Buddy Iahn & Matt Bailey give their top five Christmas picks
Sitting here, watching Great Christmas Light Fight on Christmas Eve, snuggled cozy in the recliner in Dad’s “man cave” at the Pennsylvania home I grew up in, I couldn’t help but think of some of my favorite Christmas songs. Mostly because Buddy told me to—from his California home, where he’s hanging with his family visiting from Missouri for the holidays. They’re watching movies and making side trips to LA and Vegas. So here’s each of our top five favorite Christmas tunes.
Matt’s Picks:
Honorable mention:
Anything Christmas-related by Pentatonix
I’m not picking a song here. I want to say I’m thrilled that a contemporary group has made their name keeping traditional Christmas music alive, both in their renditions of classic carols and the comforting originals they’ve created.
5 – “River” Nashville Cast Featuring Sam Palladio
With respect to the queen of songwriting, Ms. Joni Mitchell, this version featured on the Nashville Christmas album is my favorite. Something about the depth of instrumentation and Palladio’s longing voice just works. It’s more melodically inclined than Ms. Mitchell’s recording, which makes it have more of a holiday vibe. It’s at No. 5 purely because I feel guilty for preferring this over the classic rendition.
4 – “A Christmas Storm” ASHBA
This is a funky one. Imagine if the North Pole had a rave. This is what they’d be playing “In da klerb.” A mash-up of some Christmas favorites with a techno vibe and classic instrumentation, this one gets in your craw and you have to listen to it every year.
3 – “Mad Russian’s Christmas” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Probably second-most placed to the “Sarajevo” itself, this energy in this song is magical, fierce, and 100% Christmas.
2 – “Call Me Claus” by Garth Brooks
If you had any doubt Matt Bailey was writing part of this article, here’s your evidence. Of course, I can’t let a cheerful song list go without the catchiest, jazziest, Christmas song Mr. Brooks has ever recorded! The horns in the song get you moving, the passion in Garth’s voice, and the hook make you feel like the Big Man in Red himself!
1 – “Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The quintessential Christmas song. Its driving action-movie-soundtrack beat and “Carol of the Bells” melody has made millions of holiday shoppers feel like superheroes as it poured through mall speakers like spiced eggnog for the ears. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is the undisputed kings of Christmas.
Buddy’s Picks:
5 – “This Baby” – Steven Curtis Chapman
I wouldn’t consider this song a Christmas song, but it does appear on the gospel legend’s 1995 The Music of Christmas. The song tells how Jesus was a normal boy and kid growing up but became the man we all know as the world’s Savior and the reason for Christmas. Chapman’s faith is deeply rooted in the track with lyrics like He showed us heaven with “His hands and His heart / ‘Cause this man was God’s own son.” I was first acquainted with it when I performed it during the Christmas season in the church band I was a brief member of at 17. It has a great message and is a song that could be played year round.
4 – “Baby Jesus Is Born” – Garth Brooks
This is a song I fell in love with when it was released in 1999 as part of Garth Brooks & The Magic of Christmas. The song is an outlier on the big band-feel project, Brook’s second holiday project of the 90s. The song keeps the Christmas tradition alive by singing about the reason for the season. Whether you’re religious or not, the uptempo song is a must-listen. It features soft percussion and a choir with an uplifting message that will make you want to two-step around the Christmas tree.
3 – “All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Vince Vance & The Valiants
This is a song I was first acquainted with when the video would air on CMT, when CMT was Country Music Television, and played music videos consistently, like its rock counterpart MTV. It’s not a cover of Mariah Carey’s highly successful pop hit, although Vance, who co-wrote this country version, has sued Carey and her songwriting partner, Walter Afanasieff, of infringing the rights to a song by the same name released by his group in 1989 (Here’s was released years later). This version is a 6/8 blues feel from a group that seems to only get radio play around the holidays for this song features Lisa Layne on vocals. I introduced it to my daughter this year who added it to her Spotify playlist.
2 – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – U2
U2 has always been a favorite since I was little. This cover of Darlene Love’s 1963 song features Bono’s distinct vocals and growls, making it stand out from other versions of the track. They covered the track during the band’s 1987 Joshua Tree Tour and released it the same year for the charity compilation A Very Special Christmas. In 2004, UMG released it as part of the band’s The Complete U2 digital box, otherwise, it does not appear on any other U2 record. Love is featured as a background vocalist on this version.
1 – “Please Come Home For Christmas” – Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi’s version of the 1960 classic was in the style of the Eagles’ 1978 version. The bluesy take was released in 1992 as part of the A Very Special Christmas 2 charity compilation album. In 1994, it was re-released as Bon Jovi (the band) in Europe with the video featuring Cindy Crawford. The song is my top choice for Christmas. It’s short, but Jon’s voice takes it over the top and the guitar solo makes it feel like the song should continue longer.
Buddy Iahn contributed to this report.
