Staff Picks: Our favorite Christmas Songs that bring Christmas cheer

Since today is Christmas Eve, it’s the last chance to really enjoy Christmas songs. They are all over the radio this time of year and some have been played to death, but that doesn’t stop us from singing along to them. They bring memories of Christmas past alive and instantly put us in a happy state of mind. Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, these songs define winter in the U.S., so everyone at TheCelebrityCafe.com felt that today is the perfect time to share our own favorite Christmas songs.

Gina DiFalco: My Christmastime playlist consists of my Christmas Songs by Sinatra album, which consists of Frank Sinatra''s takes on classics like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" I also really love anything on the Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin (Holiday) Pandora station. One particular song I enjoy every year though, is from the cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

Daniel S Levine: I don’t celebrate Christmas, but Christmas songs have become such a secular part of American pop culture that it’s hard not to enjoy them. After all, Irving Berlin was Jewish, but he wrote “White Christmas.” As a classic rock geek, my favorite Christmas song is “Little St. Nick” by The Beach Boys. It proves that even a bunch of kids from sunny California wished for a white Christmas, as long as the presents were a Little Honda and a 409.

Elizabeth Learned: I have a few different favorite songs for the holiday season. My top favorite song is "Silent Night" followed by "The Little Drummer Boy." I love all kinds of Christmas music, especially older versions from Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland’s "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Another song I love is from the How The Grinch Stole Christmas film, "Where Are You Christmas?" sung by Faith Hill. Currently, I can't stop listening to "Jingle Bell Rock" by Chord Overstreet from Glee.

Samantha Ravenscroft: My favorite Christmas songs would have to be "12 Days of Christmas" and "The Christmas Can Can" by Straight No Chaser. These two songs always put me in the holiday mood because of their cheerful tune and the fact that they get pretty quirky. They are definitely a must hear every holiday and always at least a few times a week.

Angela Corry: I've spent a week trying to decide the Christmas song that is my favorite, and I've given up. I simply love Christmas music. I have a playlist for Christmas that ranges from Perry Como to Garth Brooks, Anne Murray to Katharine McPhee, Burl Ives to Elvis Presley. Throw in Sinatra, Lennon and NKOTB, with some Kelly Clarkson, Brenda Lee and Idina Menzel and (I think) it's a pretty good mix of music. For the songs themselves, the two that tie for number one are “Silent Night” and “The Little Drummer Boy.” Second would be a tie between “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful” and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.”

“Snoopy and the Red Baron” and “Christmas Shoes” always make me cry. The latter is not on my playlist because it requires tissues every time I hear it.

My kid-friendly favorites are Gene Autry's “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “The Chipmunk Song” - the original, Bob River's “The Chimney Song” and “I'm Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas.”

That being said, I'm sure if you ask me tomorrow my top picks will be totally different.

Rob Sabo: I too am having issues picking one. Stumped. BUT I do have a selection:

Carissa Shuman: It's so funny how many of us have similar favorites. My favorite "love" Christmas sing is "Winter Wonderland," but my favorite spiritually is "Little Drummer Boy." I so often feel I have nothing to give, but I'll paint for you or write for you any day. It's all about using the gifts God gave you, that's what he wants. I have other Christmas favorites though. I love jazz and swing and have a swing Christmas CD. I love "Shake Hands With Santa Claus," and "What Will Santa Claus Say When He Finds Everybody Swingin."

Tina Henry: Like everyone else, I'm having a hard time naming just one favorite Christmas song. I don't think I have ever heard a Christmas song that I didn't like, but I think my favorites have been based on individual performances and change through the years as more recordings are made. Over the years, my favorites have included Chubby Checker & Bobby Rydell singing "Jingle Bell Rock," the Pretenders' version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," the Eagles singing "Please Come Home for Christmas," John and Yoko's "Happy XMas (War Is Over)" and Annie Lennox performing "Winter Wonderland." I wore grooves into the grooves of vinyl albums of Christmas songs performed by Elvis Presley, John Denver and Gene Autry. I could go on, but as I think of these songs, I realize there is one song that does stand out in my mind more than the others, and that's "Christmas Time Is Here," written by Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi, and performed by a children's choir for the 1965 animated special A Charlie Brown Christmas. The song gets to me every year as I watch the wonderful special that continues to re-air to this date.

Hope I have touched on some of your favorites. Here's wishing a merry, peaceful and tuneful Christmas to all!

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