Happy Holidays! What's Your Favorite Holiday Music?

Happy Holidays #Nookers! Tis the season for Holiday music. It's FINALLY here! So whose music, new and old, made my must have list? Thankfully, the albums and singles that I've heard have (mostly) been a blessing to my soul.

There is absolutely no one like the incomparable, late GREAT (and sorely missed) Fairy Godmother of music: Whitney Houston. The Voice. Enough said. I begin my list with the holiday album of one of the greatest to ever spread holiday cheer using only the souls of cherubs and the passion of Christ. "One Wish - The Holiday Album" is truly timeless.  May she forever remain perched upon her throne in musical heaven, throwing shade whence so ever the peasants attempt to cover her classics. Amen.

First and foremost, Idina Menzel stole my heart as Queen Elsa. She was on her Beyoncé when she flapped that damn cape a la Kevin Hart and crooned so adoringly, "The cold never bothered me anyway." From henceforth and forevermore she could do no wrong in my eyes. So her new release of "Holiday Wishes" was definitely on my radar. Couple that with her playing the all slaying mother of that nuisance gurl on 'Glee', I've decided I love her. The end.

Chillllle...Leona Lewis better give me vocal bliss wrapped up in a side of cardiac arrest. How can this woman be so underrated?!? I'm not understanding the logic behind this foolery. "Christmas, With Love" has alllll my love. At any rate, I can't think of any other person I'd prefer to have me bleeding love and dying the most irresistible death of all deaths. Slay me Queen!

Toni Braxton's "Snowflakes" is typical Toni THE Braxton. How can you NOT love the sultry amazingness that comes out of her gorgeous throat?! Yeah, that's bae. The writing was superb...At any rate Toni Braxton is far too flawless to be this damn underrated. She SLAYS! And if you didn't KNOW Toni has a Christmas album then that's my damn point. GO GET IT!

I do not care that this was some obscure Christmas special from eons past, shot on a low resolution flip phone. You will deal. Why? Because I had an out of body damn experience listening to the sheer brilliance of Deborah Cox's range. She hit em high, hit em low, and everywhere in be-damn-tween. Bless her pregnant heart. And lest we forget the cameo of Mother Patti. Just...wow. The best "O Holy Night" I've ever heard.

Goddammit you Adele impersonator. You will not shatter me in such a malicious fashion whilst showing nothing but contempt for my spiritual reawakening. At this point, all the King's horses and all the King's men can't put me back together again. But why would I want them to? I shall lie here in the afterlife and relish the gift that was bestowed upon my musical alter: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". I accept thee as tribute. Sam Smith is pure genius.

Ariana Grande gave us 4 singles last year "Last Christmas" "Love Is Everything" "Snow In California" and "Santa Baby" in a Christmas EP entitled "Christmas Kisses" and she slayed them all EFFORTLESSLY. This year she dropped "Santa Tell Me" into our laps and I am content in my assertion that QUEEN ARIANA can never disappoint me. All hail thy diamond and emerald encrusted vocal chords bathed in the blood of Jesus and the tears of flops forgotten. She is EVERYTHING. 

Kelly Clarkson's "Wrapped In Red" is LIFE in musical form! Kelly better sang her ass off! I've always been a fan and heaven knows as long as she isn't singing live and struggling to hit those "studio only" notes then she has my vote. People need to take a feather out of Ariana's cap. She knows what NOT to do live. I love the mix of pop and rock throughout the album. This is HOW you make covers original!

Destiny's Child's "8 Days of Christmas" should most definitely be the blueprint for holiday albums. It has just the right amount of uptempo tracks and ballads while still managing to showcase their vocal ability. A finesse not many have mastered. Clearly. The original songs are a blessing and will serve to make any holiday gathering cheery.

Topping the list as always, I saved the best for last, is Mariah Carey's "Merry Christmas", an eclectic blend of classic and original songs which will forever be TIMELESS. Her single "All I Want For Christmas Is You" tops the charts every year, and with good reason. This album is executed flawlessly and will continue to be a staple for the Holiday season ESPECIALLY being its 20th year anniversary. Lambs everywhere have a reason to be proud that MOTHA Mariah reigns as the QUEEN of Holiday Music...and music in general.

I enjoyed this trek down holiday music lane, for the most part anyways. What most artists lack is vision and originality. We're over the covers of Christmas songs originally sang by Jesus and Moses. If you're going to make an album full of covers, at least make them your own and try to keep your audience from falling asleep or jumping off a ledge. The slow and somber renditions are NOT what Christmas is all about. Where's the joy? Mariah Carey and Destiny's Child had the right idea, which is why their albums will always be classics. Everyone else needs to take note and follow suit.

Natasha Marie