Tis the season....

[sodascouts]

My favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night", but I hate the wussy versions. It's a very dramatic song that builds up to a very powerful ending. If you're going to do that song, you gotta have the pipes to hit all those high notes true and strong. One of the best I've found is Celine Dion's. From 4:20-4:35 she shows how it should be done:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jr-2eyRtV4[/ame]


A cute, fun twist on two old songs is Sarah McLachlan and the Bare Naked Ladies singing a medley of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and "We Three Kings":

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGVNzgUxE-g[/ame]


This lyrics of this song always bring tears to my eyes - "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by the Carpenters:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z65E9uA1sKI[/ame]


One of my favorite rock'n'roll Christmas songs is Wham's "Last Christmas":

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFpdRWDxkbQ[/ame]


This one is just so much fun with its sound effects - "Sleigh Ride" by the Boston Pops Orchestra

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rSocVAD6c[/ame]


Love U2, so I love their Christmas song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ8ahtAS8YQ[/ame]



Nobody knows this one but it was a favorite from my childhood - "Come on Ring Those Bells" by Evie:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULHn978OJh4[/ame]


Another fun version of a childhood favorite - "Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Christmas Song)" - Powder

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utl9yLcjfcI[/ame]


Other good versions of songs:

Silent Night - Stevie Nicks (ok, it's not the best version really, but it's STEVIE)
The Little Drummer Boy - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
What Child Is This - Vince Gill
Brightest Star - Chris Isaak
Coventry Carol - Christine McVie
Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Mariah Carey
Joy to the World - The Supremes
O Come All Ye Faithful - Charlotte Church
Frosty the Snowman - George Strait
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
Let It Snow - Harry Connick Jr.
Silver Bells - Perry Como
We Need a Little Christmas - The New Christy Minstrels
Do You Hear What I Hear - Bing Crosby (Carrie Underwood and Whitney Houston also do great versions of this song)

[lynnzop]

I love holiday music and play the BNL holiday CD regularly in July. . Outside of those that were already mentioned above, I'll add:

Jingle Bells - Barenaked Ladies
Wizards of Winter - Tran-Siberian Orchestra
Father Christmas - The Kinks
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Carpenters

[Fan_For_Life]

I heard two songs I really love to hear today, "Mary Did You Know" Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd. Also "Let There Be Peace On Earth" by Vince Gill.

[Molly]

My mom had an old Charlie Pride Christmas album that we listened to a million times. I have no idea what happened to the album. Last year, I downloaded it off of ITunes. I was so thrilled to hear those songs again, I cried! Especially the song, "They Stood in Silent Prayer" and "Santa and the Kids"

We have a John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album that I've caught the kids listening to even as adults.

I love when Miss Piggy gets bent out of shape coz she thinks the line in "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is "bring us some piggy pudding."

[TimothyBFan]

Molly-that Miss Piggy thing cracked me up.

Here's one I don't have downloaded. I just don't understand the Bob Dylan thing---you could say literally I guess. Just not a big fan.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTgqnXae2LQ[/ame]

[Freypower]

Well, I DO understand Dylan. He is my hero, but I don't want to hear him sing Christmas songs, especially now his voice is so weathered and raspy.

(The 'ho ho ho' bit cracked me up. You go, Bob)!

[Brooke]

Another favorite of mine I just heard on the radio is My Favorite Things by Lorrie Morgan.

[eaglesvet]

The other night I was watching the Christmas Tree Lighting in Rockefeller Center on TV. Shakira (not a singer I usually listen to) did a sultry version of "Santa Baby" that caught our family's attention--very nice! (She also performed her new non-holiday single, "Gypsy", that we really liked as well.)
Rob Thomas performed his song "A New York City Christmas," which I have heard before but never really paid attention to, if KWIM. I like that one as well!

[eaglesvet]

Oh man! I just heard the most FABULOUS version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Coldplay! It's just piano and (I'm assuming) Chris Martin solo, sounding oh so good, almost a little Sinatra-esque at times. Very smooth!!