Quite Simply, THE Most Epic Christmas Playlist. EVER!!
Now in its 15th Epic Year
Christmas 2021
Et voilà. I give you the 2021 Most Epic Christmas Playlist. EVER!!.
It’s another 2-CD year, y’all. I gave myself fits this year by not deciding until super late in the process to do another two-fer, but ultimately I got ‘er done. I say more epic Christmas music equals more self-care. And we are still (unfortunately, in December of 2021) in need of lots of extra self-care. So turn off your monitor, put down your phone (unless it’s to text/message me about which songs you’re loving) and settle down into the healing power of music.
Kind of a weird year, musically speaking. Volume-wise it was borderline overwhelming; almost twice as much music to listen to as last year. But in terms of list-worthy material … not so much. Some artists and voice I genuinely like didn’t make the list at all. And then some real gems from totally random places.
So who/what did make The List this year?
* Orleans – yes, that Orleans (“Still The One” “Dance With Me” et. al) – re-recorded their Christmas hit, “New Star Shining” and I just had to. Anybody who knows me knows I’ve been deeeeeep down the Yacht Rock rabbit hole for a couple of years, so I had to have at least one Yacht Rock track/artist.
*It’s been a minute since The List took you to CHURCH! for real, so it was past due. We go there this year courtesy of Brian Courtney Wilson and “Give Me a Star”. I mean, is there anything that isn’t made better with a kick-ass gospel choir behind it? And throw in an old-school Wurlitzer track and I’m all in! Definitely one of my faves this year.
* You know we stan a duet with a totally random pairing of voices around here (see: Alan Cummings w/Liza Minelli , Rob Thomas w/BeBe Winans, Mary J. Blige w/Andrea Bocelli, etc.), so when Michael Bublé released yet another ‘Deluxe’ version of his Christmas album (in fact, a 10th Anniversary version of the release of the Deluxe version of the original album) in which he duets with Rod Stewart on “Winter Wonderland” … well, in my world this is what we call ‘God doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves.’
* Dan + Shay totally won me over with “Take Me Home for Christmas” last year and broke the denim-and-hay-bale ceiling while they were at it. They’re back this year with “Officially Christmas” which opens the 2nd CD.
* And speaking of country, Pistol Annies have tracks on both CDs with “Hell of a Holiday” and “Snow Globe” (one of two very different songs with the same title released this season). Mostly we only do country/pop crossover around here if we do country at all, but these two are just straight up Coun.Try. I’m getting soft.
And some other highlights:
* Darren Criss’ cover of “All Those Christmas Clichés” (delicious)
* Amanda Upchurch’s “White, White Christmas” (how did I miss this one before!)
* a new track from Leona Lewis on the deluxe re-release of her 2013 album. “Christmas With Love”
* (por fin!) a bangin’ modern cover of “Felíz Navidad” from ‘urban Latino’ artist KYEN?ES?(take that! ke$ha), and
* Ms. Shoshana Bean (aka the first permanent Broadway Elphaba replacement, after Idina) absolutely sings the crap out “Sending You a Little Christmas;” an oft-recorded, but previously kinda soul-less Jim Brickman ditty,
all make for a really interesting, eclectic year.
[Note: that Shoshana track isn’t streaming anywhere. It was part of a fundraising project Brickman did for The Actor’s Fund and only distributed via the CD. Which I bought, obvs. And neither that track or Tauren Wells' "Merry Christmas Happy Holidays" is on Spotify. I’ve replaced both slots in the streaming version. So BONUS! For being one of the OGs on the CD list.]
So there you have it. The top 40 tunes for 2021. Shuffle if you must, but the order/mix is intentional to provide the optimal listening experience. lol. Sending you this gift of music with tons of love and a prayer for peace and healing in 2022.
And always remember, you can access allll the lists going back to 2010 via Spotify and AppleMusic. with the links below. Or hit me up at kevin@kevinschristmasplaylist .com for links.
Merry Christmas!
With Love, Kevin
Stream The List on Spotify and Apple Music
Song-A-Day Advent Daily Thru New Years Day
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