As the song goes, it’s coming on Christmas and in the spirit I am listening to lots of Christmas music. There’s the standard stuff like White Christmas (I actually like the song but adore the movie) and We Need a Little Christmas (never truer than 2020 amIright?) but then there are others that are less traditional like Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes or Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and literally everything by Darlene Love. In any case, today I’m sharing 3 I really love that you may not know in the hopes that you’ll find something new to enjoy this season.
- The Oh Hellos Family Christmas Album. It’s only 4 songs and each is a different movement . . . really a combination of traditional songs with a new twist. Mvmt IV is my favorite in case you are wondering.
- Annalise Emerick’s song This Love Won’t Break Your Heart from the album Starry-Eyed. It’s more of a New Year’s Eve song but I’ve never believed we should wait until December 31st to listen to Auld Lang Syne. (Speaking of Auld Lang Syne, Old Crow Medicine Show has a great version of it that was recorded live at the Ryman Auditorium.)
- All The I Want for Christmas by The Rescues. Please do not confuse this with the Mariah Carey song All I Want for Christmas Is You. Not that there’s anything wrong with that one, I hear it’s a particular favorite of Jackie’s right now. But this one is soft and lovely and I first heard it many years ago on Grey’s Anatomy.
What are your favorite holiday songs? Tell me so I can find something new! And if you wrote a post for today don’t forget to include your link below.
I am the first to admit that I get a little sick of Christmas music, especially when I start hearing it too early, but I do enjoy some of the standard classics — “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and things like that. The key for me is getting it in small doses at the proper time. (And I realize I might feel different if I actually celebrated the holiday!)
Want to hear something funny? My daughter has an assignment for her choir class to record a bit of a holiday song. I asked her what she was going to sing, thinking it would be a Chanukah song. Nope, she’s going for “All I Want for Christmas,” a la Mariah Carey! (When she gets old enough for the language and sex, we’ll watch “Love Actually” with her so she can appreciate “Christmas Is All Around”!)
I tend to be super traditional about my Christmas music, and I also prefer instrumental arrangements. (I also get really tired of it, so don’t start listening until a couple of weeks before Christmas or so.) (Scrooge? Nah!) I have a lot of favorites, but I’m usually reluctant to listen to “newer stuff” — although I do like covers of more traditional Christmas music. So, I guess I’m complicated . . . (and some might say particular. . . ). XO
One of the reasons I’m not a big fan of Christmas music is that I’ve heard most of them too often, and they usually start far too early for me. I think these songs might provide some nice listening while I (hopefully) put up and decorate the tree next week. Thanks, Carole!
I downloaded a playlist yesterday and heard a lot of new-to-me songs. Some were downright funny (“nothing rhymes with Christmas”), a few were instrumental only ( Andrew Bird, and one from the movie Elf), and I’ve decided Michael Bublé and Leslie Odom Jr are my favorite “new” artists … and Andy Williams and Perry Como for “classics”. Here’s the playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32cJySpSE8efiJoN3KJROU
Exposure to early Christmas music has been lessened this year with fewer or nonexistent trips to the store compared to years past. I’ve been tuning in at will the past few days. I still love Leslie Odom Jr’s “Simply Christmas” album from a few years ago… he has a new one this year called “The Christmas Album.” 🙂 Hanson’s “Snowed In” is a family favorite!!
I’m a very-late-in-December listener though I do listen when putting up the tree. Looking forward to checking out your suggestions! (My favorite is The Three Tenors Christmas.)
These are all new to me, Carole! I lean toward Traditional when it comes to Christmas music…the others don’t really feel like ‘Christmas’ songs to me. Although I do love Michael Buble…even his non-traditional stuff. That’s about as adventurous as I get 🙂
I don’t really enjoy too much Christmas music, and I generally get enough of it while watching Love Actually, which I need to do soon. I love that movie! I am glad you get joy from Christmas music, Carole.
My husband and I put some Christmas music on this afternoon and put up the Christmas tree. It’s such a wonderful mood-setter! I think my favorite may be O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
I’ve been making very good use of my Sirius XM app listening to channel 73- music from the 40s-60s. Since I’m not in the car commuting it’s keeping me company while I telework.