Category: Christmas Songs

A Christmas Love Song

Next on the list of my Christmas Love Songs weekend is composed and vocally arranged by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman. Johnny Mandel was also the co-producer of “The Christmas Album” by The Manhattan Transfer (TMT). The song begins with “All I want for Christmas is you. You’re the gift that’s made my dreams all come true.” The Christmas Album This song captures the kind of love relationship between two people whose love deepens through time and continues to grow each year they celebrate Christmas together. “A Christmas Love Song” is an endearing musical expression of the precious gift of True Love.

In addition to the wonderful harmonies flowing from TMT’s vocal chemistry, you’ll also enjoy the lush orchestral arrangement with bells, chimes, and strings sweeping throughout this romance invoking song.

Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube. This is the Dec. 12 Song Blog from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Christmas Kiss

Today starts the weekend of Christmas Love Songs. Kicking of this mini-series is another original song by Steven Curtis Chapman (SCC). If you didn’t already notice, I’m a big fan of SCC as a gifted songwriter. JOY Album - Steven Curtis Chapman What’s so endearing about Steven, is the love songs he’s written and recorded through the years for his wife Mary Beth. If this song is any indication, their love has remained steadfast throughout their marriage. After all these years, the songs he writes convey his adoration, affection, and respect for his sweetheart like they were young and in love.

The first time I saw SCC in concert was with my boyfriend at the time. In his concerts, he always sets up his loves song by encouraging couples in the audience to snuggle up. Remember the 1st Christmas you shared with your spouse or sweetheart? This original song captures that moment of young love. So snuggle up with your sweetheart and/or spouse and listen or slow dance while listening to “Christmas Kiss.” Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or watch the official lyrics video on YouTube.

This is the Dec. 11 Song Blog from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

American icon and legend – Judy Garland introduced this song in the MGM musical “Meet Me In St. Louis.” She sang this song in a scene set on Christmas Eve. Her character (Esther) was trying to cheer up her younger sister (Tootie) because of their family moving to New York, right before the 1904 World’s Fair. The Christmas Album

In addition to Judy Garland, this American Christmas Classic has been recorded by several beloved artists including Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and recent pop artists – Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, John Legend just to name a few.

The perfectly blended four-part harmony gently & delicately caressing each chord of the song is the reason I enjoy listening to this particular recording by TMT.  While we’ve all experienced a very challenging 2020, my hope is anchored in the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, the reason we celebrate this season. He is the only True Hope of the world.

You can listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube. This is the Dec. 9 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Christmas in Kentucky

An original song by Steven Curtis Chapman where he is joined by the African Children’s Choir in this heart-warming and moving song about Christmas [not only] in Kentucky, Steven’s hometown but “everywhere It’s Christmas!” JOY Album - Steven Curtis ChapmanThe lyrics include biblical truths about the reason for this season, which is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s one and only begotten Son, the Savior of the World, Joy to the World! Steven displays once again his God-given Songwriting brilliance. By the end of this song your heart will be singing along and mesmerized by the truly angelic voices of the African Children’s Choir.

When I bought this Christmas CD, I was a teacher at a private school in Lexington, KY teaching Computers, Music, and Spanish 1. It was the first time I ever taught children from Pre-K through 8th Grade. The experience enlightened me to the joys, challenges, and privilege of teaching biblical values to children and the next generation.

Today is The Lord’s Day! I love listening to this song specially on this Day of our Lord and so will you. Watch the official lyrics video on YouTube or listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber.

This is the Dec. 6 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Here’s the piano solo rendition of another Christmas classic. It is said that lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent wrote this song for the soldiers overseas longing to be home for Christmas. It was first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943 in the midst of World War II. This song peaked to No. 3 in the billboard charts that year.

For almost twenty years I only saw my family at Christmas and this song was meaningful the year I decided to spend time with my family in January instead of Christmas to celebrate my grandfather’s 100th Birthday. Christmas Romance - Jim Brickman

That was the first Christmas I spent alone and it was a somber day. Thankfully, my voice teacher at the time invited me to join her family for Christmas lunch, at their magnificent home in Rockport, MA overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Listen to Jim’s sweet and gentle performance of this song on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube. This is the Dec. 5 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Christmas Time is Here

Written by Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi for the 1965 television special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” This song has been recorded by numerous artists since 1982, and it’s considered one of the popular Christmas Standards. Amongst the numerous recordings available, it’s Steven Curtis Chapman’s rendition that’s on my Christmas playlist since I bought his “JOY” Christmas CD.  

JOY Album

I enjoy Steven’s guitar and vocal arrangement as well as performance of this song. He sings and plays this song with gentleness and warmth. Listening to this song makes me wanna sit by the fire place while sipping hot cocoa or apple cider. Collaborating with Steven is Brent Mulligan on Bass and Cello. Listen on Spotify if your a subscriber or YouTube.

This is the 12/02/20 Song of the Day from my Julie-Ann Joy Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Winter Bells

Prayer Improvisations Christmas“Carol of the Bells” is a traditional Ukrainian Bell Carol composed by Mykola Leontovych and lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky.

“Hark how the bells,
Sweet silver bells,
All seem to say,
Throw cares away

Christmas is here,
Bringing good cheer,
To young and old,
Meek and the bold…”

My first recollection of singing this song was in high school. This Christmas classic is included in my playlist as the piano solo “Winter Bells” arranged and performed by independent artist extraordinaire Peter Vantine and recorded in his “Prayerful Improvisation Christmas” album.

I’ve had the privilege of musically collaborating with Peter while I lived in Boston, where we co-produced my “Simple Song” CD album. Once I left New England, we collaborated again for my “Silver Bells: Songs of Christmas JOY!” Christmas album.

Peter’s rendition of this haunting melody is like a warm blanket of music for your spirit and auditory senses. Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or on YouTube.

This is the Dec. 1st song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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The Holiday Season Medley

The Christmas Album

The Manhattan Transfer (TMT) “The Christmas Album” was the first CD album I bought as a young singer living in Boston, Massachusetts where jazz was thriving all-over the city.  They are a world reknown legendary jazz quartet whose been together for over four decades. Released in 1992, this is the second recording I bought from TMT’s illustrious discography. The other album I have in my music library is their Grammy Award winning “Vocalese” album LP (aka phonograph record format).

One of the highlights of my performing life is performing the choral arrangement of “Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season  (Medley)” with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus under the direction of maestro, Keith Lockhart conducting the Boston Pops during one of the Boston Pops Holiday Season at Symphony Hall. The experience was electrifyingly unforgettable!

Listen to this high-octane holiday medley on Spotify if you’re a subscriber, or the full album on YouTube. This is the 11/30/20 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Silver Bells (solo piano)

First recorded and popularized by legendary Bing Crosby and Carol Richards in 1950, this song made its cinematic debut in the movie “The Lemon Drop Kid” with entertainer and comedian Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell singing the song.

Christmas Romance - Jim BrickmanThis Christmas Classic is in my playlist as an instrumental version recorded by Jim Brickman in his album “Christmas Romance.” He is an American pianist and songwriter known for his solo piano compositions. Released in 2008, when I was still living in Boston, MA, this CD was a musical gift from Pam, one of my dear friends.

This arrangement brings together the piano and accompanying instruments into a cool, jazzy, dreamlike recording that paints a winter wonderland picture in my mind. This is my first and only CD from another prolific composer whose career spans more than two decades. Listen to this winter wonderland rendition of “Silver Bells” on Spotify if you’re a subscriber, or the full album on YouTube.

This is the 11/28/20 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Christmas Time Again

One of the most prolific Singer-Songwriters of Christian Contemporary Music, Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my favorites. In his career that spans over three decades, he has garnered 5 Grammy Awards, 59 Dove Awards, 1 American Music Award, and 49 #1 Radio Hits including “Christmas Time Again” from his “JOY” Christmas CD.  Released in 2012, I saw the display of this Christmas CD while shopping for Christmas gifts and decided to buy this album. It was going to be a musical gift for a friend but I decided to keep it. I’ve been enjoying this album for the last eight Christmases.

JOY Album

While 2020 has been a globally challenging year, it’s Christmas Time Again! time to listen to songs that celebrate The Joy of Christmas, the best time of the year! Let’s start with this  Steven Curtis Chapman song that will get your fingers snappin’ and toes tappin’. The lyrics and music sets a wonderful tone of happiness, which may be the reason why “Christmas Time Again” became a #1 Radio Hit song. Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or watch the official lyrics video on YouTube.

This is the 11/27/20 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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