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Sunday, December 11, 2011

My Favourite Christmas Song Performances

It's Monday and time once again for #MondayListicles with North West Mommy.

Today's listicle topic was selected by Amanda, mom to the adorable and now famous Lilah. You can read all about today's topic at Lilahbility.

I'm going to take a few weeks off from the mommy blogging life to enjoy some quality time with my family. There will still be lots happening at Cookie's Book Club including giveaways-a-plenty and my favourite indie reads of the year.

If you haven't already, you may want to subscribe to the Cookie's Book Club RSS feed so you won't miss a thing!

Before I go, as hinted at in my last #MondayListicles post, I am going to share with you all...

My Ten Favourite Christmas Songs

(Sorry to be a rebel, Amanda. I owe you a festive beverage!)

These are, technically, my ten favourite Christmas song performances/arrangements. I chose these pieces based on fairly simple criteria. Each one makes me stop what I am doing. My breath slows. My heart flutters. Some make me want to sing along. Some make me want to dance. All of them make me want to close my eyes and savour the moment. I hope you enjoy them too!

10. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ~ Jack Johnson
This man's voice is an elixir to any ailment. The arrangement is pure fun!


9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings ~ The Bare Naked Ladies with Sarah McLaughlin
Another fun arrangement. And they're Canadian, eh?
(Sorry I couldn't find a more interesting video clip for this one. You should really be dancing and singing along anyway, not staring at your computer, so get on up!)


8. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ~ Tchaikovsky
I remember going to see The Nutcracker Suite with my mother. Very fond Christmas memories attached to this song.


7. Good King Wenceslas ~ The Skydiggers
Love this version by one of my favourite Toronto bands.


6. Winter Wonderland ~ Louis Armstrong
Ah, Louis. A beautiful spirit.


5. Sleigh Ride ~ The Glenn Miller Orchestra
SO love this song. This one is for my mom and dad. Miss you both.


4. White Christmas ~ Bing Crosby
Croon, Bing, croon while I swoon, Bing, swoon.


3. Greensleeves ~ The Vince Guaraldi Trio
Jazzy. Smooth. But not smooth jazz-y... if you know what I mean.


2. Silent Night ~ Mahalia Jackson
Powerful and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.


1. Ave Maria ~ Luciano Pavarotti
What can I say about this man with the voice of an angel? He is greatly missed.


BONUS: My husband's favourite Christmas arrangement is this Mulato Beat Remix version of Baby, It's Cold Outside with Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton
The original is just as fun, though slower. You can hear the crowd laughing in the background of the track. Can you imagine having had a chance to see these two sing together?


Merry Christmas to you all. Thank-you for a wonderfully entertaining year, and for your support.

From my family to yours, may you have good health, the comforts of home and family and friends to wrap your arms around this holiday season!

Love,

Me

xo

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21 comments:

  1. Your Husband's choice would be my choice too. Minus the funky beat :) see you before Christmas so it is a little easier to say good bye until next year. Cannot wait to see what book club has in-store!

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  2. REBEL!!!! :)

    Number 9 is one of my faves, too. And my favourite version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" is the Glee one. But this one is pretty darn nice, too!

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  3. All great songs! Greensleeves hold a nostalgic place for me - I used to play it on the piano when I was a kid.

    Happy holidays!

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  4. Love your choice of music. #10,#4 and #1 are my picks from the list you have.

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  5. OMG! I just realized my computer is in a sound comma. I can't hear any of your songs and so looking forward to Barenaked ladies and Sarah McLachlan. Damn you Windows 7.

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  6. It isn't Christmas until the Nutcrakcer comes on in our house!

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  7. Enjoy you holiday time "off" with your family! We will be here when you return.

    My favorite is definitely "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

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  8. Have a lovely holiday and thanks for the playlist - I want to put it on repeat because I love them all. (-:

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  9. Stasha, I prefer it without the funky beat too (shhh, don't tell hubby). Thanks for your support of the book club, as always! :)

    Hee hee. Thanks Amanda! Will have to check out the Glee version (speaking of them - the Adele 'mashup' is probably my favourite Glee piece so far).

    Thanks Alison. Nice that you can play it on the piano.

    Thanks, Erica! :)

    Thanks Dominique. Don't you just love JJ?

    Afrodita, oh, no! I hope your sound comes back soon!

    Barbara, I feel the same way. I want to take my son to see it one of these days.

    Thank-you so much, Marina! Happy holidays!

    Thanks Ado. Glad you are enjoying the playlist. :) Happy holidays to you too!!

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  10. The Barenaked Ladies Christmas album is my favorite, with that song being the best of the best!!

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  11. You made me smile with Barenaked Ladies on your list! How awesome are they?

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  12. I love the barenaked ladies! Excellent Christmas list! I definitly want to check out the Jack Johnson song now :)

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  13. I love the Barenaked Ladies version of this song...just b/c of you I am downloading it!

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  14. Love your husband's choice! I also LOVE LOVE LOVE Bing Crosby!

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  15. ALL of these give my holiday spirit a lift...great list!

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  16. I love these songs too!
    Hope you have a wonderful blogging break and enjoy the holidays!!
    XO

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  17. You're definitely in the Christmas spirit! I love Mahalia Jackson's voice. Great list...you've made me very proud with your rebelliousness!

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  18. I'm actually a sucker for #1. But I also really love Frank Sinatra's version as well. Wait, where's the Chipmunks Christmas Song? ;)

    A little late, but congrats on being a vB Featured Member!
    Gina
    www.totallyfullofit.com

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  19. You're so classic in your choices. Classic choices for a classy lady! I love the sugar plums dancing one. It reminds me of a couple Disney World Christmas performances we watch when we go during the holiday season.

    You too have a fabulous Christmas! I hope the Santa's good to you ;)

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  20. I love that album too, Bridget. The Crosby Stills Nash Young song is one of my favourites - so fun!

    Jackie, so very awesome!

    Audrey, thanks for stopping by! You'll love the JJ song!

    Natalie, that whole CD is worth downloading. Enjoy!

    My hubby does have good taste, doesn't he? Bring Crosby is the master.

    Oh, good, Christine! That's what I was hoping for!

    Thanks so much, Jen. Happy holidays to you! <3

    Jacqui, I learned from the best!

    Gina, lol - I actually have the Chipmunks song on a CD! Thanks for the vB nod! :)

    Aw, thanks Mommy! I hope 'the Santa' is good to you too! :)

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