Countdown Friday: Favorite Christmas Music

It's actually Saturday but I didn't get to this yesterday, so I guess it's Countdown Saturday, but who cares.  I love Christmas and Christmas music, and seeing as the day after Thanksgiving is the official start of the holiday season, I have decided I will give you all my favorite Christmas Music.  So download and enjoy!

1. "Carol of the Bells" by the Trans Siberian Orchestra and Metallica.  An instrumental and beautiful way to start off any holiday music mix.

2. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" - Bare Naked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan. It's a folksy fun rendition of the classic Christmas tune, and the harmonies are beautiful.  Canadians know how to celebrate musically.

3. "White Christmas" - Otis Redding.  This is one of the many great songs on the Love Actually soundtrack.  The man is known for the emotion that comes through his voice.  And I think it's funny when he says, "May Your Days" is sounds to me like, "May-O-Naise".

4. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Judy Garland.  There's nothing like and original classic.  This song came out in 1944 when Garland sang it for Meet Me In St. Louis.  I love the Frank Sinatra version too.

5.  "I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On" - Joni Mitchell.  Not exactly a Christmas song, but I love it and it is always a staple on my Christmas mixes.

6.  "Oi To The World" - No Doubt.  This song was actually originally done by the Vandals, but I really like the No Doubt cover, it's very ska-ed up.  It's my favorite let's rock out and bounce around Christmas song.

7. "Rebel Jesus" - The Chieftans. First off, the Chieftans are one of the best Irish bands out there.  Sorry Bono.  Second, I've grown up on their Christmas album, and it is no the season until I hear it.  Third, I love the line "The birth of the rebel Jesus".

8. "Christmas in Hollis" -  Run DMC.  The group has a reverend in it.  They know how to celebrate Christmas, and I feel like breakdancing for Jesus.

9. "Christmas In the City" - Mary J. Blige featuring Angie Martinez.  This was on one of my Christmas cds with the Keith Harring art on the cover.  I love it, it's got the 90s hip hop soul and reminds me of driving my Cabrio to the Natick Mall to buy Christmas gifts in high school.  Thanks Newbury Comics.

10. "Ave Maria"  Any version of this song, I think is so beautiful, and is a great way to end a Christmas mix.

The actual best way to end a Christmas mix is with "Polly Anderson's Christmas Party." By Stuart McLean.