In which we're talking about holiday music
I've already confessed that I have loaded the car with my holiday CDs. What I didn't tell you was that I have also been watching (listening to?) the Sounds of the Season Channel obsessively. (I am gutted that I missed the Halloween music. I forgot entirely to turn it over until November 1 and they had already started with Christmas.) Somehow just having Christmas music on in the background while I'm going about my day makes everything feel more pleasant. I also make a habit of buying a new holiday CD every year to build my collection, but this year I'll take a pass since last year I bought three including Bette Midler's "Cool Yule" and Loreena McKennitt's "A Midwinter Night's Dream".
So I'm wondering, what are YOU going to be listening to this holiday season?
So I'm wondering, what are YOU going to be listening to this holiday season?
posted by deanna at
6:54 AM
17 Comments:
Mahalia Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Etta James, and Ella Fitzgerald.
All beautiful sassy ladies!
Megan
On you holiday music, I love Loreena McKennit's cd. I actually have all her cds and enjoy them immensely. I've even seen her in concert. I also will be listening to Celtic Women who are wonderful too. You might want to add their Christmas album to the list of cds. Transiberian Orchestra is another great group and very popular. Enjoy your holiday season and look forward to the next Julia Grey Mysteries.
I'm so glad to hear that someone else loves Christmas music, too! I could listen to it all year long. Time Life put out some CDs years ago and they're still my favorite, but there's also a radio station here that plays nothing but Christmas music -- it should be starting soon! Listening to it makes me happy. Thanks for sharing and letting me know I'm not the only one who loves Christmas music, no matter what the season. Oh, by the way, we had Sounds of the Season on while we were handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters!
Here are some of my faves: Baby, Please Come Home (U2); Trans-Siberian Orchestra; Arthur Fiedler's Christmas Pops; Christmas Is the Time To Say I Love You (Billy Squier); and of course the classics Home for the Holidays, Chestnuts Roasting. I love me a little rock-n-roll Christmas mixed in with traditional.
When I was growing up, mom and dad always had Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas' album playing. I still listen to that (the movie is one of my favorite holiday films, too.) My dad used to tell of his time in the army--Christmas Eve in the barracks and not a sound from any of the men stretched out on their bunks as the music of Bing singing "I'll Be Home For Christmas" played on the radio. It was a poignant memory for him.
Loreena McKennitt is at the top of my Christmas music list along with Enya, Mannheim Steamroller (what a name!) and a series of Windham Hills Celtic Christmas CDs (assorted artists). Hmmm. I guess it's not too early to pull them out and jumpstart the season. Thanks Deanna!
My favorite is a toss up between Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and Garrison Keillor's "Now It Is Christmas Again" which is an absolute must for any Prairie Home Companion fan.
And don't be in a such a rush to get to Christmas that you forget that Turkey Day Classic--"Alice's Restaurant"!
I love Christmas music and have been known to pull it out in July!
BUT with a young child with a late November birthday, I really really try to restrain myself until after her birthday. It's hard enough to have a birthday close to Christmas (I know!) so no decorations or much music until afterwards for us!
The Brandywine Harps, and Sting's new winter album. Heard bits and pieces on NPR this morning-hearteningly beautiful. My mother passed away in April-her birthday was Christmas Eve. I'm going to need heartening music this year.
My Mom and I have this tradition of playing only Christmas music in the car from Black Friday until the day after Christmas. My personal favorites are Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas", all of Amy Grant's Christmas CDs, Sarah McLachlan, and Josh Groban (a new favorite).
Does anyone have any instumental/classical Christmas CDs they love? I could use something relaxing and festive to listen to while studying.
Josie, you might like Loreena McKennitt's "To Drive the Cold Winter Away". It isn't instrumental, but it is peaceful.
Elvis and Frank. Also Anonymous Four:)
Josie, you might want to check out George Winston's "December".
Yes, George Winston's December is a wonderful album. My current favorites are the Celtic Woman Christmas Celebration, as well as David Benoit's Remembering Christmas. Amy Grant, especially "Til the Season Comes 'Round Again", which always makes me cry. Any of the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CDs or those by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Guilty pleasures: Barry Manilow's A Christmas Gift of Love and the Carpenter's Christmas CDs. Can you tell I'm also a holiday music nut?
And Jen, no Thanksgiving is complete without listening to Alice's Restaurant!
We love the 'Home Alone' movie soundtracks!
Oh, where do I start? I have about 50 Christmas CDs that are already in rotation. One of these days I'm going to have to load them on my MP3 player so I can play them in the car, too. Current favorites: Loreena McKennitt, of course, Sara McLachlan's Wintersong, James Taylor at Christmas, Melissa Etheridge's A New Thought for Christmas.
Sting's new album is on my wishlist for this year. So is Christmas Cheers by Straight No Chaser because I love acapella. I wish the King's Singers would put out another Christmas album.
Ooh! I love Loreena McKennitt - and I think she came out with a new holiday CD last year...my family also loves Dan Fogleberg's Christmas CD. His version of Three Ships is worth it alone.
Love, love, love Christmas music. But like Halloween candy, I tend to overdo it and never want to hear another Christmas song by Dec. 26th (and the sight of a Snickers bar now would make me nauseous). ;) Just last night I dragged out my Holiday sheet music (piano) and started playing... man, am I rusty.
@ Kristin: U2's Baby Please Come Home is one of my faves too! Of course, being a rabid U2 fan, just about anything Bono sings will make the top of my favorites list. :)
Christmas albums that I simply adore are Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong, Tony Bennett's Snowfall, the entire Time-Life Christmas collection, and A Very Special Christmas, Vol 1. I also have a CD called A Peaceful Christmas that has kind of new-age instrumental versions of classic holiday songs.
On a nostalgic note, my parents used to play Percy Faith's "Christmas Is..." RECORD album when I was a kid. My eyes literally teared up when I found this album on iTunes!! Funny how music can take you back to a specific moment in time.
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