Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Favorite Holiday Christmas Songs

Text: Favorite Holiday Christmas Songs; background with pine branch; logo of A Mom's Quest to Teach

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In addition to the beautiful music written specifically to glorify the birth of Jesus, there is also a great collection of music that relates to secular reasons that people celebrate during the same period. I must admit that my Christmas music lists often have a mixture of both types of songs, as I love it all. Yes, there are some songs that I will not listen to, but in general, I like to have a mixture of songs by a mixture of artists. 

White Christmas by Bing Crosby 

I love to listen to songs sung by Bing Crosby. Some of my favorites include: 

  • Don't Fence Me In 
  • Something's Gotta Give
  • Dream a Little Dream of Me
  • Well Did You Evah? 

Christmas songs I also enjoy by Bing Crosby: 

  • A Marshmallow World 
  • Twelve Days of Christmas (with The Andrew Sisters) 
  • Do You Hear What I Hear? 
My favorite Christmas song by Bing Crosby has to be White Christmas. Combine that with the movie, and I have a perfect afternoon spent with my family. I love the fact that the movie also stars Danny Kaye – another favorite singer of mine. I do wonder what the movie would have been like if Fred Astaire had not dropped out, though.

CDs - White Christmas by Bing Crosby and Christmas special by Frank Sinatra


A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra 

So, this is not one song in particular. I have only recently begun to appreciate songs by Frank Sinatra. I am quite pleased by the wide selection of Christmas songs that I can add to my playlists performed by this talented singer. I really enjoy The Christmas Song, I'll be Home for Christmas, and Jingle Bells. The album was originally released in 1957, but I have been listening to the remastered 50th anniversary edition. I love reading that it was reissued on vinyl in 2010. We still have quite a few records, and I think it is wonderful that they are making a resurgence.

Sleigh Ride 

For several years, I was in the choir at my high school and the band always played Sleigh Ride. This song was my Great Uncle's favorite that they played. Now when I hear the song, I am reminded of him and my aunt coming to my concerts every year.

There are many different versions of the song. I have versions from Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle, & The Modernaires, Andy Williams, and Ella Fitzgerald on my one Christmas Playlist. I am not really sure whose take I enjoy the most. They are all equally good, as are the others that I have heard on the radio and on other compilations of Holiday music.

  

Text; Favorite Holiday Christmas Songs; White Christmas; Frosty the Snowman; Rudolph; background of Rudolph


Frosty the Snowman 

I think the reason why I really like this song is that it reminds me of watching the 1969 cartoon by Rankin and Bass. So many of the Rankin and Bass productions were part of my childhood that I love hearing songs or stories that remind me of their tales. Whenever I hear the song, I can't help it; seeing Frosty first waking up and saying, "Happy Birthday!" brings a smile to my face.

Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley 

This song is another one that reminds me of a favorite Christmas cartoon. In the Year Without a Santa Claus, the children are sad – they will have a Blue Christmas – because Santa is staying home. This is my all-time favorite Christmas special from Rankin and Bass. I even have the Frost Miser and Heat Miser Christmas ornaments and figures from the cartoon to decorate for the holidays. Of all the versions of the song, I really enjoy Elvis Presley's the most. 

photo of Heat Miser and Cold Miser ornaments


What Is Your Favorite Holiday Christmas Song? 

Do you have a favorite holiday Christmas song? Maybe it is one that makes you smile every time you hear it. Or perhaps there is one that you just have to sing along to, no matter where you are. Do we share any similar favorites?

8 comments:

  1. Drummer boy... Love that song. Pa rum pum pum pum.....

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  2. I love the Drummer Boy Bing Did with David Bowie. It took me a couple of years to find that one. That being said I've always loved the Little Drummer boy. We've sung Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve with both sides of our family. When my now adult niece was little my DH helped her pick out the one note she could "help" him play when she was still a toddler. She played it with him every year since until this one. I can't keep a straight face when I hear that song because I just picture this note really loud being played.

    We discovered King and Country's Little Drummer Boy this year and DH and I are hooked.

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  3. Sleigh Ride by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. I've been listening to that since I was a kid. I did get to see the Pops play it a few years ago in person and it is so much fun to watch.

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  4. I really enjoy the classics. We listen to a lot older style music in my home--Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and The Beatles. My husband added a Judy Garland Christmas song to his playlist, she had a very soothing voice and it's neat to hear my ten year old name the singers of the classics.

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  5. My teenage son has been having fun this year trying to sing Blue Christmas like Elvis.

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  6. My teen son loves the classics with Bing Crosby and Perry Como. He's always changing my pandora station.

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