My Holiday Playlist - 12 Songs of Christmas

Since 'tis the season, I made a list with my favorite 12 Christmas/Holiday songs for me to listen on my iPod. Christmas is all about sharing, isn't it? Or is that Thanksgiving? Whatever, I'm sharing my playlist here...There are 8 different artists (yes, I'm playing favorites) and they are mostly the people I listen to year round, with a few exceptions. The order of songs was not accidental, I tried to keep a pace and theme, with a warm opening and a grand finale. Here it goes:
1. "Joy to the World" by Dolly Parton - like I said, a warm opening. This song is more about the spiritual aspect of Christmas, and it's so beautiful. Dolly sounds flawless, there's so much soul!
2. "Bjällerklang" by Agnetha Fältskog and Linda Ulveaus - this is actually the Swedish version of Jingle Bells, sang by my beloved Agnetha with her then little daughter.
3. "Marian Poika" by Tarja Turunen - another foreign language; this is the Finnish version of Mary's Boy Child, sung by metal goddess Tarja. I love this version of the song, but I don't like it in English as much. Maybe it's her voice?
4. "Let It Snow" by Jessica Simpson - this is the first of the exceptions... I don't listen to Jessica Simpson at all, but I love this version of the song and it takes me back to my first winter in the USA... good times...
5. "Happy New Year" by ABBA - of course any list I make must have an ABBA song. This is such a beautiful song, with really depressing lyrics, it's like an after party song. I've been listening to it at midnight on December 31st for the past 8 years, and it's my own personal tradition.
6. "Kuin Henkäys Ikuisuutta" by Tarja Turunen - so, Tarja released a Christmas album in 2006, I believe, and it's my favorite Christmas album ever. That's why there are a bunch of songs from it in this list. This one is her own composition and it means something along the lines of "like a breath of eternity". It's a really beautiful and touching song, you don't even have to understand the words to get its meaning. 
7. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey - if I had to make a list of my least favorite artists, Mariah Carey would be high up in there. And yet I love this song! It's another exception for me, I never listen to her music any other time of the year, but I got to admit that this song is just... awesome. 
8. "The Eyes of a Child" by Tarja Turunen - seriously, go check this lady out. She's a soprano metal diva who can also sing opera and loves Christmas songs. I love having this song playing in the background as I'm doing something (like writing on my blog). Her voice soothes me. For reals. 
9. "The Little Drummer Boy" by Dolly Parton - I also love Dolly's Christmas album, and this is another good one in there. It's a classic, we all know it, but Dolly's version is the best there is. She even has a choir!
10. "You Would Have Loved This" by Tarja Turunen - this is a really sad song about spending that first Christmas after losing a loved one. Well, there has to be a downer somewhere... but it's hauntingly beautiful and touching, and probably one of my favorite Christmas songs.
11. "White Christmas" by Michael Bublé and Shania Twain - who doesn't love a Christmas duet, right? I never liked the song White Christmas, it's so depressing, it makes me want to eat a bucket of ice cream and go to sleep. But Michael Bublé did a great job making a classic his own, turning it into an upbeat and fun little tune. Of course, the Shania factor is the reason it's on my list, but it's a great song regardless. 
12. "Walking in the Air" by Nightwish - a lot of people might know this song, but this version from Finnish metal band Nightwish is way more awesome. It's the grand finale to my list, and it's a great song with a winter feel to it. Go check it out.