My most favorite Christmas songs

Since posting about my most despised Christmas songs ruffled a few feathers, I thought I would try and calm everyone down with a list of my most beloved Christmas songs. I think I'll first list my favorite albums (um, CDs??) and then go to individual songs.

Fave Christmas CDs

• Merry Christmas -- Mariah Carey. This would be a desert island CD for me. It's perfect from start to finish. Not one song is a "skipper."
• Cool Yule -- Bette Midler. Such a fun CD. Her versions of "Mele Kalikimaka" and "I've Got My Love to Keep me Warm" are two that I play the most. I ignore the Christmas version of "From a Distance" however.
• A Christmas Album & Home for Christmas -- Amy Grant. Her first two CDs are my most favorite. "Heirlooms" on the first CD and "Breath of Heaven" on the second are the standout songs for me.
• Noel -- Josh Groban. I love this entire CD. His version of "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" is absolute perfection.
• This is Christmas -- Luther Vandross. I love Luther and this CD would be perfect except for the "My Favorite Things" error in judgement.
• Christmas at Home -- Donny Osmond. With the exception of two songs, this is a really great CD. One song was on my naughty list a couple of days ago and the other is the ridiculous "Who Took the Merry out of Christmas." I know it makes my friend Kim laugh but it makes me hit the skip button. My favorites on this CD are "Come to the Manger" (shout out to Grandpa H!) and "Baby What You Gonna Be" which we sang in junior high choir. I love that song!

Fave Christmas Songs (besides those mentioned above)

• We Need a Little Christmas -- It's not really Christmas until I hear this song by Percy Faith and his orchestra. This song makes me very happy.
• Baby, It's Cold Outside -- I'm partial to the Zooey Deschanel/Leon Redbone version from "Elf" but I also enjoy the Rod Stewart/Dolly Parton version and the Vanessa Williams/someone else versions too.
• Pine Cones and Holly Berries -- The Osmonds. I make my friend Michelle sing this as a duet with me as we drive to Portland for our yearly shopping trips. This is another "happy place" type of song.
• Merry Christmas from the Family -- The Dixie Chicks and Rosie O'Donnell. Not a song for children since it starts out "Mom got drunk and dad got drunk" but I love, love, love it.
• A Marshmallow World -- Lots of people sing this song but the Dean Martin version is the best (not the one I linked from You Tube where he's totally drunk and slurring the words, however!)
• Winter Wonderland -- I love the Jason Mraz version I linked last week but the Collin Raye version is fantastic and features backup vocals by the Beach Boys. So fun! I also really love the Louis Armstrong version -- it's very romantic and would be great to slow dance to (I'm guessing!)
• Tinseltown and That's What I Want for Christmas -- SHeDAISY. The rest of the CD is way too wacky but these two songs are so good. Tinseltown is a great one to sing along to and the latter is a nice, romantic song for Christmas.
• O Holy Night -- Point of Grace. Kim introduced me to this song when she had some of our YW sing it a few Christmases ago. Beautiful harmonies.
• Silver and Gold -- Vanessa Williams. This song is just smooth, relaxing and beautiful.
• Hard Candy Christmas -- Dolly Parton. Now I know this song is probably a little depressing to some, but I love it. Classic Dolly and just so pretty.

Okay, I think I'm done talking about Christmas music. Finally. ;)