Seeing as how it's supposed to be snowing out soon (we'll see about it this time around) and we've started to throw a few holiday tunes on the air I’ve started to think about what MY favorite Christmas songs of all time might be. I’ve narrowed it down to five. Actually, I DO know what my all-time fave is, but I also have a soft spot in my heart for the other four, as well.
First the four runners-up, in alphabetical order (and with the caveat that I don't consider Relient K's punk version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” a classic, at least not yet. But it IS getting there, and if I were to re-write this list in a few years it'll be on it.)
So, the five?
“All I Want For Christmas Is You”, Mariah Carey. Now, I’m not a big Mariah Carey fan, but there’s just something....irresistible about this song. It puts a smile on your face, it makes you sing along with it, and it gets stuck in your head. Can you ask for anything more in a tune, especially a holiday tune?
“Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”, Johnny Mathis. Why? Well, because it’s a great example of old-school Holiday music, with big orchestras, big vocals, and an urge to make you start dancing. Oh, and it mentions ghosts, too, therefore also technically qualifying it as a Halloween song, as well.
“Same Old Lang Syne”, Dan Fogelberg. When the (sadly) late Mr. Fogelberg wrote the song, I don’t think he intended it as a holiday song (it was just a single off of an album), but in the 44 years since (44 years?!?!?!?!?), it’s become a holiday classic. It’s a rare example of a downbeat tune (like “Merry Christmas Baby”) that actually works as a Christmas song; add to that an incredibly wistful string arrangement, and you’re set.
“White Christmas”, by (ahem) Vince Gill. For the first two and a half minutes of this song, it’s just incredibly sublime guitar playing. Then for the next two and a half minutes, the vocals kick in. We play this particular version on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; if you happen to hear it, you’ll know why it’s on this list.
And, finally, Jim’s favorite Christmas song of all time? There’s just no question about it…
“The Christmas Song”, by Nat King Cole. It’s ethereal...it just is. And it’s not OFFICIALLY the holidays until you listen to it.
That’s my top 5 list. What's on yours?
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