Silent Night…Away in a Manger….I’m always happy to hear these songs this time of year. They are sweet and full of the joy and excitement of Jesus.
But, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree….Puh Rum Puh Pum Pum (puh pum pum pum…pum…….pum)? Hearing these songs about once a year is kind of plenty for me.
That’s just my opinion of course.
I actually really love a few of the newer Christmas songs a LOT.
How Many Kings, by Downhere is my absolute favorite. Mmm, I love that song. I could listen to it over and over again. Even in July.
And have you heard The Night Before Christmas, by Brandon Heath? I just heard it for the first time this week, and I love it. You can get a free download of the song here.
So…do you like Christmas music? What are your favorite Christmas songs?
My all-time favorite is Oh, Holy Night! I need to look into the two you listed. I don’t recognize them by their names!
Oh I do like How Many Kings :)
And I love O Come Emmanuel and O Holy Night. I saw O Holy Night performed in sign language – whole body and spirit involved by the man doing the signing – the most beautiful thing!
Thank you for the link to the free download.
I’m with Paula. My favourite is O Holy Night.
What Child Is This/ Greensleeves
All time fave!
I heard it in a store the other day and it was all I could do not to sing out loud! :-)
There’s something out right now that’s really pretty- its all the traditional Christmas songs done with strings. Beautiful!
I love ALL Christmas music, even Rockin’ around the Christmas tree. Christmas music is just that. The kids and I get up and get dancing. Christmas music for me is like comfort food for others.
A few of my faves:
Happy Christmas-John Lennon of course
The 12 pains of Christmas…. cracks me up EVERY TIME I hear it!
And of course Rockin around the Christmas Tree… PERFECT for getting off your duff (or putting down a cleaning tool lol) and dancing w/the kids song.
I LOVE downhere’s How Many Kings! When I heard it last year for the first time I thought it was a ‘regular’ song and was surprised the radio didn’t play it the rest of the year. It’s so good! And appropriate all year, not just at Christmas. Francesca Battistelli has a song, too, called (I think) You’re Here. It’s from Mary’s perspective, holding the newly born Jesus. I could listen to that all year, too. Hymns I love, especially O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and can listen or sing those year round. But the rest, the “fun” Christmas music or the cheesy Christmas music I can’t stand even at Christmastime. Isn’t it funny how different everyone’s tastes are? I have friends who begin listening to Holly Jolly Christmas before the fireworks die out July 4th! :)
I LOVE “You’re Here”, it is Francesca Battistelli. It is terrific. And O Come, O Come is my favorite….especially sung by Margaret Becker.
I’ve never heard “How many Kings”. But, my favorite songs have always been “O holy night” and “Oh come all ye faithful”. This year I heard Casting Crowns “I heard the bells on Christmas day” and was blown away. Another one that makes me sing out loud is Barlow girl “Hallelujah(Light is come)”. Awesome!!
Thanks for the link for Brandon Heath’s song. Merry Christmas!
I love Downhere, they were just up here not that long ago. My favorite is Barlow Girl’s Hallelujah (Light has come). Actually, if it is a Christmas song, I love it.
Downhere is one of my all time favorites, and the new album is no exception :) Long before they were famous, they stayed with my family after doing a concert at our church. Such great guys, and you know what, all these years later, they still remember our family and gave us big hugs when we saw them a couple months ago. They are totally normal down to earth guys!
As for my favorite Christmas song, I’d have to agree that How Many Kings is at the top of the list right now!
I really like Sovereign Grace Music’s Savior album(every other album they do also). How Sweet the Day is probably my favorite song on there.
We love the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas!
It is a little hard to choose, but I would have to say Carol of the Bells and Christmas Eve(Trans Siberan Orch.).
I have heard a new one this year, Camofoge and Christmas light. The song is about the solders.
All time favorite is Silent Night. I love it even more when done with the least amount of instruments. There is also a song that talks about how they were in the battlefield and one of the soldiers starts to sing a Chritmas song(can’t remember which one) and across the field another voice in a different language chimes in. They cease the fighting for that day and enjoy a Christmas together. People who were once enemies enjoying a holiday away from home and those they love. It goes on to say that they had to resume the fighting the next day. But it was harder to do so, knowing personally the men that they were fighting against. It makes me cry every time. This is totally my version of it and it doesn’t do the song justice. I’ll have to find it…
Sorry this was SO long!
I found it!!! It’s by Collin Raye “It Could Happen Again”. I knew I was paraphrasing badly.
I hadn’t heard the song in a long time. Here’s the link on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oUxEeeLdbU
White Christmas is my one of my favorite movies (anytime of year) and I love all the music from it. Any good version of Carol of the Bells.
Our family has a weird tradition of listening to an old album called Tijuana Christmas by The Border Brass and also Alvin and the Chipmunks while we decorate at my parents’ house. The records aren’t in the best of shape from so many years and repeating them all day.
I’ve got a great Christmas station on Pandora with lots of variety. If anybody wants me to share I’d be happy to!
“Little Drummer Boy” (Pa rum pum pum pum) used to be one of those songs I always skipped over – once a year was even too much for me! Then I heard a beautiful sermon at church about how this song was the speaker’s favourite, because it helped him think of himself as that poor drummer boy, with seemingly nothing of worth to give as a gift to his Saviour. All of a sudden this song took on new meaning, as I take time every year to find something of me to gift to my Saviour.
“I heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is my other favourite – such beautiful poetry and imagery in that song!
Mine is “Mary Did You Know?”. But watch out, it will make you cry.
One of my all time favorite Christmas albums is Andrew Petersen’s “Behold the Lamb”. Absolutely beautiful! Especially the song “Labor of Love” If you haven’t heard it you have to listen! It brings tears to my eyes every time!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KY6Hov0wSc&feature=related
Anything by Mannheim Steamroller or Trans Siberian Orchestra!
Oooh, I LOVE How Many Kings–and DownHere in general. I didn’t realize there were so many free songs on Amazon! How fun! I downloaded that one and a couple more.
My newer favorites are from The Nativity Story: Sacred Songs album: “Labor of Love” and “The Virgin’s Lullaby.” Also love Natalie Grant’s Believe album.
My vote is for the classic stuff: Handel’s Messiah, for example.
I’m not a big fan of Away in a Manger….(“no crying he makes”….REALLY? Highly doubtful).
Yes! I actually wrote a post this year featuring my favorite Christmas songs:
http://www.thesmudgecurve.com/2013/12/what-are-your-favorite-christmas-tunes.html