And the award for most eloquent post title goes to!

I was just thinking about how I’ve written a Christmas music post every single year since I started blogging in 2010.  Apparently I have a lot to say about Christmas music.  And if you thought this would be the year I ran out of things to say, you’re so wrong.  Last year’s “Remakes We Didn’t Need” obviously had to be followed up by a list of remakes we do need.

1. “Run Run Rudolph” by Kelly Clarkson

I’m a closet Kelly Clarkson fan.  Hers was my very first concert, she’s the very best of all the American Idol winners (IMO) and dang, she can sing.  She kills it in “Run Run Rudolph” and I mean that in the best of ways.

2. “O Holy Night” by Lea Michelle

Okay, a more annoying Glee character never existed but girl can sing.  There’s no denying that.  It’s a well known fact that you shouldn’t even attempt “O Holy Night” unless you have some real singing chops (I’m talking to you, Leann Rimes…) and Lea Michelle does.  She fits right in with Céline Dion, Josh Groban, Mariah Carey and Johnny Mathis.

3. “This Christmas” by Chris Brown

Chris Brown sucks so bad, but I love this song.

4. “12 Days of Christmas” by Straight No Chaser

We’re probably way past the point of being shocked and delighted by this song (it did come out eight years ago), but considering how long and boring the original is, this version is a pretty amazing feat.  It’s fun, creative and includes a Christmas-ed version of Toto’s “Africa.” Yes, yes yes.

5. “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” by Harry Connick Jr.

Oh, did you think you were gonna make it through a Christmas song post without me talking about HCJr.?  That was silly.  His When My Heart Finds Christmas was the definition of Christmas time when I was a kid.  The Dorsey family wore that album out.  This song is particularly trumpet-y and therefore particularly amazing.

6. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Indina Menzel

Now comes the part where I admit that I hate “Let It Go.”  HATE.  The first time I heard it on the radio I thought it was a joke.  And now my ears start bleeding every time I’m subjected to it.  So here we have an already incredibly annoying song and the singer of an another incredibly song and you put them together and… I like it?  It doesn’t make sense!  Yet somehow, it does.

7. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith

Sam Smith could sing the phone book and I would probably buy it on iTunes.

8. “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Michael Bublé

I almost wrote “Insert Song Here” by Michael Bublé. Look, some people’s voices are just made for Christmas music.  And those people are HCJr., Josh Groban and Michael Bublé so really I could’ve written any of his Christmas songs and it would’ve worked.

9. “Jingle Bell Rock” by Hall & Oates

Would you expect anything less from someone who played “You Make My Dreams Come True” during their wedding recessional?  This version of JBR is such a classic to me, that I almost forgot it’s not the original.  All in favor of pretending this is the one and only version of “Jingle Bell Rock” to exist, say aye!

10. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by Céline Dion

Normally, I would be opposed to remakes of anything by John Lennon (RIP), but this version is so lovely and well-done that it gets a pass.  It almost doesn’t even sound like the same song so we can escape the comparison trap.  And really, Céline can do no wrong with that voice of hers.

What are you guys doing this weekend?  Last minute shopping?  Watching Christmas movies?  Checking the weather forecast every half hour to make sure snow is still expected on Christmas?  I’ll be doing all of thee above plus a million other things that I probably don’t have time for 🙂

Happy Friday!