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Don't judge me by my Christmas playlist

By Catherine Toth Fox • December 6, 2010 • Musings, The Daily Dish

I have a confession.

The first song on my Christmas playlist is — don’t judge me! — Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You.”

Yes, I know.

For someone who’s got almost every album by The Cure and got excited — I mean really excited — about tickets to The Aquabats, a Mariah Carey Christmas song — or any Mariah Carey song — would seem out-of-place on my playlist.

Oh, but it’s there. At the top, too.

I have a serious addiction to Christmas songs. I’ll listen to them even in the summertime and, if I’m allowed, will sing them at karaoke events. It’s not something I like to discuss publicly, but I can’t deny it, either. I’m a fan.

So naturally I love this time of the year, when radio stations don’t have to have an excuse to play Christmas music, from the classic “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby to the hot “O Holy Night” by Susan Boyle.

So here’s my current Christmas playlist — some old, some new — that’s taking me into the holidays:

  • “All I Want For Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey
  • “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Dean Martin
  • “The Hanukkah Song” by Adam Sandler
  • “Sleigh Ride” by Ella Fitzgerald
  • “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey
  • “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
  • “Jingle Bells” by Diana Krall
  • “Mele Kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters
  • “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy William
  • “Winter Wonderland” by Johnny Mathis
  • “My Only Wish (This Year)” by Britney Spears
  • “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt and Henri Rene
  • “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Bruce Springsteen
  • “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
  • “(Everybody’s Waiting For) The Man with the Bag” by Kay Starr
  • “O Holy Night” by Willie K
  • “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by NSYNC

What’s on your playlist? Got any I should add?

***

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***

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41 Comments

  • Reply M December 5, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    Guud morning Cat!

    I don’t have a favorite Christmas playlist. I enjoy Christmas music to a point.

  • Reply sushi December 5, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    I don’t have a Christmas playlist either, but I do love Christmas music. Now I want those light sabre chopsticks!

  • Reply Annoddah_Dave December 5, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    CAT: You are spot on! Xmas music is the greatest. What about the Hawaiian version of the 12 days of Xmas by Ed Kenney? I also enjoy the Mannheim Steamroller Xmas instrumentals.

  • Reply Patrick December 5, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    I don’t have a play list of Christmas music, but I’m a sentimental slob who loves all holiday music. The music reminds me that this is a special time of the year. A couple I particularly like:

    * Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC.
    * Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley.
    * Anne Murray’s entire Christmas album since my mom loves Anne Murray.

  • Reply matti2d December 5, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    run run rudolph!!

  • Reply 808marv December 5, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    I find it funny that you say “don’t judge me” by the Mariah track when you also have NSYNC, Britney and Jessica Simpson/Nick Lachey on that playlist, yikes! 😉 I like Christmas music too, but for this genre I usually think more entire albums than playlists/mixes, like The Carpenters, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. although I bought that “Now That’s What I Call Christmas” compilation to get the common tracks that are played on the radio (Elvis, Bing Crosby, etc.). By the way anyone remember when Tower Records would immediately mark down all Christmas music 50% starting Christmas Day? Used to always go down for that. Of course now you can just download.

    Be back with some tracks. I’ll mention one now though: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid. Totally 80s, totally my era. “Feeeed the woooooorld!”

    • Reply MaxMaxMax December 6, 2010 at 12:28 am

      @808marv Yeah… Mariah I can accept… but Lachey and Simpson? Cat, get help… now! LOL!!

      I prefer the versions by Ray Charles & Betty Carter or Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan.

    • Reply MaxMaxMax December 6, 2010 at 12:35 am

      @808marv Oh, and I second your “YIKES” on Britney too!

      Just having fun with you Cat!

    • Reply Cat December 6, 2010 at 7:36 am

      @MaxMaxMax @808marv I can’t help it. I’m a sell out. 🙂

    • Reply 808marv December 6, 2010 at 7:43 am

      @Cat @MaxMaxMax Robert Smith would be most displeased haha.

    • Reply MaxMaxMax December 6, 2010 at 9:12 am

      @Cat @808marv To your credit Cat, you didn’t list any Justin Bieber! (hehe)

  • Reply CodyZamboni December 5, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    I love Xmas music. Can listen to it over and over. In addition to your list, Cody likes :
    Sleighride by Leroy Anderson
    Sleighride by The Boston Pops
    O Holy Night by Willie K
    Carol of the Bells by David Foster
    Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi
    Oh Tannenbaum by Vince Guaraldi Trio
    Home Alone soundtrack by John Williams
    Ode to Joy by Beethoven
    The Xmas Song by Vic Damone
    Silent Night by Bing Crosby
    Have a Holly Jolly Xmas by Burl Ives
    Merry Xmas Darling by The Carpenters
    Frosty the Snowman
    Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
    Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas
    Little Drummer Boy
    Silver Bells
    Joy To The World

  • Reply MoOgooGuypAN December 6, 2010 at 12:43 am

    No one likes “White Christmas”? I must say that I too am a Christmas song junkie and would always have Christmas songs on hand on my iphone/ipod, but ever since Pandora and my iPhone came along I got to free up space on my iPhone and stream an excellent vairety of Christmas time carols all day long. 😉

  • Reply MaxMaxMax December 6, 2010 at 12:47 am

    First, THE definitive Christmas song:

    • “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole

    …and the rest:

    • “The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie
    (* I saw this on TV when it first broadcast as a kid. I thought it wast he best song I’d ever heard then!)
    • “A Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney & Wings
    • “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Emerson Lake and Palmer
    • “Christmastime, Skating, and Linus and Lucy” all by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (from Charlie Brown)
    • “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid
    • “Little Saint Nick” by The Beach Boys
    • “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee
    • “Merry Christmas Darling” by The Carpenters
    • “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano
    • “Run Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry
    • “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by the Jackson 5
    • “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
    • “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Michael Bublé
    • “Frosty the Snowman, Sleigh RIde and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” all by the Ronettes
    (* really, ANYTHING off of the 1963 Phil Spector produced “A Christmas Gift For You!”)
    • “Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo” from South Park!–hahahaha!
    • “Someday At Christmas” by Stevie Wonder
    • “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses
    (I know you mentioned it, but I love it so much I HAD to include it, LOL!)

    …and for some local flair:

    • “Away in a Manger” by Keola Beamer (slack key instrumental)

    • Reply MaxMaxMax December 6, 2010 at 1:14 am

      Some YouTube links from the list above for your Holiday enjoyment!

      • “The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJp-lSv0S0

      • “A Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney & Wings
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y

      • “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXCEdrnaFlY
      (* and a Greg Lake bonus–this guy was so bad ass in the day:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoxHGxQw9ws)

      • “Skating” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (from Charlie Brown)
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfEK1wlykLI

      • “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYLaFsapMRI

      • “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM

      • “Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo” from South Park!
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu4AuQA50pg

      • “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzjDOk_u9I
      …and a remake by my fave all-girl rock group The Donnas!
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRTU0wrW5Dc
      …and another bonus song by The Waitresses, “I Know What Boys Like”:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UX2afsTqFI

      • “Away in a Manger” by Keola Beamer (slack key instrumental)
      https://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-slack-key-christmas-r1838483
      * CLICK sound icon of #4 for preview

      M • E • L • E • • • K • A • L • I • K • I • M • A • K • A

    • Reply MaxMaxMax December 6, 2010 at 1:26 am

      (repost–removed inappropriate YouTube version of Lennon song and replaced it)
      Some YouTube links from the list above for your Holiday enjoyment!

      • “The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJp-lSv0S0

      • “A Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney & Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y

      • “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXCEdrnaFlY
      ** and a Greg Lake bonus–this guy was so bad ass in the day:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoxHGxQw9ws)

      • “Skating” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (from Charlie Brown)
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfEK1wlykLI

      • “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYLaFsapMRI

      • “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko On
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYhaZ2pV0CQ

      • “Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo” from South Park!
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu4AuQA50pg

      • “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzjDOk_u9I
      …and a remake by my fave all-girl rock group The Donnas! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRTU0wrW5Dc
      …and another bonus song by The Waitresses, “I Know What Boys Like”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UX2afsTqFI

      • “Away in a Manger” by Keola Beamer (slack key instrumental)
      https://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-slack-key-christmas-r1838483
      ** CLICK sound icon of #4 for preview

      M • E • L • E • • • K • A • L • I • K • I • M • A • K • A

    • Reply Cat December 6, 2010 at 7:35 am

      @MaxMaxMax Sweet! Thanks for the links!

  • Reply seancena December 6, 2010 at 1:33 am

    I am very much into pop music so this playlist will have a very pop feel to it. I would highly recommend Lady Antebellum’s version of “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Mariah Carey turned that song into a x-mas music staple but Lady Antebellum does a fine job of putting their own twist on it.

    Nsync – I Don’t Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You
    Mariah Carey – Oh Santa!
    Ashley Tisdale – Last Christmas
    98 Degrees – This Gift
    Kurt & Blaine – Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Glee)
    Clay Aiken – Merry Christmas With Love
    Demi Lovato – Wonderful Christmas Time
    Charice – The Christmas Song
    Hilary Duff – What Christmas Should Be
    Carrie Underwood – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
    Honor Society – White Christmas
    David Archuleta – Joy To The World
    Aly & AJ – Greatest Time Of Year
    Taylor Swift – Silent Night
    Jesse McCartney – One Way Or Another
    Katharine McPhee – Christmas Is The Time
    Josh Groban – Thankful
    Lady Antebellum – All I Want For Christmas Is You
    Michael Buble – Grown Up Christmas List

    Nsync – Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
    Aly & AJ – Silent Night
    David Archuleta feat. Charice – Have Yourself A Merry Little X-mas
    Jordan Pruitt – Celebrate Love
    Tina, Mercedes & Kurt – We Need A Little Christmas (Glee)
    Selena Gomez & The Scene – Winter Wonderland
    Kristinia DeBarge – Do You Hear What I Hear
    Josh Groban & Faith Hill – The First Noel
    Leighton Meester – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
    Clay Aiken – Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day
    Aly & AJ – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
    Faith Hill – Where Are You Christmas
    David Archuleta – Melodies of Christmas
    Finn, Puck & Artie – Jingle Bells (Glee)
    Christina Aguilera – This Christmas
    Katharine McPhee – O Holy Night
    Lady Antebellum – On This Winter’s Night

    • Reply Cat December 6, 2010 at 7:34 am

      @seancena Nice list! Hey, what did you think of Lady Gaga’s Christmas song? I can’t remember the name…

    • Reply seancena December 6, 2010 at 8:57 am

      @Cat @seancena Thanks. It’s Lady Gaga – Christmas Tree. I suppose it’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.

      A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.

    • Reply seancena December 6, 2010 at 8:57 am

      @Cat @seancena Thanks. It’s Lady Gaga – Christmas Tree. I suppose it’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.

      A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.

    • Reply seancena December 6, 2010 at 8:59 am

      @Cat
      it’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.

      A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.

    • Reply seancena December 6, 2010 at 9:00 am

      @Cat Thanks! That would be Lady Gaga – Christmas Tree. It’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.

      A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.

  • Reply jmatthicks December 6, 2010 at 1:59 am

    No Christmas is complete without some Mariah Carey!

  • Reply Maxcat December 6, 2010 at 2:26 am

    nooo Cat …. nooooo Jessica Simpson …. noooo … even this old scratcy recording is better than Jessica Simpson

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-70qMhLfjLI

    lot of great songs listed below … thanks everyone

    • Reply Cat December 6, 2010 at 7:34 am

      @Maxcat I know but it’s the sentimental value of the song. You know, from their “Newlyweds” days on MTV. Ah, televised romance.

  • Reply JennaLanger December 6, 2010 at 3:16 am

    N Sync’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” and Wham’s “Last Christmas” are two of my guilty Christmas pleasures. Don’t forget “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer!”

    • Reply Cat December 6, 2010 at 7:33 am

      @JennaLanger How could I forget WHAM!

    • Reply 808marv December 6, 2010 at 7:42 am

      @Cat @JennaLanger Oh to watch the video for “Last Christmas” now and laugh at George Michael. If the female fans of Geroge only knew then what they know now LOL.

  • Reply 808marv December 6, 2010 at 7:38 am

    Here’s just a few not-so-well-known Christmas songs that I like to play during the holidays:
    Lisa Ono – Winter Wonderland
    Cool bossa nova version by the Brazilian-Japanese singer/guitarist.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vpODb8PCzk

    The Rubber Band – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
    Rudolph in the style of the Beatles’ song “Taxman” by a Danish tribute band. Awesome.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYvrWD7xLY

    Tuck Andress – Jingle Bells
    Killer solo guitar version.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aklB9flLkMg

    Chicago – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It snow!
    Ok a pretty well known band but I don’t hear it all that much on the radio.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYvrWD7xLY

  • Reply 808marv December 6, 2010 at 7:48 am

    Here’s just a few not-so-well-known Christmas songs that I like to play during the holidays:

    Lisa Ono – Winter Wonderland
    Cool bossa nova version by the Brazilian-Japanese singer/guitarist.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vpODb8PCzk

    The Rubber Band – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
    Rudolph in the style of the Beatles’ song “Taxman” by a Danish tribute band. Awesome.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0HFEMzVc1k

    Tuck Andress – Jingle Bells
    Killer solo guitar version.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aklB9flLkMg

    Chicago – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It snow!
    Ok a pretty well known band but I don’t hear this all that much on the radio anymore.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYvrWD7xLY

  • Reply madmarv December 6, 2010 at 10:12 am

    Podsafe for Peace
    A collaboration of musicians produced this song in 2005 to promote podsafe Christmas music. All proceeds from sales of this song are donated to UNICEF.
    https://www.musicalley.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=b69291b9e6017fff1ba9a1514f5f4c27

    Chiron Beta Prime
    Every Internet geek’s favorite Christmas song.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5M9UTlDb10

  • Reply J December 6, 2010 at 10:14 am

    Tennessee Christmas – Amy Grant (and no, haven’t been to Tennessee)
    Grown-up Christmas List – Amy Grant
    Christmas Portrait/An Old-Fashion Christmas (Albums) – The Carpenters
    No Mo’ Christmas Blues – Frank De Lima, Honolulu Boy Choir
    Numbah One Day of Christmas – Ed Kenney, Honolulu Boy Choir
    At Christmas Time – Pure Heart
    An Island Christmas – Pure Heart
    Hawaiian Santa – Brothers Cazimero
    Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Frank Sinatra
    White Christmas – Bing Crosby
    December Makes Me Feel This Way – Kenny Loggins
    Little Drummer Boy – Rick Braun
    Beneath the Moonlit Sky – Dave Koz & David Benoit
    Only Always – Kathy Troccoli

  • Reply NonstopHonolulu December 6, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Awesome comments flowing in here! If you haven’t posted your Christmas favorites yet, we’d love to see what they are!

  • Reply nkvball December 6, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    Time to ROCK!

    O Come Ye All Faithful – (sung to the tune of “We’re Not Gonna Take It”) – Twisted Sister
    You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch – Whirling Dervishes
    White Christmas – Kiss
    Jingle Bells – Gary Hoey
    Deck the Halls – Ted Nugent
    Little Drummer Boy – Joan Jett
    Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen
    Oi to the World – No Doubt
    Back Door Santa – Bon Jovi
    Christmas Christmas – Cheap Trick

    • Reply MaxMaxMax December 7, 2010 at 8:17 am

      @nkvball OH MY GOD!!! How could I have forgotten to put some rockin’ in your stockin’ on my You Tube links earlier? Thanks for the spark! Here’s my absolute favorite:

      “The Twelve Days Of Christmas” by Gary Hoey
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QqmpLzZ5_A
      …and live in studio:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PIyCGi0i7k

      The first time I heard this was on the Mark and Brian show back in the ’90s when they were in syndication on KPOI!

  • Reply strobie December 6, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    Jingle Bell Rock! 🙂

  • Reply aalba December 7, 2010 at 8:10 am

    No love for Darlene Love? It’s not Christmas without Marshmallow World and the best version of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).

  • Reply padams December 7, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    Cool collection of Christmas tunes here–before Ozzy and industrial rock–Handel laid down the first power chords in his Messiah’s Hallelujah Chorus. A pure Christmas classic!

    • Reply J December 7, 2010 at 1:09 pm

      @padams Did you see this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    • Reply padams December 7, 2010 at 7:32 pm

      @J very cool–thank you!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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