Classic songs bring holiday to life

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the music. Though there will come a day about Jan. 2 when I’m sick of it; for the time being, I can’t get enough.

And when you talk about Christmas music, you’ve got to start with the classics. But really, there are different kinds of classics, each with its own unique contribution to the sounds of the season.

First, there are the “standard classics.” And there are a ton of them. I’m talking about tunes like “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells.” Or “Frosty the Snowman” and “Away in a Manger.” Or “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Hark, the Herald Angles Sing.” These are the songs we know by heart. Whether it’s a song at church, a sing-along in the car, or carolers on your doorstep, if someone starts up one of these tunes, anyone can join in and sing along.

And that’s what makes them great. They’re solid and never-changing, a constant part of every holiday season.

But one thing about these standard classics is that there is no definitive version of any of them. Sure, we all know “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells” by heart — they’ve been sung millions of times. But when we think about these songs, there is no specific version we think of.

And that leads us to the second kind of classic Christmas music — the “classic performance.” For some Christmas songs, there is a single version that we always think of when we think of the song. A great example is “White Christmas.” Though it’s been recorded by many, chances are, when you think of this song, you think of Bing Crosby’s version. Everything else is an imitation.

Or what about “The Little Drummer Boy.” When you think of this one, there's a pretty good chance you'll think about the version originally recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale. Today, if you don’t do this song with a boys choir, it just doesn’t sound right.

And there are others: Burl Ives and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” Elvis and “Blue Christmas,” Nat King Cole and “The Christmas Song,” Judy Garland and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Each is a classic recording that has become the definitive version of each song. No one else will ever do it better.

The third kind of classic Christmas song is the “new classic.” Every year, many of the popular artists of the day release Christmas albums. Most of the songs are usually the old standards, but it’s also common for artists to release original Christmas songs that are brand new. Honestly, most of these are forgettable.

But every once in a while, a new song comes along that is good enough to stick around. Really, this is how many classic Christmas songs are born, like Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958, or Bobby Helms' “Jingle Bell Rock” from 1957. At the time they came out, those songs were brand new. But today, they are classics.

It’s hard to know what recent songs will become classics, but I have two nominations. The first is “All I want for Christmas is You,” recorded by Mariah Carey in 1994. I like it because it has an upbeat feel that effectively captures the fun (and occasionally romantic) feeling of the holiday season.

My other nomination is Faith Hill’s “Where Are You Christmas,” released in 2000. Perhaps more than any other, this song conveys the struggles that many of us have from time to time to remember the magic of the season, while at the same time acknowledging the power of the Christmas spirit to ultimately triumph.

Classics or not, I enjoy listening to them, just as I do all Christmas music this time of year. I’m happy that I get several different holiday music stations via satellite TV, so I can always have holiday music playing around the house. I like to turn it on when I’m wrapping presents, folding laundry, or just sitting down for supper.

There's no denying that music is an integral part of the holiday season, and Christmas truly wouldn't be the same without it.

In case you don't know it, or if you just want an excuse to look at Faith Hill, here is the "Where Are You Christmas?" video: