For the first time in a couple of years, I have felt somewhat prepared to dive headfirst into the Christmas season. I don't know if it's because it's my daughter's first Christmas, but everything just feels right, from the chilly weather to the decorations to the music playing everywhere. I have always adored Christmas, both for the holiday and (most importantly) the reason we celebrate: the birth of Jesus and the beginning of God's greatest love story. Hope, peace, love, and joy are the themes of the season, and this year especially my heart feels like it's overflowing.
I'm so thrilled to introduce my Christmas 2024 playlist - 12 songs selected from my absolutely enormous master playlist to help get you into the holiday spirit.
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Dolly Parton & Jimmy Fallon (written by M. Carey, W. Afanasieff)
Featured on Parton's 2020 album A Holly Dolly Christmas, this duet may not be my preferred AIWFCIY (if you've been here before, you know I stan the Vince Vance version above all others), but it's still cute. Parton and Fallon really ham it up and make it fun, and it's a great addition to this album.
I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need/I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree/I don't need to hang my stockin’ there upon the fireplace/Santa Claus won't make me happy with a toy on Christmas day/I just want you for my own/More than you could ever know/Make my wish come true/All I want for Christmas is you ooh-ooh-ooh/You-ooh, baby
Here Comes Heaven by Elevation Worship (written by S. Furtick, C. Brown, A. Robertson)
Featured on Elevation's 2018 album Hallelujah Here Below, this is a beautiful worship song that tells about the hope of the Christmas season. The birth of Christ gave hope to the world in a time of darkness, and is still shining bright today.
Children weep no more/Hope is on the horizon/Weary world, behold/Your promised Messiah/Angels, let your song begin/Here comes heaven/Christ is born in Bethlehem/Here comes heaven
Santa Baby by Kelly Clarkson (written by J. Javits, P. Springer, T. Springer)
Featured on Clarkson's 2021 album When Christmas Comes Around..., this is one of many great covers of this iconic Christmas song. Kelly at Christmas is ALWAYS a good idea, and she always gives 110%.
Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree for me/I’ve been an awful good girl/Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight/Tonight, oh/Santa baby, an out of space convertible too, light blue/I’ll wait up for you, dear/Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight/Think of all the fun I've missed/Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed/Next year I could be oh, so good/If you check off my Christmas list
One More Sleep 'til Christmas by Kermit (written by P. Williams)
Featured on the soundtrack to the 1992 film masterpiece The Muppet Christmas Carol, this is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever. Performed by Kermit in the role of Bob Cratchit, it's a sweet, hopeful tune about the magic of anticipating Christmas.
There's magic in the air this evening, magic in the air/The world is at her best, you know, when people love and care/The promise of excitement is one the night will keep/After all, there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas/The world has got a smile today, the world has got a glow/There's no such thing as strangers when a stranger says, "Hello”/And everyone is family, we're having so much fun/After all, there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas
I'll Be Home for Christmas by Lea Michele ft. Jonathan Groff (written by W. Kent, B. Ram, K. Gannon)
Featured on Michele's 2019 album Christmas in The City, this is a fun, sweet duet for this Christmas staple. Michele and Groff were made to sing together, and just like every other collaboration they've done, this one is exceptional.
I'll be home for Christmas/And you can count on me/Please have snow and mistletoe/And presents under the tree/Oh, Christmas Eve will find you and me/Where the love light gleams/Yeah, I'll be home for Christmas/If only in my dreams, whoa
Christmas by Leslie Odom, Jr. (written by L. Odom)
Featured on Odom's 2016 album Simply Christmas, this is a beautiful reminder of those who are less fortunate then ourselves this time of year. It's a time to both be thankful for what we've been blessed with and lend a hand to those who need a little help.
Did you ever see the faces of the children/They get so excited/Waking up on Christmas morning/Hours before the winter sun's ignited/They believe in dreams and all they mean/Including heaven's generosity/Peeping 'round the door/To see what boxes are for free/In curiosity/But Tommy doesn't know what day it is/He doesn't know who Jesus or what praying is/How can he be saved/From the eternal grave
I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day by MercyMe (written by B. Brown, B. Millard, N. Cocran, R. Shaffer, M. Scheuchzer, B. Graul)
Featured on MercyMe's 2005 album The Christmas Sessions, this is a really cool take on a traditional carol. MercyMe did such neat versions of so many songs on this album, really breathing new life into these songs we've sang for generations.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day/Their old familiar carols play/And wild and sweet, the words repeat/Of peace on Earth, good will to men/And thought how as the day had come/The belfries of all Christendom/Had rolled along the unbroken song/Of peace on Earth, good will to men/I can hear them/I can hear them/I can hear them
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Michael Bublé (written by M. Wilson)
Featured on Bublé's near perfect 2011 album Christmas, his cover of this Christmas classic has become a standard in my mind. It gives the feeling of an easy stroll down a snowy street, instead of a manic sprint through an overcrowded shopping mall.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas/Everywhere you go/Take a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once again/With candy canes and silver lanes that glow/It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas/Toys in every store/But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be/On your own front door
Winter Wonderland / Don't Worry Be Happy by Pentatonix ft. Tori Kelly (written by F. Bernard, R. McFerrin, D. Smith, B. Bram)
Featured on Pentatonix's near perfect 2014 album That's Christmas To Me, this is such a fun mashup for Christmastime. Adding in Tori Kelly's incredible vocals elevates this even higher, and the whole thing just makes sense.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening/In the lane, snow is glistening/The beautiful sight, we're happy tonight/Walking in a winter wonderland/Gone away is the bluebird/Here to stay is the new bird/He sings a love song as we go along/Walking in a winter wonderland
The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, TH 35: III. Waltz of the Flowers by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Yuri Simonov (written by P. Tchaikovsky)
One of the most famous movements of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker, this movement has been heard so many times both in and out of the context of Christmas. The Nutcracker is so magical this time of year, and the Waltz of the Flowers is as enchanting as always.
Round and Round by Sia (written by J. Shapiro, L. Stallman)
Featured on Sia's 2018 album Everyday Is Christmas, this one doesn't sound too Christmasy right up front. However, Sia turns it around by the end, and it's all about getting together with your loved ones for the holiday.
Find a wheel, and it goes round, round, round/As it spins along with a happy sound/As it goes along the ground, ground, ground/’Til it leads you to the one you love/And your love will hold you round, round, round/And your heart's a song with a brand new sound/And your head goes spinnin' round, round, round/‘Cause you found what you've been dreamin' of/Oh, in the night, see the lights, the moon/Goin' round and round in tune/And the fallin' snow in the day/Makes them all wanna say
Blue Christmas by Train (written by B. Hayes, J. Johnson)
Featured on Train's 2015 album Christmas In Tahoe, this is such a fun take on Elvis's Christmas classic. It mixes the fun, swingy rock of the original with Train's typical sound of soft pop rock, and it just works.
I'll have a Blue Christmas without you/I’ll be so blue just thinking about you/Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree/Won't be the same dear, if you're not here with me/And when those blue snowflakes start falling/That's when those blue memories start calling/You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white/But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas
For everyone celebrating, I wish you and yours the merriest Christmas. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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