Winter festivities have inspired countless great songs, but your favorites are all a matter of your unique holiday music personality. Use this guide to select the ultimate holiday songs to fit your preferences. Then, share your music tastes with family and friends (or let them make their own selections) using a wireless multi-room audio system.
The Traditionalist
For some people, holidays are all about the classic Christmas carols and other holiday-inspired melodies they grew up enjoying. For them, there's nothing like decorating the Christmas tree while conductor Arthur Fiedler leads the Boston Pops Orchestra through "Sleigh Ride." Listening to hundreds of singers in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir capture the indelible harmonies of the "Carol of the Bells" is a majestic experience that no revisionist pop rendition can match.
These classically minded listeners may seem a little stuck in their ways, but they're the ones who keep family traditions and beloved tunes alive through the generations.
The Old-Schooler
A little more flexible than the Traditionalist, these music enthusiasts love listening to the stars of yesteryear crooning out a Christmas standard or a holiday-inspired ballad. The holidays are their cue to throw on the 1963 Andy Williams recording of "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." They'll soon follow up with Bing Crosby singing Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" or Ella Fitzgerald's 1960 version of "Jingle Bells."
When they stretch out a bit, Old Schoolers will reach for Elvis Presley, who offered a country-inspired tale of lost love for the season in 1964's "Blue Christmas." Michael Buble may not have been around for the '60s, but these fans probably also appreciate the Canadian singer's smooth takes on old favorites like "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."
The Modernist
So you love the holiday season, but you also prefer your music a little more up-to-date. Fortunately for you, plenty of great seasonal tunes have been released since rock 'n' roll took over the airwaves. If you prefer your holiday classics with a dose of social awareness, go for John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1971 hit, "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." Run-DMC's "Christmas in Hollis" offers a take on Christmas cheer that's just as satisfying to old-school hip hop fans as lovers of the season. On the other hand, you can luxuriate in the pure pop pleasures of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which has solidified its place in the ranks of the great holiday songs of all time since its release in 1994.
The Grinch
Some people just don't care much for the songs of the holidays. Luckily, there's perfect music even for these sourpusses. Crank up Danish metal legend King Diamond's "No Presents for Christmas" to inject some guitar acrobatics and glass-cracking falsettos into your holiday celebration. Or, for a little darkly goofy fun, go with "Weird Al" Yankovic's "The Night Santa Went Crazy."
Whatever your holiday music personality may be, HEOS wireless technology lets you share your holiday playlist — and all your favorite songs — throughout your home.
