I’m all about celebrating Christmas all the year through, but I have to wait almost 11 months for the rest of the world to catch up to my enthusiasm. That time is now! And I’ve made it a tradition to share some of my favorite music of the season in my Christmas Music Musts list!
This time of year has great holiday music releases!
Christmas music spilling into your cars, your offices, and your homes become a soundtrack to the memories you’re creating with co-workers, friends, and family that I’m so thrilled to be a part of.
Here’s my list of recommendations. If you don’t have them already, I’d advise you to add them to your holiday playlist right away!
Sia
“Everyday Is Christmas”
Sia, who brought us the smash hits, “Chandelier” and “Unstoppable”, has a fun, whimsical Christmas album that everyone needs ,“Everyday is Christmas”.
It’s chock-full of original music like the viral-hit “Snowman” , which has over 980 million streams and is one of the most-played holiday songs ever since its release, but “Snowman” isn’t the only single that will jingle jingle jingle you into the holiday spirit. Don’t forget “Candy Cane Lane” and the title track, “Everyday Is Christmas.”
Get “Everyday Is Christmas - Deluxe Edition” today and be on the lookout for Sia’s new album, “Reasonable Woman” coming this spring!
Everyday Is Christmas (according to Sia and me!)
Cher
“Christmas”
“Christmas”, Cher’s first new studio album in five years (and her first EVER holiday album!) is available everywhere now!
It includes 13 songs - several holiday classics and four originals by songwriter Sara Hudson and her team, and it has a star-studded list of musical besties.
Christmas includes superstar duet classics including“What Christmas Means To Me" with Stevie Wonder, and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" with Darlene Love. (Darlene first recorded the song with Phil Spector and a l7-year-old Cher singing background vocals); in addition to a haunting version of “Home" written and sung with Michael Bublé.
Other standouts include an unexpected pairing with Tyga on “Drop Top Sleigh Ride” produced by Alexander Edwards, Mike Crook and Ryan OG, the magnificent "Angels in the Snow”, "Put A Little Holiday In Your Heart", with Cyndi Lauper, and the disco-inspired, “DJ Play That Christmas Song” which was the first single to drop.
You can get it here: Christmas
Pentatonix
“The Greatest Christmas Hits”
Gearing up for what promises to be an unforgettable holiday season, Pentatonix has unveiled a new greatest hits album, “The Greatest Christmas Hits”!
The album features 23 of the band's top holiday songs and eight brand new, never-before-heard tracks - including one holiday original - “Please Santa Please”!
One of the most innovative, inventive, and inimitable vocal groups of all time, my friends that make up Pentatonix are thrilled to be performing their 2023 North American Christmas tour right now, Pentatonix, The Most Wonderful Tour Of The Year. You’ll want to get tickets if they’re anywhere near your city - or plan a trip and meet them somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit!
In the meantime, order “The Greatest Christmas Hits” for yourself and everyone you want to have some holiday joy this year.
Pick up: The Greatest Christmas Hits
Lauren Daigle
“Behold - A Christmas Collection -
The Complete Set”
Lauren Daigle is a 2-time GRAMMY, 7-time Billboard Music Award, and 4-time American Music Award winner, and an artist I’ve adored since she hit the scene!
I have to share her incredible Christmas album, Behold - A Christmas Collection - The Complete Set!
This expanded edition includes Lauren’s version of “The Christmas Song” and a live version of “Noel”, all available for the first time on a double vinyl or single CD.
“Behold plays like an audio time capsule built of saxes, trombones and other horns (even tubas!), upright bass, brushes on drums, mellow sounding hollow body guitars, and vocals that are rich and distinctive but still somehow laidback in their feel.”
I’m proud to call Lauren my friend, and excited for everyone to add The Complete Set to their holiday music library!
Available Now: Behold - A Christmas Collection - The Complete Set
Lindsey Stirling
”Snow Waltz”
The lovely Lindsey Stirling, violinist, dancer, performer extraordinaire’s latest holiday album, “Snow Waltz” is an absolute MUST as you’re wrapping presents and spending time with loved ones.
With 14 tracks (and 2 bonus tracks on the Target Deluxe Edition) comprised of a mix of classic holiday tunes and several originals, it should see you into the wee hours of the morning, many rolls of gift wrap, and empty scotch tape dispensers too!
The single “Sleigh Ride” has over 2 billion artist streams to date, and was used over 120 million times on social channels for user generated content (background music for TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, etc.) When you hear it, you’ll know why!
Lindsey will join me on an episode of LOVE SOMEONE with Delilah, my popular podcast soon, make sure you listen in when she does!
Join us for a Snow Waltz this magical time of year!
Barry Manilow
”All I Want For Christmas Is You”
Barry Manilow’s career now spans seven decades with hits like “Looks Like We Made It", "Mandy", "I Write the Songs", and "Copacabana". He’s recorded and released 51 Top 40 singles on the AC chart including 13 that hit number one.
And this holiday season the GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning musician is releasing a new single, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in celebration of his upcoming one-hour music special, “Barry Manilow’s A VERY BARRY CHRISTMAS”, debuting on NBC on Monday, Dec. 11 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and streaming the next day on Peacock.
Presave: All I Want For Christmas Is You
(Available to stream & download on
November 3rd.)
David Foster & Katharine McPhee
”Christmas Songs”
It had been 17 years since David Foster and Katharine McPhee recorded together, but that all changed when the two released their first Christmas album together last year, titled simply “Christmas Songs”.
Listen to my conversation with David HERE.
This year, they’ve added 6 more tracks and the completed album is available now! The new version adds “Santa Baby,” “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas,” “We Three Kings,” “Snow,” and “Away In A Manger” to the mix.
Copies of the Target CD will also feature two bonus tracks, “Amazing Grace” and “Carol Of The Bells.”
I have to say “Carol Of The Bells” might just be my favorite, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide your own — if that’s even possible!
Get your copy of: Christmas Songs
Smith
”Stay With Me Santa
(Mrs. Claus' Christmas Wish)”
There’s nobody like Mrs. Claus to help you get into the holiday spirt!
Female GRAMMY® nominated alt-rock artist, writer, producer, Smith, is on my Music Must’s list with her "Stay With Me Santa (Mrs. Claus' Christmas Wish)" a new holiday smash that builds on her recent radio and viral success.
Smith’s release, "Lemon", was a TikTok viral sensation with over 150 million impressions, and it charted at Top 40, Hot AC, Rhythmic and Alternative Radio making her the first woman to ever chart in all 4 genres. Now she delivers a magical holiday moment that I know each and every one of you is going to enjoy.
This single drops on November 17th, but you can preorder it with this link:
Stay With Me Santa (Mrs. Claus' Christmas Wish)
Michael W. Smith
”Every Christmas”
Last year, your favorite and mine, Michael W. Smith released a Christmas EP, called “Christmas At Home”. This year, he’s expanded on its offerings and “Every Christmas” a full LP, is now available.
I was able to sit down with Michael for a long chat on my podcast, that you can listen to HERE. Michael talks about his love of Christmas, the traditions his family celebrates and the involvement of his children and grandchildren on the EP.
With 6 new songs added to this year’s LP, each of them feature a family member . The album is co-produced by Michael and his son, Tyler Michael Smith.
Michael says of the album “(Every Christmas) takes Christmas at Home to a new level, with some beautiful, magical new surprises, including some of my favorite hymns.”
The entire album is family-focused and is meant to showcase the importance of family, the joy of traditions (old and new) and his hope is that it provides the soundtrack to your memories with loved ones.
For my final Christmas Music Musts recommendation, I’m going to tell you, it’s not Christmas without Michael W. Smith - and family!
Every Christmas is available now.
Andrea Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli & Virginia Bocelli
”A Family Christmas (Deluxe Edition)”
Do you hear what I hear?! It’s a Bocelli Family Christmas! Following the runaway success of their first album together, the Bocelli family announced the deluxe edition of A Family Christmas – with the release of the brand new single ‘Let it Snow’.
‘A Family Christmas (Deluxe Edition)’ features four brand-new recordings, plus five additional bonus tracks. It will be released on November 10th and will be available in CD and black standard vinyl. “The Greatest Gift” already has 44M+ streams!
Internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli teams up with his 25-year-old son Matteo Bocelli and his 10-year-old daughter Virginia Bocelli.
The album captures the Bocelli’s festive spirit in full flow, with new renditions of traditional carol arrangements. The trio of complementary voices intertwine and echo on the song ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’, which provides a stirring opening to the album. Each of the three Bocelli performers gets a chance to shine on the album with solo tracks, duets and trios.