Christmas is coming ever nearer, and the undisputed best part of the holiday season (besides family time, presents and tons of pie) is the music. Holiday songs have been filling people's minds and hearts for hundreds of years, and have become more than a tradition.
From "The Christmas Song" to "O Holy Night" to "The Little Drummer Boy," classic Christmas carols have become a major part of the holiday season and worked their ways into family life and popular culture. Thus, old Christmas favorites, which have some of the warmest spots in our hearts, get constant re-imaginings and covers from all of music's major players.
But what versions of all the Christmas songs are the best? We here at Music Times are determined to find out. And, as a part of the 12 days of Christmas, we'll be counting down the days (and the best Christmas songs).
We're halfway through our countdown to Christmas, so why not shake things up for an evening? For day 7, instead of looking at the six best versions of a singular Christmas song, Music Times will instead remember another Christmas tradition: the boy band/girl group Christmas single.
Popularized at the end of the last century, there's no denying that few do the holidays better than the likes of the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC or Desitiny's Child. But which boy band/girl group has the best Christmas single? Let us count it down:
6. "This Gift," 98 Degrees
98 Degrees are, unfortunately, that '90s boy band that always gets forgotten, but those Ohio boys know how to croon with the best of them, and its original Christmas song "This Gift" from their similarly titled holiday album This Christmas is a totally solid boy band effort. There's 98 Degrees' trademark soft harmonies and '90s production values for days, making this track a hideen gem.
5. "Christmas Time," Backstreet Boys
"Christmas Time" is another lesser known boy band holiday carol, but there's no real reason for this song to be a secret. Full of loving harmonies, solos that weave seamlessly in and out of each other and that trademark BSB something special, this track is perfect to warm hearts.
4. "8 Days of Christmas," Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child put a super modern, somewhat materialistic spin on "The 12 Days of Christmas" for their holiday album 8 Days of Christmas, which actually blends together that track and more for a super R&B spin on the merriest time of year. As always, Beyoncé's vocals are flawless and full of sassy attitude, and Michelle and Kelly hold their own too.
3. "Funky, Funky XMas," New Kids On The Block
Not every Christmas song needs to be so serious, and New Kids on the Block took that lesson to the next level in their hit "Funky, Funk XMas." You know a song is just going to be great from the get-go when "Santa" claims he wants nothing more than to make Christmas funkay. There's also a wonderful humor in New Kids on the Block attempting to be hard, which is in full force here.
2. "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays," NSYNC
This song is the boy band holiday track that manages to get the most acknowlegement in 2013, and that's for good reason. It's the perfect blend of peppy, old school charm and that love Christmas theme we all enjoy. Plus, this song features Justin Timberlake before his solo days. Ain't nothing wrong with that.
1. "Give Love On Christmas Day," The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 may be best known for their Christmas covers of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Santa Claus is Coming To Town," but this list is about original tracks, and there's nothing more original than this band of brothers of their soulful, soothing Christmas track "Give Love on Christmas Day." There's that glorious childhood Michael Jackson croon and some smooth '70s instrumentation for ages. A perfect song for those snowy days.
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