Christmas music is all around

Listening to Christmas music simply makes me happy. I can pinpoint the start of my adoration to watching White Christmas over and over with my grandma when I was little. Crooner Bing Crosby had a voice like butter.

Of course, I'm a fan of traditional Christmas songs like my favorites - "O Holy Night," "Silent Night," "What Child is This?" and "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem." Songs like these have nary a bit to do with commercialism, but instead, the whole reason that we celebrate Christmas - the birth of Christ.

I've collected quite a few Christmas albums and random songs over the years from musicians like Hanson, Jewel and even Britney Spears (you may remember "Santa Can You Hear Me?"). These always make me smile...
In Love Actually, aging rocker Billy Mack (the fantastic Bill Nighy) sings "Christmas is All Around." This is a beautiful piano version features one of my favorite scenes playing in the background.

I still crank 98 Degrees' album This Christmas in my car (yes, I actually paid to see Nick Lachey in a solo concert; sue me!). "This Gift" about a Christmas proposal is a boy-band classic.

Josh Groban's Christmas album Noel is incredible. His voice gives me chill bumps - especially in his song "Thankful." He sings, "It's up to us to be the change, and even though we all can still do more. There's so much to be thankful for." Isn't that the truth?

Here are a few other greats...
-Mariah Carey, "All I Want for Christmas is You,"
-Nat King Cole, "The Christmas Song"
-Wham!, "Last Christmas"
-N'Sync "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,"
-Elvis Presley, "Blue Christmas"
-Brenda Lee, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
-Eartha Kitt, "Santa Baby"

Richmond native Elliott Yamin also has a great holiday album Sounds of the Season.