Christmas Mix 2015
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full track listing

I burned this CD in 2015, and I'm reviewing it in 2022. 2015 might be the year I specifically wanted to make a mix of songs from different eras, though the same could be said of both my 2013 and 2018 mixes, and I don't remember for sure which year that was in my mind. Either way, I think this is a good mix of classic and more modern songs. As usual, I don't have specific things to say about everything, but this time I think I'll list all the songs, anyway, if for no other reason than to say what year each one is from.

1. "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" (1958): a classic. This is, I believe, the second major song by David Seville and the Chipmunks. It's kind of nostalgic, though of course it's from well before my time.

2. "A Mad Russian's Christmas" (1996) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra: This is mostly just "The Nutcracker", but it's fun.

3. "Here Comes Santa Claus" (1957) by Elvis Presley: a classic.

4. "Ho Ho Ho" (2014) by Liz Phair: This is a good song from the 2010s for anyone nostalgic for the 1990s (not that it actually sounds much like Phair's usual style of music; it's definitely more Christmas-y and upbeat). It's from a compilation of artists called "All Is Bright", an Amazon playlist which unfortunately is no longer available, though you can still find the songs individually.

5. "The Bell Medley" (2010, I think) by Classic Christmas Singers: I can't find this group anymore on Amazon or iTunes, which is a shame. (I have another song from the same album on my 2012 Christmas mix.) The medley includes "Carol of the Bells" and "Ding Dong Merrily on High" and at least one thing I don't recognize. But I like all of it.

6. "A Marshmallow World" (1966) by Dean Martin: a classic. This is one of my favorite renditions of this song, possibly my very favorite.

7. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (1963) by Darlene Love: a classic.

8. "The Man with the Bag" (1950) by Kay Starr: a classic.

9. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (1971) by John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band: a classic. This is one I really wish I could think of things to say about. Um... hurray for protesting wars?

10. "All My Bells Are Ringing" (2008) by Lenka: This is from a compilation of various artists called "The Hotel Café presents: Winter Songs", which I'm sure I must not have known about until several years after it came out. I only know one other song by Lenka, and both that one and this one are really fun.

11. "Merry Xmas Everybody" (1973) by Slade: I am of mixed feelings about whether or not to call this a classic. Maybe a modern classic? Whatever, it's certainly a good rock song.

12. "Omedetou Christmas" (1995): This is by the cast of Sailor Moon, and is my favorite track from their album Christmas for You. It basically sounds like "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", but in Japanese.

13. "Last Christmas" (2015) by Carly Rae Jepsen: This is one that actually came out the year I made this CD. No one can ever top the original by Wham!, but I do like her rendition.

14. "Someday at Christmas" (1967) by Stevie Wonder: a classic. It's like a smoother (and earlier) version of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", arguably a better version of the sentiment.

15. "Christmas the Whole Year Round" (2015) by Sabrina Carpenter: Another song from the year I made the CD. This song is just so poppy, I kind of adore it.

16. "Winter Wonderland" (2008) by Kate Havnevik: This is also from "Winter Songs". Havnevik is Norwegian, but the song is in English. It's an absolutely beautiful rendition.

17. "The Angel Gabriel" (2014) by Amanda Palmer: Another song from "All Is Bright". I don't include a whole lot of purely religious Christmas songs on my CDs, but I kind of did a suite of a few near the end of this one, and this starts the suite.

18. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" (2008) by Enya: I've always been a bit of a fan of Enya, and she does this song really well. Mostly I think it sounds like you'd expect the song to sound, very old old-fashioned, but there are some occasional loud, synth-y elements.

19. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (1999) by Jewel: I was a huge fan of Jewel back in the day, and I think she does an amazing job with this song.

20. "O Come All Ye Faithful" (2014) by Jillian Edwards: Another song from "All Is Bright". A very sweet, upbeat rendition, which I quite like.

21. "Joy to the World" (2014) by Pentatonix: I had a couple of songs by Pentatonix on my 2013 mix. They're always a fun group to listen to. This is definitely a joyous rendition, appropriately enough. And thus ends my religious Christmas music suite. Oh, now that I think of it, I think I actually put the songs in a specific order, to tell the Christmas story, from announcement of impending birth to the birth itself to the joy that comes after the birth. Yeah, I think I did that. I had forgotten.

22. "Days Gone By" (2015) by Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith: This is from a Christmas album by the cast of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. This is basically like "Auld Lang Syne", but it's got a down homey, country feel. And I think it's a good way to close out my album.