Winter is a time for coziness, good food, good company, and of course, good music. While those of us who remember working retail during this time may feel a deep agitation when that first holiday tune is heard, most of us proudly belt our classic favorites. This year, we asked people from all around Aires to give us their fan favorites and why.
Whether you’re dashing through the snow, turning on the fireplace in your home (real or digital) for some soothing ambiance, or having your celebrations somewhere warm and tropical, we love this eclectic mix of holiday tunes. We wish you a happy, safe, and healthy season no matter what you celebrate.
To listen to the full playlist on Spotify, please visit this link.
Christmas in Hollis – Run-DMC: “A favorite for anyone that grew up having the compilation CD (or even album) A Very Merry Christmas. It shows how all genres of music get into the Christmas spirit and can celebrate the spirit in their unique way.” – Brittanny Seibel, Staff Implementation Project Manager
Baby, Please Come Home – Darlene Love: “It’s a classic! Darlene’s energy in the song is a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and a perfect song to belt out in your car. Darlene wrote it and it’s been covered several times for over 50 years. She still performs it to this day.” – Brittanny Seibel, Staff Implementation Project Manager
Last Christmas – Wham: “I mean who doesn’t love that song! I listen to it so much that it’s now my 9- and 10-year-old kids’ favorite Christmas song too.” – Adrienne Mould, Corporate Training Manager
White Christmas – Bing Crosby: “It’s an absolute classic. I remember watching White Christmas as a kid every year with my mom…it was her favorite Christmas movie. It’s beautiful and comforting and almost sad in a way.” – Adrienne Mould, Corporate Training Manager
Dominick The Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey) – Lou Mante: “In recent years, I have come to love this song. I never thought much of the song before a few years ago. Back in December 2018, my now 4-year-old twins were just a few weeks old and often fussy. Every time this song came on, the crying stopped. Needless to say, Dominick the Donkey played on repeat for nearly a month and continues to be a holiday favorite in our house ever since.” – Stephanie Moreo, Manager, Immigration Services
Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses: “I like this song because it goes through a lot of the hustle and bustle of the holidays as a young person – circa 1981 … but we can all relate – at the end of the tune you know you wouldn’t want to miss the Christmas holidays!” – Brandi Thorne, Manager, International Household Goods Procurement
Sleigh Ride – The Boston Pops: “As a proud former high school band member (clarinet and tenor saxophone), I’m partial to the songs we used to play during our holiday concerts. My favorite is Sleigh Ride, and the Boston Pops do a great version. It’s a whimsical song that you can’t help but bop along to as the percussionists mimic horse hooves clomping.” – Kyessa Brian, Associate Team Lead, Client Services
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays – *NSYNC: “An underrated new classic – move over Mariah! Although I suppose I need to accept that the song has been out for 20+ years at this point so it’s not so new anymore. My college roommate and I bonded over loving this song. We had a magical moment when both of us hit play on it at exactly the same time, and it synced up on our computers, probably annoying the rest of our suite. I’m a sucker for Boy Bands, what can I say?” – Kyessa Brian, Associate Team Lead, Client Services
Ay, Ay, Ay, It’s Christmas – Ricky Martin: “It is not a traditional Christmas song, but it is a fun, festive song that you can’t help but dance to!” – Laura Beron, Director, Contracts & Global Compliance
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – Gayla Peevey: “The song is super catchy & a hippo is not the typical animal people think of when they think of Christmas.” – Donald Bradley, Risk & Compliance Analyst II
Who Spiked the Eggnog – Straight No Chaser: “This song is just fast, fun, festive and makes me smile when I hear it!” – Lisa Wright, Team Lead, Insurance Claims
Merry Christmas Darling – The Carpenters: “I think Karen Carpenter had the most beautiful voice, and back in my high school days, I was in a choir called Toppers, and we performed this song in flashy gold lamé skirts. Brings back some good memories!” - Leah Caputo, Manager, Payroll, HRIS, & Compensation
Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Little Candies) – Idina Menzel: “First, I love it because it’s Idina Menzel, “Wicked” the Broadway musical star. Second, it’s a fun Latin rhythm piece. You want to get up and dance around the room.” – Sheri Sinaga, Account Executive
8 Nights – Naomi Less: “Another fun and joyful song to dance to.” – Sheri Sinaga, Account Executive
Ma'oz Tur – Leslie Odom Jr: “Just a beautiful lyrical song.” – Sheri Sinaga, Account Executive
Please Come Home for Christmas – Jon Bon Jovi: “This song always makes me so happy and reminds me to appreciate my friends and family. I love the magic of the holidays, the traditions and how everyone comes together to celebrate.” – Nicole Callan, Corporate Trainer
Snow Miser Vs. Heat Miser– Richard Chambers (Originally from A Year Without Santa Claus): "’A Year Without Santa Claus’ is not the most popular Christmas movie, but my mom and I have watched it together every year since I was little. I find it hysterical – still.” – Jessica Healy, Senior Mobility Specialist, Special Operations
You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban – Anand Diraviyam, Director, Product Strategy & Management
New Beginning– Stephen Gately: “I love starting the year with this song. It’s a declaration of a new, happy beginning as we welcome the new year with our resolutions, goals, and excitement for the new chapter.” – Phumzile Vella Thelejane, Associate Mobility Specialist
2000 Miles – The Pretenders: “This song speaks to our desire to be with loved ones during the holiday season. This feeling has been particularly poignant over the last few years. Also, I like the melody!” – Karen Sztencel, Customer Service Director
This Christmas – Donny Hathaway: “Classic. Soulful. Festive.” – Tamara Franklin, Mobility Specialist
All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey: “There's no holidays without Mariah Carey!” – Tamara Franklin, Mobility Specialist
Ugly Christmas Sweater – Garth Brooks: “I like that this song has an old-time swing sort of feel with all the harmony.” – Jill Porter-Scott, Director, People X
Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano: “When my daughter was four, she fell in love with this song. We listened to it all the time. We practiced pronouncing the Spanish words so she could sing the full song (her expectation, not mine). We practiced the artist's name because she insisted on knowing it and being able to pronounce it. Each Christmas she gets an ornament and that year her ornament was a snowman that plays ‘Feliz Navidad’ on the ukulele. – Jill Porter-Scott, Director, PeopleX