But As For Me and Grandpa, We Believed

I spent the day finishing up my Christmas shopping and listening to Christmas carols while driving around suburban New Jersey in the green machine:

I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorites in case you are in need of a few new holiday tunes to get you through that final shift of gift wrapping!


(In no particular order)


Merry Christmas, Darling by The Carpenters- I do a mean impression of Karen Carpenter singing this song at holiday parties. 


Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses- Such a great, cheeky story about holiday romance, plus the ending takes place in a grocery store. I have a thing for songs that take place in grocery stores.


Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg- Speaking of songs that take place in grocery stores, this is arguably the lamest song on this list (though Merry Christmas, Darling runs a close second) but it reminds me of being home for the holidays and running into old friends. I think this song really speaks to anyone who's dated someone they loved in their past that just wasn't "the one". It's bittersweet, but I like it. 


Step into Christmas by Elton John- Elton John actually welcomes you to his Christmas song. How can you not love this one?


Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton- This song is terribly sad. Yet the hopefulness in Dolly's voice is what makes me love this song so much. Whenever you are feeling blue, just put on some Dolly, she won't let "sorrow bring you down". 


Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano- I took French for eight years. These are the only Spanish words I know. 


Last Christmas by Wham!- Is there anyone out there that really doesn't like this song? I could listen to it on repeat all. day. long. 


Dominick the Donkey by Lou Monte- Until I went to college, love it or hate it, I thought EVERYONE knew this song. Little did I know it was a holiday hit that was really only popular in the New York metropolitan area. My roommate from New Orleans thought I made this song up when I started singing it one day my junior year. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and have a listen. It will invoke feelings of sitting on a plastic covered sofa at nannie's house on Christmas eve eating meatballs and gravy somewhere in North Jersey. 


What Are You Doing New Years, New Years Eve by Various Artists- Any version of this song will always remind me of one of my college BFF's asking me the very same question, year after year after year. 


Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters- For most people, this song reminds them of Christmas Vacation but for me, it signifies my ultimate Christmas wish: spending the holidays in Hawaii. I may or may not have a choreographed dance that goes with this song. No big deal. 


Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band- Please note, the Bruce version is the ONLY acceptable version in my book. I am from New Jersey after all. When I was a kid, I listened very carefully to the words "you better be good, for goodness sake". I think I took it so seriously not because it dictated the rules of gifts from Santa, but because Bruce was saying them. He is The Boss after all. (Okay, he and Tony Danza.)


The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole-Is there a song out there that makes you picture Christmas more perfectly than this? Okay, maybe Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer ;)


What are your favorite holiday songs?