Oh my. Whichever I am listening to at the moment, I think! Can't pick just one. I'll think and come back!

I haven't heard a single holiday song this year. Guess that tells you something. Need to do some ironing today, so it'll be a good time to spin the Christmas CD's. I think my favorite song is Vanessa Williams' rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Either Bing Crosby's White Christmas or Nat King Cole's Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. Both convey the Christmas mood to me when I hear them.
Dee

Too many to list! I do favor Good King Wenceslas, Lo, How a Rose EâÂÂer Blooming, and Fum, Fum, Fum, plus the entire Benjamin Britten âÂÂCeremony of CarolsâÂÂ.

My favorite modern song is Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" -- so sassy and such funny lyrics. My fav old song is "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" (Adeste Fidelis in Latin).

I have always loved "Carol of the Bells" even though the words are rather trite. I just think the melody is very pretty.

I really like the BarlowGirl version of O Holy Night.

I like all the original versions of Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: O Holy Night - only utube clip I could find of song. don't know who's house that is.

That's funny - I think if I ever hear Rockin' around the xmas tree again it will be too soon.

I love Carol of the Bells by George Winston. I didn't know there were words for it, I guess I've been lucky enough to only ever hear the instrumental version.

That Vanessa William's song was very nice. I also enjoy a version of Baby it's cold outside with her & Bobby Caldwell from an R&B sounds of the season CD.

Often, I buy the $5 xmas CD from Kohl's Cares. Some of the money goes towards children's charities and I get a mix of music. So far, no rockin' around the tree on any of the ones I have!

Baby It's Cold Outside is also on her Star Bright CD. The whole CD is incredible!

Okay, for traditional, I guess I have to say "O Holy Night"-back in the 50s in elementary school we had Christmas concerts and every year someone was chosen to sing it as a solo. Always wanted to be that one, but never good enough. Still love it, though.

For modern, has to be "Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon.

Here is a link that might be useful: Happy Christmas-John Lennon

I also like Michael W. Smith's Christmas album (1993) very much.

"What Child is This?" (Nat King Cole)
"Chestnuts Roasting..."
"O Holy Night"

"Happy Christmas" (War is over) John Lennon. Soo hard to believe it'll be 30 years on Wednesday.

I can't forget Johnny Mathis. I like his Christmas songs too.

I love, love, love the Boston Pops' version of "Sleigh Ride" -- jazzy, great percussion. When I hear it on the all-holiday-songs-until New Year's radio channel, I crank it up! (And have already sat in the car when I got to my destination because the tune was still playing!)

I also really like "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which I first heard in the movie "Love Actually." Even tho I don't celebrate Christmas! For my Hanukkah fix, I'm digging a new tune, and video, by the Maccabeats (called "Candlelight") -- I believe there's been a posting about that here already.

We love all the Christmas songs sang by Elvis Presley. We have brainwashed our little boy (7 years old) to love Elvis too-HA! We play Elvis Christmas songs while decorating our tree.

MY favorite song is "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas", of course sang by Elvis.

i love the 'carol of the bells'! i love 'ave maria'- barbra streisand's version is lovely. 'do you hear what i hear' is also one of my favs. also, bruce springstein's 'santa claus is coming to town'!
and, i had to buy the cd last season with natalie cole's 'mary, did you know' on it...

Oh Come All Ye Faithful, What Child is This, Mary Did you Know, and I Want a Hippopotomus for Christmas.

Last year I had to have Andre Bocelli's Christmas CD. His version (with Mary J. Blige) of What Child is This is amazing!

tina

Jethro Tull: Ring Out Solstice Bells
Roger Whittaker: Carol of the Bells and Past Three O'Clock
Bing Crosby: the song is about Christmas dinner but I can't think of the name right now ..... AND his duet with David Bowie for Little Drummer Boy

And my FAVORITE album: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Rockabilly Christmas -- play the first song -- and just TRY to not to dance along!

And don't forget:

Here is a link that might be useful: Claymation: We The Kings

YESSSSS!
The Bing/Bowie duet is very cool!

I love 95% of what's been mentioned.

Another I REALLY like is Greg Lake's (of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame) "I believe in Father Christmas".
(an older video, but the song is SO cool! There's a few versions of it there too.)

Then, with my ROCK sensibilities, for an "edgier" Holiday, there's the Christmas Classic...
"O come all Ye Faithfull" by Twisted-Sister!
(It's actually sung/done pretty neat! He doesn't trash any lyrics, and it's fun!)
Copy & paste this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmEfFlbqbbY

Crap....where's all my makeup, feathers, and wigs?!!?!?

;-)

Faron

Here is a link that might be useful: Father Christmas...

There's something special for me about 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. The sentiment of the song-that we should treasure the time together with those we love-always gets me.

Ann

The Little Drummer Boy reminds me of my childhood. Happy Christmas is a favorite too.

Carol of the Bells.

The first time through each season I enjoy Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt), Blue Christmas (Elvis) and even Jingle Cats. ONCE.

For the rest of the month I'd look forward to hearing Scandinavian carols, maybe because they are still fresh and not in the store-muzak loops yet.

Deilig er den himmel blÃÂ¥ On YouTube

Nu är det jul igen ABBA on YouTube

and of course Sankta Lucia On YouTube (Just don't tell the Swedes it is really Italian).

God jul, Lena

This is a good thread, very enjoyable. There are so many favorites, but two that are special to me are:

1. I'll Be Home for Christmas. My father would tell us every time that the song came on about how this was the song they played on the ship on his way to Germany during the Korean War. It became such a funny thing that when I was older, I would end up calling him when I would hear it and say "Dad, did I ever tell you about the time you were on a ship in the army and they played "I'll Be Home for Christmas?...well it's on the radio right now". What a great guy he was, miss him a lot.

2. "Oh Holy Night"

a memory created only about 6 years ago--we were on a cruise for Christmas, and we were leaving St. Lucia on Christmas Eve, so standing at the aft of shift watching the island disappear, this was the song that was softly playing on the ship's PA system. Oh, the goosebumps I get. I still don't know if it was Celine Dion or Gloria Estefan singing it. So of course, I have both versions on my iTouch.

A Charlie Brown Christmas, the whole soundtrack!

Bee, love the story about your dad. My dad was a WWII guy and so all those songs from that era are very dear. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is the best. It always brings tears to my eyes (miss my dad a lot, too).

This is a Christmas song going around facebook right now. While it's far from my favorite, it's pretty funny.

Here is a link that might be useful: Santa Is A Socialist