If you know me, you know that I am a huge Christmas fan. From the red, blue and green lights, to the snow and spending time with my family, it is my favorite time of the year but one of the most appealing things is the music. While I can’t write on every single Christmas classic, here are five of my personal favorite Christmas songs.
#1: “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms
This is one of the most played songs in my household or in the car on the way to work. While it is not one of the more modern versions of the song, as it came out in 1957, this song uses a mixture of rock and pop to give true meaning to Christmas. With the start of the song using an electric guitar followed closely by the sound of bells, it almost gives a feeling of snow as the singers are cued in.
What I love about this song is that the sounds of the instruments line up with the lyrics perfectly. For example, when the song gets to the main chorus, the lyrics are “Jingle bell, Jingle bell/jingle bell rock/Jingle bells chime in jingle/bell time.” In the background of the song, you can hear the guitar in harmony with the bells emphasizing the lyrics.
#2: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year” by Andy Williams
Again, while this is not one of the most recent versions of this song, the Andy Williams 1963 version is one I always have on my Christmas playlist.
The song starts out strong with multiple instruments and an extremely upbeat sound using a mixture of trumpets and other instruments alongside bells. Williams has a compelling voice that blends with the instruments background singers to add support to the song.
Another thing I adore about this song is its descriptive word choice which adds to the Christmas spirit. For example the lyrics, “There’ll be parties for/ hosting/Marshmallows for/ toasting/And caroling out in the/snow.” There is a lot of imagery and the listener can almost picture the winter scenes Williams describes.
#3: “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson
Now one thing I like to say I am proud of is that I am a singer, but it is safe to say I am no Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson has very strong vocals which she projects in this song giving it a true Christmas feeling.
The song starts off with soft chords played by xylophone and piano, but that very quickly changes when heavy percussion is added and the whole mood of the song takes a turn as it quickly becomes a fast-paced song featuring Clarkson singing about a loved one.
#4: “Like It’s Christmas” by The Jonas Brothers
I definitely went through a Jonas Brothers phase but will admit that “Like It’s Christmas” is one of my favorite songs they have released. It strays away from the traditional “White Christmas” or “Silent Night” and takes a pop approach.
One thing I enjoy about this song is that it is sung by all three brothers which appeals to the family ideal surrounding Christmas. As all three brothers are singing and have perfect harmony and unison, you can really feel the meaning of family in this song.
Another thing I enjoy about this song is that it is not your traditional pop song. The song focuses more on the vocals than the instrumentals. There is a lot of clapping in the background and once they get to the chorus, there are trumpets and percussion but the focus is on the vocals.
#5: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith
This song is a more modern version, but it is certainly one to enjoy. Sam Smith did a fantastic job honoring the original version while adding his own flare.
In this song, the only instrument is the piano. This gives into the more peaceful idea of the song which is something I really enjoy. It is also interesting because the piano does not enter until 25 seconds into the song which brings the focus to Smith’s voice which is very powerful as he hits extremely high notes throughout the song.
While I can’t hit on every Christmas classic, all of these songs mean something to me.
