Nicole Schade said Christmas music is “crucial in celebrating the holiday” because Christmas time is one of the best times of the year. No matter where someone is, Christmas music is shared and loved by all those who celebrate the holiday, she added.
“Last Christmas” by Wham!
Schade, a senior from Lindon, Utah, majoring in social work, said “Last Christmas” is a must-have song on her Christmas playlist because it reminds her of family. She said her brothers made a music video for it when they were younger. So every time she listens to the song, she sees her brothers dancing in her head.
Although the lyrics of the song are a little sad, she said the music is upbeat and gives her all the Christmas feelings, such as nostalgia and love.
“Sleigh Ride” by Ella Fitzgerald
Parker Bennett, a junior from Kahuku, Oahu, majoring in social work, said the lyrics of this song are so fun and talk about all the things people do during the Christmas season. He said the song is exciting, gives him a sense of nostalgia and puts him in the holiday mood by making him want to go for a sleigh ride.
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Zoe Deschanel and Leon Redbone
Ellianna Miskin, a junior from Sacramento, California, majoring in social work, said she fell in love with this song when she first heard it in the movie “Elf.” She said, “It’s really romantic, cute and makes me want to snuggle.” Miskin said it’s an essential song on her Christmas playlist.
“Hallelujah” by Pentatonix
Samiya Washington, a senior from Orange County, California, majoring in social work, said the way Pentatonix sings this song a capella adds to the emotion of the song and the reason for the holiday. She said, “Christmas isn’t about the gifts and presents, but the birth of the Savior.”
She shared the song makes her feel so blessed to have the Savior in her life every day and especially during the Christmas season.
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Nashville Cast
Lauren Garcia, a junior from Peterborough, New Hampshire, majoring in social work, said, “The song is about someone missing their family on the holidays.” Garcia said a lot of students at BYUH could relate to the song because they are so far away from family.
She said she remembers a time when she was listening to the song while she was missing her sister, who was serving a mission at the time. When she listened to the song during Christmas time, she said she thought back to when they spent the holiday together as kids.
“Good King Wenceslas” by Bing Crosby
Cris Wilson, a sophomore from Orange County, California, majoring in vocal performance, said this traditional choir song speaks to the true meaning of Christmas, which to him, is “love and service.” The song, Wilson shared, talks about a loving monarch who followed Christ, and the lyrics say the people should follow the monarch’s example.
Wilson said the song makes him feel grateful for the things he has and brings him the “magic feeling” of Christmas time.
“Mary, Did You Know” by Pentatonix
Katie Mower, a BYUH alumna and Ke Alaka'i intern from Boise, Idaho, said, “[This song] reminds me of the Savior and everything he came to earth to do.” Mower shared she remembered a classmate during high school singing the song with the emotional feeling of the lyrics. Outside of being her favorite song on her Christmas playlist, she said it is also her favorite song about Jesus.
“Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy” from “The Nutcracker” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Emarie Majors, a junior from Hamilton, Montana, majoring in visual arts, said this song is magical. Majors shared it reminded her of when she was a young girl dancing ballet because it was her favorite song to dance to.
She said the song also means a lot to her because her mother gave her an ornament of the sugar plum fairy, so now the song brings her nostalgia during the Christmas season.
“Leise Rieselt Der Schnee” (“Softly Falls The Snow”) by Eduard Ebel
Rahel Meyer, a senior from Hannover, Germany, majoring in political science and communications, said her family would sing this song together during Christmas. Meyer shared the song, originally sung in German, is serene, calm and describes how everybody and everything is silent waiting for Jesus to arrive.
She said the song illustrates how Christmas is supposed to be and the importance of living in the moment. •