1.  Feliz Navidad is currently the most popular Christmas song in this country.  I know this because it is the most overplayed every year, and yet we like it.  Every time it comes on, in the car, at work, at home, people are singing it or dancing to it.  Observe, and see if this isn't true...

2.  Amy Grant was created to sing Christmas music.  

3.  Dolly Parton's Hard Candy Christmas can bring tears to your eyes.  If you haven't watched her movie version of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," you probably haven't heard it.  This is one song that is extremely underplayed at the holidays.

4.  Any vocal stylist that sings "Rudy" instead of Rudolph is one I don't want to listen to. 

5.  The Beach Boys should not ever sing Christmas music.  (And with apologies to all his fans all over the world, and throughout the galaxies, I wouldn't miss Elvis singing anything Christmasy either.)

6.  AAaron Neville singing The Bells of St. Mary's is haunting and not to be missed.     

7.  Listening to Luther Vandross singing Christmas songs makes me remourn his passing every single time, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

8.  All renditions of Dominic the Donkey should be burned.      

9.  Charlotte Church singing Christmas music is proof, indeed, that she does have the voice of an angel.   As close as humans can likely get to hearing the heavenly music of the spheres.       

10.  Burl Ives and Bing Crosby will be part of the American Christmas tradition as long as there are Americans, and they should be.    

And here's a bonus:  if you want to buy just one contemporary album, Vanessa Williams' Star Bright is about as flawless as a Christmas collection can be.    

May your holidays be full of whatever joyful notes fall sweetly on your ear—music, children's laughter, voices of loved ones.  
Merry Christmas!!