Holiday Highlights: Christmas 2023
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, so I'm glad it's the most musical holiday with artists making songs and albums dedicated to the holiday yearly! Take that, Presidents Day! Let's check out this year's picks!
Songs:
Mariah Carey - "All I Want For Christmas Is You"
No matter how you feel about it, this song is undeniably a classic and the king of Christmas songs. It's a great pick for the inaugural Holiday Highlight for Christmas. Mariah transformed her whole image and career with this single 30 years in. I think it's hilarious to see people either absolutely love this song or hate it. It's a fun song that's pretty much perfect. I think they naysayers all just sticks in the snow, to be honest.
2. Wham! - "Last Christmas"
I saw some people talking about the scene from the music video that's in the thumbnail, and I decided to pick this classic. I used to not be that fond of it until I realized the electronic instrumental of the post chorus is pure winter bliss.
3. Brenda Lee- "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
There's not many surprises with these picks this year. I went with all classics that are upbeat. I picked this classic because there's a chance it may dethrone Mariah for number one. I hope it happens! Lee has been pushing it hard this year, and she even takes credit for discovering The Beatles!
1. BoA - "Meri Kuri"
BoA found herself a yearly hit with this single. Which is just so amazing as Korean artists lack legacy hits in Japan. Not BoA though. It's a stunning Christmas winter ballad.
2. No Sleeves - "Christmas Present (Remix)"
3. Yamashita Tatsuro - Christmas Eve
The fact Yamashita Tatsuro and Takeuchi Mariya seem so worldly, speak English, and know the importance of music as a tool to break down barriers yet they still have most, if not all, of their material region locked to Japan. Explain. The city pop boom happened, and these two rode the high. Yet they didn't really take advantage of it. ANYWAYS, this single from Tats became an instant seasonal classic since its release in 1983.
Albums:
1. Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas
I actually listened to Carey's Christmas offerings all the way through last Christmas. Merry Christmas II You also gets you in the holiday spirit as it features "Oh Santa!," but you can't go wrong with Merry Christmas. It had a re-release on a beautiful snowy vinyl with red and green splattered on it. I bought it instantly. Plus Carey has never gotten enough credit for her songwriting, so she is featured twice this year.
2. Michael Bublé - Christmas
This album smashed in 2011. You can never go wrong with that crooning voice. It makes every song feel like a nostalgic classic.
3. Carrie Underwood - My Gift
There are a lot of surprises on this Christmas album. The one thing that's not a surprise is that Underwood sings as triumphantly as always. "Favorite Time of Year" is a fun poppy song.
1. Kohmi Hirose - The Best "Love Winters"
Known as the "Winter Queen" in Japan. Hirose has released most of her studio albums in December. This is "best-of" offering, and it definitely gets the job done.
2. Matsutoya Yumi - SURF&SNOW
There's nothing not to love about Matsutoya Yumi. And this album covers winter snow, and it's even good for those who dislike winter as it also covers summer surf! There's instant Yuming classics here like "Surf Tengoku, Ski Tengoku" along with one of the best Christmas songs, "Koibito ga Santa Claus." It's pure nostalgia even down to the album cover!
3. Koda Kumi - Winter of Love
This is another compilation as Japan doesn't really do Christmas albums. Koda Kumi, however, mastered the winter ballad. She has so many of them, she was able to fill up a whole compilation of them.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, and that Santa brings them everything they want. May this season fill your heart with song, and may all your days be merry and bright! Merry Christmas!
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