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Monday, December 23, 2013

Top 20 Original Christmas Songs

Last year we took a look at the top Christmas albums so this time I decided to showcase my favorite original songs. We all love the Christmas carols and traditional holiday songs like We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Jingle Bells, but what about the huge selection of original Christmas tunes? Sometimes you may feel like you've heard enough Silent Night or Away in a Manger and you want to hear something fresh. Well that's what this list is all about.

It took me several hours to narrow this list down to only 20 songs. There were many that I really had to think hard about before dropping them from the list, but I think these selections are the best of the best. I have added comments to a few tracks to clarify something, to add pertinent information or just to share a thought on the song. I'm betting there will be one or two you may never have heard before so I hope you enjoy checking these out.


#20
Song: Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)
Artist: Amy Grant
Album: Home For Christmas
iTunes | Amazon | CBD

#19
Song: The Rest of the Story
Artist: GB5
Album: Christmas
http://gb5online.com

#18
Song: One King
Artist: David Phelps
Album: One Wintry Night
#17
Song: Christmas Is All In The Heart
Artist: Steven Curtis Chapman
Album: The Music of Christmas

#16
Song: This Is All I Have To Give
Album Artist: Todd Agnew & Friends
Artist/Vocalist: Vince Lichlyter
Album: Do You See What I See?
iTunes | Amazon
Told from Joseph's perspective, this song is absolutely fabulous and carries a lot of lyrics that get you thinking.

#15
Song: The Night Before Christmas
Artist: Brandon Heath
Album: The Night Before Christmas

#14
Song: This Is Christmas
Artist: Plus One
Album: Christmas

#13
Song: He Made A Way In A Manger
Album Artist: David Klinkenberg
Artist/Vocalist: Anthony Evans
Album: The Carol Of Emmanuel

#12
Song: What I Want For Christmas
Artist: Big Tent Revival
Album: Choose Life

#11
Song: God With Us
Artist: Todd Agnew
Album: Do You See What I See?

#10
Song: A Strange Way to Save the World
Artist: 4Him
Album: Christmas The Season Of Love

#9
Song: Labor of Love
Album Artist: Andrew Peterson
Artist/Vocalist: Jill Phillips
Album: Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ

#8
Song: Quiet of the Night
Artist: Nathan Walters
Album: Quiet of the Night (Christmas Radio Single)
iTunes | Amazon
A great song from one of the members of Plus One.

#7
Song: Daddy Won't You Read It Again
Artist: This Hope
Album: It's Christmas
iTunes | Amazon
This is a fun, heart-warming tune that I look forward to hearing each year.

#6
Song: One Child
Artist: Natalie Grant
Album: Natalie Grant
iTunes | Amazon | CBD
This is an absolutely beautiful song that I sometimes will just play over and over. First released on Grant's self-titled album it was re-released on her Christmas album entitled Believe. I prefer the original version.

#5
Song: This Baby
Artist: Steven Curtis Chapman
Album: The Music Of Christmas

#4
Song: Welcome To Our World
Artist: Chris Rice
Album: Deep Enough to Dream
iTunes | Amazon
There's just something about this song and Rice's signature style of songwriting that I just love. The song has been recorded by various artists, but I really enjoy this version.

#3
Song: You're Here
Artist: Francesca Battistelli
Album: Christmas
iTunes | Amazon | CBD
First released as a single a few years before being included on Battistelli's official Christmas project. This song explores the feelings and thoughts Mary experienced as she's holding the newly born Jesus and I've absolutely loved this track from the first time I heard it. 

#2
Song: We Are The Reason
Artist: Avalon
Album: Joy: A Christmas Collection
iTunes | Amazon | CBD
A spectacular rendition of the David Meece classic. While the original version is great, Avalon's beautiful arrangement just takes an already amazing song to another level.

#1
Song: It's About The Cross
Artist: Go Fish
Album: Christmas With A Capital “C” (Snow: The Deluxe Edition)
iTunes | Amazon
A beautiful, thought provoking song that puts the holiday in proper perspective. Southern gospel group The Ball Brothers have recorded a great cover of this tune.


So there you have it. These are some of my favorite non-traditional Christmas songs. What do you think of the list? What are your favorites? Which song do you feel is missing? Share your comments below.

Merry Christmas!