Favorite holiday songs

I’m not going to lie. When radio stations start playing Christmas songs in November, it drives. Me. Nuts. I really can’t stand it! But if the songs are on a special night—during our tree decorating ritual, for example—or if they are from my own holiday playlist, you can bet I’ve got favorites and I’ll belt them out with the best of them.

My absolute favorite Christmas song Brenda Lee’s version of “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.” It brings back childhood memories for me, and I love how it’s got the oldies quality yet it doesn’t go out of style. You’ll hear it in every other Christmas movie (Home Alone, anyone?) and I can’t not smile when I hear it.

The next song on my list of holiday favorites is Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town.” Let’s face it: I am going to be in love with just about anything that comes out of the Boss’s voice box. I remember becoming misty-eyed when I was young and developing first crushes, listening to his voice. But his version of the carol is also just very different from everyone else’s, and really the best one, in my humble opinion.

And finally, I have to hear “Christmas is All Around” from Love Actually every year. It just cracks me up. I just love Bill Nighy, and I think he steals the show in the movie (although my favorite couple is the writer and housekeeper). I watch this movie while I wrap presents every year, complete with a lit-up tree and cocoa. It’s my favorite holiday ritual.

So what holiday songs do you love, and more importantly, why?

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