Last Christmas in a Winter Wonderland of Jingle Bells

What better time to start a music blog than Christmastime? I have been thinking about this one as I’ve been listening to more and more Christmas music. My challenge; keep this particular post short enough that people might actually read it.

In the interest of brevity (you may not believe that once you have read all of this, but trust me, this one is shorter than previous drafts), this post is about Christmas songs that stand-out for me. They stand out either because I really like them or, in some cases, I don’t like them or, they are just so unique (i.e bad or strange) you need to listen at least once.

I’ll start with a few of my favourites, emphasis is on MY favourites as I fully expect they won’t necessarily be yours (feel free to start your own blog). If I was to list all of my favourites, this post would be many, many pages long. I’m a Christmas music enthusiast(?), and I’d listen to it for more of the year than I do if I didn’t put some restrictions in place. So here are a few in no specific order:

• Santa Clause is Coming to Town – The Jackson 5
• I’ll be Home for Christmas – No particular artist though Leslie Odom Jr.’s is really nice. If you want a “hipster” alternative listen to the version by “She and Him”, AKA Zooey Deschanel and some guy.
• The entire A Charlie Brown’s Christmas Album – Vince Guaraldi (OK, some of the kid’s singing on it is really not good, but it suits the album and, we’ve all been to “those” school concerts)
• The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole (there are other good versions, but nothing beats the original)
• Winter Wonderland – The Ella Fitzgerald version is really great.
• Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives (yes, Michael Buble has a version but…)
• All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey (Yes, I went there, but it’s become a tradition). If you want something with the same pop-yness but without the same old AIWFCIY, try Candy Cane Lane by Sia.
• River – Sarah McLaughlin or Sam Smith do beautiful versions. For an interesting alternative try Iron Man uh, Robert Downey Jr.
• Marshmallow World – This is a big childhood memory for me but I don’t remember who I first heard sing it. Try Kim Stockwood for some Canadian content.
• Happy Christmas (War is Over) – John Lennon. Don’t listen to anyone else, it would be bordering on blasphemy.
• Someday at Christmas – Stevie Wonder – One of the nicest messages of any pop Christmas song.
• Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie and Bing Crosby
• Mary, Did You Know? – CeeLo Green. You may not know that CeeLo has an amazing voice. This song will prove it to you.

As I said, I could go on, but I won’t. Here are a few general albums or categories that might surprise you, or repulse you…

How about TV singing competitions? Do they produce singers with good Christmas albums? Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped in Red (My Favorite Things is a standout) is a really great album. Jordan Smith, a winner from The Voice, has some really great songs. His voice is beautiful and well suited to Christmas music. I particularly like his renditions of Grown Up Christmas List and O Holy Night (with, who else, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). An American Idol Loser, but hardly unsuccessful, is Katharine McPhee and she has an interesting interpretation of What are You Doing New Year’s Eve. However, she has better ones, like Who Would Imagine a King. In the “curious” category, Idol Winner Ruben Studdard has a duet version of O Holy Night with loser, um, runner-up Clay Aiken. Ruben also has a single out called Bite Bite Barracuda (really, it’s a Christmas song). The Sing Off produced Pentatonix and they have some fantastic Christmas music, two of my favourites are a Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy mash-up that’s very clever and the beautiful White Winter Hymnal.

Looking for a little humour injected into your usual Christmas fare? Definitely check out The Heebee-jeebee’s from right here in Calgary, or the ultimate college glee club, Straight No Chaser.

For the more traditionalist Christmas music lover: A Carnegie Hall Christmas is a staple in our house. A big-name smorgasbord including Winton Marsalis, Frederica von Stade, and Kathleen Battle directed by André Previn. If you want a little early music “rock-and-roll” for your Christmas pleasure, you need to crank-up Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem by Praetorius and performed by the Gabrielli Consort. Also, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, is a nice way to spend Christmas eve.

How about the bad, and the strange? (assuming you aren’t a Christmas music hater and consider it all bad and ugly). Some of these are so bad they’re good, like; The Twelve Days of Christmas by Bob and Doug McKenzie. Okay, maybe that’s the only one. Give these a try for some truly odd/bad/bizarre takes; Christmas in Compton by TQ (explicit), epic (in length) Disco Christmas by the Universal Robot Band, Christmas with the Devil by Spinal Tap (because there are “no bells in hell”), in the same vein as Santa Baby is Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man this Christmas) by The Weather Girls. How ’bout some good ol’ down home Rajin’ Cajun Redneck Christmas from The Robertsons of Duck Dynasty “fame”?

I have to finish with this one. I’ll admit, I went looking for strange and bizarre Christmas music and this was a true bonus; R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas from the album Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album. This song was the professional recording debut for a man by the name of John Bonjiovi who later changed his name to Jon Bon Jovi. Merry Christmas!