I doubt you'd guess that a song I placed at #9 is my favorite Christmas song. I know, it's even confusing to me. As I see it, I like more renditions of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas than any other Christmas song. Whereas I enjoy the remaining songs on this list more than this song by Matthew West, I don't like as many versions of those songs. Confused? Perhaps I have trivialized the whole process of listening to and enjoying Christmas music. But when you have 3 months to critically mull over your choices, it's hard not to analyze every facet of your choices. It's hard for me to explain, even to myself.
I would also mention that this song is not lower on the countdown because of who sings it. I believe Matthew West does the best rendition of this song. And he just released the song this year, on his first Christmas album! From the beginning, I tried hard not to favor any songs that just came out this year, and I thought that would be no issue for this song title - given the large number of renditions I like of the song. But when I searched every rendition of the song, I didn't think any were better than this one. The richness and eloquence of his voice coupled with the fullness and harmony of the background instrumentals, surpass anything I heard in other renditions.
I carefully considered the renditions by Frank Sinatra, Lou Rawls, Michael Bublé, and several others. As Tony the Tiger says, they're all grrrreat! Still, no version of my favorite Christmas song was as audibly appealing to me as this one. I know I have preached "nostalgia" with the songs so far on these countdowns. While I can't claim that kind of connection with a song I've only known since October, I feel like I've listened to this song for years now. It's still my favorite version of my favorite Christmas song.
The video, however, leaves much to the imagination. Get ready to stare at the album cover for 4:00+ minutes. At least the audio is much better than the visual.
I carefully considered the renditions by Frank Sinatra, Lou Rawls, Michael Bublé, and several others. As Tony the Tiger says, they're all grrrreat! Still, no version of my favorite Christmas song was as audibly appealing to me as this one. I know I have preached "nostalgia" with the songs so far on these countdowns. While I can't claim that kind of connection with a song I've only known since October, I feel like I've listened to this song for years now. It's still my favorite version of my favorite Christmas song.
The video, however, leaves much to the imagination. Get ready to stare at the album cover for 4:00+ minutes. At least the audio is much better than the visual.
Matthew West - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Jesse's top 12 favorite Christmas songs (vocal)
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9- Matthew West - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10- Bing Crosby - White Christmas
11- Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
12- Celine Dion - Don't Save It All For Christmas Day
You know that phenomenon, when you experience something for the first time, perhaps thinking it's unique, then you notice it all the time after the fact? Say you buy a green Jeep Cherokee. That vehicle is not rare, but you never really seemed to notice it. But after you bought it, you feel like you see green Jeep Cherokees everywhere. You know what I'm getting at? Well, I suppose that was my experience with this song - or more so artist - after I heard him perform on a Christmas special with Andrea Bocelli two years ago.
Up until I saw that show two years ago, I had no idea who David Foster was. Ever since that show, it seems his name (and music) pops up everywhere. Maybe I was the only one who hadn't heard of him before. But I definitely am not the only one who has heard of his music. If you don't know him or recognize his name, you know his music. Just to name a handful of artists he has written, produced, composed, or arranged music for include: Michael Jackson, The Bee Gees, Madonna, Prince, Mariah Carey, Chicago, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Celine Dion, and on and on...and on! In fact, typing out all those artists, I really am beginning to wonder if I am the only one who hadn't heard of David Foster before December 2009. The man has 16 Grammy's to his name! If I didn't know him then, I definitely know him today, and recognize his name/face/music everywhere now.
Now, if could just buy that spruce-green, leather-interior Jeep Cherokee with the sunroof and premium sound system that gets 50mpg!
Now, if could just buy that spruce-green, leather-interior Jeep Cherokee with the sunroof and premium sound system that gets 50mpg!
David Foster - Carol Of The Bells
Jesse's top 12 favorite Christmas songs (instrumental)
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9- David Foster - Carol Of The Bells
10- Vince Guaraldi - Christmastime Is Here (Instrumental)
11- Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve
12- Boston Pops Orchestra - Sleigh Ride
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