• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Merry Christmas With a Beat

December 22, 2010 by braveskimom

The kids are out of school and the holidays are in full gear, so I am going on a short “vacation” from blogging. This will be the last post this week and I will have just one post next week on Tuesday, December 28th.

Every year, I dread the question “What do you want for Christmas?” In a perfect world, I might possibly want, or better yet, actually need something for Christmas. Instead, each year some well-meaning relative asks me this question and it sends me into a tizzy. I know. I have a problem. I usually don’t know what I want for Christmas.

Actually, my world is pretty perfect. I want for nothing. I am blessed with a wonderful, loving husband. My children are intelligent and healthy and handsome and…(enough already! Do you think I’m biased as their mother?)  My parents are active, healthy and fun to have in our lives. I have an amazingly diverse and wonderful extended family. I have kind, caring friends. I am happy and healthy. My dog is content.

So, rather than make a Christmas list for myself, I prefer to make Christmas lists for other people. Usually, I make them for my children and my husband so that I can at least answer the “What do they want for Christmas” question for them and they are none the wiser.

Today, however, I present a Christmas list for the readers of The Brave Ski Mom. This list has nothing to do with skiing. Nor is it sentimental in the least. It is a list of my favorite Christmas and holiday recordings.

Feeling a little blue? Need to pep things up around your house without prodigious sugar intake? Want your home to sound like a Cathedral Choir has moved in for a while? Just looking for a musical alternative to traditional Christmas Carols?  Maybe you’ll find it here.

Lastly, I thank each and everyone of you for your support over the past 5 months.  Merry Christmas!

The Brave Ski Mom Top Christmas Recordings, 2010

1.  Universal Honey, Can’t Stop  Thinking About Christmas. This is a full-on alt-rock sort of CD that I would listen to year-round if I weren’t worried about being thought of as a Christmas Freak. Upbeat, fun, groovy. I love it! It was last year’s fav…and this year’s too.

2. Kenny Burrell, Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas. A jazz recording straight from the 60s, Burrell gives the Little Drummer Boy so much soul, you’ll barely recognize it. And, you’ll love it.

3. J.S. Bach, Christmas Oratorio. There are probably countless recordings of these vocal works by J.S. Bach. I have the Archiv Production of The Monteverdi Choir and The English Baroque Soloists.  Awe-inspiring.

4. Ray Coniff and The Ray Coniff Singers, We Wish You A Merry Christmas. It took me nearly 20 years of marriage to truly appreciate this CD. Campy to the max, it is my husband’s childhood favorite. After first hating it, then merely tolerating it, it is now the first CD I reach for on December 1st.

5. Meryl Streep, The Night Before Christmas. Her dramatic vocal gifts are best suited to the storytelling on this CD, as singing is not necessarily Streep’s strong suit. Still, the story is wonderful and the rest of the music, especially the instrumentals by Mark O’Connor are first rate. I love O’Connor’s bittersweet Cherry Tree Carol.

6. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas. “If wishes and buts were candies and nuts, we’d all have a fine Christmas,” goes the saying. Well, all I can say is that if wishes came true, I would sing like Ella Fitzgerald. Best female vocalist Christmas CD, period.

7. The Choir of Saint Thomas Church, Christmas on Fifth Avenue. Lovely, traditional, sacred music by a premier mens’ and boys’ choir. It makes me want to live in NYC so I could go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve with these guys.

8. Putamayo, Christmas Around the World. Funky, multilingual carols from the Caribbean and Europe with some good ol’ USA thrown in for balance.  A little bit o’ reggae, a little bit o’ samba, a little bit o’ Cajun. Good fun!

9. John Lennon, Happy Xmas (War is Over). The best Christmas single ever.

10. Aaron Neville, Aaron Neville’s Soulful Christmas. I was stumped as to what my 10th recommendation would be. Then I was talking to a friend whose taste in music I respect. If he says this is “the best” Christmas album ever, it has to be on my list. iTunes here I come. It’s time to download.

I would love to hear about your favorite Christmas CDs or songs!  Please leave a comment with your suggestions. Merry Christmas!

© 2010 – 2011, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Good Stuff, Product Reviews Tagged With: Christmas, Family, friends, gifts, holiday, music

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ian says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:44 am

    Author (my mom) of blog has bad taste in music. Can’t stop thinking bout chrsitmas is the absolute worst Christmas carol I have ever heard.

    • Malin says

      February 3, 2012 at 7:15 am

      As an adventuring mom, I can totally appreciate the need for tips. If anyone needs ideas for central Florida – let me know. We have the flat world at our fingertips (and some cool caves). I love to share! We have a small group of moms that enjoy some seriously fun outdoor adventures with the whole family now! I LOVE YOUR BLOG

      • braveskimom says

        February 3, 2012 at 10:30 am

        Thank you! Would love to learn more about Florida’s cool caves! Cheers!

  2. Cathy Green says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:26 am

    Great list will have to check them out. The best all time Christmas CD’s are the Very Special Christmas CD’s produced for special olympics. My personal favorite is #3! Mary J. Blige, Tracy Chapman, Patti Smith!! Merry Christmas! Ski time!

  3. Jean Dillon says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:35 am

    If you run into anyone who sends presents to me, tell them I don’t own any on the list and they all sound great.

  4. Scott Shine says

    December 27, 2010 at 8:54 am

    Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas. Cool blog!

    • braveskimom says

      December 27, 2010 at 9:57 am

      Thanks! I’ll check it out! I hope you’ll come back and read some more. Happy New Year.

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Creature Comforts: Good Stuff From CalNaturale
    Creature Comforts: Good Stuff From CalNaturale
  • The Portillo Experience: Tips for Your Best Ski Vacation
    The Portillo Experience: Tips for Your Best Ski Vacation
  • Paka: The Best Base Layers?
    Paka: The Best Base Layers?
  • Skiing is All About Family for Alpine Coach of the Year Jesse Scott
    Skiing is All About Family for Alpine Coach of the Year Jesse Scott
  • Summer and Fall Skiing on Neveplast at Buck Hill
    Summer and Fall Skiing on Neveplast at Buck Hill

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...