December 15, 2014 Photo (349/365): "Carols"

(#decemberphotochallenge - Day 15: Favorite Holiday Song)

It was hard to choose a favorite holiday song, but I narrowed it down to two that, for me, epitomize the reason for the season: Schubert's Ave Maria (not technically a Christmas song, but so lovely and a special part of our wedding ceremony) and O Holy Night (which I love in both English and French). One of my favorites aspects of the holiday season is the music. My own Christmas playlist goes into heavy rotation as soon as I start decorating after Thanksgiving. It's an eclectic mix, but each song evokes special memories. Some songs are traditional, sacred, timeless; others are silly, even ridiculous, but each reflects aspects of home and the time when I grew up.

Melinda's Christmas Playlist (Enjoy & be kind ;)

Do They Know It's Christmas (Band-Aid) - Yes, I grew up in the '80s & I loved Bono, Sting, Simon Le Bon, Paul Young...
Happy Christmas - War is Over (John Lennon)
It's Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) (U2)
Christmas in the Caribbean (Jimmy Buffett) - We're sailors, after all!
Mele Kalikimaka (Bing Crosby) - Dreaming of a vacation!
Holiday (Vampire Weekend)
Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth (Bing Crosby & David Bowie)
When My Heart Finds Christmas (Harry Connick, Jr.)
White Christmas (Bing Crosby) - Quintessential!
Blue Christmas (Elvis Presley) - Mom's a BIG Elvis fan -- what's not to like?
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee)
Here Comes Santa Claus (Elvis Presley)
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band)
Rockabilly Christmas (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy)
A Sailor's Christmas (Jimmy Buffett)
Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano)
It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas (Johnny Mathis)
Santa Baby (Madonna) - naughty!
Please Come Home for Christmas (The Eagles)
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo (Mannheim Steamroller)
Mary's Boy Child (Harry Belafonte)
Ave Maria (Perry Como)
O Holy Night (Perry Como)
Variations on a the Kanon (George Winston) - Perfection!
Joy (George Winston) - Not limited to Christmas time.
Joy to the World (Julie Andrews) - love her since The Sound of Music (& Mary Poppins)
The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)
Let it Snow (Lena Horne) - no relation!
Sleigh Ride (The Glenn Miller Orchestra) - Dad loved Big Band, especially Glenn Miller.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
The Twelve Days of Christmas (John Denver & the Muppets) - a childhood favorite!
Christmas Canon (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Les Cloches du Hameau (Celine Dion) - Once a French teacher, always a French teacher!
Angels We Have Heard on High (Bryan Setzer Orchestra) - great version!
Gettin' in the Mood (for Christmas) (Bryan Setzer Orchestra)
Yingle Bells/O I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas/ (Yogi Yorgensson) - What Scandinavian Christmas would be complete without it? Yikes!)

I just realized Silent Night isn't on the list. What's the best version?

What else have I forgotten? What's on your list?