This Week’s 5 Songs to Make You Feel Better

A weekly suggestion of five songs to play at full volume

Each week, I share 5 songs I listened to intently over the past week that truly resonated with me. I usually listen via headphones or crank on the stereo. Some are old and familiar, some are recent or new to me. I try to be most mindful of listening and focused on what the artist was trying to say. Most importantly, I just felt a little better after listening to them

WEEK OF: DECEMBER 14TH

Christmas is coming so this week I was heavy on the holiday tunes. An industry that seems to not have changed for the past hundred years in spite of numerous attempts. It's interesting how the core songs like “White Christmas” and “Jungle Bells” make it on to just about every artist's Christmas record and very few originals breakthrough and become standard fare on FM lite radio stations across the country. In fact, with the exception of The Pretenders “2000 Miles” and “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” few songs have pushed their way into our collective Christmas consciousness.

These five songs however deserve a shot. These originals deserve a listen and more recognition. Add to your Christmas playlists now.

Spotlight On Christmas- Rufus Wainwright

Political commentary and a positive message. Sounds like a Rufus Wainright song. In today’s world getting a little moral perspective on the holidays is always good. The groovy guitar work makes this a new bluegrass Christmas treasure.

Same Old Lang Syne- Dan Fogleberg

Time for us all to accept this gem as a Christmas song for the ages. In the Facebook era, the random meeting of two former lovers in a grocery store during the holiday season speaks to all the nostalgia we need. Along with the aforementioned Pretenders’ song, this one can be played at any time of the year.

Santa Done Got Hip- The Marquees

This overlooked gem will have you jitterbugging at the office party after too much eggnog(remember holiday office parties?). What makes this great is its contemporary appeal in spite of it being over 60 years old.

Ho Ho Ho- Sia

Hands down this 2017 release is the best collection of new original holiday music since Bing Crosby’s Holiday Inn soundtrack. Picking one song was tough because this is one of the few Christmas albums I listen to straight through frequently. And the first since Barbara Streisand's gem of standards, A Christmas Album. The “Ho Ho Ho” wins because it honors one of the holiday's best traditions-drinking with friends!

Christmas Must Be Tonight- The Band

The fact that this song is not in heavy rotation on your holiday music radio station is one of the mysteries of the season. Robbie Robertson wrote this gem for his son in 1977. Just hearing these melodies and harmonies at full volume tells me every year, the holidays have arrived and how a little song can bring “so much joy.”