Some Christmas Music
The Friday after Thanksgiving is officially the day to tune the playlists into the Christmas spirit. Here are 10 versions of the classics you likely have never heard.
As I said in my column yesterday, I love Thanksgiving. There is so much about the entire weekend that I enjoy. The Friday after Turkey Day, for our house, marks the official start of Christmas movies and caroling songs as a viable form of entertainment that can be played without abandon. I don’t go for the Macy’s playlists filled with Mariah and Adelle. I tend to move to the more obscure or classical arrangements of the Christmas Carol. I love hearing the Christ-centric lyrics that remind me that the season is not about Black Friday deals or consumerism. I’ll talk movies tomorrow, but the lovely speech in Charlie Brown about what the entire holiday is for tends to be what I lean into for the season. I love all the American amalgamations of traditions that have made it the holiday it is. The Christmas Tree from Germany, Santa Claus from Rome, Stockings by the fire from the Netherlands, and all the many others that speak to the American synthesis that only a land that languished in its discovery could produce. The music of the season is similar in its collage-style blending. Unique sounds from people who remember their homelands with fondness, but who have embraced the American assimilation into their lives.
I thought this morning you might enjoy some of my favorite Christmas songs of the season. Perhaps they can add some enjoyment to your own Thanksgiving weekend.
I’ll start with Shawn Colvin’s lovely rendition of In the Bleak Midwinter.
A mutual acquaintance of mine from my old music days, Aaron Espe, has this wonderful version of Edelweiss.
Audrey Assad has a lovely lyrical piece about the coming of Christ called Winter Snow.
Greg Laswell has my favorite version of O Come All Ye Faithful. Incredibly honest to the original hymn, and his beautiful voice conveys the words of amazement about the Christ child.
Anna Madsen has created a wonderful version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. One of my favorite carols during the Advent season. The longing for something more from God always comes across through the lyrics and haunting melody.
A fun version of Baby It’s Cold Outside with Lyle Lovett and Kat Edmonson.
For a truly American music moment, I turn to The Petersens with their version of What Child Is This.
James Taylor’s Some Children See Him is a lovely, quiet reminder of how the Christ story has made its way around the globe, into the hearts of innumerable people and cultures.
Mindy Smith is a voice for our home. Her albums have been comforting at so many times in just the right moment. Her version of Away In A Manger is a beautiful lullaby.
We love the Weepies in our house. Such great harmonies and interplay between the instruments. All That I Want is their take on the Christmas season.
And as a bonus:
Anna and I have done a few Christmas Carols over the years. Here is our arrangement of The Holly and the Ivy. (Our son Sawyer played Violin on this track.)
And finally, our family’s take on Silent Night.
Blessings to you this Christmas season. I would love to hear what your favorite songs are, too. It’s always nice to discover new Christmas songs this time of the year. I am certain that I will hear enough of Mariah in short order.
Just posted on FB:
Thanksgiving 2025
"A surprising visit from my father-in-law.. and then my mother-in-law on two consecutive mornings. Both have passed on and Libbie would have been 100 years old this year.
First yesterday morning, Thanksgiving morning, I woke up with a funny little thrill inside me. I had to laugh that it was that I knew if I cycled over to New Leaf on 41st they would serve me coffee for $1 {she told me yesterday, just $1 for your coffee.. and tomorrow is the last day!}. I laughed to find myself excited for that this morning and chinked my glass on the framed picture of my father-in-law, Bob, who, when he was staying with us here on the West Coast [right through WHEN 9/11 happened actually], off the grid up the mountain in a little cottage, he was so keen for us to get him down the hill where he knew he could get a $1 breakfast from Taco Bell on certain days (and buy his lottery ticket based on everybody's birthdays). Okay, that was yesterday morning's Re-membering.
Now this morning my friend Aaron sends his 10 best songs of the season— "Not your usual Macy's lineup"
His second song in the list is a very particular rendering of Edelweiss.. And as soon as it is playing I am transported back to Libbie struggling in rehab and me going in on my bike at 5:00 in the morning from a strong prompting that I was needed. Cycling there in the pre-dawn darkness I began to sing Edelweiss and then came into her bed where she was in some state of distress.
I said to her why was I singing this on the way to you and she ended up singing that song all the way through with me. Libbie wasn't much of a one for singing, so this was a very surprising and tender unfolding and I realized her being charmed with this particular song came directly from the days when she lived in New York and would go to these different wonderful musicals on
Broadway.
Warm hi!, high five, and hug to Libbie & Bob!!" ❤
My favorite is “O Holy Night”. I have several versions in their own playlist. Probably my favorite is by Jennifer Nettles.
https://youtu.be/t__6YCvM7N4?si=GYmt-byvduL-edSo