Did Somebody Say Christmas Music?

My darling cupcake Kristen is hosting some really awesome Christmasy link ups this month on her Editor's Blog at Exemplify. The latest one is about Christmas music. One of my absolute favorite things about Christmas is the music. Now I don't have over 600 Christmas songs on my iPod (more like 200 or so, I know what you're thinking Kristen, what an amateur!), but it was still hard to narrow it down to some of my very favorites. So below are my favorite songs followed by the best Christmas albums that you must add to your collection (because I couldn't pick just one song from these you're getting to hear about the entire album!).



1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland By far the best of all Christmas songs of all time. Judy Garland will make you cry. If you don't you are certifiably Scroogy. Just so you know.

2. Ave Maria- Ginny Owens. I heard her version of this song about three years ago and I was awestruck. Exquisite. Simply exquisite.

3. Come On Let's Boogy to the Elf Dance and I Saw Three Ships- Sufjan Stevens. I could actually have a whole list of just Sufjan Stevens songs but I will just go with my two favorite. Who wouldn't love this lyric "Santa Claus is coming, hear the banjo strumming". Because nothing says Christmas like a banjo strumming.

4. Go Tell It On the Mountain- Needtobreathe There are some Christmas songs that are too good to just listen to for a couple months of the year. NTB's Go Tell It is one of them. Will I ever get tired of Bear's voice? I seriously doubt it.

5. Feliz Navidad- David Crowder Band David Crowder can do no wrong. No. Wrong. That pretty much sums it up.

6. Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella- Joy Williams Last year Joy offered this free download and I snatched it up like a kid in a candy store. It's just her and her piano recorded on her Mac and it is breathtaking in it's simplicity and beauty. If you can't find it anywhere then Sufjan's Stevens version is a worthy substitution.

7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- Jars of Clay God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is one of my absolute favorite Christmas carols and Jars of Clay is one of my absolute favorite bands. Yep. And tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy! Who can beat that?

8. You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch- Leigh Nash Leigh's voice was made for this song. Her sweetness singing about the nasty Mr. Grinch? Perfect combo.

9. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer- Jack Johnson I love Jack Johnson's take on this song, heck I love Jack Johnson's take on anything. But still. I'm all about snow at Christmas but this song makes me want to spend it on the beach in Hawaii.

10. Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child- Mariah Carey Ever since college this has been a pull out and listen to as early as October Christmas album for me. I'll never forget when our BSU choir sang this song for our Christmas Vespers. There is some super awesome video footage to me getting my groove on whilst singing this classic. And if you find said footage, burn it. We need no further proof of my dorkiness. 'Because I have a blog for that.

Honorable Mentions, because I told you it would be hard to pick my favorites: Light of the Stable- Selah (or Emmylou Harris if you're old school and cool like that), Love Came Down at Christmas- Jars of Clay, What Christmas Means to Me- The Jackson Five, O Come all Ye Faithful- Natalie Grant, and O Little Town of Bethlehem- Amy Grant.

Now on to the best Christmas cd's of pretty much all time. Granted there are some classics that never go out of fashion, like the Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer soundtrack and Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas album. But these are new Kara classics. They are year round listenable and worthy of your attention.

1.Sara Groves- O Holy Night, Sara Groves is who I want to be when I grow up. Seriously. Or at least her very best friend. I love her fresh takes on old songs like It Came Upon a Midnight Clear and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. And I was officially wrecked the first time I heard her precious little boy telling the Christmas story on the track It's True. Absolutely precious.

2. Bebo Norman's Christmas.... From the Realms of Glory There was a time in my not too distant 20's that I loved the heck out of Bebo Norman. Yep, I was one of those girls. Has there ever been a Christian singer more crush worthy? Anyways. This is an incredible Christmas album. Simple, laid back (just as imagine Bebo himself to be) and worthy of the never ending all day long at work repeat button. Great versions of Joy to the World, Silver Bells and Go Tell it on the Mountain. And don't even get me started on The Rebel Jesus. My word.

3. Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God Hands down THE. BEST. CHRISTMAS. ALBUM. EVER. Theologically rich, deep, delightful and True! I shamelessly play this one pretty much year round. You will never get over Labor of Love after you've heard it. I would sing it as a solo at church someday but I am certain I couldn't get through it without bawling. There is no greater test of a song's awesomeness than that. And who knew that learning the lineage of Jesus could be as much fun as Matthew's Begats? I am in awe of Andrew Peterson. And don't forget to read the liner notes. Better than Dr. Suess.

So there you have it. More than you could have possibly wanted to know about my taste in Christmas music. Don't forget to head over to Exemplify to link up with you're favorite Christmas songs.