Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”

For me, Christmas is a very holy time.  It is an important time in my religion.  I am a Christian.  I don’t subscribe to many of the points of view that others do.  I firmly believe we are all here for a reason.  That includes those who many Christians don’t think should have certain rights.  I refuse to belong to any religious organization that doesn’t think everyone should have those same rights.  Nothing will get me to walk away faster from those places than having me sign a contract stating something such as “I believe marriage should only exist between a man and a woman.”  That’s not what Jesus was about.  He was here to teach us all how to love each other despite all our many faults.  His joy is for all of us, not the select few.

Merry Christmas to all my readers, near and far!  May you have a joyous and blessed day with family and friends.  For those who are spending the day alone, know that you too are loved!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Gabriel’s Message”

This song has always been inspirational for me around the Christmas season.  It reminds me of what it is about, the birth of Jesus.  But it started before the birth, when the angel Gabriel delivered a message to a girl named Mary…

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Christmas, Baby Please Come Home”

It wouldn’t be Christmas without U2’s Bono rocking out to this Darlene Love original!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

The tracks from the first “A Very Special Christmas” continue with Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders giving the definitive version of this song!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)”

This was one of the first Christmas songs I remember hearing on the radio growing up.  I was a huge Beatles fan when I was a kid.  It took me a long time to actually buy this song but I could always count on hearing it every Christmas season on the airwaves!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Peace On Earth”

This song gets the distinction of the best new Christmas song of 2018!  In the past couple of years I’ve recognized Lissie as one of the most powerful voices of the decade.

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Silent Night”

I’ve heard so many different versions of this song in my five decades of life.  But my favorite is by far Stevie Nicks’ angelic version from the 1987 album “A Very Special Christmas”.

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Carol of the Bells”

One of the best pianists of modern times is George Winston.  His version of “Carol of the Bells” shows exactly why he has earned that distinction!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Silver Bells”

It wasn’t Christmas in my house growing up without hearing Andy Williams singing the holiday classics!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Boots”

For over a decade, the alternative rock band The Killers delivered an annual Christmas song.  The 2010 song “Boots” is by far the best!  Any song that has “It’s A Wonderful Life” as part of they lyrics is a winner in my book!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Christmastime”

Back in “the day” (which wasn’t that long ago), the Special Olympics would come out with Christmas albums called “A Very Special Christmas”.  On the third one, which came out in 1997, the Smashing Pumpkins delivered an awesome original!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

I have to admit I couldn’t stand this song for many years but more recently it has grown on me.  I loved the version in the movie “Love Actually”.  But Mariah’s original version is played everywhere so I guess it seeped into my brain!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “The Season’s Upon Us”

Christmas is a wonderful time of year but it can also be a time of great angst for some families!  No Christmas song shows this more than the Irish band The Dropkick Murphys!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Easily in my top three Christmas songs of all time!  While the song has some detractors out there and think the lyrics stink, getting all these singers together was a work of art!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Fairytale of New York”

Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of people.  This song about the harder side of life and love gone bad struck a chord with me when I first heard it several years ago.  A beautiful and haunting Irish song with a perfect duet by Pogues’ singer Shane McGowan and Kirsty MacColl is one for the ages!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Merry Christmas Eve”

This one brings back the joy of Christmas Eve for me.  All the things we associate with Christmas.  Family, children, friends, and love!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “White Christmas”

I think the Otis Redding version of “White Christmas” is the best version of this song.  He puts so much of his heart and soul into this song.  While we didn’t get a white Christmas this year in Delaware, maybe we will again one year!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Christmas Time”

I bought the 45 of this when it came out in 1985.  If you don’t know what a 45 is, you are young.  One of the best of the 1980s Christmas tunes!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “The Little Drummer Boy”

Nothing can ever beat the original by The Harry Simeone Chorale.  Not only does this song appear in my favorite Christmas special of all-time, the tv version of “The Little Drummer Boy”, but it is also my favorite of the “oldies” Christmas songs!

Best Christmas Songs Ever: “Christmas Mashup”

Five years ago Bastille went into a BBC studio and threw a bunch of Christmas songs into a massive mashup.  The result is astounding!