Oh my word, how I LOVE Christmas!
The Delilah show has been Your Christmas Station for several decades now, and along with the tried and true (and able to sing-along-to) carols we all know and love, I’m like a kid opening their stocking when I gleefully unwrap all the newer holiday tunes of the season.
Sometimes, through the beautiful instruments, harmonious melodies, or humorous lyrics, I become so entranced and drawn into the spirit of the music, my ears almost pick up what I think to be the prancing and pawing of each little reindeer hoof, gently alighting upon my rooftop. Do you hear what I hear?
Here’s a run-down of some of the best newer Christmas music - I recommend you add them all to your Christmas play list!
Kacey Musgraves: A Very Kacey Christmas
Some thought it early in the game for country sweetheart, Kacey Musgraves, to release a holiday album in 2016, but the collection has proven to be anything but premature! In fact, it seems like it could have been something we all grew up with, alongside the silvery tinsel and chunky Christmas tree lights with half the paint missing from each bulb.
Kacey blends classy with kitsch on this already beloved and very nostalgic holiday endeavor. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love Christmas Don't Be Late, A Willie Nice Christmas (featuring Willie Nelson and Trigger) and Ribbons & Bows.
But don’t take my word for it. Read more about A Very Kacey Christmas HERE then purchase it for your own collection!
Get A Very Kacey Christmas!
And watch a fantastic video HERE
for KING & COUNTRY: Christmas / Live from Phoenix
I’ve been singing from the rooftops about the fabulous group, for King & Country for several years now. If you have yet to jump on the bandwagon, I bet you will now that they’ve had a mega cross-over hit with God Only Knows!
For the last few Christmas seasons, I’ve been recommending the Burn the Ships album, and this year, I am encouraging you to take a listen to their collection Christmas / Live from Phoenix. You’ll find their music to be uplifting, spiritual, and alive with incredible harmony!
Get Live from Phoenix
And watch the video HERE
Pentatonix: Best of Pentatonix Christmas
Oh Pentatonix, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways… I love thee for your smashing harmonies, for your dramatic deliveries, for your quirkiness and quality… I love thee a myriad of ways and am so so so happy you came into our lives, especially at Christmastime!
Now a perennial favorite, Pentatonix has a new collection of their Christmas best, and you’ll be counting the ways you love them too, once you’ve picked it up for yourself!
Get Best of Pentatonix Christmas
Watch a Pentatonix video HERE
Timi Dakolo: Merry Christmas, Darling
Timi is a Nigerian sensation since winning the country’s first ever televised talent competition. His soulful, r&b debut album followed as did a series of stirring, emotional singles including Great Nation which has been adopted as the nations second national anthem. - listen here.
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, Timi presents a simply gorgeous, heartfelt collection of soulful Christmas ballads backed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Merry Christmas, Darling combines his unique voice with some of the greatest classical standards ever written.
Merry Christmas Darling is Timi’s first Christmas album and also features Eric Benet on White Christmas, Kenny G. and The Eben Voices of Gabon Choir on Hallelujah.
What an amazing gift this album is!
Get Merry Christmas, Darling
Idina Menzel: A Season of Love
You may be familiar with Idina Menzel because of her iconic role in Frozen and that ONE song that’s been in our head since it’s release, Let It Go… But here’s another reason to get to know this super talented actress and songstress, she’s released a Christmas album with a whopping 18 tracks to it, including several duets with folks such as Ariana Grande, Billy Porter, Josh Gad, and her talented hubby, Aaron Lohr.
The duet with Ariana, A Hand for Mrs. Claus, is an original, written by the composers of the Frozen soundtrack, Kristen Anderson-Lopes and Robert Lopez. It puts me in a cookie-baking mood for sure! I’m equally impressed with the new song by Idina, At This Table, that she wrote with Jonas Myrin. It’s all about celebrating diversity and embracing those different from us during the holiday season!
A Season of Love also includes classics like, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Ave Maria, and I’ll Be Home For Christmas, as well as many new numbers that will wrap you in the spirit of love all season long. This is a must have for your collection!
Get A Season of Love
Matt Nathanson: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) & River
Bay Area singer songwriter Matt Nathanson is a delightful and insightful guy that’s a BIG favorite of a family member who introduced me to his music. He’s just released a couple of singles that deserve our attention: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home,) and River. I love both, and am sharing HIS thoughts about these songs and what they mean to him, because it so perfectly captures his spirit and provides a compelling reason to give them a listen!
“The first time I heard Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) was U2’s cover of it for the A Very Special Christmas charity album. I loved how the song felt like a celebration, but had this thread of sadness and longing running through it. For me, the holidays have always felt like that. Friends and family coming together at the end of the year, the beauty and starkness of winter contrasted with all the warmth of togetherness, joy and longing… This song is magical like that. It captures it all.”
and…
”Joni Mitchell is one of the greatest songwriters we have. A treasure. And this (RIver) isn’t a holiday song, per se, but it's become one over the years. Whenever I hear it, I’m immediately transported to the time and place she is singing about; Los Angeles in the 70s, bouncing off the superficial and the never-changing seasons… longing for a move back home, to the place she grew up and the ease and simplicity of youth.”
Get to know Matt, you’ll be glad you did!
Get Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) & River
Natalie Grant & Danny Gokey: The Prayer
Grammy nominated vocalists Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey released their version of the contemporary classic, The Prayer, last Christmas season; it’s now available to purchase as a single and if you don’t have any other music by this power duo, make sure you have The Prayer!
2019 is the fourth year the two have conducted a branded tour, Celebrate Christmas, and The Prayer has been a highlight of each and every performance, at each and every venue. You will be moved, this I promise.
Get The Prayer
Jonas Brothers: Like It’s Christmas
You could be in the Grinchiest state of mind, but when Grammy nominated funsters Jonas Brothers are heard, your heart is sure to grow at least three sizes!
Their new holiday single Like It’s Christmas. is comprised of wistful guitar, sweeping piano, handclaps, and, of course… sleigh bells! The wonderfully warm hook rings out over boisterous horns as the boys sing, “You make every day feel like it’s Christmas.” Yep, they DO have that affect on me!
Get Like It’s Christmas
Jonas Brothers resume the second leg of their “Happiness Begins Tour,” which you can catch in several venues throughout the country, now until December 14th.
More info on “Happiness Begins Tour” HERE
John Legend: A Legendary Christmas
Swoon-worthy and critically acclaimed, multi-platinum singer-songwriter, John Legend, released his first Christmas album, A Legendary Christmas last year so it’s still “new” to me and probably many of you as well.
Some of my favorite tracks are What Christmas Means to Me, with the legendary Stevie Wonder playing along on his harmonica! The magical, Christmas Time is Here, and the fun, Purple Snow Flakes, which became Delilah Jr’s favorite the second she heard it! (Can you guess her favorite color?!)
Go ahead, let John Legend croon as you swoon…
