I’ve written about my candidate for the worst Christmas carol ever. On the other hand, here, in my opinion, are two of the best.
Atheist though I am, I’ve always had a soft spot for “O Holy Night” — even though it’s getting harder and harder to hear it done tastefully, as singers nowadays seem to see it as an excuse for bombast and vocal gymnastics. I grew up listening to this incomparably lovely version by Nana Mouskouri, whose straightforward style lets the exquisitely haunting melody shine through:
Another wonderful version, by the group Celtic Woman:
And the second song, which I’ve posted before, is the very touching (and uncharacteristically sentimental) “White Wine in the Sun” by Tim Minchin. A perfect encapsulation of what, for me, is the true meaning of Christmas:
Happy Holidays to all.
