My Favorite Christmas Songs

So at this magical time I usually have two trees up and my place looks like Christmas in Vegas. At one point I had a life sized Santa that was a lawn ornament in the bathroom as a night light until I got too shy at 2 in the morning and had to have the lighted guy removed. It was so bad that at our place you could read by the Christmas lights. Instead and while there was still some time I wanted to make a list of my favorite Christmas songs that get me though this most "wonderful" time of the year and survive until next years forcing of goodwill and cheer. In no particular order and a lot of these are particular versions instead of the standard one.

Happy Xmas (War is Over) (John Lennon) - This song especially now and even year back seems so relevant. It's a song of question and hope and I think that's something we always need.

All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey) - Really was there a Contempary Christmas song until this infectious pop Christmas song came out. It sounds as current today as it did way back then. I can still remember a radio discussion saying that there hasn't been a recent song that has joined the list of Christmas classics and I agee./

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland) - Though my Ms. LuPone recorded a version of this song for her torch album. This is probably the greatest torchiest Christmas song ever. Everyone always thinks of this has a happy lovely song but in the movie Esther at the start of it sings about how they might not be together next year. It's a wonderful song.

Jingle Bells (Barbra Streisand's) - Forever Barbra Streisand's version of this song will be the only one out there. In other hands it's an okay song but in her's it's gold. Especially the speed she handles Jingle Bells and doesn't let up.

Be a Santa (From the musical "Here's Love") - For those who know me every year I would put this on my answering machine message because it was just everything Christmas should really be about. It's peppy, perky, and fun with a lot of Ho, Ho's (at least the good Ho's!)

Song for a Winters Night (Sarah McLachlan) - This is a song for those who just want to lay around on Christmas alone with a class of wine and reflect.

It's Not Christmas Without You (Katharine McPhee) - A new song that came out this year and I feel very strongly could become a Christmas classic. Around this time of year for everything we celebrate we look back at what we're missing and who we're missing too.

Oh Holy Night (Kelly Clarkson) - Really any version of this song will do because you have to love a Christmas song that builds and builds into a full throttle chorus and my Kelly does a great cover of this and doesn't lose the emotion behind it.

Hard Candy Christmas (Dolly Parton) - I know this seems like a strange choice of song but it's for anyone who might feel sad around this time of year. Plus it's a great Christmas song because it brings up what they will do in the future and since Christmas always feels like the end (because of the year) I think it's fitting.

White Chistmas (Bing Crosby) - I would have hated myself if I hadn't put this on my list even though Bing isn't my favorite version of this song. Every year when you look outside you hope to see miles and miles of white instead of green.

Peace on Eath/Little Drummer Boy (Bing Crosby/David Bowie) - This was such a magical version that many people didn't believe it was real. It builds and builds to pure utter magic.

Those are my favorite Christmas songs in no particular order. I would also add as an honorable Christmas Time is Here from "Charlie Brown's Christmas," "Merry Christmas to Me", which has the lines I'm alone in my flat, with just my cat and the champagne has gone flat....," and Joni Mitchell's "River" but I still will fight over that being called a Christmas song. Every year the list changes and sometimes it grows but it never gets smaller.