Christmas Movie Top 20 Countdown: #5-1

5.) Elf

Thanks to Will Ferrell (in one of his best roles), I now have my #5 favorite Christmas movies! It’s classic all on its own, offering us some humor, some Christmas cheer, and above all else, heart.

“Buddy the elf, what’s your favorite color?”

4.) How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Much like almost everyone else my age, I prefer the hilarious Jim Carey version of The Grinch any day and time over the original cartoon version. It has the entire story, but stretched out into a feature-length live-action film that is genuine and wonderful!

“It’s not a dress, it’s a kilt. SICKO!”

3.) Home Alone

How can I forget about the one that I grew up watching? Yes, it used to scare the shit out of me at times (when Kevin goes down into the basement, or the music introduction in the beginning, not to mention being home alone myself sometime). When all is said and done though, this movie is a part of my childhood forever.

“Keep tha change ya filthy animal!”

2.) It’s A Wonderful Life

Here comes a wonderful family tradition, the old-school film. My family and I watch it every Christmas Eve. The message and the story ring true even to this day. Count your blessings and live in the moment.

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”

1.) A Christmas Story

The ultimate Christmas tradition is here now! Who doesn’t love a little 24-hour Christmas Story marathon?!!! You’d be a fool not to have seen this movie. Young or old, it doesn’t matter in the least bit. Everyone knows A Christmas Story. There’s just no excuses!

“I can’t put my arms down!”

Christmas Music Top 20 Countdown: #5-1

5.) “Last Christmas”

Wham!

It may be some people’s least favorite song, but it happens to be one of my favorites. It’s a classic 80’s Christmas song. How could you NOT love it?

4.) “The Christmas Song”

Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole IS in fact a king. When it comes to Christmas, no one does calm, peaceful, and beautiful quite like Mr. Cole. From the smooth vocals, to the beautiful orchestration, this song is beautiful and perfect from start to finish.

3.) “This Christmas”

Donny Hathaway

We have to get a little soul into the countdown, and what better way to bring it in then with one of my favorites, “This Christmas”! This is one of those songs that EVERYONE and their mom has covered, but in my eyes nothing compares to the simplicity and perfection of the original.

2.) “Breath of Heaven”

Amy Grant

Beautiful, honest, meaningful, poignant, and utterly breathtaking. Amy Grant wrote a perfect song through the eyes of Mother Mary. She captures the quietness we all envision when praying to Her, she captures the fears and the anxieties over such a big gift as bearing the Son of God. This song is beautiful and relevant even to this day. It helps to show everyone that through our fears and our doubts, praying and being silent and patient will go a long way. Everything happens for a reason and that breath of Heaven will always be there to calm you…

1.) “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

Mariah Carey

Was there any doubt that I would forget to put this song on the countdown? I used to listen to this album all the time growing up (sometimes even when it wasn’t even close to Christmas). This song never gets old no matter HOW many times it plays. It’s still one of the most popular Christmas songs…IT’S A CLASSIC! Mariah was back in her prime when this song was released and it still melts our hearts and puts a smile on our face whenever we hear it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Movie Top 20 Countdown: #10-6

10.) How The Grinch Stole Christmas

This timeless classic is a must for the season. Who doesn’t love hearing about a grump who hates Christmas but learns to love others? It’s such a timeless tale from the wonderful Dr. Seuss.

9.) Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Oh the days of clay-mation, when times were more simple! The island of misfit toys is filled with wonders, the elves look like they’re wearing lipstick, and Rudolph loves to whine and whine. What’s NOT to love about this classic?

8.) Last Holiday

Queen Latifah has the gift of making every film she’s in funnier and funnier than the last! She’s so genuine, such an entertaining presence, and this film does a great job of capturing all of that on camera! It’s a bittersweet comedy, but one that certainly makes us appreciate the holidays and our blessings.

7.) Die Hard

Terrorists, machine guns, and bank robbers, OH MY! Die Hard is another classic for the Christmas season. It’s an unusual pick, but it’s still a must-see for this time of the year nevertheless. Classic Bruce Willis and a classic 80’s action film! “Yippee-ki-yay, mother***er!”

6.) Life With Mikey

A precious kids film with the amazingly talented Michael J. Fox, this childhood favorite of mine never gets too old! With great supporting performances from both Nathan Lane and Cyndi Lauper, the laughs never stop and the lines are never quoted enough!

 YES, this IS the entire film for your viewing pleasure!!!

Christmas Music Top 20 Countdown: #10-6

10.) “Where Are You Christmas”

Faith Hill

How can I not include the song from one of my favorite Christmas movies? Faith Hill was in her prime when this came out, and it’s such a touching tune. A little slow, but still beautiful.

9.) “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”

Gloria Estefan

This one has sentimental meaning to me. You gotta love some old school Gloria Estefan Christmas Through Your Eyes. This song comes on every year, and my mom and I just HAVE to do our little jazz hands during the instrumental. Oh traditions…

8.) “Santa Baby”

Eartha Kitt

Who doesn’t love a little slutty Christmas tune. Between this and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, this one is a bit more classy, and a lot less awkward! Plus, Eartha Kitt’s sassy voice is really what makes this song a guilty pleasure.

7.) “Sleigh Ride”

Toby Lightman

Toby Lightman is one of those lesser known gems, but she just happens to have one of my favorite voices. In a season filled with music all upbeat and theatrical, this version of “Sleigh Ride” is so chill, so relaxing, and just an overall GREAT listen!

6.) “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town”

Jackson 5

Here’s another Motown Christmas classic with my favorite family band (sorry to The Osmonds…and The Brady Bunch). It’s a child’s wonderful tale about Santa’s arrival, all set in the time of Motown in all of it’s glory.

Christmas Movie Top 20 Countdown: #15-11

15.) The Holiday

Love is certainly in the air with this clever rom-com. It’s a bit bizarre on paper for Kate Winslet to think of Jack Black as a love interest, but it just seems to work!

14.) Love Actually

Here is the original film with as many stars as they could find (but the one with quality, unlike Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve). Sure, it’s a lot more British than some would like, but it’s one of my favorites of the season, mostly because of their performance of “All I Want For Christmas Is You”.

13.) Home Alone 2

Don’t worry, the original will be on the countdown later. It’s hard to match the first one, but the sequel does a pretty good job. In the same tradition of The Hangover, this sequel follows the same formula as the first, but this time with more of a budget (hence, the move to New York, and the clever product placement with those voice recording toys).

12.) The Family Stone

This movie rubbed me the wrong way when I first saw it, but it’s grown on me tremendously over the years. Sarah Jessica Parker just bugs the hell out of me, but it’s the nonsense and the family connection that I really enjoy the most. I think it’s a bit over the top to force so many stereotypes into one couple though (the gay son who is deaf and his black partner trying to adopt a baby), but other than that, it’s a solid piece of holiday film! It brings the family together for the holidays!

11.) Just Friends

A cult favorite of mine, there is no stopping the laughter whenever this movie comes on. The randomness, the farce-style, the crazy antics, everything about this movie is so over the top. Still though, it all seems to work! My admiration for Ryan Reynolds started here, with his fat self and all. My love for Anna Farris continues to grow every time she gets out of whack (to forgive is divine, so let’s have a glass of wine, and have make-up sex until the end of time time time…) GENIUS!

Christmas Movie Top 20 Countdown: #20-16

If you couldn't tell by now, Christmas is without a doubt my favorite holiday! And there is certainly nothing like spending the weekends or any days off, sitting on a couch and watching Christmas movie marathons. Some of these may not deal with Christmas specifically, but these all take place around that specific time of year. So enjoy!

20.) A Charlie Brown Christmas

Again, Charlie Brown has never been my favorite or first choice for everything. But in the spirit of giving, we’ll start off the countdown with a classic that everyone but me seems to appreciate.

  

19.) Jingle All The Way

Who would’ve thought that one of my favorite Christmas/holiday movies would star Arnold Schwarzenegger? Needless to say however, it’s a classic in and of itself. It’s cheesy, stupid, but I didn’t know the difference when I was a kid. Add in Sinbad and a ridiculous plot, it becomes a standout in my eyes for the season!

18.) Christmas Vacation

It’s a random film, it has an odd sense of humor, but it’s still a part of the holiday season and it shouldn’t be forgotten. It’s a gem, another classic. From the spirit of giving, the bright Christmas lights, the family members who never leave, there's something for everyone to relate to.

17.) Bad Santa

Dirty, raunchy, and personally I think Billy Bob Thornton at his best. Enough said…

16.) The Santa Clause

In the same group with Arnold Schwarzenegger, I figured I’d put the ridiculous Tim Allen. As I got older, I realized how much of a one-trick pony he seems to be (can you remember any other MEMORABLE Tim Allen movies, other than this or Galaxy Quest?) But this film is another part of my childhood, so it has to be included. Getting to see a new Santa take his place was like seeing the election of a new pope as a kid! It was exciting to see the North Pole, I just knew it had to exist!

Christmas Music Top 20 Countdown: #15-11

15.) “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”

The Chipmunks

What is a Christmas countdown without The Chipmunks? This classic takes me back to a simpler childhood. Sure I could’ve picked “I Want A Hippopotamus” or “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”, but this Chipmunk Christmas classic is a goofy must-have of the season! 

14.) “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”

Brenda Lee

This is a classic in and of itself, but just like pizza it always reminds me of one of my favorite Christmas movies: Home Alone!

 

DISCLAIMER: This obviously isn't the original version of the classic song, but I recently saw this mash-up that happened to include scenes from Home Alone. SO ENJOY!

13.) “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

Judy Garland

There are so many wonderful versions of this song that I could pick. From Coldplay, to Michael Bublé, even to some good ol’ Gloria Estefan (we’ll get to her later). But none compares to the first and the original. It would be a shame to all gays if I didn’t include Judy Garland’s version from Meet Me In St. Louis.

12.) “Silent Night (Emmanuel)”

Matt Maher

I do believe that this marks the first REAL Christmas song, a religious classic that celebrates the calm, serene night when our Lord Jesus was born. Again, there are many different versions I could pick, but Matt Maher’s beautiful rendition is the one that always comes to mind first. How do you make a classic song your own? By adding in a beautiful chorus to an already beautiful song…Well done sir!

11.) “O Holy Night”

Josh Groban

I love me some Mariah Carey, but since she’s on the countdown later, I’ll go with my second favorite cover of one of the most heartfelt and dramatic Christmas songs around. Josh Groban is a wonderful addition to this eclectic mix of artists, and certainly stands on his own with that big booming voice of the Gods.

Christmas Music Top 20 Countdown: #20-#16

I tried my best to come up with just a Top 10 list of the best (and my personal favorite Christmas songs). But man oh man was that impossible. So I went with the next best thing: 20! And it works out perfectly with the First Sunday of Advent! Each week for every Sunday of Advent, I’ll be posting 5 songs from my Christmas Music Top 20 Countdown. So here is to Christmas songs #20-16.

20.) “What’s This?”

The Nightmare Before Christmas

It’s the smartest film, in the sense that it works for both Halloween and Christmas! While it’s mostly associated with Halloween, you can’t forget this Jack Skeleton tune of Christmas discovery.

19.) “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays”

*NSYNC

‘Twas the night before I posted this blog and a dear friend of mine reminded me of this timeless classic (thanks Jencine!) In all of its cheesy glory, we can’t forget *NSYNC back in their good ol’ days, riding in a sleigh with cheesy green screen effects in the background. And who can forget good ol’ Gary Coleman as a black elf? RIP

18.) “Christmas Time Is Here”

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Let the torches be lit and the pitchforks be sharpened for what I’m about to say: I’ve never really been a Charlie Brown fan. I mean I played Snoopy in Mesa High’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown my junior year, but it never really meant I was head over heels in love with the whole gang. There is something so depressing about all of these grown up little kids. Every special feels so down in the dumps sad. But I will say though that this song is beautiful. Simple as that: just beautiful…

17.) “My Favorite Things”

Diana Ross & The Supremes

Technically this isn’t considered a Christmas song, but it was recorded like one way back in the day for A Motown Christmas back in 1973 (a must have for all the greats, including Stevie Wonder’s version of “Ave Maria”). The Sound of Music is a classic favorite of mine, but this Motown cover captures all the favorite things about the holiday season. Well I’m sure that girls in white dresses and blue satin sashes aren’t everyone’s favorite things, so we’ll say that this gets us to start thinking about our favorite things during the holiday season.

DISCLAIMER: While the video also includes their cover of "Silent Night", only "My Favorite Things" is being included for the countdown. Just keep that mind since a different version of "Silent Night" is on the countdown later...

16.) “A ‘DC’ Christmas Medley”

Destiny’s Child

In the spirit of including an *NSYNC Christmas song, it’s only right that I include the fabulous Destiny’s Child (post-Survivor, pre-Beyoncé solo career…so it was a golden time for the trio). Just about everyone you know has done a Christmas album, but it’s important to stay true to your own style of music, modernize as much as possible, and never lose your trademarks. Destiny’s Child is known for their playful melodies and fast lyrics, as well as for their harmonies and vocal rifts. This is the perfect example of why Destiny’s Child’s Christmas album is a guilty pleasure of mine.