I started compiling this post on the Monday before Thanksgiving. I was thinking about it and I am comfortable with my top 20 all-time favorite Christmas songs but for this one, I want to add a little bit of background:
I had my Mom snap this picture when we went to see St. Alphonsus just before it was set to be torn down:
This picture was important to me because that is the exact place where I made a very important decision!!!:
I had to crop the picture a little bit so the focal point came into view:
I imagine that we were running late for church because that is the ONLY reason we would have parked there but that is where our green station wagon was parked and I looked at that one-way sign as I climbed into the backseat of the car and heard what I had decided in that moment was my favorite Christmas song:
I have no problem telling everyone that that is my favorite Christmas song!!!
And now for the rest of the hits:
José Feliciano “Feliz Navidad”
That song is driving to my Abuela’s house in Southwest Detroit and stopping to get tamales at Nuevo León Tamalería.
GaylaPeevey “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”
I just love that song and I have the musical Christmas ornament to prove it!
Judy Garland “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
That probably was my favorite movie growing up when I was, like, six. How I used to love singing along with it and I absolutely loved Esther‘s red dress!!!
Karen Carpenter “Merry Christmas, Darling”
This song reminds my Mom telling me about the Christmas my Parents spent apart when my Dad was in Vietnam. I love her voice!!!
Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas is You”
This song is driving to my grandparents house (my Dad’s parents) also located in southwest Detroit. That is where my Parents met and grew up together. So I have even liked this song before I saw Love Actually!
Alabama “The Christmas Shoes”
I was actually in college and working and dfcu financial when I first heard this song when I was shopping for an outfit to wear to their holiday party. It always makes me cry!!!
Train “ shake up Christmas”
this song was instantly one of my favorites when it came out!!! We was already living in our house.
Bon Jovi “Please Come Home for Christmas”
There is just something about Jon Bon Jovi‘s voice!!!
Jon Secada “O Holy Night”
It was by accident that I found this version of this song but I absolutely love it! I can hear my cousin, Sal, singing it at the piano with his sister and his friend the year we spent Christmas in Texas.
Sarah McLachlan ”River”
This song will always remind me of Parker and my time working with him as my MRT therapist because this song was it on his holiday mix on his iPod.
u2 “Baby Please Come Home”
Bono’s voice makes everything better!!! 😍😍😍
CeeLo Green “Mary did You Know?”
I remember when I first heard this
Kelly Clarkson “Underneath the Tree”
Whenever I hear this song, it makes me feel good!
Band Aid “Do They Know its Christmas?”
and sometimes a stinky Link accidentally shows up…
Barenaked ladies “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Even though this song cut out in this recording, I love it!!!
Andy Williams “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
This song reminds me of watching Allen.
James Taylor “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
I am excited to watch The holiday this Christmas! This song reminds me of that movie!
Bing Crosby & David Bowie “The Little Drummer Boy”
I really have come to appreciate their voices in this song more! But I still remember singing ‘the Little drummer boy‘ at my school Christmas play. My brother, Dave, remembers too!
Bruce Springsteen ”Santa cause is coming to town”
I think this one has become one of my favorites through osmosis because it always reminds me of my cousinT, Shannon! She loves this Christmas song and I love Wham! We had that conversation when we were in high school and it’s still the same even though we are both in our 40s!!!