Christmas Song Of The Day: "Jeanette, Isabella" - Tori Amos

It's December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout the month. Check back every day for tracks old, new, classic and unique. Happy Holidays!

I've never been a Tori Amos fan, per se. I love female singer/songwriters, especially ones with unique voices, so it's a weird blind spot on my part. I'm not sure what I expected from a holiday album from her, but "Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isebella" is one of those carols that don't get much play and I was excited to see it brought out to play.

"Jeanette, Isabella" is a variation on the French carol about two young girls sent to see the Christ child, with some new lyrics. It's a baroque fantasy in this live incarnation and an unusual addition to the Christmas canon. I've been tempted to pick up the full album, Midwinter Graces, ever since I've heard this track but never seem to have the budget for it.

Further Listening: a traditional version by Callie & Colette.

Christmas Song Of The Day: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" - Judy Garland

It's December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout the month. Check back every day for tracks old, new, classic and unique. Happy Holidays!

Judy Garland is sadly remembered as much for her tragic fight with prescription drugs as her angelic voice. I've been a walking stereotype for years. As a teenager I purchased two Judy LPs at the Salvation Army store and read several biographies of the late singer/actress.

Whatever you know her for, her voice should give you chills on the Christmas classic "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" from the musical film Meet Me In St. Louis. It's a sad melody even though lyrics remain hopeful for the holidays. The lyrics originally matched the melody, though, as the line "if the fates allow" was changed from "if we're still alive." 

Further listening: The Judy Garland Christmas Special

Christmas Song Of The Day: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" - Barenaked Ladies ft. Sarah McLachlan

It's December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout the month. Check back every day for tracks old, new, classic and unique. Happy Holidays!

While Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving a month earlier than we do in the US of A, Christmas is the same day everywhere. I only say this to introduce two of Canada's finest joining together for this maple scented holiday treasure. Two average Christmas carols become something special in the hands of Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan and we are all filled with the spirit of season because of it. Hallelu!

Further Listening: "Silver Bells" by another Candian export, Anne Murray. We had her Christmas record as children. Don't worry, the true Queen of Canada will show up as soon as she finishes inhaling her saline solution.

Christmas Song Of The Day: "Christmas Island" - Sixpence None The Richer

It's December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout the month. Check back every day for tracks old, new, classic and unique. Happy Holidays!

Another day, another blast from my CCM past. Of course, Sixpence None The Richer is best known in both secular and Christian music for the dream-pop classic "Kiss Me" but both lead singer Leigh Nash and the band as a whole have released Christmas albums. This fun ditty was famously performed by der Bingle but I rather like this sunny version myself, which played approximately 75 times a day at work the last two years.

Further listening: "Christmastime Is Here" - Sixpence None The Richer

Christmas Song Of The Day: "One Silent Night" - Jaci Velasquez ft. The Katinas & Burlap To Cashmere

It's December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout the month. Check back every day for tracks old, new, classic and unique. Happy Holidays!

Back in the late '90s, I was a teenager in conservative central Pennsylvania. Attending a non-denominational evangelical church with a thriving youth group meant lots and lots of Contemporary Christian Music was played. No Spice Girls, only Point Of Grace. No Backstreet Boys, only Plus One. No TLC, only Out Of Eden.

From that parallel universe came a CCM variation on teen pop and few teen stars rivaled the appeal of Jaci Velasquez. A latina star who would crossover into Latin Pop in the next decade, Jaci was the wholesome alternative to the Mariah Careys and Shakiras of secular music and the lead single from her sophomore album was based on the famous bible verse John 3:16. "God So Loved."

That song was mashed with the classic Christmas Carol, "Silent Night," for a one-off holiday single with Somoan boy band The Katinas and Greek-inspired pop/rock outfit Burlap to Cashmere. (So international!) It showed up on the holiday soundtrack for TV's Touched By An Angel but not on Jaci's or The Katinas' holiday albums.

Anyway, the song is dramatic and beautiful and special part of my Christmas history:

Christmas Song Of The Day: "Santa Baby" - Eartha Kitt

It's December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout the month. Check back every day for tracks old, new, classic and unique. Happy Holidays!

Let's keep this month moving with a modern standard, the 1953 classic "Santa Baby." Eartha Kitt purrs her way through the tongue-in-check lyrics and the smooth jazz production melts like butter, honey. While Madonna, Kylie, The Pussycat Dolls and Taylor Swift have all tackled this track nobody does it like Catwoman herself. Slinky!

Further listening: "Nothin' For Christmas" - Eartha Kitt

Christmas Song Of The Day: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" - Nicole C. Mullen

It's December and as a devotee to all things Holiday I thought I'd roll out some of my favorite Christmas/Winter music throughout the month. Check back every day for tracks old, new, classic and unique. Happy Holidays!

It makes sense to start the month with a song reflective of Advent, which begins today. Advent is a time of spiritual preparation. As Christians, we await the arrival of the Christ child. Those who practice earth based religions await the Solstice and the turning point from shorter daylight hours to longer ones.

The song "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is ancient, dating from perhaps as long ago as the 8th century CE. It feels old and that connection to the past is so palpable this time of year. This version, by Christian pop singer Nicole C. Mullen, is wistful and a little foreboding. The King is coming and the world will change.

Further listening: versions by Enya and Kelly Clarkson.