Family Favorites for the Holidays

MarkRicher
MarkRicher
Founding Member

Posted: Nov 22, 06 4:33pm

Even if you never celebrate Christmas, you would almost have to live in a cave to avoid hearing the tunes every holiday season. While it can get tiresome to hear the songs overplayed, fortunately there are some good holiday tunes.

One family favorite Allison and Diana (17) enjoy is Nat King Cole?s classic version of "The Christmas Song." The twins are also fans of songs from A Christmas Album recorded by Bright Eyes (AKA the indy icon Connor Oberst). Some of their favorites from that collection include "Silvers Bells" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Eve (20) admits, ?I don't really listen to holiday music. I don't have much advice here.? I wonder if breaking the news to her about Santa Claus was more traumatic than we realized.

My wife Julie likes "Gloria" recorded by Jewel and also the Il Divo, Brian Wilson and The OC collections. In December, she uses her iPod in the car to listen to her holiday playlist during her daily commute to and from work. Personally, I am partial to Otis Redding so I enjoy his rendition of "Merry Christmas Baby" on a Rhino Records compilation A Soulful Christmas that Diana also enjoys. I also enjoy The Pretenders version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" on the A&M compilation A Very Special Christmas.

It?s a time honored tradition for new generations of artists to record holiday tunes in their own style, but what has changed over the years? One thing is Julie and the twins have digitized their favorite holiday music. When the holidays approach, they will make room on their iPods for their favorite holiday recordings. Diana also tunes in stations in the car playing holiday music and tunes in Sounds of the Seasons on cable TV as well

What are your family?s favorites holidays tunes and recordings?

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4 Comments // 4 Members
yomama
yomama
Founding Member

Posted: Nov 27, 06 11:20pm

Even if you never celebrate Christmas, you would almost have to live in a cave to avoid hearing the tunes every holiday ...

I was searching iTunes for holiday songs this weekend and remembered you mentioning the classic Nat King Cole holiday cd The Christmas Song (it was on sale for $7.99!) so I downloaded it and we've been playing it in my car. It's GREAT. The kids like the faster songs like "Deck the Halls" but I like the slow ones like, "O Holy Night," which puts the little one right to sleep ;) Ahh, the small joys of the season.

PortiaKersten
PortiaKersten
Staff

Posted: Dec 5, 06 10:34am

I was searching iTunes for holiday songs this weekend and remembered you mentioning the classic Nat King Cole holiday cd...

Being a total purist (and ex-ballet dancer) I'm a huge fan of listening to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker during the Holidays. I used to listen to it as a kid when we decorated the Christmas tree and on Christmas morning while opening presents. I think it's what made me want to dance ballet and ruin my feet, knees and hips forever.

DJBettyRay
DJBettyRay
Founding Member

Posted: Dec 13, 06 5:59pm

Even if you never celebrate Christmas, you would almost have to live in a cave to avoid hearing the tunes every holiday ...

As a singer, I have always loved choral music. This year, we went to a performance of Sacred and Profane sacredandprofane.org here in the bay area - it was an a capella collection of holiday stuff - not a SINGLE jingle bells rendition in the program and a great mix of early music (Byrd) and new stuff (Britton).

DJBettyRay
DJBettyRay
Founding Member

Posted: Dec 13, 06 6:00pm

As a singer, I have always loved choral music. This year, we went to a performance of Sacred and Profane sacredandprofan...

whoops - url is http://sacredprofane.org/