Christmas Countdown

No, not shopping days (trying hard not to think about that one) but my favorite Christmas songs: 10. "Please Come Home for Christmas," Harry Connick, Jr. You bet I will, Harry. 9. "Santa Baby," Eartha Kitt. Move over, Madonna, cuz this girl got it right the first time. 8. "Christmas Wrapping," The Waitresses. How can you not love this infectious little classic? 7. "Ode to Joy," Beethoven. The title says it all. 6. "River," Joni Mitchell. For those melancholy moments that we wish we had a river to skate away on.                         5. "Merry Christmas, Baby," Bruce Springsteen. Can a Christmas song be sexy? It can if it's sung in a husky rasp by my favorite Jersey guy. 4. "Baby, It's Cold Outside," Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby. Though I'm usually no fan of Bing, he and Rosie kill this one. Hands down, the best version of this chestnut. 3. "The Waltz of the Flowers," Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. This just makes me want to dust off my old pointe shoes and pirouette around the kitchen. 2. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," Bach. The first few strains of this piece epitomize the joy of the season. 1. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Frank Sinatra. Hundreds of singers have recorded this lovely song, but few have conveyed its notes of both regret and hope the way Sinatra has. (Did I mention he was from Jersey?) May you hang a shining star on the highest bough this holiday season. See you in the new year!

♦ ♦ ♦