Very few issues are agreed on universally. Election week is a pretty obvious time to make that claim, right? But one thing brings us together, every time: The belief that hearing certain songs can evoke intense emotions and memories.
Right?! Some songs just take you back. And none more than Christmas songs. Sure, holiday music might not transport you to your family vacation or middle school dance or college dorm or that wedding reception or that funeral. Or, actually, maybe it does. But I think Christmas songs can be even more powerful than other music because holidays themselves are more emotionally poignant than the other days of the year.
These deep thoughts occurred to me when I listened to Jeremy Camp’s Christmas CD for the first time. Annalyn had spotted the CD sitting on my kitchen table and asked, “Mommy, when can we listen to that tree CD?” So on our way up to Des Moines a few weeks ago, I popped it in the stereo.
I don’t think I was particularly emotional or hormonal that day. But I could not stop reminiscing and misting up as we listened to that thing! Mostly, the songs on the CD reminded me of holidays spent in the choir at church. I really, really miss being in the choir. So, yeah, maybe that had something to do with my deep thoughts.
Luckily, the next 74 times we listened to the CD didn’t mess me up. On the contrary! Annalyn and I have listened to that thing pretty much nonstop over the past few weeks, and honestly? I’m not even tired of it yet. And I don’t normally DO Christmas music before Thanksgiving!
Christmas: God With Us is Jeremy Camp’s first full-length Christmas project, and it is worth the wait. He sings several classics like Joy to the World and [Annalyn's favorite] Jingle Bell Rock, as well as an original song called God With Us. It’s all very sing-along-able, and the vocal and instrumental twists make the classics fresh. It’s fun. And we like it a lot.
I think you’ll like it a lot, too. That’s why I’m excited to be giving away a copy of Jeremy Camp’s Christmas: God With Us today!
To enter, leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas song.
This giveaway will be closed at 7:00 pm CST on Tuesday, November 13. Also, affiliate links are used in this post.
Christmas carols – JOY TO THE WORLD, Christmas songs – SILVER BELLS.
Oh Holy Night…my grandmother loved having me play it on the piano for her while she sang, every Christmas Eve (which was her BDay!)
My favorite is “Mary Did You Know”
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Joy to the World!
O Holy Night …. “the soul felt its worth”…. {love this}
Do I have to pick just one?! I really love them all. I could listen to Christmas music all year long!
I love them all… truly… but if I had to pick some favorites, they would be “Mary Did You Know” and “O Holy Night” … and a little “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” just for giggles ;)
I love all Christmas music, but if I have to pick one it would be Mary Did You Know!! That song gets me every time!!
My favorite Christmas song is “Silent Night”
Just one??? I would have to go with O Holy Night, and one I like to listen to for fun is George Strait’s Christmas Cookies, my kids roll their eyes!!!
It definitely has to be O’ Holy Night. Such a sweet reminder of how Heaven rejoiced at the birth of a true Savior for all mankind!
O Holy Night is my absolute favorite Christmas song! Of course you can’t go wrong with a good round of Rudolph, complete with all the “extra” lines…
O Holy Night or Carol of the Bells.
My favorite is O HOly Night and my second is Mary Did You Know. I love both of these songs so much!!
My absolute favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night!
monk5 at charter dot net
Asking me to choose a favorite Christmas song is like asking me to choose a favorite movie, or a favorite candy bar–impossible! Too many favorites!
But if I had to…O Holy Night, Sleigh Ride & Baby, it’s Cold Outside could top my list.
O holy night is one of my favorites. Classic and full of beautiful lyrics.
& now I see everyone picked that one too, lol! It is great though :).
Here with Us by Joy Williams – not tradiational but one I get out every year : )
Mary Did You Know is one of my favorites, along with O Holy Night.
I love Christmas music, although, admittedly, “Silent Night” used to not do it for me. Then a couple years ago I discovered Mercy Me’s version. HELLO. Best Christmas song ever, really. It makes me want to dance. And, well, I don’t even dance.
Hmmm…when it comes to classic Christmas carols, I’d have to say “Silent Night.” I love the story behind it as well as its simple beauty.
Joy to the World is my favorite :)
My favorite is “He is Still the Christ of Christmas”
Little Drummer Boy
O Holy Night or Silent Night.
What Child Is This – the Faith Hill version. Beautiful.
I love “Mary, did you know?”
Can I enter? I don’t remember! :)
My favourite Christmas song is Mary’s Boy Child, but ONLY (and I have had experience to stress the only!) when it’s done by Boney M! I always thought it was just a southern Manitoba thing, but then in Sweden at Bible School, someone had brought it along and so we all bonded while dancing in the kitchen together and singing at the top of our lungs!
My favorite is O Come O Come Emmanuel – is it on Jeremy’s CD? :)
So many to choose from! I love “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
O Holy Night has always been my favorite christmas song!
My favorites are O Holy Night and Mary, Did you Know.
I love “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Does that count as a Christmas song?
My ALL TIME favorite is on particular version of “Little Drummer Boy” done live at our church many years ago. I’ve got a copy from that night. It’s better than any recorded version I’ve ever heard.
My other favorite is “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” Love the way it makes you want to bounce in your seat.
O Holy Night
Joy To The World. Mariah Carey’s version brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart!
OK, this will totally date me, but I am such a softie for Amy Grant’s Tender Tennessee Christmas. I get all teary-eyed when it comes on, but my kids think it’s a completely hokey song. Ha!
My favorite CHRISTmas song is Mary Did You Know
How Many Kings by Downhere is my favorite Christmas song … and probably my favorite song, period. I almost always cry.
Oh Holy Night by far…. to me, hearing that song just makes the hair stand on my arms and feel the spirit engulf my soul.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Holy Night if I had to choose :)
Christmas carol – O Come All Ye Faithful; Christmas song – Straight No Chaser’s 12 Days of Christmas
O Holy Night is my favorite (although, I love all Christmas Music!)
There are so many Christmas songs I love, but my current favorite is Carol of the Bells—my son is learning to play it on the piano this year :)
Wow I never knew how unoriginal I was! My favorite is also O Holy Night. I also love Santa Baby. I can’t help it, it’s just so catchy!
O Holy Night, Heirlooms. I get so emotional with Christmas songs, and especially these two.
Carol of the bells, as played by George Winston. His whole “December” album is amazing.
O Holy Night
I don’t know if I could ever pick just one… but I think Silent Night is my favorite lullaby for my kids lately
Silent night!
My favorite Christmas carol is O Come O Come Emmanuel. I also love I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day because it was my mom’s favorite, and I still miss her! :)
O Holy Night is my favorite that everyone knows. And a more obscure English one “Come, Love, Carroling – I’d love to share it with you but could only find lyrics: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=107194