Music Monday: A Very Merry Christmas Playlist 2013

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas in my house without some great Christmas tunes to soundtrack the season. They have the power to really get me in the festive spirit, and throughout December will accompany everything from decorating the tree to wrapping up presents. No other genre of music will do in the run up to Christmas. Can you imagine trimming the tree with your family to Chester Bennington screaming his lungs out? As much as I might enjoy that, the rest of my family just wouldn't!

So, today, I'm going to share some of my personal favourite Christmas songs to help get you in the mood for Christmas! These are all fantastic festive tunes, and I think there's a song in here for everyone. Enjoy!

Greg Lake- I Believe in Father Christmas

I Believe in Father Christmas has to be in my top five favourites, and it's a song I've loved since my childhood. The instrumental music is lovely and so provoking; something I associate with the run up to Christmas, decorating the house, and Christmas Eve excitement. It reminds me of car journeys to see relatives on Christmas Eve; watching out for Christmas lights; and a million other memories I've made over the years. It never gets old.

Darlene Love- All Alone on Christmas

All Alone on Christmas was a song I discovered through Home Alone 2 when my age was just a single figure, and you might recognise it from Love Actually, too. It's one of the more energetic, jazzy Christmas songs, which I've always found to be perfect for car journeys in December and for singing along to! It's hands down one of my all time Christmas favourites.

Ronan Keating- It's Only Christmas

Call me biased as I'm a big Ronan fan, but I adore his Christmas album 'Winter Songs', and in particular one of his own songs 'It's Only Christmas'. It's such a beautiful tune, and his vocals are so haunting they make the hair stand up on my neck and arms each time I hear it. And this is coming from a person who usually detests new Christmas songs!

The Pogues- Fairy Tale of New York

I don't know a single person who doesn't like this old Christmas classic, and it's easily one of my all time favourites. While everyone else is singing about peace and harmony, presents and Santa, The Pogues bring us a more realistic portrayal of Christmas of reminiscing about the good times of days gone by and having a slagging match! What's not to love?

Chris de Burgh- A Spaceman Came Travelling

I can't put my finger on why I love this song so much, but it's one of my all time favourite Christmas songs. It's actually not about aliens, but Jesus, in case you're wondering. It's lovely and mellow, and it wouldn't be Christmas without it.

Shakin Stevens- Merry Christmas Everyone

This tune reminds me of a life time of Christmas memories. It's a song I've listened to every year for at least twenty years, and it's always playing when we decorate the tree. It's such a fun song, and perfect for Christmas parties and get-togethers.

Slade- Merry Christmas Everybody

I don't know how famous this song is outside of the UK and Ireland, but over here it's one of the most loved and celebrated of Christmas songs. It's a song which makes us all scream out 'IT'S CHRISSSSSTTTMASSSSSSSSSS!' in true Noddy Holder style at least once each December. Don't pretend you've never done it!

Brenda Lee- Rockin Around The Christmas Tree

Another tune I suspect I first heard through Home Alone back in the early nineties. When I was growing up, we only had the Mel & Kim version at home, and I always wished we had a copy of this version, too.

Luther Vandross- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is one of my favourite festive songs, and I like most versions from Judy Garland's to Ronan Keating's. I have about half a dozen versions on my iPod. I've chosen to include Luther Vandross's rendition as it's likely to be less well known to many of you, but it shouldn't be! His version is beautiful and well worth a listen.

Jona Lewie- Stop the Cavalry

I'm not sure why I love this song so much, but I have done for most of my life. It's different to your average Christmas tune, but at the same time, it's still has to be one of the most festive.

Home Alone- Somewhere in my Memory

Christmas would not be Christmas without a few watches of Home Alone and a listen to the soundtrack. It's been a part of my Christmases for as long as I can remember, and I'm sure it has been for many of you, too. Is there anything more festive than that iconic Home Alone theme tune, and a little boy outsmarting two thieves with (disturbingly) imaginative ideas for violence? I think not! I also love the versions of Star of Bethlehem on the album.

Boney M- Mary's Boy Child

I'm not religious, but I've always loved Mary's Boy Child by Boney M, and it reminds me of home on Christmas morning with the smell of turkey and stuffing roasting in the oven. It's one of the few songs that focuses on the real story of Christmas, instead of Santa Claus or snow that most are based around.

Lieutenant  Kije-Troika

Troika is an incredible instrumental tune and the most festive piece of music ever made. I could listen to this track in the middle of a summer heat wave and instantly feel festive. I'm positive everyone will know this instrumental song, and this is my favourite version, which I've been playing every year since '94 when my Mum won a Christmas album with it on.

Boyzone- The Hour Before Christmas

Boyzone have released their first Christmas song in their twenty year history on their new album BZ20, and although it's not the most uptempo or the most festive carol I've ever heard, it's a gorgeous winter tune. I found myself loving it a lot more after seeing it performed live recently, and this is a video I personally took of them singing it in Bournemouth on the 5th.

Paul McCartney- Wonderful Christmastime

Wonderful Christmastime is a great uplifting Christmas song, and instantly puts me in a cheerful mood whenever I hear it. It reminds me of shopping on Oxford Street on the first of December one year, and how manic the crowds were that day. Crazy times!

Elton John- Step in to Christmas

I'm not usually much of an Elton John fan, but I really enjoy listening to Step in to Christmas. It's another that brings back those happy childhood memories and still plays a part in each year's festivities.

Santa Claus the Movie- Christmas Rhapsody

Santa Claus the Movie- Every Christmas Eve

Santa Claus the Movie came out the year I was born, and I grew up on the film, watching it multiple times each year in the run up to Christmas. It's still one I have to watch a few times each Christmas, and the soundtrack makes me feel so nostalgic and Christmassy. There's something about the opening song and theme tune 'Every Christmas Eve' that brings back that Christmas excitement from my childhood, and unearths a life time of memories. I also really love the rhapsody music from the middle of the film when there's a montage of Santa delivering toys to kids over centuries of time. Perfect Christmas soundtrack, in my opinion. Who agrees?

She & Him- Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

I adore Zooey Deschanel and her band She & Him, and their Christmas album is perfection. One of my favourites off the album is a cover of Brenda Lee's 'Rockin Around the Christmas Tree', which is lovely and mellow, but so festive.

Wham- Last Christmas

This song needs no introductions. It's a Christmas classic, and I never tire of it.

The Calling- Carol of the Bells

The Calling were one of my favourite bands when I was at college over a decade ago, and I still love their two albums today. A few years ago, I discovered they'd recorded their version of Carol of the Bells, and I'm still totally in love with it and Alex Band's gorgeous vocals.

And finally...

Chris Rea- Driving Home For Christmas

This song actually does remind me of driving home for Christmas! We'd always have it on in the car on the way to and from our annual family Christmas Eve party at my Auntie's, so I associate it with those long drives through the countryside and small towns, watching out for Christmas lights and getting excited for Christmas.

I'm sure feeling excited for Christmas after putting this post together!

What's your favourite Christmas song or songs?

A Very Festive Playlist

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a festive soundtrack to accompany all those new memories we make. At least, it wouldn't be for me.

I can't even imagine a Christmas without some cheesy festive tunes to set the mood. It just wouldn't feel the same. Christmas tunes make decorating the tree enjoyable; keep gatherings light-hearted and fun; and have the power to turn even the grumpiest of us in to excited kids again. It can also be all that stands between Christmas cheer and uncomfortable silences with distant relatives and acquaintances.

I admit I'm a music junkie, and listen to some every day. I have quite particular tastes, though, and I'm not normally a fan of cheesy pop music, but for some reason those standards go out the window when it comes to Christmas tunes.

I've put together a little post of some of my favourite Christmas songs. It's a given that I like all the old classics, songs by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Wham, Slade, Mariah and so on. I've steered clear of the obvious ones... and I hope you enjoy the rest!

Boney M- Mary's Boy Child

I'm not religious in any way, but I've always enjoyed this song. It mostly reminds me of my childhood, but we still play it each Christmas (from the same album we've had since 1994).

Michael Buble- It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Ordinarily I'm not a Michael Buble fan, so I was ashamed of myself when this time last year I discovered that I actually liked his Christmas album. A lot. He has a pleasant voice for Christmas songs... like a modern day Bing Crosby or Dean Martin, I guess. I like the whole album (apart from his cringey intro to Jingle Bells), but this one is probably my favourite. I also like 'Christmas' a lot, too.

Chris de Burgh- A Spaceman Came Travelling

I've adored this song since my childhood. I've always liked how it's a little different than your average Christmas song. It's not overly cheerful and soppy, like most Christmas songs are, but just pleasant and chilled.

The Calling- Carol of the Bells

The Calling's version of one of my favourite carols gives me goosebumps. Alex Band has such a gorgeous voice, and I was so excited when I discovered this song on Livejournal a couple of years ago. Most people only know them for Wherever You Will Go, but I've had their two albums on regular rotation since my late teens. Even though they parted ways years ago, I know I'll still be playing their music when I'm old and grey.

Judy Garland- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I love most versions of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, from Luther Vandross to Ronan Keating, but the original version by Judy Garland will always be my favourite. It's so festive and beautiful. It's also from one of my favourite musical films: Meet Me in St. Louis, and if you love watching old films, it may be the film for you! Watch it!

Ronan Keating- It's Only Christmas

Ronan Keating's Christmas album 'Winter Songs' is played on repeat at this time of year. It's my favourite festive album. I could just listen to him sing all day (and believe me, I have). My favourite track is one of his own songs called 'It's Only Christmas'. It's a tune that gives me goosebumps every time I play it because it's so beautiful and haunting. I really love this version he sang with Kate Ceberano back in 2009.

Greg Lake- I Believe in Father Christmas

This song has been making my Christmases festive since the early nineties. It wouldn't be Christmas without it, and it's one of those songs that can instantly put me in the Christmas mood.

Brenda Lee- Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

I'm sure my love for this song came from watching Home Alone. Most great Christmas songs were. We never had this song on CD when I was little, though; we only had the Mel and Kim version, but it's definitely an essential Christmas song.

Jona Lewie- Stop The Cavalry

I'm not sure I can even put my finger on the reason I like this song, but it's been entertaining me every Christmas since the nineties! It's a classic.

Lieutenant Kije (London Symphony Orchestra)- Troika

Troika is one of the best pieces of festive music ever created. It can make me excited for Christmas no matter what time of year I play it. It's magical, it's fast and uptempo, and it's insanely Christmassy. I like to play it when I'm wrapping presents and decorating the tree.

Darlene Love- All Alone on Christmas

This is one of my ultimate favourites, and another song I found through Home Alone. You might also recognise it from the film Love Actually. I feel so festive whenever I hear this song, especially if played on Christmas Eve, and it's a great song to play whilst travelling to and from Christmas gatherings because it's so loud and uptempo.

Home Alone-Somewhere in my Memory

It's not Christmas until I've seen Home Alone, and I'm sure most of you eighties and nineties kids will agree with me on that. I have the soundtracks on my ipod and often listen to them at this time of year. I love the carols from the church scenes like Star of Bethlehem and Carol of the Bells, but it's the song 'Somewhere in my Memory' from the theme tune, that I find most festive and associate with Christmas. Who's with me on that?!

Paul McCartney- Wonderful Christmastime

I find Wonderful Christmas Time so cheerful! It reminds me of one December when my Sister and I went Christmas shopping in London. Oxford Street was swarming with crazy shoppers, the roads were closed to traffic and this song was booming out to put Christmas shoppers in the mood. Now I always think of that day whenever I hear it.

The Pogues- Fairy Tale of New York

Fairy Tale of New York is essential Christmas listening! I never get tired of this song. It's the perfect song to raise a drink (or ten) to and get a bit merry. It's probably one of the most realistic Christmas songs ever written; two people reminiscing about good and bad times, and bickering with each other. That's Christmas in my house...

Chris Rea- Driving Home For Christmas

Random choice, I know, but I really like this song. We'd always play this song on journeys home from our family gathering each Christmas Eve. The streets would be lit up with fairy lights and we'd all be feeling the Christmas spirit by then as we travelled home, so I still get that excited feeling each time I hear it.

She & Him- Sleigh Ride

I don't often like new Christmas music. In my opinion, covers of classic tunes from current pop acts are usually horrific and just make me cringe. I just don't get modern pop music. I do love She & Him's Christmas album, 'A Very She & Him Christmas', though. Although, their music is more folk that pop.

 Their Christmas album has such a retro festive charm to it. My favourite is probably 'Sleigh Ride', but I also love Baby It's Cold Outside and Rockin Around the Christmas Tree. It's the perfect album if you're looking for something a bit 'different' to Slade and Shakin Stevens! Does Zooey Deschanel ever have an off day?

I could continue sharing songs all night, but I will leave it there.

I hope you've enjoyed this little informal post, and I hope everyone reading this has a fabulous Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Happy Christmas, guys!

Do we share any of the same favourite songs? Which is your favourite?