Monday, December 18, 2017

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer

Though I feel plenty cheerful and appropriately spirited today, there will inevitably come a point during the holiday season at which I need a pick-me-up. My calendar fills up too quickly, my to-do list grows too long, we spend too much money, the kids bicker with one another...you understand, right? Maybe you've even been there too.

During my first holiday season of blogging I shared two of my favorite Christmas videos. When my second holiday season of blogging rolled around, I shared the two videos from the first year and added a couple of new favorites in the same post so I could easily find them on rough days. The third holiday season I narrowed down the videos from years past and added a few more. Same thing during the fourth, fifth, and sixth holiday seasons. And now in the seventh holiday season, the tradition continues.

When something happens to dampen my holiday spirit, I search for my annual Christmas music post. For me, there is no greater emotional and spiritual boost than that I receive when I listen to and sing music centered around love and peace.

So here they are: my favorites from this year and years past, all in one place, so anyone who needs an emotional or spiritual lift - myself included - can find them when the need arises. All will warm your heart and remind you that love actually IS all around us…sometimes we just have to look for it. On YouTube.

Happy holidays, friends!

In case you're wondering, my criteria is simple…if the song gives me chills, it makes the cut. I'd love to see and listen to your favorite Christmas videos - I'm always growing my playlist - so please send them my way!

The Christmas Can-Can: Straight No Chaser
This group sings beautiful acapella music, and on occasion 
they throw a good bit of humor into their performances.


All I Want For Christmas is You: 
Mariah Carey, James Corden, and more...
Who doesn't love listening to this song at Christmas time?!


Baby It's Cold Outside: Idina Menzel and Michael Buble
This twist on a holiday favorite is adorable - let your kiddos watch too! 


Hallelujah: Pentatonix
Perhaps the best song - and one of the best versions of it - ever.
The low notes in particular, especially during the fourth verse, 
make me feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience.


Deck the Halls
My favorite flashmob of all time.


The Christmas Scale
"It's hard to believe that the greatest message the 
world will ever hear is contained in one simple scale."


Someday at Christmas: Stevie Wonder & Andra Day for Apple
I used to tear up every time this commercial came on television.


Silent Night: Us the Duo
I hadn't heard of this group until last year when we saw them open 
for Pentatonix. They're fun and quirky and incredibly talented! 


Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Another flash mob, this one by the talented Air Force Band.


Angels We Have Heard on High: The Piano Guys
I still get chills every single time I watch/listen to this video.


Joy to the World: Mormon Tabernacle Choir
I have always loved both this choir and this song; 
when they combine they sound like Christmas should!


That's Christmas to Me: Pentatonix
Their original Christmas song warms my heart.


"The best way to spread (and I'll add the words "and feel" in here as well) Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

Thanks, Buddy.

And because both made me cry, I thought I'd throw in a couple of my favorite ads as well...

Palace: Sam Smith
Palace isn't technically a Christmas song, but it's message - "love 
is never a waste of time" - is spot on during the holiday season as well 
as throughout the year. And I like to imagine the dancer is my Hallie...


Christmas is for Sharing
A reenactment inspired by the real events that took place on Christmas 
Day in 1914. I only recently heard about this historical anomaly, and 
as anyone who knows me might expect, it brought tears to my eyes.

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