25 Days of Christmas Songs: Go Tell It On The Mountain

Merry Christmas!  

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:11

Go tell the good news on the mountain...over the hills and every where!

I hope you are able to spend this day with the ones you love.  

If you don't know the band Seabird, you should get to know them.  I love their music.  I was originally going to post "Joy To The World" but on second thought Seabird's version didn't feel exciting enough for me.  I love their version of "Joy To The World," but it's more reflective and less triumphant than the original hymn.  Still a great song so check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAbf_r8DMkg

Seabird's version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" is not your traditional hymn either, but you have to change things up once in awhile.  And these guys do it right!  So gather your family and friends, get your groove on, and "Go Tell It On The Mountain...that Jesus Christ is born!"

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Silent Night

Christmas Eve.  A holy night. All is calm.  A baby like no other is about to enter our world.

The poem “Silent Night” was put to music after the church organ broke right before Christmas.  It’s believed that it was originally performed with a few voices and a lone guitar. 

Last year a friend introduced me to Chris Botti, a trumpet player.  I happened to see his Christmas CD on clearance after Christmas last year.  I bought it and put it on the shelf.  This year I finally opened it and took a listen.  I immediately fell in love.  In this version of “Silent Night” Chris captures the wonder and tenderness of this holy night.

Silent Night – Chris Botti

25 Days of Christmas Songs: O Holy Night

This is another one of my most favorite Christmas songs!  I love singing this song on Christmas Eve.  No other song captures the miracle of the night.

"O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

O night, O holy night, O night divine!

O Holy Night - 98 Degrees

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Noel

Growing up I would often listen to my parents CDs and dance around the family room.  One of the artists they listened to was Jim Brickman.  He’s an artist who knows how to tug at your heart strings.  From intimate arrangements to love songs, I grew to love his piano arrangements and enjoy listening to him at Christmas.

Noel – Jim Brickman

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Carol Of The Bells

I was searching YouTube for my favorite arrangement of this song.  It's amazing how many versions of a song called "Carol of the Bells" don't feature any bells!  And of course I chose a version without bells!  But this version from Home Alone brings back memories.  This movie came out when I was 10 years old.  It was the ultimate childhood adventure.  And you have to admit that the cover which appears to be the Hungarian version is pretty spectacular!  Could it get any busier?  Is this a cartoon??  What's even more fun is that my dad loves this movie.  It's hard to say if he really, really loves the movie or likes that Macaulay Culkin's relative lived a few steps away from us in Fargo.  Probably a bit of both. :)


Carol Of The Bells - John Williams

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Don't Save It All For Christmas Day

If you're looking for a Christmas song that you can belt out with abandon, this is it!  If you happen to be driving around Nashville, you may catch me making a fool of myself in my car singing at the top of my lungs..."Don't save it all for Christmas Day!"

Don't Save It All For Christmas Day - Celine Dion

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Winter Snow

Another song about snow?  Well kind of.  This song from Audrey Assad is truly beautiful.  Check it out!  I’m positive it will be one of your favorites too.

Winter Snow – Audrey Assad

25 Days of Christmas: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Anyone who knows me knows I love winter!  Everyone thinks I’m crazy…especially those I meet in Nashville.  I love a fresh snow fall!  In fact we even got a couple inches here in Nashville last weekend!  Both Lola & I were giddy.  We spend lots of time frolicking through the freshly fallen snow. 

This version comes from one of my favorite groups growing up, Tonic Sol Fa, an a cappella group from Minnesota. 

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow – Tonic Sol Fa

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

This is the other song I sing to myself year round (I blogged about the first one yesterday).  I love the smooth melody and the heartwarming lyrics.  Judy Garland sing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” gives me chills.  No matter what your life circumstances, I hope you have yourself a merry little Christmas. 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Silver Bells

Lady A has been my favorite artist this year.  I love just about everything they do, so when I saw their Christmas EP at Target it was in my hands and in my car stereo within minutes (after I paid for it of course).

This song gets stuck in my head all year long.  I often find myself singing it as I get ready in the mornings…even in May!  Aside from the melody that won’t get out of my head, I love the lyrics.

“City sidewalks / Busy sidewalks / Dressed in Holiday Style / In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas”

I love this feeling and all the decorations around town and in the neighborhoods.  Soon it will be Christmas day…in 9 days to be exact.

Silver Bells – Lady Antebellum

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Sleep Well

I love this lullaby of Elizabeth’s to her son John.  It’s such a sweet song about the coming of the Messiah and John (the Baptist) preparing the way for him.

It’s ok little one. ..he’s come tonight little one…Sleep well, come what may, for God has come, and you must prepare the way.

Sleep Well – Shelley Jennings (from Todd Agnew’s Christmas CD)

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Precious Promise

Today’s song brings tears to my eyes.  I think it truly captures the feelings of that first Christmas night.  Scared.  Unsure.  Anticipation.  Excitement.  The precious promise…a miracle…lying in a manger in Bethlehem.

Precious Promise – Steven Curtis Chapman

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Where Are You Christmas

“Where are you Christmas?  Do you remember the girl you used to know?…Did Christmas change or just me?”  Such a profound thought.  I’m sure we’ve all felt this way a time or two.  The magic of being a child at Christmas slowly fades away with each passing year.  But that magic still shows itself in many ways.

From the goodness in people’s hearts, to the surprise on children’s faces, I treasure the magic of Christmas.  Of course, in the end, the season celebrates the birth of a Holy child.  And this child causes us to be better people, especially at Christmas.

Where Are You Christmas – From The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

The Cindy Lou version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc7XixGmQt8

25 Days of Christmas Songs: It's Christmas Time

If today’s song doesn’t get you dancing…you’re too old.  Or dead.  Enough said.

Jingle Jingle All The Way

DJ let that record play!

It’s Christmas Time – KJ-52

25 Days of Christmas Songs: What Child Is This

This next artist is very special to me.  I met Peder Eide (yes that’s Peder with a ‘d’) at a youth gathering back in 1997 and our cool youth director actually knew him!  Which is way cool to a high school student!!  Peder wrote and performed songs that spoke to me and had and amazing energy on stage…and he still does.  A few years later we started inviting him to our church for concerts and eventually it turned into an annual Christmas event. 

In addition to loving Peder’s music, when he came to our church, I helped run his merch table.  I was able to tell people about my favorite songs and occasionally heard some great stories from other fans.  This was the start of my career in the music biz.

Peder has many great Christmas songs…in fact 3 CDs worth!  I chose “What Child Is This” for a couple reasons:

1. It’s a great Christmas hymn and deserves to be on the list.
2. It’s the only Christmas song I could find of Peder’s on YouTube…and I didn’t have time to create my own song slide. :)

If you’re in the Fargo, ND area, be sure to check him out December 15 @ 7pm at Olivet Lutheran Church.

What Child Is This – Peder Eide

25 Days of Christmas: I'll Be Home For Christmas

I am so thankful to have the past 29 Christmases with my family and I hope that I will spend the next 29 with them as well.  There are so many circumstances that separate families at Christmas, including our warriors who are fighting for our freedom overseas.  This song from the classic voice of Frank Sinatra goes out to all our military & their families who are separated this holiday season.  And to everyone else who finds themselves miles away from their family.  We’ll have snow & mistletoe…if only in our dreams.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Frank Sinatra

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Never Knew The Meaning Of Christmas

What is Christmas without a cheesy love song?  There are so many options from the boy bands I loved.  My favorite Christmas love song this year comes from NSYNC.  I was in love with these boys!  Their dreamy harmonies are the perfect soundtrack to the season.  Don’t worry, I’m over my infatuation. :)

Never Knew The Meaning of Christmas – NSYNC

25 Days of Christmas Songs: White Christmas

Growing up in ND, I took white Christmases for granted.  It was rare not to have snow in December.  In fact I remember many years where I went trick or treating on Halloween in the snow.  Christmas and winter belong together.  Plus, there are so many great Christmas songs that include snow.  Here in TN snow is not very common and if we do get snow, it’s usually gone in a couple hours.  On Sunday & Monday we saw a few flurries, but no accumulation.  It was enough for Nashvillians to empty the grocery store shelves of bread and milk.  Here's wishing for a white Christmas.

White Christmas – Bing Crosby

Alternate version with lots of beautiful winter pictures.

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)

Day 7
When I was a young girl, one of the few cassette tapes I owned was A Christmas Album from Amy Grant. Who could have predicted that 20 some years later our career paths would cross and I would be celebrating the Christmas season in Tennessee ("Tennessee Christmas" was one of her big songs from A Christmas Album).

With so many great Christmas songs from Amy, it was hard to choose one. At the center of the Christmas story is a young Mary. I cannot fathom being in Mary’s place. Amy’s song “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” gives us a glimpse into what she must have felt. Here is “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” set to footage from the film The Nativity. Very powerful.

Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) – Amy Grant

25 Days of Christmas Songs: One Small Child / We Three Kings

Day 6

In junior high I fell in love with a cappella and harmonizing.  The first a cappella group I fell in love with was The Blenders.  I have many fond memories of their concerts with my 2 best friends.  There are so many crazy stories from those days; however none of them will be disclosed on the world wide web.  ;) These guys were like rock stars to us (well almost like rock stars).  After they decided to add instruments, but keep the harmonizing, they had a #1 hit in Norway with “I’m In Love with The McDonald’s Girl”!  Only Norway could love that song. :)  Their Christmas show has become a Fargo tradition.

In trying to decide my favorite Christmas song from The Blenders, I stumbled across the video for “One Small Child / We Three Kings.”  All the memories came rushing back!  This video captures the essence of the night…harmony and cheesy dance moves!  I hope you enjoy it!

One Small Child / We Three Kings – The Blenders

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Melodies of Christmas

Day 5

My friend Katie got me hooked on David Archuleta’s Christmas album.  If I were to write my own song about the Christmas season, this would be it.

Melodies of Christmas – David Archuleta

25 Days of Christmas Songs: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Day 4

As a recovering violinist, I’m a sucker for strings.  My violin which is full of character (also known as scratches and nicks) now graces my wall as art.  This instrumental version of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” from Casting Crowns is beautiful.  But be prepared to pick your jaw off the floor around 2:39.  I may be excellent at the art of “air-bow” (aka faking it), but not even I could fake that…let alone play it!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Casting Crowns

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Lux Aurumque

Day 3
Growing up my parents made me dress up the first weekend of every December to attend The Concordia Christmas concert. While I didn’t like the dress up part, I’m glad they made me go every year. The tradition holds many fond memories. From the whoosh of the choir robes down the aisles, to being surrounded by fabulous voices, to the amazing music to usher in the Christmas season.

This Christmas memory was part of why I attended Concordia College. And while I wasn’t able to participate in the choirs, they hold a special place in my heart. Here is the most elite choir, The Concordia Choir, conducted by the fabulous Rene Clausen from the 2005 Christmas concert. Caution: You may need to hit replay several times…it’s just that beautiful!

Lux Aurumque – The Concordia Choir

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Christmastime

Day 2

I have always loved the orchestrations of Michael W. Smith’s Christmas music.  It brightens my day and makes me want to sing along.  Today’s song is accompanied by a Christmas light spectacle.

Christmastime – Michael W. Smith

25 Days of Christmas Songs: Christmas Time Is Here

Day 1
I love Christmas music!  Nothing brings me more joy during the holiday season then a great Christmas song.  A great Christmas song can bring joy to the season, bring peace to your heart, and remind us of the true reason for the season.

For the next 25 days I’m going to share some of my favorite Christmas songs from some of my favorite artists.  From traditional, to contemporary, to even a bit of rock/rap. 

So let’s kick this Christmas off right with a classic.

Christmas Time Is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas – Vince Guaraldi

How can you not love A Charlie Brown Christmas?  The Peanuts gang, a meaningful story, and great music.  It’s a must watch every Christmas!