1) Amy Grant - Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) - This song is simply breathtaking in it's ability to transport me back in history.
2) Bing Crosby - Do You Hear What I Hear? - Many different arrangements but this is my favorite of this haunting song.
3) Carpenters - Christmas Song - Has there ever been a purer voice than Karen Carpenter?
4) Emerson, Lake and Palmer - I Believe in Father Christmas - I understand the lyrics and intent of this song, which has been made very clear by its writer, Greg Lake. Greg was so moved by the lack of authenticity in our world, especially during Christmas that he wrote this emotional response to this world's apathy and untruth. Jesus was pretty clear that He would rather we be "hot" or "cold" but He really despised it when we resided in the apathy of the middle ground. That is where we lose our true hope, that is where we have lost our ability to be awed, to be joyful, or moved to anger. When we still have passion, I believe He can still change our hearts.
5) John Lennon - Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - Another not so traditional Christmas song this song captures me with it's wonderfully crafted melody and it's simple lyrics. The children singing at the end are the exclamation point of this beautiful song.
6) Stan Freberg - Christmas Dragnet - As a child growing up in Chattanooga, TN, my parents listened to WDEF radio and the morning D.J. was named Luther Masingill. His was the voice that announced school closings in the Winter and he would also instruct us to dress for rain if there was a storm forecast for later that day. He patiently took calls from frantic pet owners seeking news about their lost pets and he built a faithful community of listeners for the over seventy years that he was on the radio. He also played this song every Christmas, introduced it with great flair, and it is a favorite of mine all these years later.
7) Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Coming to Town - I especially love the end of this song where Bruce is clearly losing it and can't stop laughing at the antics of his band. Awesome song.
8) Pentatonix - Mary, Did You Know? - Stunning arrangement. This was probably my all-time favorite song to play in church.
9) Boston Pops Orchestra - Sleigh Ride - Remember watching this performed live on PBS in the 70's. Still one of my favorites.
10) 4Him - A Strange Way to Save the World - This song, as the title proclaims, reminds me of the way God never moves in the way that I would think He would but always takes a different path to display His love and grace. Nowhere is that on more display than in the birth and death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
There we have it! What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?
