When it comes to Christmas, all of our senses are being used together.
We see the lights and decorations, we smell the evergreen and our favorite foods cooking, we feel the comfy blankets and hugs from loved ones, we taste fresh baked cookies and sweet warm hot cocoa, and we hear… What do we hear?
We hear paper being torn as gifts are open, we hear gasps and oohs and aww of children witnessing the magic of Christmas, we hear doors open as we excitedly wait for loved ones to come over and enjoy the season, and we listen to Christmas music!
For me, none of this would be the same without all the Christmas music we listen to. When Christmas is over, this is the void that I miss the most.
Starting November 1st, sometimes before if my family allows it, it is non-stop Christmas music. There is a sense of calm and peace that favorite Christmas hymns and carols bring me that is so special to this season.
When I was a kid, we would mostly listen to CD’s that we owned. My mother would often buy a few new CD’s a year and we listened to them all the time. I grew up listening to Amy Grant, Barbara Streisand, John Tesh, and James Galway Christmas Albums. Or there would be one local radio station that would play music right around Christmas.
Do you know all the ways there are to listen to Christmas music now? If we missed something, please tell us!
Music Streaming
Apple Music, You Tube music and Spotify are all music streaming platforms. You pay a monthly fee and have access to ALL the music. The monthly fee is around $15 for each of them. I have the most experience with Apple Music. Though I don’t really love the idea of paying a monthly fee for music my husband loves it, so I take advantage of it while we have it. There are so many Christmas albums that I didn’t know existed and you can listen to them all!
You can choose an album, already existing holiday playlists, or holiday radio stations. Amazon Prime member? Your Alexa devices already have a slew of Christmas tunes loaded and ready to stream through your home this holiday.
Music Apps
There are so many music apps now with two of the most popular being Pandora and iHeart Radio. If you just search Christmas music app, there are a ton that come up. You can play music through these apps on your phone, tablets or smart tvs. Pandora has 28 different holiday stations this year and iHeart Radio has 14. North Pole Radio is one of the stations on IHR. Some smart home devices play IHR as well. We often say, “Alexa, play North Pole Radio on iHeart Radio!”
Music Choice
If you are a cable or satellite subscriber, Music Choice is available to you. They used to have specific channels on the tv, we often us their app to play music with them. I feel like their variety of old and new music is the best. You don’t hear the same songs over and over again, but hear songs that no one else plays. One of those songs is Must Be Santa by Mitch Miller. This is a song that was introduced to me at my oldest’s beloved Pre School, Overfield. I had never heard it before, and the only place I’ve heard it since is Music Choice!
SiriusXM Radio
If you are a Dish subscriber, you have SiriusXM and they have 17 holiday stations to choose from. They also have an app to listen on your devices or straight off of your television.
FM Radio
Of course there are still local radio stations that switch to Christmas music in November and play it for the season. We have two local stations that I know of that are all Christmas right now. Many of these options that offer different stations have stations for everyone’s specific tastes. There are Classic stations, country stations, R&B stations, anything you can think of. I’ve been trying to listen to a little bit of music I haven’t heard before every day.
New or classic
Some days I’m just not in the mood for something new and want holiday favorites. I recently discovered Leslie Odom Jr.’s new album and I love it! Leslie is most well known for playing Aaron Burr in the musical Hamilton. His voice is amazing, and most of the songs on this album has a bit of a twist. Little Drummer Boy has an African vibe and is performed with the South African Mzani Youth Choir. It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas has a bossa nove, Brazilian sound to it. But my absolute favorites are two original songs, Snow and Wintersong.
Snow is an upbeat catchy song that I could listen to on repeat (and I have) and could be the next Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas. Wintersong is a slower, powerful love song.
Other artists I’m listening to this season on Apple Music:
- Andy Williams It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year
- Tori Kelly A Tori Kelly Christmas
- Pentatonix
- Various Artists Absolute Disney Holiday
- Tori Amos Christmastide EP
- Michael Buble
- The Carpenter’s
- JoJo Siwa – Jojo’s Rockin’ Christmas
- Kidsz Bop Christmas Party
- Frank Sinatra Christmas Essentials.
- Dolly Parton
- Straight No Chaser
- Idina Menzel
- Amy Grant
- Tran Siberian Orchestra
- Sia
I could go on and on….but I’m too busy singing along to my favorite carols!
-Christmas Gal Shendra
