It’s that time of year where most people get out their decoration boxes, start decorating their houses and trees. When you open that box after almost 11 months, one of the most exciting things is breaking out those old Christmas albums (or going out and buying a new one).

I have three Christmas favorites that I simply adore and are staples for me every holiday season. Each one has a special purpose and moment to be played and each one brings back so many memories of past seasons and makes me excited to experience another holiday with my family and friends. Check all three out below!

1. Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas

Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas is one of my all time favorites for Christmas music. She uses her exceptional voice to deliver some amazing songs without over singing and making it sound too commercial or annoying. Everyone remembers All I Want For Christmas Is You from the amazing Christmas themed rom-com Love Actually!

Holiday Moment: Blasting on your iPod as you brave the massive crowds searching for those perfect Christmas gifts all bundled up in a coat with gloves and a scarf.

Album highlight & two other Christmas Albums after the jump…

Hey fellow homos. How’s everyone’s Christmas shopping getting along? Thankfully, Patrick and I completed a big chunk of our list yesterday afternoon. Getting out of the house to do a few holiday tasks definitely helped get me in the Christmas spirit, something I feel like I have been lacking in this year. If you are like me and need a little holiday pep, I’ve decided to compile a list of some of my favorite Christmas tracks to add to your playlist. Here we go. (Please note, this article is being written very tongue in cheek.) Enjoy!

Wham! – “Last Christmas”

This song is a must-have on your holiday homo playlist. It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser at any party and will make your spirits gay and bright! It doesn’t hurt that George Michael who’s on our team is the mastermind behind this Christmas tune that we all know and love. See more of my holiday favorites below.

Check out more of my holiday favorites after the jump.

“It’s not fair to have a model singing,” says model Doutzen Kroes. True, but it’s friggin’ hilarious. Especially when said models don’t know the lyrics to this classic tune. Kroes apparently likes to deck the halls with jolly and honey. Pretty much everything except holly. When she finally gets it right, her expression is adorable.

The Dutch model isn’t the only Victoria’s Secret Angel to have a mishap during taping. From falling fake snow, candles probably not lighting up to other bloopers (not including some really tone deaf moments), this video is too cute for words. I have to say I’m a little biased since the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is one of my favorite things in the world.

While, I definitely love seeing shirtless men, there’s just something about these Amazonian women strutting down a glittered runway with their lingerie that just appeals to. Call me crazy. Check out the clip below with features Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Erin Heatherton, Lily Aldridge and Candice Swanepoel.

watch the video after the jump

What do you get when you mix pop duo Karmin with clothing from Coach and stylist Rachel Zoe? You get a music video for the classic Christmas song, “Sleigh Ride“. The “Brokenhearted” hitmakers are all dressed up for winter in fashionable threads from Coach’s 2012 winter collection.

The plaid fringe cape worn by Amy Heidemann in the clip is absolutely gorgeous. Don’t even get me started on Nick Noonan’s wardrobe. I want that tote, the duffel, the cardigan… I want it all. Mind you, anything looks good on that sexy Nick. Too bad he’s engaged (and straight) *wink* All the outfits were put together and accessorized by celebrity stylist extraordinaire Rachel Zoe.

Pure commercialism pimping aside (which I love) I actually like their rendition of the classic holiday tune, especially the rap interlude. It’s also nice to her Nick sing on a track besides being relegated to keyboard guy. They should really duet more often for future releases. As stylish as Karmin are, the video looks like a Target commercial. Probably not the vibe Coach was looking for. Watch it below and you’ll see what I mean.

watch the music video after the jump

Ever wonder what Christmas with a bald black man dressed in a red track suit instead of Santa Claus would be like? Wonder no more. Cee-Lo Green answers that question in his new festive music video for “This Christmas“. The track is off his first Christmas album, Cee Lo’s Magic Moment in stores now. If you’re looking for new tunes to get you into the holiday spirit, this could do the trick.

Even though the Mikael Columbu-directed music video for “This Christmas” is what you’d expect from Cee-Lo’s fertile imagination, his rendition of the classic tune is pretty traditional. Much like his duet with Christina Aguilera on “Baby It’s Cold Outside“, he stays true to the original music arrangement but with a few modern jazzy enhancements. Check out “This Christmas” below.

I personally despise listening to Christmas music too early in the season. I’m talking to you Costco & Starbucks!!! I blame it on my years working in retail during university. By the time December 25 came rolling around, I was sick of everything Yuletide in nature. Since Thanksgiving is the official start to the holiday season, I thought I’d share Cee-Lo’s video with you. I have to admit, I kinda like his version and will definitely play in the background when I decorate Brian and my tree.

watch the clip after the jump

Before I begin, I want to state that I hope not to offend anyone with this article by referencing Christmas songs as I ramp up my Holiday spirit. Growing up sans religion, my family still took part in celebrating Christmas largely stemmed from our family’s religious background, eons ago. Yes, eons.

Now that we are less than a week away from Christmas 2009, and there isn’t a second of media our ounce of advertising space that isn’t spewing this messaging, I thought I should embrace the holiday season for another year. Naturally it’s Sunday, I’m at home with a Snuggie (thanks Alex) keeping me warm, I decided to YouTube my favourite Christmas songs and see the staged videos that go along with these gems.

Honourable mentions before I jump into my list go out to Rob Thomas and BeBe Winans’ duet My Christmas Prayer and Christmas Wrapping sung by The Waitresses.

List to my Top 5 List after the jump…

Hopefully she attached a gift receipt with this new “gift”. First off, isn’t it a bit early to be hawking Christmas-related items. Seriously, September just ended. Secondly, I don’t know what possessed her to release another Christmas album. Her first holiday release “Merry Christmas” released in 1994, is a modern day classic. There’s no way in hell she’ll top “All I Want For Christmas Is You“.

Okay, “Oh Santa!” isn’t really that bad. It’ll probably grow on me after hearing it thousands of times on the radio and on TV. The urban-pop holiday jingle was produced by Jermaine Dupri and will be on her “Merry Christmas II You” album. Pretty clever title, considering her first festive CD was titled, “Merry Christmas”. The new album will feature four original songs, with traditional holiday tunes covers filling up the CD.

listen to Oh Santa after the jump

Disclaimer: I am not a singer. In fact, I am terrible. I actually LOVE singing. But, it comes out like a bad American Idol audition. You know the ones… those delusional fame whores who think they can be a star, but are really talentless wannabes. Yep. That’s me. BUT, I did date a singer for two years so I am totally qualified to judge. Disclaimer over.

For a few years now, I have been a regular at the Vancouver Men’s Chorus’ (http://www.vancouvermenschorus.ca/) annual Christmas concert, Making Spirits Bright. I first started going because my step-brother Jason and his husband Aiden (yep… my nephews and niece have more gay uncles than they can shake a stick at!) are in the Chorus. I’ve never been disappointed. However, this year I almost didn’t go. “Been there, done that”. “Heard it all before”. “Blah blah cute choreography great singing blah blah”. This year, at the last minute, my mom called to say she had an extra ticket for the last show. She needed a date. Since I only live a block away from the church, how could I say no? Especially to my mom! And boy, am I glad I said yes.

As soon as Conductor Willi Zwozdesky stepped up on his riser, I remembered why I love the show so much. It makes me giggle. My mom too. It’s all about entertainment, creativity, and joy. What more can you ask for in a Christmas concert? This year, Willi let the audience (the entire run of shows was SOLD OUT this year) know that the theme was “green”. Green songs, green lyrics, green bow ties and cummerbunds. Willi joked that green can be a very tricky colour to pull off, but the boys all looked quite dashing… especially while dancing and prancing. Get it? Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer?!?! Boo. Bad pun. Call me Patrick.

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