For adults Christmas is slowly becoming a depressing time of the year despite the commercial and religious messages of it being "the most wonderful time of the year" or "peace on Earth". The hours spent cleaning, searching for the perfect plastic tree and demolishing your already depleted bank account on gifts for relatives and friends we are not entirely sure we really appreciate can put one in quite a sour mood. The solution is to find the best mood-changing Christmas music ever released and thankfully there is much to chose from including Holiday standards from our childhood. What are the BEST Holiday albums ever released that are sure to put you in the right spirit? I've got the traditional classics that will stir those child hood memories as well as the contemporary hits that are sure to put you in that Holiday celebratory mood:
10: Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas - For those who grew up in the 60's, no modern singer can compare to the original Diva of soul singing, Ella Fitzgerald. Her Christmas album is jam-packed with traditional Holiday songs and carols that are sure to gratify any listener searching for that traditional Christmas feeling. Put this on while wrapping presents or decorating your tree and its pure magic! Ella's soothing soul singing adds a calm, nostalgic feel to any Christmas celebration. She avoids any original material and soars on well established church hymns including a stunning rendition of "Joy to the World", complete with a lush choir, as well as a calming version of "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear". This is a must-have for any fan of traditional carols that is sure to fill your home with joyful childhood memories.
9. Home Alone - At any given moment during the Holiday season some channel is broadcasting Home Alone. There is little doubt that the 90's film is the absolute favorite of any movie fan and the soundtrack, which features original music by famed composer John Williams (Jaws, ET, Star Wars) and classic Holiday tunes, has not escaped popularity as well. It's not unusual to hear Williams' well-know Home Alone theme blasting from a co-worker's iPod or car stereo. If there is one soundtrack that recalls the magic of its film, Home Alone is that soundtrack. From Kevin's mischievous acts to the magical moods created by the film's locations, John Williams' score creates the perfect background for your Christmas shopping. The score earned Williams another Oscar nomination for the now classic song "Somewhere in my Memory" which is performed by a children's choir during several key scenes in the film, creating that nostalgic, innocent Christmas mood. Classic hits such as Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" add to the soundtrack's fantastic Holiday atmosphere. There should be no hesitation in blasting this from your stereo if you are still in search of the perfect Holiday mood.
8. Kenny and Dolly: Once Upon A Christmas - I think it's time we forgive them for that over-the-top and tacky Christmas special which premiered in 1984 and has been making the family television rounds since; while fans refer to the television special as a "classic", we all know that without the gorgeous music, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton could have been imprisoned for the hideous costumes, sugary story lines and tactless script. The Christmas album which inspired the television show is by far the best written Christmas album of all time, thanks mostly to Dolly Parton's bottomless song writing talents. After all, the country diva did pen Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". In "Once Upon A Christmas" you find yourself recalling everything from lost loves to deceased family members you remember especially at Christmas. The songs are simply fantastic especially "Christmas without you" and the new standard "Once Upon A Christmas" with its stunning orchestral opening and heartfelt vocals from Parton and Rogers. There is no question that this album remains the gold standard for Holiday music.
7. N*Sync: Home for Christmas - For a different generation, the boy band N*Sync could do no wrong in 1998. This included their platinum selling Holiday album featuring the hit "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays". While it may be easy for some of us to dismiss the album as teen pop, for those who grew up during the boy band and Britney Spears era, the album quickly brings back memories of our teen years, especially the upbeat and dance- ready "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays". Perhaps it's unfortunate that some dismiss the album for its teen pop roots, since the boy band delivers some truly awe inspiring music including an acapella version of "O Holy Night" as well as a soulful rendition of "The First Noel". Call them what you may, N*sync's Home for Christmas is a potent Holiday album that is sure to add cheer to your celebrations.
6. Merry Christmas II You - The newest entry on the list is the platinum selling follow up to 1994's "Merry Christmas" by the undisputed Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey. While the album continues to gain momentum to be on par with the universally beloved "Merry Christmas", it is quite frankly the most up beat Christmas album in years. The high light is obviously the dance friendly "Oh Santa" which went on to top the Billboard R&B and Holiday Song Charts. The track is delicious, as Carey delivers quick, staccato vocals to a pop beat that is sure to get you off your feet and humming along. The song has been featured in dozens of commercials and films since its 2010 debut and there is no denying it is just as good as Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you", which continues to hold the title of Best Selling Christmas Song of all time. Other album highlights include Carey's duet with her opera singing mom in "O' Come All Faithful" and the sensational dance club version of "Auld Lang Syne". Fans of the Charlie Brown Christmas special appreciate Mariah's take on "Charlie Brown Christmas" with her sultry jazz vocals. No one will be disappointed by this album since beyond the spirited Holiday atmosphere it generates, Mariah's vocals are sure to thrill with her multi-octave voice providing some of the best versions of "Here Comes Santa Claus". This is a worthy sequel to her original Christmas album that possesses hair raising vocals that is sure to gratify anyone searching for upbeat Christmas music.
5. Josh Groban - Noel - Even if you are not a fan of the best-selling tenor with the voice of gold, "Noel" is a traditional Christmas album that few can resist. The listener will be impressed by the wall-to-wall traditional classics and carols, but it is Groban's skyscraper vocals that will inspire, especially on tracks such as "Ave Maria", "What Child is this" and "Panis Angelicus". Indeed, Groban's jaw dropping vocals will help you to recall all those family moments that made Christmas of yesteryear so special. In fact, the album illustrates why he is still revered as the best tenor alive. No one should hesitate to make this classic sounding album part of their Holiday celebrations.
4. Barbra Streisand - Christmas Memories: For the Holidays, you cannot go wrong with a standard. Barbra Streisand remains a classic choice for anyone seeking outstanding female vocals on a Holiday album. "Christmas Memories" is exemplary compilation of traditional and new Holiday songs that allow Streisand's superior soprano vocals to soar, providing the listener with almost ethereal feeling. What I particularly admire about the album is that while it contains awesome versions of classics such as "I'll be Home for Christmas", Streisand takes big risks with new songs such as "I Remember" which is sure to leave any listener reminiscing about past Christmas celebrations. I particularly like the line "...as I plug in my artificial tree". The song is sure to leave you with that warm, nostalgic feeling with lyrics to which we can all relate. However, make no mistake, Streisand's limitless voice is the star attraction of the album as she delivers spellbinding vocals that are sure to add that extra luster to your Holiday celebrations.
3. A Motown Christmas: For one of the most complete compilations of beloved Holiday classics look no further than "A Motown Christmas". Here you will find all your favorites from The Supremes and Stevie Wonder to Smokey Robinson and The Temptations. In fact, no Holiday can be complete without The Supremes' beloved rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" or "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by The Jackson 5. It is hard to imagine a more sensational collection of R&B styled Christmas hits. With standards such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by The Temptations, this album will have you reflecting on your most cherished Holiday memories.
2.Nat King Cole - The Magic of Christmas: Let us all agree: Nat King Cole is the undisputed King of Christmas. Like Mariah Carey, his voice seems built especially for Christmas music as it easily stirs that whimsical holiday feeling we all experience at some point of the season. His "The Magic of Christmas" remains one of the Best-selling Holiday albums of all time and its not hard to see why. On tracks such as "O' Tannenbaum", Cole's mellow vocals create the perfect reflective atmosphere. His trademark crooner voice is sure to change your mood with amazing renditions of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem", but it is his universally praised version of "The Christmas Song" that will bring the house down. Despite the fact that classic song has been covered by dozens of artistes, critics and fans agree that it is Nat's version that remains the most superior. It is for this reason that no Holiday collection should be without this landmark album. You simply cannot celebrate Christmas without the voice of Nat King Cole.
1. Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey: No one will argue with this selection for the number 1 Christmas album ever recorded. Beyond the fact that it's currently the Best Selling Christmas album of all time, these tracks contain the most superior vocals ever recorded by a female artiste. Indeed, there is little dispute that Mariah Carey is the Queen of Christmas thanks to the multi-platinum selling "Merry Christmas". If it's the Holidays and your radio is on you are bound to hear one of her Christmas standards and few can stop the festive feeling one is consumed by when Carey sings a holiday song. In fact, her version of "O Holy Night" is constantly referred to as the best version of the traditional song all in part to her glass shattering whistle note towards the end of the song. What I particularly like about this album is that, despite Carey's use of her trademark melisma, she maintains the beautiful structure of the classic Christmas songs such as "Silent Night" as well as traditional hymns like "Joy to the World" complete with rousing choirs. Her voice is simply superior to all others on these tracks, but it is her worldwide sensation "All I want for Christmas is You" that will have you gyrating on the dance floor. Critics constantly refer to this Carey hit as the newest Holiday Standard and what is truly impressive about the song's success is that both the lyrics and music were written by Carey herself, reportedly on a small Casio keyboard. If her giant vocal ability does not impress you, her song writing skills surely will since "All I Want for Christmas" has been covered by more artistes than any other modern standard. Currently there are over 10 versions of the song charting on iTunes with Mariah's original at number 1. The country band Lady Antebellum and Ce Lo Green are the newest artistes to cover the hit in 2012, perhaps generating more than enough royalties for Carey to send both of her twins to college all the way to Doctorate level. Like the diva or not, no one dead or alive, sings a Christmas song like Mariah Carey.
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