The Best Christmas Songs - Contemporary
Christmas songs always give me happy and cosy feelings, but also make me reminisce, in a positive way, about past Christmases. I was listening to some songs and decided to write a hub about it. That way, I could share my favorite Christmas songs with you. Quickly, I had collected so many that they wouldn't fit in one hub. This is the one about contemporary Christmas music, featuring songs from the 1980's through to the present day.
Last Christmas - Wham!
Even though it is not really one of my favorite Christmas songs, I felt I had to include this one. Somehow, this song just belongs in this Christmas music list, doesn't matter if I like the song or not. After all, George Michael and Andrew Ridgely are urging us to spend Christmas with people who are special to us.
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Produced by Bob Geldof to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia, this song shot to #1 in many countries, achieved record sales and raised millions. The song features prominent British and Irish singers such as Phil Collins, Sting, Paul Young, Bono, George Michael, Paul McCartney, David Bowie and many more.
Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
First released in 1988 and returning to the charts in 2007, 'Driving Home For Christmas' is Chris Rea's song about the journey home, to spend the holidays with his family. Although this is one of the slower songs, it still breathes that special feel that only Christmas and Christmas songs can have.
All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
Maybe the most recognizable song of them all, and arguably the happiest and most Christmassy Christmas song is 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'. Mariah Carey was asked by her label to do a Christmas album to be seen as an entertainer rather than just a pop singer. I think I can easily state that that mission was certainly accomplished.
Why Couldn't It Be Christmas Every Day? - Bianca Ryan
This is the most recent song of this list, performed by America's Got Talent's first winner Bianca Ryan. When her first album with this song on it was released in 2006, Ryan was only 12 years old. During the last couple of years, this song returned every holiday season. The question is whether she'll have more hits in the future or that she'll always remain 'that girl of some Christmas song'.
Bonus
Although I agreed with myself that I'd do five Christmas songs per hub, I still feel that something's missing. Luckily, I'm my own boss and therefore are allowed to deviate from the 'rules'!
Growing up during the 1990's has given me one more musical memory that is associated with Christmas. People from other generations might not understand it, but everyone who grew up during those years will know that every Christmas season starts with this commercial:
This is the German version of the Coca-Cola Christmas commercial. When these commercials fell into disuse in 2001, singer Melanie Thornton recorded the song as a single 'Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)'. Just when that year's Christmas season was about to start, Thornton died in a plane crash. Coca-Cola stuck with the song and started to reuse the commercials since 2007.
If they ever stop airing these commercials, I'm going to need to watch this on Youtube several times before my Christmas season can really start.
And this brings us to the end of this hub about contemporary Christmas songs. What do you think of these songs? Did you miss one? Or did you think one of the above actually doesn't belong there? Let me know in the comments!
Also, don't forget to read my other hubs on Christmas songs: