Christmas Music Buying Guide, Stores, and Prices
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Christmas Music

'Tis the season to feel jolly! It doesn't always have to be the Christmas season to fully enjoy the splendor that is Christmas music . Although most people won't want to listen to Christmas music in July, there are those who do enjoy the Christmas spirit year round. There is a wide variety of Christmas music that spans across varying genres and artists. There is also traditional  and secular , carols and hymns, serious and humorous  Christmas music.

A Little History

Christmas music began as chants and hymns in Latin sung during church. Christmas music didn't start to move outside of the church until the 13th Century with the formation of carols, which were written in the vernacular, or the spoken language of the people as opposed to Latin. Carols are songs with religious topics but sung and performed in a festive or lively manner. Christmas music in English first appeared in 1426 by the hands of a priest named John Audelay. Here we have the birth of going door to door singing Christmas carols. British Parliament actually banned Christmas carols in the 17th Century under the rule of Oliver Cromwell, saying they were a pagan tradition and sinful. Throughout the next few centuries, American and European Puritans went through periods of time when they would disapprove of the celebration of Christmas. Writing and singing Christmas carols began to gain popularity again in the 18th Century and still continues today.

Traditional Christmas Songs

Classic Christmas CDs

A Very Special Christmas 

Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas 

Elvis Presley - Christmas Album 

  • The King  can do anything, including having a great Christmas album.
  • It is one of the best selling Christmas albums of all time.

Bing Crosby - White Christmas 

  • The song "White Christmas" has become immortalized by Crosby and is the best selling single of all time.
  • White Christmas  is still one of the most popular Christmas CDs.

A Christmas Gift for You Phil Spector 

  • It is considered the best Christmas album of all time.
  • The album has been reissued dozens of times and is still one of the top selling Christmas albums .

Popular Secular Songs

This list of songs are actually the most performed Holiday songs  that have been written by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) members in the 21st Century. These secular songs sometimes overshadow the more traditional songs, and we often here more of these songs on the radio and on Christmas CDs.

New/Modern Christmas CDs

Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas 

  • The true diva of the 90s gives us a Christmas album with soaring vocals and classic songs.
  • "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has become an instant favorite thanks to Mariah's  cover.

Josh Groban - Noel 

  • Grammy nominated pop sensation Josh Groban brings us an album with sacred and secular Christmas classics.
  • Groban  offers an intimate and soulful Christmas setting.

Andrea Bocelli - My Christmas 

  • A new CD with a traditional feel and sound.
  • This album is sure to be an instant classic in years to come.

Now That's What I Call Christmas 

  • This 2 disc collection spans across the decades with both older and newer artists.
  • Artists include Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, and N'Sync.

Celine Dion - These Are Special Times 

  • This was the best selling Christmas album of 1998, with over 15 million copies sold.
  • A beautiful mixture of contemporary and traditional songs.

 Comedy Albums and Songs

Carol-ebrities

It seems just about every musician or band out there has a Christmas album. Here are some of the top artists singing their favorite holiday tunes, along with some new ones.

Other Genres

If you're not into pop or traditional Christmas music, just about every genre has a collection of Christmas tunes. You can find plenty of Christmas music in the following genres: Jazz ,R&B ,Rock ,Soul ,Rap ,Country ,Blues , and Instrumental . 

Related Guides

Christmas Gifts

Christmas Movies

Hosting a Christmas Party

Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Christmas Trees

 

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