CHRISTMAS MUSIC

One of my oddities as an author is that I love listening to Christmas music while I write. It often is what I turn to in order to overcome writer's block (or writer's lack of motivation to write anything)! And it almost always helps.During the giveaway earlier this month, I asked what some of your favorite Christmas songs were - and I thought that it was only fair to share with you some of my favorites (and I'm sorry, but some of these are favorite ALBUMS, because picking just a few favorite SONGS is impossible for me).I also have to break them up into four categories, however: 1) Original Favorites, 2) Favorites to Write To, 3) Silly Favorites, and 4) Classic FavoritesWe'll start with Silly Favorites:1. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer - I know this one is on a lot of people's "least favorite" list, but it amuses me and makes me laugh.2. Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy - Travis Tritt3. Leroy, the Red-Neck Reindeer - Garth Brooks4. Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday - Brad Paisley (I love his sense of humor)5. I Really Don't Hate Christmas (Doofenshmirtz's song in the Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation special)

Favorites to Write To:1. Manheim Steamroller Christmas (the whole album) - the benefit to these is that most of them don't have any lyrics - so you get pure, instrumental Christmas music with no distractions.2. Dreams Come True - Jim Brickman - again, instrumental, and simply beautiful.3. Winter Peace - Jim Brickman4. Fireside - Jim Brickman (okay, the entire Jim Brickman "The Gift" album... okay?)5. Tis The Season Classical Guitar -one of my favorite CDs to write to - simple, beautiful, instrumental guitar music playing classic Christmas songs.6. A Winter Symphony by Sarah Brightman - this one is different in that the songs are neither instrumental, nor purely classic Christmas songs. However, over the past few years I have absolutely fallen in love with this album. I think the reason I love it so much is that it just makes me FEEL like Winter... in general, not just Christmas, but the entire Winter Season... which is a rare find indeed.

 

Original Favorites:1. Hope is Born Again by Jim Brickman (really, the entire Jim Brickman "The Gift" Christmas album could go on here, but I love this song so much)2. It Could Happen Again by Collin Raye - again, I love the entire Collin Raye Christmas album, but this is my favorite song on it. I love all the classic Christmas songs too much to decide between them. So this one goes on the list by itself 1) because it's an original, and 2) because it relays one of my favorite stories about Christmas - the unofficial "cease fire" between German and British troops during World War 1 all along the entire Western Front.3. Gift of the Magi by Brittany Jean - I really hope this one goes on one of her Professionally Recorded CDs someday (maybe on a Christmas album?) because it is truly beautiful, and is based on the equally beautiful short story by O. Henry.4. While You Were Sleeping by Casting Crowns - this song brings me to tears every time. Poignant, simple, and beautiful.5. The Nativity by Lee Ann Womack - Such a powerful song. I love how it ties the entire Gospel story together, and doesn't just focus on Christ's birth, but also his Death and Resurrection.6. Joseph's Song by Michael Card - An all-time favorite

 

Classic Favorites (and by far, the most difficult list to compile):1. Silent Night (by just about anyone)2. One Small Child - not as widely popular as some others, but it definitely makes it onto this list3. I Wonder as I Wander4. Little Drummer Boy by Collin Raye or John Denver - I used to be rather "meh" about this song, but these two both sing it so beautifully that they changed my mind!5. Mary, Did You Know? - by just about anyone.6. What Child is This?7. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem8. Oh Come All Ye Faithful9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing10. Away In a Manger11. Oh Holy Night12... this is hopeless... I love them all, and every one I write down makes me feel like another song is getting left out... :) It might be easier to create a list of Christmas songs I DON'T like... which might only have 1 song on it (that I can think of off the top of my head)... "Please, Daddy (don't get drunk this Christmas)" - absolutely LOATHE that song (and that's sayin' something, since mostly I love everything by John Denver)! :) So, since we now know each other's favorite (and least favorite) Christmas songs... please leave me a comment with either YOUR least favorite Christmas song, OR your FAVORITE Christmas Cookies! (or, if you missed telling me what your favorite Christmas songs are earlier... go ahead and tell me now!)