MusicPalaver: A Newish Take on Christmas Tunes

There's no shortage of Christmas songs to be heard on the radio this week, but if you're sick of Paul McCartney simply having a wonderful Christmas time and you like dreamy and slightly melancholic women's vocals (who doesn't?!), I recommend Winter Songs, a compilation by the Hotel Cafe.  Released last year, it's a mix of classics, such as KT Tunstall singing "Sleigh "Ride" and Fiona Apple's tremulous version of "Frosty the Snowman," and new songs by female singer-songwriters.

You can find an animated video version of the title track by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson here (I warned you about the melancholy part).  They're not all sad, though.  You can listen to samples of the tracks (or buy from iTunes) here -- the third song, Lenka's "All My Bells Are Ringing," is downright cheerful.  And did I mention Fiona Apple singing "Frosty the Snowman"?

Comments

[Phil McTimoney]

I'm strangely taken by the Yo Yo Ma cd.

[MB]

Thanks for the recommendation Phil. I'll check out Yo Yo Ma for next year.