Friday Five : |ˈfrÄ«dā – fÄ«v| : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button in iTunes and share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up the media player of your choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

The Five:

That’s right, friends of the Friday Five, it’s time for our annual shuffle through that special genre of music that is otherwise hidden the remainder of the year. The time is right. The mood is up. We’re here tonight, and that’s enough… let’s get on with the five!

“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” by Dean Martin (from Christmas With The Rat Pack, 2002)

Maybe it is a function of nostalgia, but these “classic” Christmas tunes definitely deliver on the ‘warm and fuzzy’ front. While I listen to plenty of music that would be considered ‘before my time,’ I don’t find myself listening to the members of The Rat Pack all that much. I enjoy hearing them on the occasions that they shuffle up, but I definitely don’t go out of my way to hear them.

“Silent Night” by Charlie Byrd (from The Charlie Byrd Christmas Album, 1982)

…and the award for least inventive title for a holiday record goes to, The Charlie Byrd Christmas Album. Was that a little too Grinch-ish? I am certain that Mr. Byrd has made an appearance in past holiday editions of the Friday Five, so I’ll leave well enough alone.

“Spotlight on Christmas” by Rufus Wainwright (from Maybe This Christmas Too?, 2003)

Look, I’m all for taking the piss out of the sacred cow of the holiday song. Hell, my number one, all-time favorite Christmas tune is “Fairtale of New York,” by The Pouges.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by John Denver & The Muppets (from A Christmas Together, 1977)

The moment where Rolf brings John Denver into the fold with his “Jonathan…,” well, that just kills me. This record is just as essential to the holiday season in the Parr household as A Charlie Brown Christmas, and gets equal play time.

“O Little Town of Bethlehem / Little Drummer Boy (medley)” by Mariah Carey (from Merry Christmas II You, 2010)

The record that sold so well that they had to make a second one! No, really, it’s like they re-made the same damn record. Now, I own both, so that says what? (It says that I’m a sucker, that’s what it says.) I will give full credit to Mariah Carey for writing and recording—and re-recording—the last great “classic” Christmas song.

Happy holidays to you, and yours!

What’s on your shuffle today?

About the Author

Michael Parr

Husband, Father, Writer, Musical Voyeur, Pop Culture Glutton, Gourmet in Training. I'm the tall guy behind all these short guys. You can find me on the Twitter.

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