Would You Say Stop? - Acid House Kings

This is another Apple free song that I fell in love with. I don't know why I have kept this in my favorites list; it's a cheesy little pop song with little redeeming value on the surface. However, it's also a happy, cheerful little Sweedish pop tune that gets stuck in your head.

Listen To The Man - George Ezra

When she first started, I never understood how LeeAnn Rhymes could sing as maturely as she did. Rick Astley was very similar. George Ezra is another wonderkind. He sounds 45, but looks 15.

This of course is a romance song, and should be on anyone's list to sing to a romantic interest. I can't say enough about loving this song.

I really wish they'd left Ian McKellan off of this video though.... I like Sir Ian, but not in this video.

Christmas Satire and Better In The Video -- Twelve Pains of Christmas -- Bob Rivers

This is a two for one special, because we have a special video for our Christmas Satire song. I've always adored the Twelve Pains as a Christmas Satire song. Like all good satire, it digs for that button of truth, and then presses hard. As I've heard others mention, I have been the "lights" guy way too often for my taste (and let's not even go into the "five months of bills"...).

While searching for a video for the song, I found the Third Hour TV version. I've never heard of these kids before, but the video they made for this song is hilarious. It compliments the song well and even throws a few jabs of its own, but doesn't try to go too far out on a limb itself. I laughed through the whole thing, and even played it a couple more times.

Not Christmas Songs - White Winter Hymnal - Pentatonix

I'll admit that I'm picking on Pentatonix a bit here, because two of the songs in this list will include their versions. The first is White Winter Hymnal, which I first heard off of That's Christmas To Me. It's a vaguely winter song, but nothing in it has anything to do with Christmas. The author (Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold) generally disclaims a conclusive meaning to the song, but that the lyrics tell a story. (Figure that one out....) The concensus is that there's a general allusion to the loss of innocense for the singer, but it's high allegory, and nothing related to Christmas.

The Pentatonix version is pretty though.

Breaking Find -- Today Is The Saviour’s Day -- Rand Collective

Thanks to Valerie Vanover for this link. I'd never heard Rand Collective before. I am fixing that one after Christmas.

This is an excellent modern Christmas carol that respects tradition without blindly following or stealthfully mocking them. I love it.

On My Knees - Nicole C Mullen

I first heard this song when I discovered K-Love. While I haven't been able to stick with CCM music, this song has stayed in my favorites playlist. There are many times when I have had to get on my knees, and will do so again.

Breaking Find - Christmas in Dixie -- Home Free and Alabama

This is the ultimate breaking find, because Home Free just released it today. Alabama sings their hit song Christmas in Dixie, with Home Free on backup vocals and "instruments".

The most bittersweet part of this for me was Jeff Cook. I was unaware that Mr. Cook was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2013, and has been public about it (and semi-retired) since 2017. As is clear from the video, he is impared by his illness. However, Randy and Teddy have been clear that Jeff Cook is in Alabama, and will be on stage with the band whenever he wants. Mr. Cook clearly wanted to be on stage for this song. I am impressed by the physical and mental strength shown just to be on that stage and able to sing as much as he can in year 7 of Parkinson's.