sounds of the season

when it comes to holiday music, i think that people's playlists vary as much as their tastebuds.
some people LOVE more contemporary, upbeat christmas songs (which i don't mind at all), while others prefer instrumental versions ( which i also like). i think it also depends a lot on what you grew up listening to. it's hard to think of christmas without those songs and artists that you grew up hearing. my husbands family (love you guys!) think i am weird because i don't LOVE elvis at christmas...it's not that i DON'T like elvis singing christmas tunes, it's just that...ok, i don't like elvis singing christmas tunes. is that so wrong?

here is what makes up the recipe for my perfect holiday playlist:

a big ol', hefty, heaping scoop of:

(oh, how i LOVE me some johnny mathis at christmastime! 
if i could only listen to one artist, it would be my johnny!)

a hearty dollop of:

(i am a child of the 70's/80's. what can i say?)

and:

(the best renditions of "tennessee christmas" and "breath of heaven" ever.")

a dash of:

(how can you resist THIS guy?)

and this:

classic. perfection.

a sprinkling of:

(a new fave.)

and a smidgeon of:




trying at all cost to avoid:

(yuck. i would rather listen to will farrell's version of his singing...
everytime i hear his voice, i feel like i am in 
the pococnos... about to get into a heart shaped tub... in 1978.)

and:

(blech. who's idea was it for this guy to record a christmas album??
 people who hate christmas, that's who.)


and, of course, stuff like this:


what artist/songs are MUSTS on your holiday playlists?
any that you loathe?
what can't you live without?