A Christmas List..of sorts

Everyone likes lists...right? I know I do. I enjoy reading what critics and authorities in the industry claim to be the best whatever: Top 100, Greatest of the Decade, Top 500. In all it allows us to complain, mostly, on what they decide to pick. Others debate, but those list seem to exist to make us think, to me it often makes me think "what were they thinking?" Ultimately, those lists really don't mean any thing do they? For 2008, top "vote" getters were different everywhere. Those listed at #1 include: Coldplay - "Viva La Vida", Kings of Leon – “Sex On Fire”, Estelle Feat. Kanye West - "American Boy", & Hercules and Love Affair - "Blind." (BTW, I know that usually you put the comma inside the quote marks...I think it looks funny). As you can see there is no set constant of the top song. Best song of the decade of the 90s list Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Britney Spears - "...Baby One More Time", and Alice in Chains - "Man in the Box."

So with that I give you my list of my favorite songs of the Christmas season. This list doesn't really have to make you debate, it really doesn't give any more reason that you should listen or even like these songs. What it does is give people insight to what it is I listen to at this time of the year. It is a festive time of sharing, so I share this with you.

10. "I am Santa Claus" - Bob Rivers
Nice song about a dude that looks like a biker and delivers presents to good boys and girls. Set to the tune to "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath, Bob Rivers makes Santa Sound naughty but cool and nice at the same time. Don't think you'll find roasting chipmunks or anything, just a reference to kiddies bringing St. Nick some festive beer with his cookies.

9. "Feliz Navidad" - Jose Feliciano
There was a time where I couldn't get away from this song during the holidays. I used to be annoyed by it by the time December actually came around for hearing it every day. Then came the year I didn't hear it at all. I felt there was something missing in my life. Luckily, my mom got me a little dog that sings it so I can hear it all year 'round. It is such a happy song full of fun and joy. Plus, it is educational in that we can speak a little more Spanish, take that Dora.

8. "Carol of the Bells" - Mr. Mackey the School Counselor
After Charlie Brown, South Park has provided us with fun Christmas cheer in animated form. "Ummkay" tied into an already addictive song makes for a song that once in, gets stuck up there. Ding, Dong, Ding Dong, Ummkay.

7. "Christmas Coming to the USA/Seasons Greetings from Saturday Night Live/The SNL Christmas Song" - Sanz, Fallon, Kattan, Morgan
As a child growing up with Saturday Night Live (or "SNL" as Generation Text currently calls it) I have fond memories of Christmas sketches. But as far as catchy tunes goes, this one transcends the holidays and even appeared at Easter. Plus, that Simon guy from American Idol even joined in the fun, and if he likes it...never mind. Who can argue with a song that has a lion growl or a guy who's only job is to hold a keyboard and shake his head back and forth.

6. "Chrismas Time is Here" - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Charlie Brown Christmas is something I try to watch every year, and it isn't that difficult. I still miss the original Coca-Cola references that appeared (in-show advertising, not drugs) that made the cartoon that more interesting since it was a show about the commercialization of Christmas. The soft, jazzy version of this tune rolls around in my head about the time stores start putting up their Christmas gear (which is now sometime in September?) and I catch myself humming along while shopping for rakes and other end of summer items. I get the warm feeling in the cockles of my heart when the song plays...which by the way are commonly associated with the heart valves of your heart. Since I really don't know how my valves feel I guess you can negate that last statement of warm feelings and replace it with "I have the pre-feelings of Christmas cheer when I hear that song."

So there is the first of the top songs. There will be more later, since no true list comes without an actual countdown if you will. Many times I had to sit all weekend long to wait to see what videos were going to make the top 10 on Mtv's list (back when it played videos). I was young and silly, I could have just watched something else until that time...but then again if my favorite videos were rated lower than a really bad song I wanted to watch...just so I'd have something to argue with myself about.