Ah, Christmas! There’s nothing like this festive holiday season where you bundle up for the winter cold and make a snowman. Sipping hot cocoa while snuggling next to an open fire. Popping some popcorn and catching up on those holiday movie favorites. Staying up late and seeing if you can catch Santa in the act. Of course, you get my drift when it comes to the holidays, right?
For as long as I can remember, there’s been nothing negative about this cheerful time of year. It’s always been one of the happiest moments of my childhood where I was able to create my own holiday cheer, ripping open terrific presents I received, chowing down on cookies with hot chocolate, chilling and hanging with my family, eating a huge Christmas dinner, enjoying some outdoor holiday festivities and more. The holiday seemed so simple and happy for me as a kid. However, as I grew older, I began to understand the craziness my parents went through to give me and my old sisters a fun Christmas.
As the countdown to Christmas comes, you never realize what your parents do to make your season bright. Raising children along with my parents, I became part of that tradition of Christmas chaos, but found out it was totally worth it. It’s not easy to buy the right presents for the kids, takes days at a time and trips to several different stores. I spend hours upon hours in a hot kitchen baking every kind of cookie imaginable, the same going for Christmas dinner. And you know those community events? Yeah, those take weeks to put together for entire families to enjoy. Of course, throughout my having to become a busy bee, I absolutely love it because it’s always worth the smiles from my loved ones.
Honestly though, I can’t do everything without a bit of a pick-me-up. And what better way to keep me happy and moving than getting my caroling on. Caroling is when you go out around the neighborhood or town and sing Christmas songs where the entire public can hear you. Of course, my caroling happens within the privacy of my own home (cause between you and me, my voice isn’t exactly the best, ha ha). And I ALWAYS have a certain playlist of music that makes me smile, want to sing and, sometimes, even dance. (I’ve been known to groove while washing dishes).
So, what awesome music gets me into the Christmas spirit? Check out the top ten in my playlist below:
10. “The Christmas Song” – This is an old classic written in 1945 and sang with the same sweet sounds each time. And for me, I’ve always enjoyed the oldies of Christmas because they’re amazingly written and professionally sang by some amazing music artists. Also, this is one of the very few songs in my playlist that has a pretty slow beat to it, but still an enjoyable sing-a-long song.
9. “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Every one, young and old, know this classic hit song that was created in 1939 spawned from a stop-motion film. This song can be depicted in many ways, fast or slow, but I prefer the faster of the beats. Plus, it’s fun to sing and add your own lyrics! Love to sing “You’ll go down in history! (Like George Washington!) Ha ha, funny, yes?
8. “Jingle Bells” – You wanna talk about classics? This was created in 1857! It’s been such a hit for a very long time and loved by so many! It’s a definite hit in my house and makes me want to go out in a “one-horse open sleigh”. Well, if I could, I would. Don’t you just love this song?
7. “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” – There is NOBODY who doesn’t remember Alvin & the Chipmunks! These cute animated chipmunks sang this little diddy around 1958 and was a smash hit! Like Alvin at his age, “me I want a hula hoop!” Now, I opt for other kinds of things, but still is a great song to sing along with and dance to!
6. “Feliz Navidad” – Written and sang in 1970, this simple singing hit brought both English and Spanish together in a fun way! Not only can you have fun grooving to this holiday song, but you get a bit of education “en Espanol”! Where do you think I learned how to say “Merry Christmas” in another language?
5. “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” – This was sang in 1998 by one of my favorite 90’s boy groups. They also created a fantastic video that featured a cameo by the legendary Gary Coleman. This song has a great beat with fantastic lyrics and brings in so much adoration for the Christmas season. A definite must in anybody’s playlist.
4. “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – This song was featured in the animated classic “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” back in 1966 adapted from a book by Dr. Seuss. Though it speaks of “insults” toward this Grinch, they are actually “compliments” for him and he loves it. It honestly wouldn’t be Christmas to me if I didn’t hear this song at least once!
3. “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” – Another hit classic sang back in 1958. It’s upbeat and crazy awesome to sing to. Whenever this pick-me-up song plays, I can’t help but dance around and have fun singing along! Though I’m not rocking around my own Christmas tree, I’m still rocking around my house!
2. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Now this is one of those songs around my early time! It was sang by Mariah Carey back in 1994 and has been a number one hit for the season for at least 20 years! Amazing, right? A lot of songs like this are usually a simple slow-beat song, but she made it where it tells you a love story while having a medium-pace of music you can sing and dance to! Although it may have been number one worldwide, it’s my second to first favorite!
1.”Santa Baby” – The first time this song came out in 1953, people knew it was going to be a smash hit! Originally this was sang by Eartha Kitt, but many renditions of it were released through the last 60 or so years! My favorite “Santa Baby” has to be the one sang by the amazing music artist, Madonna! Not that I don’t love the original, I just have a passion for Madonna’s way of singing it! And it is definitely my top favorite holiday song EVER!
So, what do you think of my playlist? Got a great list of music for you to listen to, right? Go ahead and tell us what your favorites are! We would really like to know.
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