Holiday Music

[impressive]

I just bought 3 CDs of Christmas/holiday music (Melissa Etheridge, Faith Hill, and Mannheim Steamroller's Christmasville).

Listening to Melissa now -- and so far (only on track 4), it's quite enjoyable.

I'm sort of a collector, but the bulk of my collection was built when Napster was still free. Since I now have to pay for my acquisitions, I'd like to know what y'all recommend. I'm especially interested in popular recording artists' renditions.

 

[epiphany65]

I just bought 3 CDs of Christmas/holiday music (Melissa Etheridge, Faith Hill, and Mannheim Steamroller's Christmasville).

Listening to Melissa now -- and so far (only on track 4), it's quite enjoyable.

I'm sort of a collector, but the bulk of my collection was built when Napster was still free. Since I now have to pay for my acquisitions, I'd like to know what y'all recommend. I'm especially interested in popular recording artists' renditions.

If you're looking for free music (and more) and have no qualms about copyright infringement, get into bit torrent. There's tons of stuff out there: music, movies, tv shows, etc. and many BT sites. Not that I condone this ... I'm just sayin'...

 

[impressive]

If you're looking for free music (and more) and have no qualms about copyright infringement, get into bit torrent. There's tons of stuff out there: music, movies, tv shows, etc. and many BT sites. Not that I condone this ... I'm just sayin'...

Thanks, but I do have qualms.

 

[jomar]

I've got a couple of Mannheim Steamroller cd's. I also like the Windam Hill and GRP Christmas collections. Aaron Neville's Cristmas cd is good too.

And a couple of years ago I heard a wonderful Christmas cd. I had no idea who it was - turned out to be Kenny G's Holiday Christmas Album. I'm glad I first heard it with unbiased ears.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvuTHCLB3o0

 

[Kikori]

www.imeem.com

Imeem is a free music / video streaming site. People upload, you pick your favorites and add them to playlists, but there's no download option. So, most artists don't mind and give consent for their songs to be streamed. The only worry is if the song never really got uploaded.

 

[JagFarlane]

Trans Siberian Orchestra is one of the more popular ones. Two of their very popular songs are:
Christmas Eve in Sarajevo, which has been played when, I want to say Fox NFL goes to commercial and they're spending the few seconds to show the scoreboard.
Wizards in Winter, which has been featured in that commercial that has the house lights turning on and off in sync with the music.

Most people I know that enjoy Mannheim Steamroller love their music.

 

[impressive]

I've got a couple of Mannheim Steamroller cd's. I also like the Windam Hill and GRP Christmas collections. Aaron Neville's Cristmas cd is good too.

And a couple of years ago I heard a wonderful Christmas cd. I had no idea who it was - turned out to be Kenny G's Holiday Christmas Album. I'm glad I first heard it with unbiased ears.

I have Kenny G's, and I like it, too. Will check out Aaron Neville's. Was really disappointed with Barenaked Ladies' effort.

 

[impressive]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvuTHCLB3o0

Thanks.

 

[impressive]

www.imeem.com

Imeem is a free music / video streaming site. People upload, you pick your favorites and add them to playlists, but there's no download option. So, most artists don't mind and give consent for their songs to be streamed. The only worry is if the song never really got uploaded.

Thanks. Mostly looking for stuff I can download/burn, but this will allow me to test drive songs/artists.

 

[impressive]

Trans Siberian Orchestra is one of the more popular ones. Two of their very popular songs are:
Christmas Eve in Sarajevo, which has been played when, I want to say Fox NFL goes to commercial and they're spending the few seconds to show the scoreboard.
Wizards in Winter, which has been featured in that commercial that has the house lights turning on and off in sync with the music.

Most people I know that enjoy Mannheim Steamroller love their music.

I am familiar with TSO. Don't own any (yet), though. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I LOVEEEEE Trans Siberian Orchestra.
They are playing here in Indy this year

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I strangely love the Garth Brooks xmas album (usually don't do country), the Barbra Streisand xmas album (normally don't like her much) and the Elvis xmas album (who knew I'd like Elvis!?)

I also love Jewel's, which came out a few years ago.

Oh, and my MIL swears by Jim Nabors. (Yeah. Gomer Pyle.)

 

[JagFarlane]

I LOVEEEEE Trans Siberian Orchestra.
They are playing here in Indy this year

Saw em live in Philly in '04. Good concert, they played about 2hrs and very entertaining.

 

[JagFarlane]

Lets see, if you're looking for popular recording artists, Neil Diamond did one a couple decades ago.

Jessica Simpson did one a few years back, though it got mixed reviews as did Christina Aguilara's [not a fan of either so no personal experience there]

 

[impressive]

I strangely love the Garth Brooks xmas album (usually don't do country), the Barbra Streisand xmas album (normally don't like her much) and the Elvis xmas album (who knew I'd like Elvis!?)

I also love Jewel's, which came out a few years ago.

Oh, and my MIL swears by Jim Nabors. (Yeah. Gomer Pyle.)

I'll pass on Gomer. Have Barbra (and like it). Will check out Garth.

Lets see, if you're looking for popular recording artists, Neil Diamond did one a couple decades ago.

Jessica Simpson did one a few years back, though it got mixed reviews as did Christina Aguilara's [not a fan of either so no personal experience there]

Jessica Simpson scares me. Her teeth are too white. Creeps me out.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Oh there's another one we like by Jaci Velasquez (who I'd never heard of.) Someone gave it to me. She's got an amazing voice, perfect for xmas songs. And she does a cute one on there with the chipmunks that the kids love!

 

[Katyusha]

Hmmmm...Mannheim Steamroller does "The Grinch." The clips I just heard sounded interesting. Especially "Humbugs" although I don't think that was in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

I'm a huge fan of Mannheim Steamroller.

I've never been much of a fan of some of the pop artists' renditions of Christmas music, especially over the last ten years or so. Too much embellishment IMO, but that's me.

 

[Lady_Guenivere]

I am familiar with TSO. Don't own any (yet), though. Thanks.

Definitely download some TSO...just fabulous. Also, if you ever get to see a live Christmas show...it ROCKS!

Christmas music already, eh??? I am still clinging with white knuckles to summer...LOL!

 

[JagFarlane]

I've never been much of a fan of some of the pop artists' renditions of Christmas music, especially over the last ten years or so. Too much embellishment IMO, but that's me.

Agreed. They also do it to the American National Anthem...pisses me off to no end. Sing it right you no talent hacks!

 

[Stella_Omega]

My single collection of Christmas music is the Roches "We Three Kings"

It's intelligent, traditional, unembellished, and absolutely gorgeous!

 

[michchick98]

Trans Siberian Orchestra is one of the more popular ones. Two of their very popular songs are:
Christmas Eve in Sarajevo, which has been played when, I want to say Fox NFL goes to commercial and they're spending the few seconds to show the scoreboard.
Wizards in Winter, which has been featured in that commercial that has the house lights turning on and off in sync with the music.

Most people I know that enjoy Mannheim Steamroller love their music.

I have a bunch of stuff from TSO, but my favorites are the two you mentioned. I even have Wizards in Winter as a ringtone/ringback tone on my cell.

Other than TSO and a few traditional tunes - Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, Rudolph, Frosty - just to name a few of the more popular, my tastes sway toward the more non-traditional songs like The Hanukkah Song by Adam Sandler, I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas (although that's become pretty traditional) and just about any song that'll make me laugh.

IMP: If you really like Christmas/Holiday music, you'd love one of the radio stations here in the Detroit area. Starting November 1st and running until Christmas Day, they play "wall-to-wall Christmas music" (their slogan not mine) and although I do enjoy hearing Christmas music during the holidays, I think Nov. 1st is a bit early to start.

And with all the Christmas music out there, they seem to play the same old stuff...but anyway, here's the link to their website, I think you can listen live:

100.3 - WNIC

Although now that I've visited their site, I see they have a poll asking when they should start playing it. They've done the November 1st start for the last 2 or 3 years and I know quite a few people who agreed with me, it was just too damn early, maybe the station got complaints...but anyway. Once they do start playing the holiday music, maybe it'll give you some more ideas.

Just my two cents.

ETA: Oh yeah, I like that Amy Grant song, although I have the Kelly Clarkson verison. I also absolutely love The Christmas Shoes by New Song and A Soldier's Silent Night. Yeah, okay, I gotta pull out my Christmas CDs (I got about 10 of them ) and I need to start updating.

Me and some friends do a Christmas mix every year and I've got a lot of stuff I wouldn't normally listen to. Anyway, yeah.

 

[buxxxom]

I'm a big fan of Harry Connick, Jr.'s Christmas CD (almost typed album ) and of the Carpenters. Both of those get a lot of play during the holidays, plus one single that I had to download--the Eagles "Please Come Home for Christmas." My mom loves that song so much, I made her a CD with only that song on it, many many renditions of it.

 

[impressive]

My single collection of Christmas music is the Roches "We Three Kings"

It's intelligent, traditional, unembellished, and absolutely gorgeous!

I like. Put it on my Amazon Wish List.

I have a bunch of stuff from TSO, but my favorites are the two you mentioned. I even have Wizards in Winter as a ringtone/ringback tone on my cell.

Other than TSO and a few traditional tunes - Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, Rudolph, Frosty - just to name a few of the more popular, my tastes sway toward the more non-traditional songs like The Hanukkah Song by Adam Sandler, I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas (although that's become pretty traditional) and just about any song that'll make me laugh.

IMP: If you really like Christmas/Holiday music, you'd love one of the radio stations here in the Detroit area. Starting November 1st and running until Christmas Day, they play "wall-to-wall Christmas music" (their slogan not mine) and although I do enjoy hearing Christmas music during the holidays, I think Nov. 1st is a bit early to start.

And with all the Christmas music out there, they seem to play the same old stuff...but anyway, here's the link to their website, I think you can listen live:

100.3 - WNIC

Although now that I've visited their site, I see they have a poll asking when they should start playing it. They've done the November 1st start for the last 2 or 3 years and I know quite a few people who agreed with me, it was just too damn early, maybe the station got complaints...but anyway. Once they do start playing the holiday music, maybe it'll give you some more ideas.

Just my two cents.

ETA: Oh yeah, I like that Amy Grant song, although I have the Kelly Clarkson verison. I also absolutely love The Christmas Shoes by New Song and A Soldier's Silent Night. Yeah, okay, I gotta pull out my Christmas CDs (I got about 10 of them ) and I need to start updating.

Me and some friends do a Christmas mix every year and I've got a lot of stuff I wouldn't normally listen to. Anyway, yeah.

Agreed. Nov. 1st is too early. A few of my favorite singles are:

• You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (the original)
• Where Are You Christmas? (Faith Hill)
• God Rest Ye... (Barenaked Ladies + Sarah McLachlan)
• Santa Baby (Madonna)
• Ave Maria (Karen Carpenter)
• Children, Go Where I Send Thee (Natalie Merchant)
• Ay, Ay, Ay It's Christmas (Ricky Martin & Rosie O'Donnell)
• Coventry Carol (Alison Moyet)
• Winter Wonderland (Eurythmics)
• 2000 Miles (Pretenders)
• Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Amy Grant)

I'm a big fan of Harry Connick, Jr.'s Christmas CD (almost typed album ) and of the Carpenters. Both of those get a lot of play during the holidays, plus one single that I had to download--the Eagles "Please Come Home for Christmas." My mom loves that song so much, I made her a CD with only that song on it, many many renditions of it.

Harry's on my wish list, too.

 

[tickledkitty]

I'm a big fan of Harry Connick, Jr.'s Christmas CD (almost typed album ) and of the Carpenters. Both of those get a lot of play during the holidays, plus one single that I had to download--the Eagles "Please Come Home for Christmas." My mom loves that song so much, I made her a CD with only that song on it, many many renditions of it.

Does the Harry Connick, Jr. one have "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Leann Womack on it? I love that one. Downloaded it from somewhere.

A few years ago, when Napster was still free, I downloaded a bunch of songs and made holiday CDs for the whole family and gave them as gifts. They'd all been complaining about how they had no Christmas music. I made a nice cover with a wintry picture of my daughter and the year for the front of the case. They were all thrilled.