Favorite Christmas Music and Movie 2010

The McGarrigle Christmas Hour - includes McGarrgile and Wainwright family, along with Emmylou Harris

Movie: A Christmas Story (1983)

Music: Elvis' first Christmas Abbum

I absolutely LOVE the Guaraldi record, but my two favorite Christmas songs are very sharp lyrical observations of family bonds and tensions at holiday time:

"The Christians and The Pagans" by Dar Williams
"Merry Christmas From The Family" by Robert Earl Keen

Neither is "in the holiday spirit" in the tradional sense, but both -IMHO- are fabulous examples of the lyricist's craft.

Disclaimer: These are the musical Christmass preferences of a Jewish listener who never celebrated the holiday in any meaningful way. I do love this stuff because holiday family gatherings are a commonly held experience for most people, but my perspective may be somewhat different than most.

Marty

PS I find the Dar Williams song really moving and the RE Keen song absolutely hilarious.

Obviously The Nutcracker.

Of compositions from composers still alive today my favorite is this

Howard Blake is the composer. I have the sheet music. Awesome stuff. Reminds of Mozart - simple yet sublime.