If you haven't got into the Christmas spirit just yet, there are a few albums and EPs that will change that. From old favourites to contemporary hits, here are my five festive favourites!
Christmas – Michael Bublé (2011)
The festive season just wouldn’t be the same without some Bublé tunes in the background while baking Christmas cookies. With his iconic rendition of 'It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas' or his cheery version of 'Holly Jolly Christmas', the album has a lot to offer – 21 songs, to be exact. My favourite by far is 'Winter Wonderland', where Bublé adds yet another layer of Christmassy joy to the beloved classic with his warm and smooth vocals. Overall, the album is perfect to enjoy in the weeks leading up to the holidays. Lay back in your armchair, have a cup of tea and get jolly with Christmas.
Christmas & Chill – Ariana Grande (2015)
Next up is an EP by Ariana Grande. The queen of pop has released several Christmas songs over the course of her career, most notably the EPs Christmas Kisses and Christmas & Chill. Instead of recording a traditional and sometimes equally repetitive version of songs like 'Last Christmas', Grande takes an unconventional approach with her contemporary R&B-infused holiday hits, which turns even sleigh bells into a danceable sound. If you’re looking to have a festive dance party, this is the EP for you.
A Legendary Christmas – John Legend (2018)
Ever since his legendary breakthrough song 'All Of Me', John Legend is known for his soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics. If you expect to find many slow-paced songs on this album, you’ll be disappointed as just about every song has a certain upbeat rhythm to it. The most notable songs are the collaborations like 'Baby, It’s Cold Outside' featuring Kelly Clarkson. The cutest part worth noting is in the beginning of 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s daughter Luna gets to have a say too. Overall, I doubt you’ll be able to sit still for long when listening to this album because of the rousing beats – see for yourself!
Someday at Christmas – Stevie Wonder (1967)
I doubt you can make it through this Christmas season without hearing at least one of Stevie Wonder’s Christmas classics a week. Although he’s not as well-known as Mariah Carey for his Christmas songs, he nonetheless has had a few great hits on this album. It was published more than 50 years ago and features Christmas classics like 'Someday at Christmas', 'The Little Drummer Boy' and 'The Christmas Song'. My verdict: You can never go wrong with some Stevie Wonder music, especially at Christmas!
Spotify Holiday Singles – Miley Cyrus (2017)
This well-known series by Spotify includes a lot of Christmas songs, but my absolute favourite ones are the two renditions of 'Sleigh Ride' and 'Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree' by Miley Cyrus. In these singles, Cyrus managed to really make them her own and uniquely beautiful. For 'Sleigh Ride', she really shows her Southern American heritage in her song intro and combines it with her recognisably raspy voice. The latter also helps to catch the listeners' attention on the second song, which is a more fun version of the classic we all know from Home Alone. Although it’s just two songs, this EP is definitely worth a listen!
Edited by Hannah Youds