As the Christmas Season kicks into high gear, carols and hymns are filling the air. We are reminded that joyful noises are appreciated by God. Christmas tunes — new and old — bring us together in celebration of the season and the salvation that came through the birth of Jesus Christ.
We polled the writers and editors of the North State Journal to share a collective playlist of Christmas classics and personal favorites from our staff to your family. You’ll see North Carolina born like James Taylor and Far Too Jones (find that Crabtree Valley Mall reference in “Christmas Time”) and native sons Charlie Daniels and Ronnie Milsap. We hope this list lets you explore some arrangements you haven’t heard and possibly discover a new holiday favorite.
Psalm 100:1-2
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
North State Christmas — available on Spotify at nsjonline.com/Christmas
“Christmas Time” — Far Too Jones
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” — Ronnie Milsap
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” — Charlie Daniels and Evelyn Cox
“Christmas in Dixie” — Alabama
“Go Tell It On The Mountain” — James Taylor
“Dominick the Donkey” — Lou Monte
“What Child is This” — The Charlie Daniels Band
“Jingle Bells?” — Barbra Streisand
“Silver Bells” — Ronnie Milsap
“O Holy Night” — Celine Dion
“Christmas Eve / Sarajevo” — Trans-Siberian Orchestra
“Underneath the Tree” — Kelly Clarkson
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” — Frank Sinatra
“Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy” — Bing Crosby and David Bowie
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings” — Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan
“Santa Baby” — Kelly Pickler
“White Christmas” — Bing Crosby
“Feliz Navidad” — Jose Feliciano
“Sleigh Ride” — Andy Williams
“Run Rudolph Run” — Chuck Berry
“Ho Ho Ho And a Bottle of Rhum” — Jimmy Buffett
“All I Want for Christmas is You” — Mariah Carey
“Baby It’s Cold Outside” — James Taylor
“Silent Night” — Sarah McLachlan
“Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)” — Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
“Twelve Days of Christmas” — John Denver and The Muppets
“We Three Kings” — Dolly Parton
“Joy to the World” — Nat King Cole
