Big.” Okay I have gone overboard.
Well, of course Mariah’s Christmas CD. My fave on there is her version of O Holy Night—she does the best version of that song I’ve ever heard. As for the originals on that CD, I actually prefer Miss you most at Christmas time; very bittersweet.
Faith Hill….”Where Are You Christmas?” And I don’t know why. I think it’s the pleading in her voice.
Charlie Brown Christmas — we play the whole CD while decorating the tree.
Mariah Carey – “All I Want for Christmas” and “O Holy Night” are standouts, but I love the whole thing
Oh yeah, I also have to include Jon Bon Jovi’s “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” If you have never heard it, then seek it out…wow!
My first child will turn 2 just a few days after Christmas and for the first time, I can’t wait for Christmas to come this year… usually it always just seems so early. But I know that she is gonna love it all, now that she can understand stuff better than last year. So after this post, I must, must, must download my Christmas playlist to my ipod tonite! I think I’ve seen some negative comments on my number one selection recently somewhere on ew.com, but I’m still going with Bowie & Crosby: Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth. I even like the cheesy dialog in the begining from the TV special. Some of the other mentions below suggest to me that I need to expand my collection….