Ah, the Christmas standards. You really can't have Christmas without any of these. It wouldn't be the same. So what are my favorites? Keep reading and find out.
Just a friendly reminder that these are my favorite versions of these songs. Some are by the original artists, but others (possibly most) are not.
"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" by Brooks & Dunn. I feel like you can't really go wrong with Brooks & Dunn, you know?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/santa-claus-is-comin-to-town/id267255940?i=267256764
"Sleigh Ride" by Johnny Mathis. Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first non-country artist of the list. It's Johnny Mathis. There's no way I could write about Christmas music and not include him.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sleigh-ride/id201257626?i=201257765
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Dan + Shay. Gotta say I was pretty impressed with their vocals on this. This song just works for them and that works for me. Nice arrangement as well.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/have-yourself-merry-little/id774328511?i=774328545
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Rascal Flatts. Easy choice. The harmonies on here are flawless. They just are. If you listen to this and still don't appreciate how talented these guys are, I don't know what to say to you. Beautiful version of this song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ill-be-home-for-christmas/id340918883?i=340920012
"Holly Jolly Christmas" by Jerrod Niemann. This just makes me happy. Simple as that.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/holly-jolly-christmas/id936897639?i=936897650
"What Christmas Means to Me" by Mandisa. Fun song, fun version.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-christmas-means-to-me/id715536959?i=715537206
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee. I said it in the introduction - it's not Christmas time until I heard this.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rockin-around-christmas-tree/id332341247?i=332341813
"Christmas, Baby Please Come Home" by Lady Antebellum. I feel like Charles Kelley was meant to sing this song. It suits his voice so well.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-baby-please-come/id721249544?i=721249927
"Winter Wonderland" by Scotty McCreery. I really like the arrangement and this song suits Scotty's voice nicely. I did a full review on this album last year. You can find it here.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/winter-wonderland/id566666841?i=566666846
"Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms. There's been other versions of this, but this is the best.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jingle-bell-rock/id1579415?i=1579398
"Run Run Rudolph" by Luke Bryan. Fun song for a guy who always looks like he's having such a great time performing.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/run-run-rudolph/id332341247?i=332341435
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Dean Martin. Not to knock any of the country acts who have done this, but it seems like it was tailor made for a voice like Dean Martin's.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/let-it-snow!-let-it-snow!/id945481943?i=945488011
"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Si Robertson. I get such a kick out of this. It's pretty entertaining.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/youre-a-mean-one-mr.-grinch/id720806714?i=720806747
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry. Do I really need to explain this one? I'm thinking not.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer/id332341247?i=332341590
"The Christmas Song" by The Temptations. I have so many great versions of this song. I went with The Temptations because I wanted to mix things up a bit. Plus it's the Temptations. Listening to them is good for the soul.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-christmas-song/id749978402?i=749978515
"Silver Bells" by Patty Loveless. If you have never listened to Patty Loveless, you really need to check her out. Great country voice. Really love the arrangement here.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/silver-bells/id940250683?i=940250723
"All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey. I used to listen to Mariah Carey a lot when she first came out and her Christmas album remains a favorite. Fun song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you/id585972750?i=585972803
"My Grown Up Christmas List" by Lauren Alaina. I'm listening to this hoping that 2015 is a good year for Lauren. She did a great job with this song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-grown-up-christmas-list/id771049978?i=771051884
"White Christmas" by Johnny Mathis. As previously stated, it's Johnny Mathis. He had to be included more than once. Beautiful song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/white-christmas/id201257626?i=201257798
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Michael W. Smith. One of my favorite Christian artists, this version is on his 4th Christmas album and it's fabulous.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-most-wonderful-time-year/id915982071?i=915982088
"Pretty Paper" by Jamey Johnson. Have a craving for a stone-cold country Christmas song? This is for you. You're welcome.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pretty-paper/id943532709?i=943532855
"Please Come Home for Christmas" by Gary Allan. So...why is Gary Allan not more popular? I mean, he has a ton of fans, but he's still so underrated. I don't get it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/please-come-home-for-christmas/id1579415?i=1579388
"Frosty the Snowman" by Jimmy Durante. A classic that reminds me of watching Frosty as a kid. Shoot, I still like watching Frosty.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/frosty-the-snowman/id270101949?i=270101953
"Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" from Irving Berlin's White Christmas. So this isn't a Christmas song, per se. So why include it? Because it's my favorite song from what very well may be my favorite Christmas movie, White Christmas. Lovely song. This version is from the musical soundtrack.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/count-your-blessings-instead/id327930456?i=327930490
"Tennessee Christmas" by Point of Grace. Beautiful version of a pretty song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tennessee-christmas/id291889631?i=291889647
"Where Are You Christmas" by Faith Hill. For when you just can't seem to get in the Christmas spirit. It happens. Great vocal by Faith on this one.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/where-are-you-christmas/id3539114?i=3539030
Whew. That was a lot. And there's still one more category to come!
Thanks for reading.
Just a friendly reminder that these are my favorite versions of these songs. Some are by the original artists, but others (possibly most) are not.
"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" by Brooks & Dunn. I feel like you can't really go wrong with Brooks & Dunn, you know?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/santa-claus-is-comin-to-town/id267255940?i=267256764
"Sleigh Ride" by Johnny Mathis. Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first non-country artist of the list. It's Johnny Mathis. There's no way I could write about Christmas music and not include him.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sleigh-ride/id201257626?i=201257765
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Dan + Shay. Gotta say I was pretty impressed with their vocals on this. This song just works for them and that works for me. Nice arrangement as well.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/have-yourself-merry-little/id774328511?i=774328545
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Rascal Flatts. Easy choice. The harmonies on here are flawless. They just are. If you listen to this and still don't appreciate how talented these guys are, I don't know what to say to you. Beautiful version of this song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ill-be-home-for-christmas/id340918883?i=340920012
"Holly Jolly Christmas" by Jerrod Niemann. This just makes me happy. Simple as that.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/holly-jolly-christmas/id936897639?i=936897650
"What Christmas Means to Me" by Mandisa. Fun song, fun version.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-christmas-means-to-me/id715536959?i=715537206
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee. I said it in the introduction - it's not Christmas time until I heard this.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rockin-around-christmas-tree/id332341247?i=332341813
"Christmas, Baby Please Come Home" by Lady Antebellum. I feel like Charles Kelley was meant to sing this song. It suits his voice so well.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-baby-please-come/id721249544?i=721249927
"Winter Wonderland" by Scotty McCreery. I really like the arrangement and this song suits Scotty's voice nicely. I did a full review on this album last year. You can find it here.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/winter-wonderland/id566666841?i=566666846
"Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms. There's been other versions of this, but this is the best.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jingle-bell-rock/id1579415?i=1579398
"Run Run Rudolph" by Luke Bryan. Fun song for a guy who always looks like he's having such a great time performing.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/run-run-rudolph/id332341247?i=332341435
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Dean Martin. Not to knock any of the country acts who have done this, but it seems like it was tailor made for a voice like Dean Martin's.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/let-it-snow!-let-it-snow!/id945481943?i=945488011
"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Si Robertson. I get such a kick out of this. It's pretty entertaining.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/youre-a-mean-one-mr.-grinch/id720806714?i=720806747
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry. Do I really need to explain this one? I'm thinking not.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer/id332341247?i=332341590
"The Christmas Song" by The Temptations. I have so many great versions of this song. I went with The Temptations because I wanted to mix things up a bit. Plus it's the Temptations. Listening to them is good for the soul.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-christmas-song/id749978402?i=749978515
"Silver Bells" by Patty Loveless. If you have never listened to Patty Loveless, you really need to check her out. Great country voice. Really love the arrangement here.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/silver-bells/id940250683?i=940250723
"All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey. I used to listen to Mariah Carey a lot when she first came out and her Christmas album remains a favorite. Fun song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you/id585972750?i=585972803
"My Grown Up Christmas List" by Lauren Alaina. I'm listening to this hoping that 2015 is a good year for Lauren. She did a great job with this song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/my-grown-up-christmas-list/id771049978?i=771051884
"White Christmas" by Johnny Mathis. As previously stated, it's Johnny Mathis. He had to be included more than once. Beautiful song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/white-christmas/id201257626?i=201257798
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Michael W. Smith. One of my favorite Christian artists, this version is on his 4th Christmas album and it's fabulous.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-most-wonderful-time-year/id915982071?i=915982088
"Pretty Paper" by Jamey Johnson. Have a craving for a stone-cold country Christmas song? This is for you. You're welcome.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pretty-paper/id943532709?i=943532855
"Please Come Home for Christmas" by Gary Allan. So...why is Gary Allan not more popular? I mean, he has a ton of fans, but he's still so underrated. I don't get it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/please-come-home-for-christmas/id1579415?i=1579388
"Frosty the Snowman" by Jimmy Durante. A classic that reminds me of watching Frosty as a kid. Shoot, I still like watching Frosty.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/frosty-the-snowman/id270101949?i=270101953
"Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" from Irving Berlin's White Christmas. So this isn't a Christmas song, per se. So why include it? Because it's my favorite song from what very well may be my favorite Christmas movie, White Christmas. Lovely song. This version is from the musical soundtrack.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/count-your-blessings-instead/id327930456?i=327930490
"Tennessee Christmas" by Point of Grace. Beautiful version of a pretty song.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tennessee-christmas/id291889631?i=291889647
"Where Are You Christmas" by Faith Hill. For when you just can't seem to get in the Christmas spirit. It happens. Great vocal by Faith on this one.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/where-are-you-christmas/id3539114?i=3539030
Whew. That was a lot. And there's still one more category to come!
Thanks for reading.
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