Freshen Up The Holiday Tunes – Redux

Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 4:35 PM by   

Last Friday, I posted how many companies are downsizing the holiday parties this year.  Because this budget cut often comes with a price, your holiday entertainment (DJ, band or otherwise) may come from and iPod.  I offered a list of twenty songs that I feel should become part of the mix, along with the traditional tunes we’ve all become accustomed to over the years.

The list I gave you contains twenty tracks that I suggest for freshening up your holiday library, all for downloading around $20 at Amazon.com or iTunes.

Today, I caught wind that iTunes has released the iTunes Holiday Sampler, and currently it’s a FREE iTunes LP download (Released December 8, 2009).  Now you have twenty more tracks that you can add into the list that I gave you last week (technically 19, iTunes and I both agreed on Lady Antebellum’s version of Baby It’s Cold Outside).

I’m not going to list them all here, you can do that at the iTunes store.  However, having browsed through the list (and downloaded it myself), here are some of my favorites:

  1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas by Weezer
  2. Twelve Days of Chrismas by Mexicani Marimba Band
  3. O Holy Night by Music Soulchild
  4. It Snowed by Meaghan Smith
  5. Greensleeves by Vince Guarald
  6. Carol of the Bells / Jingle Bells by Barry Manilow
  7. Auld Lang Syne by The Lonesome Travelers

I especially like my #7 pick here.  The Lonesome Travelers put a very interesting twist on the traditional New Year’s Eve traditional song, so much that I didn’t even recognize the song at first.  Regardless, it’s a great addition.

The additional kick of the iTunes LP (and added support for Apple TV) makes it a great addition for anyone using this album at home, or wanting to learn the lyrics word for word.  I’m a fan of the iTunes LP album format.

Have a song that didn’t make either of these two lists?  Let me know in the comments, or feel free to give Spencer Weddings and Entertainment a call at (408) 426-8117.

And remember, here are still some dates left for December, and of course you wouldn’t be the first company to save some money throwing a party after the new year.

Until next time, Mele Kalikimaka and Feliz Navidad.

Jason Spencer
Owner & Entertainment Director
Spencer Weddings and Entertainment