It’s simple: no Christmas music until December. That’s my rule. So every year after Thanksgiving ends and the Advent season approaches, I’m thinking about three things: snow, eggnog, and what music will help me enjoy them. Some songs here are old classics, others modern takes. Heard as a whole, they’re but a slice of my Advent aural feast. (I’ll be updating as I hear more and better Christmas music – let me know your favorites in the comments.)
“Why Can’t It Be Christmas All Year?” by Rosie Thomas, A Very Rosie Christmas
“Darlin’ (Christmas Is Coming)” by Over the Rhine, Snow Angels
“Sleigh Ride” by She & Him, A Very She & Him Christmas
“Only At Christmas Time” by Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas
“Winter Song” by Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson, Hotel Cafe Presents
“Frosty The Snowman” by The Ronettes, A Christmas Gift for You
“Joy to the World” by Future of Forestry, Advent Christmas EP: Vol. 2
“Little Drummer Boy” by Bob Dylan, Christmas In The Heart
“Let It Snow!” by Dean Martin, Christmas With the Rat Pack
“I Celebrate The Day” by Relient K, Let It Snow, Baby…Let It Reindeer
“Come Thou Fount” by Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas: Vol. 2
“O Holy Night” by Sleeping At Last, Christmas Collection 2011
“Marshmallow World” by Darlene Love, A Christmas Gift for You
“Merry Christmas, Here’s To Many More” by Relient K, Let It Snow, Baby…
“Snowed In With You” by Over the Rhine, Snow Angels
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, Bing Crosby Christmas
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Frank Sinatra, Christmas With the Rat Pack
Comments
Great list here, Chad! I love the entire Relient K Christmas CD, and I totally concur with the handful of “classic” interpretations of Christmas songs you have on here.
I’m also a huge fan of anything Barry Manilow does for holiday songs. Maybe sharing a name with his hit song makes me bias, but his mash up of classics with original songs can sometimes be fairly profound.
I think I’ll be pulling up the Relient K Christmas album for the afternoon. 🙂
I found it tough to pick just one or two songs off a lot of these albums because there are many great ones, especially from the Rat Pack and Relient K. I’m usually not a Manilow fan, but maybe I’ll check out his Christmas stuff.
I’m also a fan of Jack’s Mannequin’s “The Lights and the Buzz!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzg2iZoUFeo
So…I happened to come upon your wonderful blog! And I may or may not have listened to every song.
Thanks for the festivity while I worked today 🙂 Merry Christmas!