Thanksgiving Song Of The Day: "Feeling Good" - Nina Simone

While there isn't a lot of songs for Thanksgiving, I wanted to highlight a few songs about being thankful before diving into the winter holidays. Yes, I'll be posting holiday songs all December! Nothing like mistletoe and holly to get me back to blogging.

There isn't a specific "thankful" lyric in the pop/jazz standard "Feeling Good" but that feeling the song mentions (and evokes) is partially one of gratitude for a new day and new start. Each day we wake up is another chance to take on the world, and that's something to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Song Of The Day: "Thank U" - Alanis Morissette

While there isn't a lot of songs for Thanksgiving, I wanted to highlight a few songs about being thankful before diving into the winter holidays. Yes, I'll be posting holiday songs all December! Nothing like mistletoe and holly to get me back to blogging.

This is a strange song, but seems the most thankful of any pop song in recent memory. Alanis is listing all the things the is thankful for, like so many people do on Thanksgiving, but she actually thanks the ideals and places that have helped her during a quest to find herself after a breakup. It should be the national Thanksgiving carol.

Thanksgiving Song Of The Day: "Thank You" - Mary Mary & Kirk Franklin

While there isn't a lot of songs for Thanksgiving, I wanted to highlight a few songs about being thankful before diving into the winter holidays. Yes, I'll be posting holiday songs all December! Nothing like mistletoe and holly to get me back to blogging.

When it comes to songs about being thankful, Gospel music has you covered. This little ditty was on the soundtrack to the kinda terrible film Kingdom Come, which I owned on VHS and had the CD as a teenager. I never said I was thankful for good taste, did I?

I loved both Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin as a kid, and this was such a cool record back when it came out. A little dated now, but let's jam anyway!

Thanksgiving Song Of The Day: "ThankYou" - Dido

While there isn't a lot of songs for Thanksgiving, I wanted to highlight a few songs about being thankful before diving into the winter holidays. Yes, I'll be posting holiday songs all December! Nothing like mistletoe and holly to get me back to blogging.

One of the many things I'm thankful for in my life is my husband, Derek. So this song, which a little cloying to be honest, fits the bill quite nicely. I've had many "best days of my life" with (and without) him but either way, I'm thankful for the time we've had thus far. Sappy enough for ya?

BRAND NEW Christmas Song Of The Day: "Last Christmas" - Ariana Grande

It's almost December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout that month. Check back every day in December for tracks old, new, classic and unique - plus a few thankfulness songs in November leading up to Thanksgiving!

Ariana Grande is the first real attempt at a teen pop singer from the Nickelodeon machine to make a dent since Miranda Cosgrove's dud singles like "Kissin U" and Victoria Justice's lame cover of "Want You Back" failed. Yes, I know too much about teen pop for a thirtysomething.

But back to Ariana. Her album Yours Truly is a pop/r&b gem with two decent Top 40 singles so with December right around the corner, this is the moment to release a Christmas single to goose up sales of her LP.

Wham's "Last Christmas" is such a ubiquitous holiday staple that there is an entire blog dedicated to chronicling covers of the '80s hit. It's a post-breakup empowerment jam with a brief holiday connection, so it's never been a big favorite of mine.

On Ariana Grande's cover, her powerful vocals are wasted and the new lyrics sound half ad-libbed. It's a forgettable cash grab, which is a shame because the talent is there. Something like "O Holy Night" or "Do You Hear What I Hear?" would've been a better option for Grande's range.

Review: Kelly Clarkson - "Wrapped In Red"

It makes too much sense that Kelly Clarkson would release a Christmas album. Her multi-genre appeal works to her advantage on Wrapped In Red, the full length holiday album available now.

While Kelly has released a few Christmas songs, including contributions to an American Idol holiday disc ten years ago, this is her first Christmas album. As usual, her vocals are beautiful on classics like "White Christmas" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" but the production values on the album are stellar. It doesn't feel like a cash-in production, the music breaths and swells with a full orchestra on four tracks and a horn trio on others. That brings us back to Clarkson's love of genre-hopping. Originals like the title track, "Underneath The Tree" and "Every Christmas" nestle perfectly among 60s-era rock'n'roll classics like "Run Run Rudolph" and "Please Come Home For Christmas (Bells Will Be Ringing)" while the big band sounds of tracks like "My Favorite Things" keep things classic. The crown jewel of the collection is the modern pop original "Winter Dreams (Brandon's Song)" - clearly Kelly's new husband will serve as muse instead of break-ups and heartbreaks in her future songwriting endeavors.

Wrapped In Red rarely falters, however the Katy Perry-esque "4 Carats" and a duet with country legend Ronnie Dunn on "Baby, It's Cold Outside" show Kelly's only weakness is attempts at overt sexiness. But the album ends with two songs that show her range perfectly. "Just For Now" is stellar Imogen Heap cover that keeps Kelly's sound fresh while her team-up with Reba McIntire and Trisha Yearwood on the traditional carol "Silent Night" gives a glimpse of her roots.

All in all, this is a perfect Christmas party album. I will say, the Target exclusive deluxe edition includes two songs worth having - a smooth jazz take on "I'll Be Home For Christmas" from 2011's iTunes Session EP and an elegantly simple version of my personal favorite ancient carol "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."

My Top Ten Disney Starlet Jams

It's been a while since I wrote anything on here, but I've taken another sabbatical and then started writing some long-form fiction and tweeting my short-form shenanigans. So this is a bit of a one off until the book is done or I get bored with it. Follow me on Twitter, I'm @paulbos there, for more junk like this:

I don't think it's a secret that I don't believe in "guilty pleasures." I feel no reason to feel guilty about liking something. If I derive pleasure from items of dubious quality that is between me and my therapist. But nothing screams "guilty pleasure" more than a 29-year-old who still listens to music made by and for teenage girls. Specifically song released by the teenage girls who appear on Disney Channel shows and Disney films. The House Of Mouse doesn't have any shame in their game, they will do anything for a couple bucks. Many of these tracks are fun and silly, but when I play them in my car it is serious rock out time. Feast your ears on these:

10: "Come Back To Me" - Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens starred in the breakthrough Disney Channel film series High School Musical and a very public romance with certifiable hottie and HSM costar Zac Efron. But I really know her best from this slick R&B track that features a sample from the 70s "Baby Come Back." It has a great beat and fun, flirty lyrics.

9: "So Yesterday" - Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff was the first post-Britney Disney Channel star to gain radio, and more importantly TRL, play. This track was Avril-esque, thanks to production by The Matrix (who would later attempt to release music under their own name, featuring vocals by Katy Perry) and it's light crunch of guitar is miles away from the techno-pop that the DC stars are known for today - a sound Hilary herself embraced or her last LP Dignity.

8: "Confessions Of A Broken Heart" - Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan always seemed to be a little more involved with her music than Hilary, but she never got the same traction in the pop world. "Rumors" is fun, but in light of her constant partying and showing up at every paparazzi hot spot her cries of wanting her privacy rings hollow. Better is this slightly uncomfortable ballad that digs deeper into her need for attention.

7: "Ready Or Not" - Bridget Mendler

The newest attempt to conquer the pop sphere is Good Luck, Charlie's Bridget Mendler. "Ready Or Not" is a bouncy summer jam with a Fugees sample reworked to fit Bridget's younger fanbase.

6: "See You Again" - Miley Cyrus

"See You Again" was a bit of a fluke. No video was every released, indeed I don't think anyone at Hollywood Records expected Miley to by the next Hilary Duff, let alone a Britney-sized tabloid attraction. But the jam was good. The peanut butter and chocolate blend of surf guitars and techno gave it a fresh sound that would push her fellow DC stars to mine dance beats for hits

5: "A Year Without Rain" - Selena Gomez & The Scene

For Selena Gomez and her almost invisible band's second album, the Disney Channel friendly teen pop song "Round & Round" was a fun choice for a lead single. But the title track "Year Without Rain" is dreamy techno heaven, with Selena's light vocals floating on top. Gorgeous and undeniably catchy, it put her ahead of even Miley in the DC hunger games.

4: "Rush" - Aly & AJ

I was never quite sure of Aly & AJ's connection to the Disney universe, but the duo's songs were a constant on the Channel. "Rush" features a driving beat and ridiculously positive lyrics. I've sung this one at karaoke.

3: "Lovesick" - Emily Osment

This one was not a huge hit. I think the only reason the local radio station play Miley's Hannah Montana second banana was because she played host to one of their festivals. But the new wave inspired dance track is pure fun, and I would drop it in a DJ set any day.

2: "Skyscraper" - Demi Levato

Child stars are drawn to drug and alcohol problem likes moths to a flame. Demi was no exception to the Lindsay/Britney template, but it seems she took the Drew Barrymore path and is doing well in recovery (unless you believe those blind items in the gossip blogs.) Her first post-rehab single was recorded before she sought treatment and it plays like the cry for help it is. Her aching vocals distinguish this from the fluff that her peers often release.

1: "Naturally" - Selena Gomez & The Scene

You know, fluff like this. Selena Gomez's breakthrough single was bright, bubbly slice of teen pop that doesn't get it's due very often. The beat is perfect, the lyrics are perfect, the track is perfect. Stamp it, mark it, date it - I will go to my grave saying "Naturally" is not only the greatest Disney Starlet Jams of all time but a brilliant piece of pop for the ages.