I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas Celebremos juntos la vida I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas Y que viva la alegría Michael Buble’s version of Jose Feliciano’s 1970 song, from his Christmas album in 2011. It’s wonderfully upbeat and I finished the 2011 mix with it.

When you play my song, play it slowly; Play it like I’m sad and lonely Over The Rhine are a folk band, and this song is from their 2006 Christmas album, Snow Angels. It’s a lovely mournful song, and I thought it went nicely with the general melancholy tone of 2012’s Christmas mix.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices; For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. The Puppini Sisters recorded O Holy Night on their Christmas With The Puppini Sisters album. It’s one of my favourite carols, and I love close three-part harmonies, so I think this is a fantastic version. Obligatory information from Wikipedia…

I’m never worried, I never sit by the phone; Cause come Christmas time, I’ll never be alone This is a great bluesy song from Carole King’s album of Christmas songs, A Holiday Carole, which I included on the 2011 mix cd. One of those many Christmas songs along the general theme of waiting for someone…

Herod the King, in his raging, charged he hath this day; His men of might, in his own sight, all children young, to slay. Annie Lennox’s version of this carol is intensely powerful, which suits the subject matter – Coventry Carol dates from the 16th century, and is a lullaby sung by mothers to their…

Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Prime, Where we’re working in a mine for our robot overlords. Did I say overlords? I meant protectors. Jonathan Coulton released this song as part of his Thing a Week project, where he wrote and recorded a song each week for a year. It’s funny, with a hint of pathos,…

Gaily they ring, while people sing; Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here Hayley Westenra is a New Zealand singer, and this track was from her 2009 Christmas album, Winter Magic. Carol of the Bells was composed in 1904, and Wikipedia says helpfully that it’s based on a folk chant known in Ukrainian as “Shchedryk”.…

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea Another track from Sufjan Stevens’ collection of Christmas music, included in the 2010 mix CD. More of a general hymn, I think, rather than a specifically Christmassy song.

Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies Acapella group Straight No Chaser recorded this medley of Hark The Herald Angels Sing and Angels We Have Heard On High, and I included it on the 2010 Christmas mix.

The sleigh bells are in time ringing true; How we cling each Noel to that snowflake’s hope in hell that it won’t end This is an enjoyably crazy song from The Darkness that I used as the first song in the 2010 mix.