This is the song that started it all.
The song that first gave me the idea to compile these countdowns, almost 4 months ago.
The lyrics are simple yet powerful, familiar yet inspirational. The story of God's greatest Gift to man is not diluted amongst the usual festive overtones. Instead, Christ's birth and the eternal hope that it brings, is sung with words that methodically highlight the reality, purpose, and hope of the night Christ was born. I have never heard the true story of Christmas written in the lyrics of a song, so raw and poignantly. The song chronicles the pain, despair, and humility of the night before Christmas, with the takeaway message instead being of hope; a hope resulting from the gift of eternal salvation offered and embodied by the King of Life, lying in a manger.
I first heard this song last year, though the single was released a year earlier for the 2009 Christmas season. I first heard the song on one of the local Christian radio stations here, and so far that is the only place I have ever heard it. Surprisingly, the instrumental component of the song has no Christmas theme and instead sounds like many of the songs on Christian radio.
Coming in to this Christmas season (which for me was August), I thought this song was my favorite. I thought it would be fun to come up with my favorite twelve Christmas songs and so these two countdowns were eventually created. This is my favorite "spiritual" Christmas song, but I'd be lying if I said it was my favorite Christmas song. This song wouldn't put me in a Christmas mood in June; maybe not even today for that matter. What it does offer is a vivid picture of the night Christ was born and the reason we celebrate Christmas. The truth of Christ's life, death, and resurrection are relevant year round, regardless of season or song. The song is a story of God's perfect love for us, a hope for eternal life with Him, and a truth that will never change.
Emmanuel, God is with us.
The song that started it all...
Brandon Heath - The Night Before Christmas
Jesse's top 12 favorite Christmas songs (vocal)
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7- Brandon Heath - The Night Before Christmas
8- Perry Como - Home For The Holidays (There's No Place Like)
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
This is the only song on my countdowns that if you do like it, you may be a Grinch.
This song is one of the tracks found on Universal Pictures movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey. I don't know when I first saw this movie but it was one I have slowly come to like as the Christmas seasons have come and gone. I don't think I saw until it had been out for a few years but each year I seem to enjoy the movie more. And I have enjoyed the film score even longer than the movie
I love film scores. I enjoy them more than their respective movie sometimes. My favorite movies are the Pirates of the Caribbean series and I own all four of them. I owned the film scores to each respective film before I ever owned the movie. I have developed a great interest in the contemporary composers over the years and am quick to scan the end credits for their names.
James Horner is no small name when it comes to film scores. He has been responsible for composing and producing music for a number of popular films over the past 30 years. You may not have known it but you have heard his music before if you've seen any of the following movies: Titanic, Braveheart, Avatar, The Perfect Storm, Troy, The Mask of Zorro, or Jumanji, to name a few. And of course, he also composed the music for How The Grinch Stole Christmas, a contemporary remake of the Christmas classic. From that movie's score, this is my favorite song and I have placed it at #7 on my instrumental countdown.
James Horner - A Change Of Heart
Jesse's top 12 favorite Christmas songs (instrumental)
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7- James Horner - A Change Of Heart
8- Celtic Woman - Carol Of The Bells
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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