IT'S A MERRY CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST

Merry Christmas, friends! I can't even tell you how happy I am that Christmas is finally here. This is a beautiful season of life and light and hope and celebrating the birth of Jesus. How blessed we are to be loved so much by such a great God! I'm sure all of you are busy with festivities and celebrations, so I shan't keep you long. But as a lover of Christmas and fan of music in general and Christmas music in particular, here are my top ten favourite Christmas songs for you all to enjoy today as you're eating food, gathering with family, and basking in this wintry season. Happy holidays, friends!

noel - lauren daigle

This one is a new favourite, but oh me oh my, this woman and her ridiculously good voice.

for all that you have done - rend collective

Rend's whole Christmas album is fabulous, but this revised version of Auld Lang Syne is a gorgeous anthem celebrating the love and power of our God.

little drummer boy - josh groban
It's either hit or miss with this song; not just anyone can sing it well. But if anyone can, it's Josh Groban.

pat-a-pan - david archuleta
I remember loving this performance when it aired on television several years ago. And every time I pull it up, I can't help but love it still. So beautiful and peppy!

every bell on earth will ring - the oh hellos
If I had to pick one Christmas album to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be the Oh Hellos. And this unique, joyful tune is the highlight.

born in bethlehem - third day
I grew up listening to Third Day, so I may be a little biased, but even fifteen years after the release of their Christmas album, I am still not over this song. In fact, it's one of the few Christmas songs I will sometimes listen to throughout the year.  

a mad russian's christmas - trans-siberian orchestra
What's Christmas without the Trans-Siberian Orchestra? For all you Nutcracker fans out there, this energetic rock song is for you.

a hallelujah christmas - cloverton
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is gorgeous by itself, but a Christmas version? So much wow.

o holy night - andrea faustini
I discovered Andrea when he performed on the UK X Factor show, amazed by the range and strength of his voice. His rendition of this song gives me goosebumps.

here with us - joy williams
I listened to Joy Williams way before The Civil Wars was even a thing, because I'm cool like that. I remember my aunt singing this song nearly every year for our church's Christmas service, and I always looked forward to hearing it, a melody that was both haunting and triumphant.

BONUS:
the parting glass - the high kings
I'm adding this as a bonus because it's not technically a Christmas song, yet for some reason, it always reminds me of the Christmas season, with the new year quickly approaching. New years always bring changes, farewells, challenges, and moving on... So yeah, I guess this song fits.

what are some of your favourite Christmas tunes?

(Jess and I filmed a special Christmas edition of Mind the Gap! Be sure to check it out here.)

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YAY IT'S FALL: PLAYLIST

Guys. It's finally fall. Fall means sweaters and cold air and steaming lattes and gorgeous colors and salted caramel pumpkin everything. Literally. I've basically been counting the days until fall because it just makes me so happy. And something I've learned is happiness always necessitates a good playlist. So in celebration of fall, here are seven songs I listen to when I'm particularly excited about life. (I excluded all Broadway, Disney, and musical tunes since that would take an entire list of its own.) And I must confess these songs don't necessarily relate to fall, so if you were expecting lyrics about rustling leaves and changing colors and what not, well then this just got a little awkward...

my lighthouse // rend collective
What I enjoy most about Rend Collective's style is their infectious joy, and this song is full of it. It's hard to pick a song of theirs I don't like, but this one has remained solidly my favourite.

oh how I need you // all sons + daughters
My love for this song was confirmed when I heard it live. This duo has such an pure delight for music and the God they worship. It's incredible.

trees // the oh hellos 
My favourite songs are ones that make me think. But one such song that also has a crazy fun tune? It's a winner.

house of gold // twenty-one pilots
I'm in love. The catchy tune is addicting, and honestly, what is more satisfying than screaming that one line?

shut up and dance // walk the moon
I'd like to know who can not dance when they hear this song. I ask you.

little talks // of monsters + men

I don't have enough good things to say about it. I'm just crazy about the sound of this song and the vibe of this band. 

where no one goes // jonsi + john powell
This one makes the list because A) it just sounds like happiness, and B) my love for How to Train Your Dragon knows no bounds.

So what are some of your favourite happy songs? Are you welcoming fall, or sad to leave summer behind? Or a little of both?

--

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You only need the light when it's burning low

(Apparently, lyrical post titles are my new thing now. Hmm. I don't find this a problem.)

One of my closest of close friends just came for a weekend visit, and both being musically inclined, we passed several hours around the piano, playing around with covers of our favourite songs. May Michael remembered a song she had heard on the radio once, and once we listened, we knew we had to sing it. I'm not sure how or what or why, but it completely struck a chord with both of us (pun totally intended). We fell head over heels with its haunting melody, not-so-subtle warning, and barely visible hope. Maybe it's because we're both turning twenty this year (and that's not scary at all) and we're learning what change and growing up really mean. Maybe it's because we're realizing God has given us so much (and most of it we don't deserve), and how wrong we are when we take anything for granted. Maybe it's because we're learning how tightly we have to hold onto those we love.

Well, whatever the reason, we loved this song. So here's a cover. Granted, an imperfect one; we only had about two days to practice, and I was pretty much just guessing on the harmony. But the words struck us deep, and it's definitely something to think about, yeah?

--
"Let Her Go" - Passenger

Well, you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you've let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you've let her go
And you let her go

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast
You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch, all it dies

Well, you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you've let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you've let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause love comes slow, and it goes so fast
Well, you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much and you dive too deep

Well, you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you've let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you've let her go
And you let her go