2015 Musical Countdown to Christmas: A Christmas To Believe In

7th day of Christmas: Matthew West has written new Christmas music for several years now... not an easy task when we have so many traditional songs & carols we love.  Probably most famous for "one last Christmas" inspired by the true story of the Locke Family and their quest to make one final Christmas wish for their son come true.  (watch it here, it's amazing).  Listen and read and ask yourself?  What does Christmas mean to you?

2015 Musical Countdown to Christmas: The Wexford Carol

8th day of Christmas: Here is a hauntingly beautiful, Irish and very old (dating back to the 12th century) Christmas Carol, sung by Alison Krauss, better known for her Blue Grass voals.  I love her voice!  But let's not forget her accompanist, renowned Cellist Yo-Yo Ma... from his Christmas album, Songs of Joy & Peace.  Nothing fancy hear, just their recording studio, but close your eyes and listen to the lyrics.

2015 Musical Countdown to Christmas: The Greatest Gift

9th day of Christmas: I think this trend starting in the UK with the Sainsbury department store.  I used one of theirs in last year's list.  You can watch it again here, it's SO good.

This year, my vote goes to Glade for this reminder to enjoy Christmas, but to remember those who can't or don't...share the joy!
 I found two other renditions of this song you might want to check out as well. 

Kevin Ross & Jordin Sparks...enjoy!

2015 Countdown to Christmas: Baby it's cold outside

10th day of Christmas: Michael Buble and Idina Menzel lend their voices to this darling music video...designed like an old-school '30s film musical number, the video’s charm stems from the all-kid cast, the central couple outfitted in vintage tux and ball gown as they lip-sync Menzel and Buble’s parts while taking on Lynne Page’s nifty choreography through a swanky hotel’s lobby, and briefly meet their real-world counterparts in mirror images.  fun stuff, fun song!

2015 Musical Countdown to Christmas: O come, O Come Eummanuel

11th day of Christmas:  If you're familiar with my card designs, you know I have a fondness for the word.  Every card has to have a sentiment. For the most part I like words to accompany Christmas music as well, but this hauntingly beautiful arrangement of a favorite Christmas hymn is breathtaking. 

2015 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Libera Ave Maria

Finding the very best Christmas music videos to share each year has always been challenging, but not this year.  An ABUNDANCE of amazing music!  Really, how to even pick!

First of all, I'm officially late with this year's picks.  By a day.  I've had them all saved and organized, but I'm recuperating from 2 surgeries and can't even reach my desk top with my right hand, so just typing this is challenging...but doable!  So here we go, ENJOY!   A small, but wonderful gift from me to anyone who reads my blog!

12th day of Christmas: Libera is a boys choir from the UK.  Voice of Angels!

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Christmas to me

Day 12: This song is new to me and I love it.  And I love the harmonies of Pentatonix. 
What is Christmas to you?  
For me, if I had to break it down to two things, I would say family & music.  There is nothing like music to get you in the Christmas Spirit and remember the reason we celebrate it in the first place; our Savior, Jesus Christ. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day.  Until next year, Sue

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Somebody's Angel

Day 11:  Not sure which movie this is from, but I love the message...You might be somebody's angel this Christmas.

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Amazing Grace

Day 10: Il Divo amazing voices... I love bagpipes; hauntingly beautiful.  What I would have paid to be there in person!

"Amazing Grace" is a Christian Hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton, published in 1779. With the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, "Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world and is now commonly used as a Christmas Hymn.

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Sainsbury's Ad

Day 9: Ok, not officially a song, but it has a song in it.  And it made me cry.  

Presenting the new Sainsbury’s (large supermarket in the UK) Christmas advert made in partnership with the royal British legion inspired by real events from 100 years ago this year. This is the power of Christmas.

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Live Nativity World Record

Last night we (My Mom, husband and daughter, Savannah) enjoyed 3 hours of entertaining, inspiring and beautiful music at the Piano Guys Christmas Concert.  What a treat.  They performed this song on stage with the video playing in the background.  Peter Hollens, David Archuleta and Lexi Walker made special appearances.  And wow, who knew... but one of the Piano Guys, Al Van Der Beek, has such an amazing voice!

Ok, here we go...

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Angels we have heard on High

Day 7: Here's a beautiful Acapella rendition of a classic Christmas carol by another a cappela group:  Home Free.  Try listening with your eyes closed, joyful harmonies.

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: O Come all Ye Faithful, David Osmond

Day 6: Guess it runs in the family; a stunning rendition of a beautiful Christmas Carol.

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Christmas Song by Keith Urban.

5th day: I love Keith Urban's cover of one of my favorite Christmas songs.  I sing this all year long.  I know.  Weird.

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: The Heart of Christmas

Another great Christmas song by Matthew West.  Kids & Christmas...grab a tissue.  And in case you missed his first tender Christmas song I posted in 2012, here's the link.

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Mary, did you know?

Day 3: Here's a new Christmas Song from Pentatonix.   Amazing Acapella and beautiful produced videos. 

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Text me Merry Christmas

From the adorable voice of Kristen Bell (Frozen) and Straight No Chaser...a modern Christmas song that made me laugh.  Guilty!

Two versions!

2014 Musical Countdown to Christmas: O come, O come, Emmanuel

This is my fifth year of sharing some beautiful Christmas music in video.  Some years are a challenge to even find 12 new videos, this year is a boom!  SO many to choose from.  What can also be a challenge is to show you something you haven't seen before.  Social media moves these videos around like crazy.  I can't promise you I won't show you something you have already seen, but if I think it's worth watching again, I'll post it.
    





This rendition of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by BYU Vocal Point was a first for me. If you haven't already felt the Christmas Spirit, watching and listening to this might just do the trick.


I wish you all a wonderful Christmas season...Love, Sue

2013 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Silent Night

Are you still up?  Surrounded by family, friends?  Or are you already tucked away in bed?  Did you feast tonight, or a quiet dinner?  I hope whatever you did you had a moment to have a silent night.  A moment of reflection on the reason we celebrate this special night.



I Love this reverent rendition of Silent night by the Mormon Tablernacle Choir and David Archuleta.  Hope you do too.

Sleep tight, stay warm and Merry Christmas to all!

2013 Musical Countdown to Christmas: Wintersong

I really debated about sharing this particular song; it's hauntingly beautiful but unquestionably sad...  But in honor of my Mother who has been without her loving companion (my Dad) for almost 20 years, I share this song and pray that anyone who is without a loved one this week may be comforted.
 

"Wintersong"
 
The trees are white with snow
And all around
Reminders of you
Are everywhere I go

It's late and morning's in no hurry
But sleep won't set me free
I lie awake and try to recall
How your body felt beside me
When silence gets too hard to handle
And the night too long

And this is how I see you
In the snow on Christmas morning
Love and happiness surround you
As you throw your arms up to the sky
I keep this moment by and by

Oh I miss you now, my love
Merry Christmas, merry Christmas,
Merry Christmas, my love

Sense of joy fills the air
And I daydream and I stare
Up at the tree and I see
Your star up there

And this is how I see you
In the snow on Christmas morning
Love and happiness surround you
As you throw your arms up to the sky
I keep this moment by and by