My Christmas Song Top 10
A couple years ago, we were driving somewhere as usual, and Molly casually asked me my favorite Christmas song. I’m accustomed to hearing all manner of questions from the kids, but I’ll be the first to say this one rendered me speechless. I’m pretty sure in that moment, if she’d asked me how babies are made, I’d have been better prepared to answer than I was for this one seemingly simple question. Favorite of ALL the songs? I can’t choose one. How about a top 10? How about a top 10 of instrumental songs, then another top 10 of choral songs from church, yet another list would be needed for pop songs on the radio, and another for songs from movies… by the time my brain could compose some semblance of an answer to her question, she had long since moved on.
But that simple question was one I did not move on from so easily. It’s been bouncing around in the back of my brain for the last now three Christmas music seasons (I’m one of those people who starts listening November 1st). It has taken careful, almost painstaking consideration but I have indeed come up with a favorite followed by the next 9 to round out my very own top 10 list of Christmas/Holiday songs. Phew. It wasn’t easy and every time I thought my list was complete, I’d think of another that needed to be mentioned.
A few caveats before I begin. One- these are *my* favorite Christmas songs. They exclude any number of incredibly beautiful, meaningful, lovely songs (hence my minor crisis when asked to list my number one). They are special to me in large part because they have some memory or meaning behind them that makes them special. In some cases, it’s the meaningful nature more so than the musicality and sometimes it’s the other way around.
10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra 1948
This song makes me think of simplicity which is not often found during this season of crazy. “Let your hearts be light. From now on your troubles will be out of sight.” Wouldn’t that be an amazing way to spend this holiday time? This song gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling. I also love it because I know it was popular when my grandparents were young. I can imagine them listening to it on the radio or putting the record on the record player. Listening to 1940s Christmas songs brings me back to the time of their youth and so this song earns a spot on my list.
9. Deck the Halls by Percy Faith and His Orchestra 1954
Here’s another “from my parents’ and grandparents’ youth” songs but it fully encompasses what I love most about music from that era- full orchestration played by real instruments. Look don’t get me wrong; I love music from today too, but as a band kid and now a band mom, there’s something really special about music that includes an orchestra. This one builds in excitement with these sweeping themes that make me imagine a very storybook looking Christmas scene and makes me smile every time I hear it.
8. What Child is This/Child of the Poor- Child of the Poor by Scott Soper
There is no part of my childhood that didn’t involve music and singing at church. Over the decades, I have learned and sung probably hundreds of Christmas songs in the choir. I can’t quite remember how old I was the first time I heard/performed this one, but I remember feeling a longing to sing it again and again because it’s so uniquely arranged. What Child is This (Greensleeves) is well known but Child of the Poor was written to blend within the context and instrumentation of the original piece. The lyrics offer a contrast to most of the songs sung this time of year, offering the words “Who is this who lives with the lowly, / sharing their sorrows, knowing their hunger? / This is Christ revealed to the world / in the eyes of a child, a child of the poor.” I don’t think words can do justice to simply how beautiful this song is.
7. Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant
Breath of Heaven is another profoundly moving song with lyrics that express Mary’s thoughts as she prepares to give birth to the baby Jesus. You can just imagine a young woman, still really a child herself, who has placed incredible faith in God but who still feels a sense of wonder and perhaps angst about what’s to come. This is the line that always gets me, “Do You wonder as You watch my face? / If a wiser one should have had my place / But I offer all I am / For the mercy of Your plan / Help me be strong / Help me be / Help me”. There is so much emotion in this piece of music, it is truly a masterpiece.
6. Sleigh Ride performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra
What can I say, this is just such a fun piece of music complete with the horse sounding “neigh” at the end. I think this song encapsulates the pace and excitement of the season. The version with lyrics is fine too but nothing beats this or any performance by the Boston Pops.
5. O Holy Night
I’m not specific about the version of this one because I love so many different arrangements but if I had to think of one in particular, it would be O Holy Night performed in Home Alone by the children’s choir. I don’t remember when I first heard this song, but I know for certain I have had it mentally listed as a top favorite ever since. As a bonus it is beautiful to sing as well and, in my mind, I always hum along with the alto part.
4. Rejoice with Exceeding Great Joy performed by the Candlelight Processional at Epcot
Now we’re really getting down to the best of the best in this list. Back in the Christmas of 1997, as a Junior in high school, my show choir was invited to sing in the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. I was introduced to a collection of music that could easily have taken up every spot on this list but this one is set apart in my mind because it’s honestly one of the coolest pieces of music I’ve ever heard with so many styles and songs mixed and ending in eight-part harmony. I have attended Candlelight as a singer and as a spectator several times and this one always has me grinning from ear to ear the entire time.
3. I’ll Be Home For Christmas recorded by Bing Crosby, 1943
Here we are back to my love for 1940s Christmas carols with one of the most moving and meaningful secular songs. Written during World War II, the song is from the perspective of a soldier who misses his family and longs to be home even, “if only in my dreams.” Now it’s not like this song was new to me in 2006 but I spent that Christmas with my own soldier away fighting a war on the other side of the Earth and it hit home in an entirely different way for me. It was hard to hear this song during that time without feeling emotional about it. Josh Groban released his own arrangement the following year with messages from soldiers interspersed between the lyrics of the song ensuring that anyone listening would need tissues handy.
2. O Come O Come Emmanual performed by The Piano Guys
A Christmas hymn for Advent, I feel like you don’t hear this song performed often outside of churches in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Mannheim Steamroller also has a beautiful rendition of the piece but otherwise it’s more obscure than most others on this list. A few years ago, this version was used during a key moment in the Christmas pageant at the school where I taught. The stage was mostly dark except for a spotlight on the manger. Mary and Joseph walked up through the aisle of the auditorium and took their places in the nativity scene as the cello and piano of the song quieted everyone’s hearts and minds. I remember feeling at peace with the world around me which, let’s be honest, is not a common feeling for me. This song has the power to bring me instant calm and peace. The cello is absolutely stunning. If you haven’t heard this, you must.
1. Stille Nacht (Silent Night) performed by Mannheim Steamroller from the album Mannheim Steamroller Christmas 1984
When I was a child, we used to drive to see family in New Orleans for Thanksgiving. These were the days long before iPads and DVD players in the car. We had the alphabet game and the license plate game, both which were exceedingly boring and frustrating along long and desolate stretches of highway. We also had this album on cassette tape and thankfully, a car with a cassette player. We listened to the album on loop for the 11 hour drive and it was burned into my brain to where decades later, I automatically know what song comes next and the note it starts on. Stille Nacht is the final song on the album.
Now I must be honest here because well, first of all what would be the point of lying on my own list, and second, I think it has to be said; Silent Night as a Christmas carol sung at church is, sorry to say, boring. The lyrics are eloquent, but the music itself is akin to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It just doesn’t go anywhere musically. So how on earth did a song I generally find pretty “meh” earn a spot at number one for me?
Back in 1997- I guess this was a big year for Christmas music for me- my same high school choir was invited to sing in the hallways at The Ice Palace (now renamed Amalie Arena) before the Mannheim Steamroller concert. I was really excited about this event given how much I enjoyed the band’s music and how integral a role it played in my childhood memories. The best part about this chorus performance was that we were going to be allowed to stay and watch the concert after.
I don’t know how or why I decided it was okay to bring a +2 but I brought Andy and my mom to this event. After our singing time was over and the concert was starting, some official sort of person led us into the arena and offered us seats on the floor. No, I don’t mean expensive floor seats, I mean seats on the concrete stairs in the aisle- most definitely not what we were told we’d get nor really in line with fire safety. Andy, who was a senior at the time, in his very Andy way, politely explained that the seats we were offered were not only a fire hazard but also not what had been promised and that he was sure they would do the right thing by the high school students who had after all, provided free entertainment before the show, and find them better seats. The next thing we knew, we were being led to much better, much closer and much more comfortable seats on the left side of the stage and pretty close to the front. I sat with several friends and my mom and Andy on either side of me, enjoying the show and seeing Mannheim in a totally different way. I don’t think I realized how unique the instrumentation is until that point. The show ended and every second of it had been wonderful but then Chip Davis came out for an encore. Picking up his electric violin, he began to play Silent Night. During those five minutes, the world stilled, and I sat breathlessly watching, fully absorbing every note, really hearing the music properly for the first time ever. I am sure tears leaked out of my eyes at the beauty of it and at some point, during the song I remember thinking “please don’t let this ever end”. That moment, surrounded by people I love dearly, is one of my most beloved childhood memories of absolutely pure joy and happiness.
After the show, we went backstage and met Chip Davis and somewhere I have his autograph on the show’s program. If I had the ability to go back in time to important moments in my life for the opportunity to relive them, that would be high on my list and since that moment, Stille Nacht by Mannheim Steamroller has been my most favorite Christmas song of all time.