Favorite versions of Christmas songs

I don't know about you, but I definitely have favorite versions of many of the Christmas songs out there. Some versions are classic and can never be replaced - I think a lot of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, and Nat King Cole's stuff fits into this category. Sometimes something comes along that just knocks your socks off, or there's a version that first clues you in to a song's existence. What sorts of favorites do you have?


For me, O Holy Night is a fantastic Christmas song that needs a lot of oomph behind it, and I actually have 3 favorite versions of it: Josh Groban, Celine Dion, and Billy Gilman.

Another favorite is Michael Buble's version of Let It Snow!, which I don't think has yet been trumped. Sarah Mclachlan's take on "River" and James Taylor's "Some Children See Him" are my favorites that I've come across this year.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I personally prefer the Bing Crosby/David Bowie version of Little Drummer Boy. (as much as it pains me to say I prefer anything related to David Bowie)

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Hmm. While I like her voice a lot (ima be huntin' down her cd), it doesn't match the song, in my opinion. The 'punch' and 'emotional bite' is misplaced - my favorite versions of this song (and the style that the song lends itself to, as I see it) are ethereal and new age-y rather than ballad-like or brash. She's impressive as a vocalist (and especially as a live performer if those vocals were untouched), but doesn't fit what I like best about the song.

If Rachel Yamagata's version of River had better enunciation it would probably be my favorite.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.