Wende Gonzales is curating a Spotify playlist of the most cherished Advent and Christmas songs of the members and friends of the Southwest Conference, by their favorite artists. Songs old and new, sacred and secular, joyful and melancholy, instrumental and vocals.
Listen to the work in progress! It’s…eclectic. Enjoy.
To join this project, just email Wende with the song title, artist, and album (if known). Add a note (optional) telling us what you love about the song(s). If you’d rather not have your name attached to your thoughts about the song, please add the word “anonymous” to your note.
If you use Spotify, send the song link(s) if you can, to simplify the process.
We’ll share a link to the Spotify playlist and a list of the songs in the next “Loop.”
Songs will continue to be added to the playlist as they are submitted.
Commentary on some of the songs so far:
Jill Mahoney recommends anything from Harry Connick Jr.'s Harry for the Holidays album but especially Frosty the Snowman.
Tracy Howe released an EP Rise Up a few weeks ago through The Restoration Project. All four of those songs are included: Arise, In God's Hands, Rise Up Peace Eternal, and She Who Is. Download lyric videos and sheet music to the songs for advent and beyond here.
An anonymous DOC member suggested Tracy Chapman's O Holy Night from A Very Special Christmas 3 because 1) Tracy Chapman is amazing! and 2) this version does a good job of conveying the mystery, reverence, and hope all present in the song.
Liana Rowe also loves O Holy Night "by any artist, really” she says.
Bill Lyons gives us Christmas is the Time by Katharine McPhee, Christmas Time by Bryan Adams, and Some Children See Him (no artist specified, so this editor chose James Taylor's cover).
Genevieve Benham adores Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland (from the film Meet Me In St. Louis), River by Joni Mitchell, the lively and quick Jingle Bells from Barbra Streisand, and White Winter Hymnal by Pentatonix.
Paul Whitlock says that he likes Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer because it makes him feel better when his mom gets on his nerves. [Editor's note: Reel Big Fish's ska cover makes this song bearable.]
Deb Worley’s all-time favorite Xmas song is “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” duet by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Reason? “I think it’s beautiful. 😊”
Editor's picks: Vanessa Williams' arrangement of Do You Hear What I Hear has some creative rhythm and Africa vibes. Wintersong, an acoustic ballad by Sarah McLachlan, sounds even more melancholy this year...brings back Christmas memories of loved ones that are gone. -Wende Gonzales