When I was in college, I would break out my cassette (YES. CASSETTE. AMEN.) of Amy Grant’s A Christmas Album just as soon as Halloween was over. It was my Official Soundtrack during November and December road trips, and “Heirlooms” was always a sure-fire recipe for Tender Introspection since I was a terribly sophisticated nineteen year-old and all.
A nineteen year-old driving a Buick Regal that would sputter to a dead stop if the accelerator wasn’t pressed at all times, and yes, that includes at red lights and stop signs.
Anyway, my point is that Amy Grant’s first Christmas CD is the gold standard of Christmas albums for me. Other Christmas albums have joined her in my Christmas music hall-o-fame over the years – like Harry Connick Jr.’s and James Taylor’s, for instance – but I’m a pretty discriminating Christmas music listener. I want worship and reverence and fun wrapped up in one musical package, and I don’t want want a hint of corny in the mix. But other than that I’m not picky at ALL.
Ahem.
Last year, not too long after Melanie and I dragged Travis Cottrell into the vortex of our lives by obsessing over his wife’s jeans, he mentioned that he was about to start working on a Christmas album. He also mentioned that his producer was going to be Brown Bannister, a name I immediately knew because I’d seen it printed on the top, right-hand corner of every piece of Amy Grant sheet music I tried to play on the piano when I was a teenager. Since I knew that Brown Bannister produced Amy Grant’s Christmas albums, I figured that Travis’ Christmas CD was bound to turn out pretty well.
However, I had no idea that when I heard Travis’ Christmas CD for the first time, I would get all teary-eyed and fan my face and feel so unbelievably proud of our friend. The CD is absolutely, positively, completely, stunningly beautiful. Christmas music perfection. We’ve been listening to it in our house since Labor Day (YES. LABOR DAY.), and on at least four different occasions David and I have had in-depth conversations about how great it is. Every single day the five year-old gets in the car when I pick him up from kindergarten and asks if he can hear “Frosty.” Every single morning I have some church with my iPod when I listen to “In The First Light.” It is, plain and simple, a wonderful CD.
Ring the Bells will be released next Tuesday, October 7, and there’s no question that you’re going to want to add it to your Christmas music collection. But if you’d like to try to win one of ten autographed copies of the CD before it’s released, then here’s what you need to do:
1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas song.
2. Pause and think for a moment about how this is pretty much the EASIEST GIVEAWAY EVER.
I’ll close this giveaway next Monday and announce the winners next Tuesday.
And just FYI: Travis is so stinkin’ humble and self-deprecating about this whole Christmas CD thing that it’s sort of unbelievable. In fact, we have debated for weeks about how many comments this giveaway will generate, and I have contended that we’re gonna hit the hundreds. Travis’ official prediction is 46.
I have a feeling y’all are going to prove him oh-so-wrong.
Make it a merry one, internets.
This giveaway is now closed.
Oh how I love Christmas music…I love to sing Jingle Bells all year long though..is that wrong?
My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night…beautiful.
Good, gosh, 499 comments already. I can’t remember the actual name of the song, but it rings through my head all the time. It’s from the Muppet Christmas Carol and the lyrics are “it is the season of the Spirit, the message if your hear it, is ‘make it last all year.'” Amen to that. That’s my fav.
Tennessee Christmas, Heirlooms. Amy Grant is THE Christmas music in our house. End of story :)
O Holy Night…hard to sing, but great to listen to! :)
Mary did you know and O holy night are the favorites and I also am a HUGE christmas music fan!
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas. Which is probably not the title, but since I live here in Texas It’s my anthem every winter.
I am a huge fan of Christmas music. I have to force myself to keep it locked away or I would listen to it all year round.
My favorite religious song is O Holy Night. My favorite contemporary song is The Christmas Song.
Breathe of Heaven (Mary’s Song)
Carol of the Bells.
I can’t pick just one song… I love love love Point of Grace and I love all their Christmas songs…
I love ALL CHristmas music. Makes me happy. Start listening the week before Thanksgiving. Favorite of all time? O Little Town of Bethlehem.
And I can sing every word of every song of Amy Grant’s Christmas album. “Up in the attic, down on my knees…”
Love the song “Joy to the World”. He really does bring joy the the world!!
I think one of my favorite Christmas songs is “Carol of the Bells”.
My favorite Christmas song is Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.
I just paused, too. :-)
Well, the only carol I can remember how to play on the piano is “The Last Noel.” But, I think my actual favorite is, gosh – I like so many! How about “White Christmas!”
My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night!
But We Three Kings by Patti Smith is awesome, too, and I highly recommend you give it a listen.
Won’t Travis be thrilled when he sees all these comments! Let’s try for THOUSANDS!
Thanks for the chance to win!
46 comments! Travis: I am #513!!!
I love “Heirlooms”: it is printed, framed and on my buffet every Christmas. My daughter memorized it at age 5 (she is married now) and quoted it at the family Christmas the year we lost both grandma and grandpa within months of each other. Not a dry eye in the house.
“…To see a great big man entirely made of snow. Uh, Snow?
Snow? Snow. Snow. Clang. Clang. Clang, clang clang clang-Clang clang clang went the trolley (thank you), Ding ding ding went the bell…”
Any Sweeney Christmas medley is pure Christmas magic. A good second is any Carpenters Christmas medley.
O Holy Night – has been my favorite since I was a little girl, and he does it proud….
(crossed fingers…)
O Come, O Come Immanuel
Silent Night
How fun!! O Holy Night is my fav Christmas song. :)
Calypso Noel and Silent Night
O, Holy Night, hands down!
O Come O Come Emmanuel is my very favorite!
I love “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” and I’m probably the only person who has mentioned it … I think one reason I like it is that you don’t hear it as much as some of the others. I really like the melody. I also love “O Holy Night”, especially when our minister of music sings it on Christmas Eve.
Thanks for the contest!
“Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day” by Avalon. Ooohh, **shivvers** Jody McBrayer’s voice is almost as awesome as Travis’s!
Oh Holy Night is my fave!
Mary Did You Know is one of my favorites. I just love Christmas music! :)
I don’t know if it’s an OFFICIAL Christmas Song…but “Mary Did you know”…
I get goose-bumps EVERYTIME I hear it.
Silent Night is my favorite. Our church concludes each Christmas Eve service with everyone holding hands, lights down low and singing accapella and generally it is snowing outside. Takes you back to a gentler more peaceful time, closer to what God intended!
Thanks for the chance to win, LOVE his music!
Blessings
Sue
marklovessue@numail.org
“O Holy Night” is my favorite!
My favorite Christmas song used to be “Heirlooms!”
It then changed to “Tender Tennessee Christmas” when I moved to TN.
It is now “A Christmas to Remember” by the same artist…yes, that would be our dear Amy Grant.
“O Holy Night” :)
Christmas is only 3 months away! Woohoo!
I really enjoy Mary’s Song. Amy almost always makes me weep when I hear her sing that song. Thanks for another great give-away!
Silent Night makes me really feel that it is Christmas.
Little Drummer Boy by Jars of Clay or Go Tell it on the Mountain by Big Daddy Weave — LOVE both of those!!!
White Christmas – hands down!
O Holy Night has to be my absolute favorite! I have worn out at least 2 Johnny Mathis Christmas CDs. Love him and I love reading your blog!!
Beth
My absolute favorite song is ‘Angels We Have Heard on High” and I am planning to buy Travis’ cd no matter what. If I win, I’ll just have to buy an extra to give as a sweet ‘Start the holiday out right gift’
I can’t believe I’m comment number 539+ – Go Travis!!!
“O Come All Ye Faithful”..nothing like a good ole hymn at Christmas!
O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Oh my word…I am number 541.
O Holy Night is a favorite…along with the entire Charlie Brown Christmas CD.
“Angels We Have Heard On High” & for secular songs I love “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” & “The Christmas Song” & “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Now I’m getting in the spirit!
I had no idea so many people love O Holy Night! My favorite is Steven Curtis Chapman’s Our God is with Us. Oh, I love that song. I also love Mercy Me’s song–the title completely escapes me this moment–about baby Jesus from Joseph’s perspective. Now I need to go play some Christmas music.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel…and ransom captive Israel.
Can’t wait to hear Travis’ new CD.
Mary, Did you Know? and O Holy Night are on the top of my list…
Hope I am the lucky winner!
My favorite is “Born in Bethlehem” by Third Day!
“O Holy Night” every time. Though. I do get all teary eyed when I hear “Mary Did You Know.”
I love Sarah McLAchlan’s entire Wintersong CD..it is awesome!!
breath of heaven – amy grant
Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Don’t know why. Just is.
Okay…if I have to pick just one favorite…it’s Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) by Amy Grant…I LOVE this song.
It’s so hard to choose! But I think I have to say O Holy Night is the favorite. And I still love Amy Grant’s original Christmas album. And also? I think Travis underestimated his appeal, don’t you?
O Holy Night, hands down. And since there are only going to be 46 people in the contest, I’m sure to win! ;-)
If i have to pick ONLY one..A Strange Way (to save the world)
My favorite is O Holy Night!
I think I am like number 545 or something so I think Travis was just a little off!
Without a doubt, mine is “O Holy Night.”
Christmas perfection.
Mary did you know- Performed by Reba Macintire
Oh my …. hard to pick. I’d have to say I love “Mary Did You Know” … and as an old time traditional Silent Night. And Frosty the Snowman is just plain fun!
Now B-Mama,
I’m a regular around here! Don’t forget me!
And, my favorite (even out of the immense amount of work that we have put into it) is the Hallelujah Chorus (yes, the one by Handel.) We ended our Festival Choir performance with it last year and it really worked out great!
Oh how I love Christmas music. My favorite is The First Noel.
Well, I do agree that Amy Grant’s first Christmas album epotimizes what Christmas music should be! I always get it out a few days before Thanksgiving to make sure I’m fully prepared for the upcoming Christmas season!
However, another I like to pull out is an old Bebo Norman, Ed Cash, and Allen Levi CD called Joy! There is a song on there that is an all time favorite called Born to Bleed that melts my heart everytime! It is a must hear!
Oh, just thinking about all this goodness makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!
I have so many favorites! My favorite secular song hands down is “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives. Love that whole CD. Favorite Christian song would probably be “Oh Holy Night”.
Great Giveaway!!
I’ve always loved “O Holy Night”–particularly the way Point of Grace sings it.
Hope I win–I’m always on the lookout for some great Christmas tunes.
Love your blog!
Kelly
“I heard the bells on Christmas day”, my favorite christmas song.
I love the verse that says ‘then pealed the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, of peace on earth, good will to men”.
Fave is “O Holy Night”, but this past year and likely this year I won’t be able to hear enough of “Behold The Lamb of God” – Andrew Peterson.
I need some new music! Thanks for the ‘easy’ giveaway!
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid. It makes me cry everytime I hear it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEnTSQStGE&feature=related
I love “In the Bleak Midwinter”. At least that’s the first line of it. So pretty. Thank you, Boo Mama!
Silent Night
I love Silent Night.
Narrowing anything down to just one is pretty difficult for me, and narrowing it down to one Christmas song pretty much tops the list of that difficult category. But I’ll follow the rules, and pick “O Holy Night.” But if I get to pick a secular Christmas song too, I love “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
And this was just about the easiest giveaway ever, except for the having to narrow it down to one thing.
The entire “Good News” CD by Kathy Mattea. Beautiful.
If it were just one, I’d have to say the cover song, “Good News.”
O holy night! Love it always…..
My favorite Christmas song is “Joseph’s Lullaby” by Mercy Me. LOVE IT!
I love “Mary Did you Know” and anything my husband sings!
Oh Holy Night is my favorite.
O Holy Night!
I too was a Buick Regal driving, Amy Grant Christmas Album listening, 19 year old going to college in Mississippi in the mid to late 1980’s. I wore that tape out.
My favorite Christmas song is Snoopy vs the Red Baron (Snoopy’s Christmas). I know it doesn’t have anything to do with the birth of Our Savior, but it puts me in a good mood everytime I hear it.
I see that I am like comment number five hundred eleventy seven. I don’t think TC has anything to worry about.
O Holy Night…Definately!
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and/or Silent Night. Loved the Amy Grant cassette too. :-)
My very favorite is the Chestnuts Roasting Over the Open Fire song – preferably sung by Nat King Cole. However, that Amy Grant album is the Gold Standard and I LOVE that Tender Tennessee Christmas thing, even though I’m from Kentucky! (Close enough) I’d love Travis’s CD. And he was SO wrong about the number of comments! Laurie
Hey there! My favorite is “O Come, All Ye Faithful” which stems from me going to an Amy Grant Christmas concert when I was a young ‘un. She started singing it, then let the whole arena sing it on their own. It gives me the goose bumps just thinking about it!
O Holy Night, because not only is it a beautiful song, but it also reminds me of my grandmother.
I LOVE a great Christmas CD, and I LOVE Travis, so I’m thinking this has to be a winner!!!!
I’m stealing my husband’s favorite and going with “O Holy Night”.
Can’t wait to see if I win! If not, I’m going to get my own the day they hit the stores!!!!
What Child Is This? is the first one that popped in my head – I can’t wait for Christmas!
Yep… I remember those Christmas break college days driving home to Paris, Tennessee from Searcy, Arkansas… popping in my cassette tape and belting along with Amy to my favorite “Tender Tennessee Christmas.” Now that I drive to that same sweet home fire from Abilene, TX, I sure could use some Travis to add to the Christmas collection.
you blow my little Canadian CHristian music world boo..
umm my favourite song for Jesus’ birthday is your good solid “O Come All Ye Faithful”..
so easy to sing all year long like i wish Christmas was..
hugs for your jolly good heart!
My favorite carol is “What CHild Is This?”
So many to choose from- I love most of them! I guess it would have to be Angels We have Heard on High.
Like you, I LOVE Christmas music. I think “Mary Did you know” is one of my favorites. I get teary everytime I hear the line about kissing the face of God!
fav christmas song would have to be bah it is just barely fall and i can’t think of it oh there it is Emmanuel God with Us. or tthat one by the barenaked ladies with sarah mclaclan god rest ye merry gentlemen so fun!
Oh, it’s hard to pick just one favorite…I LOVE Christmas music. I think O Holy Night is at the top of my list.
I LOVE Christmas music. I have started listening to Christmas music in July since I was a little girl. My all-time favorite carol is “Oh Holy Night” and my favorite song is “The Christmas Song”.
I love Carol of the Bells, and also will always have a special place in my heart for “O Come, all ye faithful.”
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen! Or Away In A Manger … or Joy to the World. I love Christmas music! I went caroling every year with my church growing up. It’s one of my favorite and best Christmas memories. My favorite Christmas CD is a compilation of singers: Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, the *amazing* Mahalia Jackson, and more. The Crosby/Fitzgerald recording of Rudolph delights me.
O Holy Night, for sure.
“Away in a Manger”
O Holy Night & Let It Snow
“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” :)
Not really, but dang! It’s too hard to pick just one! I heart Christmas…and it would be so much nicer this year with some Travis!