It starts for me and my family with a round of hot cocoa and my wife’s homemade fudge on the day after Thanksgiving. It’s the Christmas-song season! We put up the tree while listening to favorite songs of the season. It’s an annual ritual for me to load up all our Christmas albums in iTunes and browse the online store for a new “classic” or two!
So, based on my month-a-year listening, here are 12 of the best Christmas songs ever:
12. “Little Drummer Boy,” by Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band
11. “Christmas Eve – Sarejevo 12-24,” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
10. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee
9. “Sleigh Ride,” by Diana Krall and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
8. “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” by Mariah Carey
7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Amy Grant
6. “The Nutcracker Suite,” by The Brian Setzer Orchestra
5. “Jingle Bell Rock,” by Bobby Helms
4. “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,” by Andrew Peterson
3. “Face of Love,” by Jewel
2. “Cool Yule,” by Louis Armstrong and the Commanders
1. “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home),” by U2
Some traditional carols and a few modern tunes in my list … and coming in at #1 is the song I’ve been loving this season – U2. Although Jewel’s “Face of Love” is powerful and Louis Armstrong is never a bad choice!
So, what do you think? What have I missed? Any that you’d add to the list?
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
“I want a hippopotamus for Christmas” is on my top five. Along with “All I want for Christmas is You”, “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”, “Step Into Christmas” by Elton John and “Carol of the Bells”.
Oooh, the Chipmunk Song – nice. Honorable mention for that one and Carol of the Bells!
“o little town of bethlehem” off sarah mclachlan’s wintersong album, nat king cole’s version of “the christmas song”, the chipmunk song, bruce springstein’s “santa claus is coming to town”, bing crosby’s “white christmas” and my kids singing pretty much any christmas song they like, loud and slightly off-key.
Marnie –
I’ve heard some snippets of the Wintersong album … might have to add that to the mix. I’m always a little behind the times!
Love your mother’s heart! Can’t say my kids’ versions are on the top of my list – but it is fun to sing along with them!
ooh–wayne, forgot the bare naked ladies/sara mclachlan version of “god rest ye merry gentlemen”
awesome!
Baby it is cold outside. Off of the Elf soundtrack.
Wayne,
My favorite Christmas song is “I Believe In Father Christmas” by Greg Lake. My small c christmas season doesn’t start until I hear it. I also like “Happy Christmas/War is Over by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. As for what would be thought of as traditional Christmas Carols, I like most of them, so, with me it really comes down to the “feel” of the song. I tend to like Christmas carols that have a medieval chord pattern (I had to look that up), a Celtic feel (go figure) and for lack of better knowledge on terminology, a Middle-Eastern beat (think belly dance)…or don’t if that is more comfortable for you.