Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I am a Christmas junkie. I literally inhale the season. My roommate and I strung up lights in our dorm, and we are definitely much more jolly and vibrant around anything red and green. Of course, we have our own holiday traditions. Luis Guerra, my roommate, watches Christmas movies all the time, while my family and I watch “Elf.” However, there is one aspect that radiates throughout any house that celebrates the holidays: Christmas songs.
Great Christmas songs are all around us. There is of course “Jingle Bells,” “White Christmas” and “Frosty the Snowman.” Newer Christmas songs are hard to make catch on. This is why when artists do Christmas albums, they cover classic songs. On this subject, it all depends on the artist you enjoy most. Let’s go over favorite classic songs loved by all and then I will give you my personal favorites sung by my favorite artists.
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, sang in the classic movie of the same name, is by far the most successful holiday song in history. Sitting on top of the charts for about a month after its release, the song is always going to be here. “Jingle Bells” doesn’t really stand out by any particular artist, but it is always going to be around. Finally, songs like “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” became really famous after the classic short Rankin-Bass Christmas films.
The songs that I love the most and the ones I highly suggest you listen to at least once are the ones from the four albums my family and I always listen to multiple times every year. George Strait’s two Christmas albums, Relient K’s “Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer,” and The Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Eve and Other Stories.”
Of those works, there are four separate songs that really get me in the holiday spirit. George Strait has two songs. “There’s a New Kid in Town” always makes me incredibly humble and “Noel Leon” tells a story of what the Christmas Spirit looks like in action. I believe I am most thankful for my Lord’s sacrifice when I listen to Relient K’s “I Celebrate the Day.” Lastly, nothing gets me more in a rocking Christmas mood like Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Sarajevo 12/24.”
So, now that you’ve been reminded of some great tunes and made aware of some more songs, sit down with loved ones, drink eggnog and celebrate the best holiday ever.
[author image=”http://echo.snu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/JohnHaileedited.jpg”] John Haile, Staff Contributor
John Haile is a freshman at Southern Nazarene University. He is a Sports Information major, and is currently working with the sports broadcasting team for the Crimson Storm. John loves all things sports, and his main hobby is watching and critiquing movies. His dream is to go work for ESPN as a commentator, analyst or writer. [/author]