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. ;)

Most despised Christmas music

I forgot to mention in my previous post that I'm also writing my testimony about visiting teaching for the December RS newsletter. Again, too much of me in such a short time period!

Okay, finally, here is my promised post about my least favorite Christmas songs!

I love schmaltz and sap, honest I do, but I have a list of Christmas songs that I really dislike. Some are specific versions of songs but others are just the song in general -- doesn't matter who sings it! The following is in no particular order:

• Christmas Shoes - Newsong. ICK ICK ICK! A major eye-roller, as my mom and I would say. I hate songs that were written just to make people cry. I can't believe there's an actual movie (and a sequel to that movie!) as well.
• Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt version only. I think it's because my mom hates it so much and it's rubbed off on me. I like the Madonna version just fine.
• Jingle Bells - the barking dogs version
• Most anything by Trans Siberian Orchestra (with the exception of Christmas Canon) and Manheim Steamroller - I know many of you will disagree with me but I call this "angry music"
• Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg. Way too depressing to be a Christmas song.
• Mary, did you know? Major melodrama -- way too much.
• Anything on Rick Springfield's Christmas album. I bought it for a friend last year because she just loves him and it has got to be the worst CD ever. EVER. Okay, this particular song I linked is dedicated to the troops so while I appreciate the thought, it is seriously a bad CD.
• Christmas in America by Kenny Rogers. Blech. Plus I think he does the talking over the music thing partway through. Say it with me people...blech.
• Feliz Navidad. I mostly tolerate the original version but the Jon Secada version? BAD.
• You Make it Feel Like Christmas by Neil Diamond. I don't totally hate the song but hate the way Neil says ChristMASS.

Note: O Holy Night used to be on my "list" because people sing it who have no right singing it (meaning they aren't good enough singers) or they oversing it completely. I've since changed my, ahem, tune and I like it a lot more now.

And another song category? Songs that are not Christmas songs so quit calling them that! (I really hope all of the "Warm" music station program managers are reading my blog right now.)

• Get Here - The Oleta Adams version is my favorite but seriously there is not one bit of Christmas in that song.
• My Favorite Things - just because it talks about packages tied up in string and says the words "sleigh bells", doesn't make it a Christmas song! Who started this anyway? They need to be smacked around a little. Oh and I specifically linked a version sung by Dionne Warwick. Not my favorite singer.
• Seasons of Love from Rent. I've read the lyrics and I still don't know how that one became a Christmas song. I've never seen the play or movie -- maybe the song is played during Christmas time or something???

Okay - your turn. Agree or disagree? Anything I've forgotten?

People, it is time!

For what, you might be asking? Christmas music! Well, that AND a giveaway.

I love Christmas music. Love it! If you were to call my cell phone, you would hear Christmas music instead of a boring old ring. I have an extensive collection -- over 450 songs in my iTunes and that doesn't include the CDs I haven't gotten around to adding.

I tend to like all kinds of music -- ultra traditional but also very contemporary. Really, I like anything that puts me in a happy, giving, let's make cookies and share them with the world kind of mood.

Now to the giveaway: I was putting together a playlist of my favorite Christmas songs this year and I thought it would be nice to give away a CD of my favorites to one of my 16 readers. I will also throw another surprise or two into the box, just to make this a fun Christmas treat for someone.

If you'd like to win, just comment one time and tell me your most favorite Christmas song and why. Comment away until 9 PM Pacific this Friday, Nov 21. I'll announce the winner in a post Friday night or Saturday morning.

To whet your appetite a little, this song could possibly be on the CD (it is my ringtone, after all!)