Christmas Music Snob

Some people are water snobs. Some people are texture snobs. I happen to be a Christmas music snob. No, I'm not an Ebenezer Grinch...I like Christmas music, a lot in fact. But I am VERY particular about the kind of Christmas music that I listen to. For example, I loathe Christmas stations on the radio, most of the songs make me cringe. The songs played over the intercom at stores make me want to rip my hair out. And I am extremely grateful for the invention of iTunes, which allows me to pick and choose and buy my favorite songs as singles, because there are very few albums I can stand to listen to in their entirety.

It's funny, because I actually like most Christmas songs, but I guess where I get picky is in the style they're done in. It matters to me how an artist chooses to present their version of whichever song they're singing. I hate cheesey. I hate twangy. I like original, but only to a degree. Don't butcher the classic songs, ya know? I also like to hear that an artist actually has talent. And I like up-beat songs, but they still have to keep the reverence and meaning of the song, especially the more religious ones. Silent Night in punk rock just isn't my thing, I think it's disrespectful.

I made a Christmas CD to listen to in the car this year, and to give you a taste of my kind of Christmas music, I'll share what's on it. But bare in mind that when I'm driving I like more upbeat stuff, so there are other Christmas songs, and other artists I like, but they didn't make the cut for the car. For example, I really like Michael Dowdle, Kenny G, John Schmidt, and Michael Buble, but not in the car. I also chuckle at just about every version of the Hanukkah Song, but not in front of my kids. :) 

01- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies
02- Oh Holy Night by Clay Aiken
03- Joseph's Lullaby by Mercy Me
04- Through Heaven's Eyes by The  Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Brian Stokes Mitchell
05- Silent Nutcracker (instrumental) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
06- Joy to the World by Clay Aiken
07- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson
08- Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill
09- Little St. Nick by The Beach Boys
10- Christmas Eve by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
11- Mary Did You Know? by Clay Aiken
12- I Saw Three Ships by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
13- Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Mercy Me
14- Deck the Halls by Mannheim Steamroller
15- Drummer Boy by Mercy Me
16- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen by Mannheim Steamroller
17- Friendly Beast by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Brian Stokes Mitchell
18- Mad Russian's Christmas by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
19- I Heard the Bells by Mercy Me
20- Still, Still, Still by Mannheim Steamroller
21- O, Come, O Come, Emanuel by Sugarland

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies is probably my all-time favorite Christmas Song. Mercy Me is probably my favorite Christmas group, Clay Aiken coming in second. I wish Jack Johnson would do more Christmas stuff, I think I'd like it if he did. And probably my favorite new song on the year is the one from Sugarland, I wish the rest of their Christmas album didn't suck. I love the stuff from MoTab and Brian Stokes Mitchell, I saw them together in concert a few years ago, and it was probably the best concert I've ever seen. No body can beat out Brian Stokes Mitchell, not even David Archuletta, try as he might. :)

And of course, Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra will always be favorites because they are the sound of my childhood Christmas's. I love Christmas music! Even if I am a snob about it. And I love that my kids are learning to love it too. Ivan told me the other day that his favorite Christmas song is Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. And Lincoln's is Through Heaven's Eyes. We dance around together in the living room to A Mad Russian's Christmas, and laugh our heads off. I show them some "awesome" ballet moves, and tell them how my mom used to take me to The Nutcracker Ballet every year. I can't wait until Adelia is old enough for me to take her.

What Christmas music do you like? What music do you hate? Are you a Christmas music snob too? I am. And I'm ok with it.