Alright…some people get a lil’ cranky when people start celebrating Christmas too early. I just want to say bah-humbug to that! We start early in this house. I don’t think I start as early as some people, but I will admit that I like to have my decorations up by Thanksgiving break. 

As a teacher that’s a time that I have a few extra days off in a row, so to me, it makes sense to be ready to roll. I usually put up the tree the weekend before Thanksgiving and put out all the knick knacks. I put the lights on the tree but we wait until a little later in December to put all the ornaments on it.

I did go a little crazy and buy a few extra trees last year on super duper clearance after Christmas. (I honestly can’t remember how many…I think maaaaaybe 3 more?) One is definitely either rose gold or silver…it’s hard to say, I was filling up my cart like I had won the Nickelodeon Super Toy Run of 1989! So it’ll be exciting when I pull all that crap down from the attic. I’ll keep ya posted for sure. 

But today I wanna talk about my top five favorite Christmas songs. This was a hard list to make because damn…I love Christmas music. And don’t come at me telling me I forgot something. I’m sure your top five list is awesome too. To be honest, you’d be hard pressed to find a Christmas song I don’t love, but these ones hold a special place in my heart for different reasons, so back off! Hahahaha

Ok, here they go, in no particular order because I can’t get that specific….

Deanna’s Top Five…

All I Want For Christmas is You
Mariah Carey

I mean, duh. Right? This one has a couple of great memories attached to it, but most of them include one of my BFFs and I having sing-off competitions to it. Natalie. Gianna. I hope you’re listening. Hahaha

Ok, so picture this…Richmond, 2003. Natalie, Gianna, and I have been hanging out at my apartment. Maybe we had some dinner. We definitely had some drinks. Gianna was trying her hardest to fall asleep on the couch, but Natalie and I had other plans. We must have played that beginning 10 seconds over seriously like 20 times each taking turns and trying to make Gianna decide who won our own personal American Idol contest. 

We’d call those American Idol contests, but that’s not how that show works. Can you imagine if every contestant had to sing the same song? That would be ridiculous, but to be fair, a more accurate comparison. 

Anyhoo…Gianna tried to ignore us, and I’m not even really sure if she did ever commit to a winner. She probably let us each have a couple rounds to avoid any squabbles. But I think it probably makes her list of top five most annoying moments in her life. Sorry Gianna. But daaaaaang, that’s a good song! 

And side note: Dolly Parton just came out with a new Holiday album where she sings it with Jimmy Fallon. It’s good. But nothing can top Mariah.

Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
Ramones

This one is great because it can just really mix up any Christmas playlist. It’s one a lot of people aren’t familiar with but it still has all the references you need to make a great catchy Christmas song. And, it’s special to me because the first dance at my wedding was to a Ramones song. So there’s that too. 

Thistlehair the Christmas Bear
Alabama

This is just one of those songs that brings you right back to your childhood. I can just see that cassette tape with the red cover and the big gold letters across the front “Alabama.” I don’t really remember much else off of that album, but I think I was only like 5 or 6 and man…thistlehair the Christmas Bear sounded like a cool guy. I always wished they would make a tv special about him cause I wanted to see what he officially looked like. I think the mystery of not knowing is what makes it extra cool though. 

About 10 years ago I made a mixed CD that I included with my Christmas cards, and this was the hidden track. I literally added a long track of silence and then boom…hit ‘em with Thistlehair. It’s extra funny to me because it’s so random and I think it was the perfect little surprise to that mix.

Once Upon a Christmas
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

I’m totally cheating here. This is a whole album, but I can listen to the whole album every time. The entire album clocks in at about 35 minutes, so basically that’s like one Pink Floyd song. There’s not a bad song on it. If I had to choose only one Christmas album for the rest of my life, it would be this one. I know those are bold words, but I mean em. 

“As daddy stokes the fire and mama puts the turkey on, ain’t nothin’ gonna slow me down, this Christmas I’ll be home!” 

“Lord it’s like a Hard Candy Christmas, I’m barely gettin’ through…”

“You’ve made this a Christmas to remember, Springtime feelings in the middle of December, strangers meet and willingly surrender, ohhhhh what a Christmas to remember!”

You get the point…it’s basically the best album ever.

Candy Cane Lane
Sia

I dunno how I can top Dolly and Kenny except that I feel like the songs on Sia’s Christmas album will probably be Ruby’s version of that. Candy Cane Lane is what taught her all her colors. Red and yellow and pink and green, orange and purple and blue….Christmas is waiting for YOUUUUUU. And we do a very dramatic point at someone in the room. I usually shy away from newer Christmas songs because I already know and love the oldies, but this album has some definite staying power, so it’s in heavy rotation at this house. And the good thing is, when it’s in heavy rotation you learn the songs quickly and then they become classics too!

Your next step:

Go make a playlist! 

If you’re one of those people that isn’t ready to start celebrating yet, you’ll be ready when you decide it’s time! And also…hit me up and let me know your favorites! I love to learn about a new Christmas jam!

If you wanna just use my playlist, you can get it here!
(I’m gonna keep adding to it throughout the season…so enjoy!)

If you wanna check out my singing skillz…

In this episode I break into song more than once, so let me just leave that here as either a warning or a temptation for you to check it out or not. If ya push play on the episode you can be the judge. Look out Simon Cowell!