[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d59oy3mP8vk]
My favorite “party” Christmas song!
I am!! I can’t hide it and I can’t front. I simply love Christmas Music! My parents love it and they passed that love down to me. While I was growing up, I heard the classics like Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby, mixed in with a few soul classics like Donny Hathaway and Aretha Franklin. As I got older, my desire from the Cole and Crosby sound faded and I sought to build a library with all the soul songs that I could find. I just like that sound so much more. I’ve probably got about 200 Xmas songs that I rotate from Thanksgiving eve straight through until nightfall on Christmas night. Then, they are on hiatus until the next year. I play it in the car, I’m playing it now at my desk and I play it around the house. Hubby is on overload by the Sunday after Thanksgiving. *lol* Sorry kid!! I only get 4 weeks to play these tunes. I’ve gotta GO HARD!!
A few of my faves are:
- “This Christmas” – Donny Hathaway does it best, but there are a few other versions that I like as well. Brian McKnight accompanied by the Boys Choir of Harlem do an excellent job. The Whispers and Joe also sing pretty good versions.
- “What Child Is This” – Vanessa Williams
- “Let It Snow” – Brian McKnight & Boyz to Men, makes me just want to sit in a dark living room, watching the lights on the Christmas tree twinkle, while praying for snow.
- “Joy to the World” – Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir
- “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – The Pleasure Band, clearly I’ve lived in the DC area too long, because I’ve come to love this go-go Xmas song.
- “Angels We Have Heard On High” – Christina Aguilera
- “Christmas in the City” – Mary J Blige
- “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” – Yolanda Adams
Do ya’ll like Christmas music? What are a few of your favorite songs?
Girl, I am so with you! I’ve been driving around listening to the Christmas station in my car for the last 2 weeks now! Some of my favorites are:
-The whole Jackson 5 Christmas album (that’s a family tradition right there)
-The whole Boys II Men “Christmas Interpretations” Album
-TLC-“Sleigh Ride”..ok, the whole” LaFace Family Christmas” Album from 1993!
-N’ Sync -“In Love on Christmas”-(Don’t laugh!)
-And anyone’s versions of “Oh Holy Night” or “Oh, Come all Ye Faithful.” Love those songs!
Love it!! Yep, all good albums you mention!
Girl, how many people slept on that N’Sync christmas album????
My two faves on there are “The Only Gift” and “O Holy Night”.
YES! YES! YES! My Top 5 songs are:
– Boyz II Men, Let It Snow
– Donny Hathaway, This Christmas
– The Jackson 5, Give Love on Christmas Day
– The Temptations, The Christmas Song
– Pleasure, Santa Claus is Coming to To…oo…own!
Got my Xmas Mix playing on the iPod now…I switch between that and 97.1 WASH-FM this time of year 🙂
Wow, Trip, your top 5 is part of my top 10. Should have known! *LOL*
As a matter of fact, let me go put Pleasure on R.I.G.H.T. N.O.W!
I love Christmas music but I don’t celebrate the holiday. Yes, I’m strange. Also along with that is that I don’t actually own any Christmas music. I have to expose Buddha to it though. He is a die hard Christmas fan. It’s only fitting that he be exposed to the soulful sounds of our people’s version of holiday music.
::going to look up that Santa Claus is Coming to Town::
Aww, I think it’s great that you are exposing him to it! The soulful sounds just make me really feel the season and they evoke memories of MY family and OUR traditions. The other songs simply don’t speak to me as much during this time of year.
Let me know if you have trouble finding the song by Pleasure Band and I’ll send it to you.
Me toooooooooooooooooo!!! Girl! how did you leave off Mariah Carey!?! I try to add one new “favorite” Christmas song per year, MINIMUM!! I like a mix of standards and new school and soul. Dine Reeve “Christmastime is Here.” LOVE!! Natalie Cole’s upbeat songs on “The Holly & the Ivy” + the title track. Play MC straight thru tho! Jackson Five is also among my top with the Boyz II Men Christmas which is currently MIA. So not pleased.
Oh yeah and I listen whenever the mood hits all year long! Feeling down? Christmas music! 🙂
Settle down woman, I like MC too. *lol* I was just naming a few of my faves.
She put out a new one this year. I’m curious about it since I liked the first one so much.
Have you heard it yet?
Yep, the Jackson album is a winner too!
Oh yeah and I listen whenever the mood hits all year long! Feeling down? Christmas music! 🙂
It is ok, I think ODed on it that year I hosted Christmas at my house. I do plan to play some for Day since she loves music so much.
I know it’s not your favorite, but thank you for allowing my babies to listen, absorb and love it!!
Do you have enough of it or do I need to send ya’ll a CD or two?
I finally got my act together and put together my Holiday playlist for the car on Friday! I agree with Jameil. No Mariah? I just downloaded her new Christmas album.
I absolutely love Vanessa’s jazzy version of What Child Is This. Her Star Bright CD is a classic. I couldn’t get into the second one very much.
Some good non-traditional songs that I love that you may or may not know. I seriously buy random Christmas CDs featuring R&B artists. That’s how I found most of these songs.
XScape – Christmas Without You
Chante Moore – Christmas Morn
BeBe & CeCe Winans – Jingle Bells
Kenny Lattimore – This Time Of Year
Monica – My Grown Up Christmas List
Oh, I just mentioned the new MC album. How is it? I love the first, so I was thinking of buying this one.
Gurl, Vanessa Williams kills that as well as “Do You Hear What I Hear” and “The First Noel”.
Oooh, love Chante Moore’s song, “I Wish I Could Have Been There”
Familiar with everything you listed except Monica. Thanks – going to check that out!
No verdict on the MC album yet. I’m on shuffle so I haven’t heard the whole thing yet. She does sing the Charlie Brown Christmas song though LOL!
You must, I mean must, enjoy the mellow sounds of Lou Rawls at Christmastime. Of course, I enjoy his crooning all year long. Please, listen to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHL7kZ-IhoI
The Temptations, Donny Hathaway, Boyz II Men
I have just music-ed myself into the Christmas mood all over again!
HO! HO! HO! Baby
You are truly a stan for Lou Rawls. Bless your little heart!
She did kinda sound like one with that comment?
I regret that y’all cannot appreciate the fine voice of LOu like I can, like I do, like I will.
Y’all should come on over to this side of mellow.
I’ll be playing him when you get home and I’ll be playing him when you leave because “You’ll never find, as lon as you live . . .”
Ahh, Lou is ok. Very smooth, but he’s not on my list of faves.
YAY @ you getting in the mood for Xmas!!
I ain’t mad atcha.
But when I put Lou on, I’m a happy Christmas, Mother’s Day, Flag Day, Earth Day, Martin Luther King Day, etc., etc. camper
Musiq has a christmas cd and I got it for christmas a few years back and must say its one of my fav christmas cd’s now. Like I love love love it. And the destiny’s child christmas cd. Love that one too.
Ah, Music? Does he really? I missed that. Heading off to check it out. Thanks!
Yes ma’am, the Destiny’s Child one is good too. “Spread A Little Love on Christmas” is one of my faves.
Yes girly and its very upbeat and soulish( just made that one up lol) but I really groove to it. And the roots are his backing band for that christmas album. So I was in heaven
My ALL time favorite Christmas song EVER is What Christmas Means to Me. Stevie Wonder..
*runs to play it now*
Ahhh, good one!! My fave Stevie Wonder Christmas song is probably “Someday at Christmas”.
Isn’t this just a fabulous time of year???
Mary J. Blige did a version of that song on one of my random “soulful” Christmas CD’s.
GURRRRL!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas music too!!! I play it everywhere!!!!! It’s on my i pod, in my car, in the house……
My favorites are:
Please COme Home for Christmas( the slow version) by Charlie Brown
White Christmas by the Drifters
back Door Santa by Clarence Carter
Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto James Brown
I could go on and on and on………
Bwahahaha @ Back Door Santa! That’s hubby’s favorite too!! And James Brown. He says that Christmas music should be “funky”!
It’s hard to even make a short list, isn’t it? I could go on and on for days!
I’m not in the spirit this year and I’m not sure why..maybe because i haven’t started shopping yet..LOL I usually get in the spirit when I start wrapping gifts…i haven’t even decorated yet. I will make it a point to do so this weekend
I can’t lie – I haven’t purchase anything yet and although I pulled the tree from the garage, I haven’t decorated anything yet either.
I usually start with the music on Thanksgiving eve, then the cold weather comes and I start to feel the spirit.
Yes ma’am, I’ll check on you Monday to see how much you got done over the weekend! =)
PUMP THE BRAKES!!! Brian McKnight sings in ‘Let It Snow”????!!!! Please hold. Must Google.
*back*
I feel so damn shame….like someone should take my black card.
*goes to sit in the cor’na*
For shame woman, for SHAME!! **LMAO**
I shall not revoke your black card THIS time, but this incident has been noted in your official file.
Should something so egregious happen in the future, I shall form a committee to evaluate said file.
I absolutely looooooove Christmas Music !
That entire Boyz II Men Christmas Interpretations CD is a classic ! I have bought it 3 times over the years from wearing it out. LOL !
But when I was young, my Mom bought a Temptations Christmas Album with all these songs, their version of ” Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer”…………HEY RUDOLPH ! She used to break it out during the holidays and when me, her and my sister were decorating the tree and man it was such a good time for us.
“Give Love on Christmas Day” Man these songs just bring back the best memories and make me feel all warm inside 🙂
Now one of my most recent purchases is a Ledisi Christmas CD I bought 2 years ago, and I must say, it will definitely be a classic in my eyes when all is said and done. She is killing the classics !
Yes @ the Temps memories while decorating during childhood. My mother’s ALL TIME favorite is their version of “Silent Night”. As it comes on, she closes her eyes and everything! Man, I can picture that so clearly!
WAIT!! WHAT???!!!! Ledisi has a Christmas Album??? Thank you lady!! Going over to Amazon RIGHT THIS SECOND to buy that!!!
Nooooooo!
Okay, I’m being a bit overdramatic. I like Christmas music – in moderation. Like if I’m listening to the radio and every 10th or 15th song is a Christmas song I’m good. Constant Christmas music I’m not good.
I do like:
Joy to the World – Whitney Houston
What do the Lonely Do at Christmas – The Emotions
Please Come Home for Christmas – Charles Brown
Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child – just about anybody
I’m with you on the moderation thing. I was annoyed that it start playing on thanksgiving! Like damn can we get outta november 1st please and thank you! But otherwise it does put me in the spirit.
But, but, but, you have to start in November!!!! *lol* Our window is soooooo short! Less than 30 days!
Give me CONSTANT Christmas! *lol* Please, please no moderation for me.
Oh, yes, the Emotions. Good song.
Back to add: I LOVE Sleigh Ride by Alexander O’Neal.
Another good one! Funky enough to dance at an Xmas party.
I like soulful Christmas music… My husband loves the blues and I just brought him a blues Christmas music CD (I hope it’s good). I only have a few songs in my library, but I’m going to add the songs from you list, especially Donny Hathaway – I love Donny 🙂 (BTW good list)
Yes ma’am the soulful stuff is the best!! “Soul Holiday” is also on my faves that I forgot to mention. That song pretty much sums up my family and my memories.
Let me know if you are able to get a good mix. If not, hit me up and I’ll send you a CD.
I’ll send you that soup recipe when I get home.
Thanks for stopping by!
Honestly…I’m not a fan of Christmas music (I’m saying this cautiously before I get chased away from your blog). LOL. I think stores play it way too early. I don’t REALLY get into the Christmas spirit each year–don’t know why. I think it had to do with my upbringing maybe–growing up in Jamaica where Christmas music and decorations etc weren’t emphasized much. Well that was decades ago–I’m sure it’s changed since when I was young.
Anyway, I gave you a blog award. Come by and get it when you get a chance. 🙂
BWAHAHAHA! Never fear dear. I won’t flog you and ban you these parts! We are a very open community, even for the non Christmas music lovers.
Interesting re the focus on music and decorations here in the US vs Jamaica. I suppose I never really thought about it.
Aww, thanksssssss! ***tearing up and writing my speech for the academy*** LOL! I’ll stop by soon!
I so enjoy the Donnie Hathaway version of This Christmas, and I agree with the Joy to The World Whitney version.
My favorites include the Temptations version of Silent Night and New Editions version of Give Love on Christmas Day. My list goes on and on…
Aren’t those two of the best ones?
Yes, I love the Temps doing Silent Night. That’s my mom’s absolute favorite. It doesn’t feel like Christmas to her until she hears that being played.