When I last reported in on Christmas Music 2011, I had recommended the new Kate Bush, and Hawksley Workman, but otherwise hadn't discovered anything. But my dad offered to buy me an album for Christmas so off I went through iTunes. In the end I asked him for this awful Prince symphonic cover album, which I hope youtube will let me share with you soon. And then bought myself a couple of the ones below (zamzarred others.)
So here we are: Not the best Cmas songs of all time, but the best ones I discovered this year (I own over 700 Christmas songs.) And for the record, I include winter songs as part of "Christmas music."
If you don't see a video, it's cause one wasn't available.
UNDERSTATED
Breath of Heaven - Oleta Adams - Perfect singer for this song. She emotes, but the arrangement is quiet. No drama.
Jingle Bell Jamboree - Keb Mo
In the Bleak Midwinter - Loreena McKennitt
Ô traineau dans le ciel - Maryse Letarte
December - Regina Spektor
A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn't So) - The Flaming Lips
In the Bleak Midwinter - Bryn Terfel
Christmas Eve - Spirit of the West
BOMBASTIC
Another Lonely Christmas - Prince
Better Days - The Goo Goo Dolls
Carol of the Bells - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
POPPY
Mistress Claud - Alyssa Red
Christmas Without You - Onerepublic
Last Christmas - Britt Nicole
This Time of Year - Nikki and Rich
PLAYFUL
Baby It's Cold Outside - Meaghan Smith and Buck 65 - Best part of this: The woman is the one making the come ons.
The Cowboys' Christmas Ball - The Killers
Last Christmas - The Puppini Sisters
The Chipmunk Song - Tegan and Sarah
And brother's choice: Sleigh Ride, from The Ventures' Christmas Album
FYI
Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" continued to dominate the holiday charts, as it has every other year. This year she's in two spots, because there's a duet version with Bieber. The rest of the list (iTunes Canada) is all Bieber and Bublé.
* The first A Very Special Christmas album seems to have entered classic status. As well it ought! In those days they got big artists for these albums, but over the years the series turned into pop crap.
PREVIOUS CHRISTMAS MUSIC POSTS
Fairy song
2010 Roundup
That crazy Dylan album
"There's Still My Joy"
Tori Amos' Christmas album
Annie Lennox's Christmas album
Joan Osborne's Christmas album
2009 Roundup (aka Broadway cares but I don't)
No 2008! ??
2007 Roundup
2006 Roundup
2 comments:
I will have to look at these tonight when I get home -- or later if my boss leaves. ;)
Yes don't get fired over Christmas songs. ;-)
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