Now that Thanksgiving is almost here, it is time to start listening to Christmas music again. For those of you who don’t approve of this kind of premature celebration, stop reading here. But, if you’re like me and have 16 playlists for this time of the season, you know that this isn’t a joke. At all. After years of combing through different festive albums from multiple artists, I have compiled the ultimate Christmas playlist (of my top five favorite songs) to hopefully end the year of 2016 in a much better way than it started.
1. “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)” -- Nat King Cole
Call me old-fashioned, but there is not a single Christmas playlist that I have ever made in my life that has not included this song. This song is the anthem for the entire season. Chances are this is the first Christmas song you shamelessly remember knowing every single word to. And, if you thought that the first song would be “All I Want For Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey, that is as cliché as it gets -- shame on you.
2. “O Holy Night (Glee Cast Version)” - Glee Cast
Don’t judge a book by its cover. You probably saw “Glee Cast” and laughed, but, do yourself a favor and put this song on full volume and try not to be stuck in a Christmas mood for the rest of the day. I’m not choosing this song because this show was my life, I’m choosing it because… OK, I am choosing it because this show was my life. Sorry.
3. “Grownup Christmas List” -- Charice
Not only is this song beautifully written and sung, but it has the most powerful message, especially after the recent election and widespread feeling of hate and anger in our nation right now. This song also reminds the college teenager that we truly aren’t kids anymore; our Christmas lists are getting shorter and shorter each year, including less materialistic objects and more things that sometimes money cannot buy. If you’re still waiting for a Mariah Carey song, don’t hold your breath!
4. “Where Are You Christmas” -- Faith Hill (the original version from How the Grinch Stole Christmas please!)
Not only was this song recorded for the best Christmas movie ever, but it is sung by none other than Faith Hill, the beautiful country singer with the voice of a goddess who happens to be married to freaking Tim McGraw. My personal favorite line is, “If there is love in your heart and your mind, you will feel like Christmas all the time.” But, if you have a serious problem with Faith Hill, I will accept the version by Selah off of her remastered deluxe album “Rose of Bethlehem” from 2002.
5. “White Christmas” -- Kelly Clarkson
You had to know this was coming, I mean c’mon, Kelly Clarkson wasn’t going to not make this list. This version of this song is by far the smoothest, most beautiful rendition of the song possible. I also prefer the intensity of the piano in the background compared to the softer accompaniment music of other versions. This is just the type of song you turn on during the afternoon of Christmas Eve when you are still furiously baking cookies for the next morning.
Whether you prefer the simpler sound of Nat King Cole or enjoy the upbeat feeling of Charice, this taste of my Christmas playlist will definitely kick you into the new season. Enjoy!
