O Holy Night

"O Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas song.  Its combination of stirring music and powerful lyrics always gets me.  Here is a list of my favorite versions of the song, denoted by artist and album.  (Scores were based upon the height and duration of goose-bumps each version gives me when I hear it).

1. Bing Crosby, "Bing Crosby Christmas Classics" -- This is the benchmark for which all other renditions are compared.  Even after multiple listens, I still am moved with Bing's version.  (And extra credit points for having such a rad name).
2. Celine Dion, "These Are Special Times" -- Combine some of the best pipes in the business with one of the most moving songs ever and you get a goose-bump factory.  
   
3. Barlowgirl, "O Holy Night" -- The best rock&roll version I've found so far.  Awesome.
   
4. Aaron Neville, "Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas" -- His version has a slowed-down tempo and his unique voice, making this version of the song the most soulful version I've encountered.
   
5. Weezer, "Christmas with Weezer" -- Weezer brings there unique alt-rock sound and style to this classic song.
6. Martina McBride, "White Christmas" -- Pairing her amazing voice with a haunting piano, Martina could sing the phone book and give me the chills.
7. John Williams, "Home Alone Soundtrack" -- The best chorus version, and the most haunting version, of this song that I've found.  This is also my favorite song from one of my favorite Christmas movies.
8. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "The Christmas Trilogy" -- my favorite instrumental version and my second favorite rock version of the song. 
   
9. Lee Greenwood, "It's Christmas with Lee Greenwood" -- There is only one other song that always gives me the chills like "O Holy Night" and that's "I'm Proud to be an American", so it's only fitting that Lee Greenwood's version of this song be on my list.  This version is probably the closest anyone has gotten to making this into a country song that I've found.
10. Eric Cartman, "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" -- it's probably sacreligious for me to have this version on the list, and it doesn't really give me goose-bumps like the other versions, but Eric Cartman always makes me laugh, and his version of this song is no exception.
    

While I'm on the topic, here is my perfect Christmas Mix-Tape:

• Please Come Home for Christmas -- Don Henley
• Little Saint Nick -- Beach Boys
• O Holy Night -- Bing Crosby
• The Nutcracker Suite -- Brian Setzer
• All I Want for Christmas is You -- Maria Carey
  
• Baby It's Cold Outside -- Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel
• Christmas Is -- Run D.M.C.
  
• The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) -- Alvin & the Chipmunks
• Run Rudolph Run -- Chuck Berry
• You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch -- Thurl Ravenscroft
• Christmas Canon -- Trans-Siberian Orchestra
  
• Christmas Song -- Dave Matthews Band
• Dear Santa -- Sean Morey

And, of course, the songs that cause me to immediately change the radio channel or leave a room when I hear the first note:

• Happy Xmas (War is Over) -- John Lennon (because the message is so awful it immediately gets me out of the "Christmas spirit")
  
• Wonderful Christmas Time -- Paul McCartney (because the techno music and lyrics are awful)
  
• The 12 Days of Christmas -- by any artist (because it is annoying)
  
• Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer -- Elmo & Patsy (because my dad hates it so)
• Santa Baby -- almost all artists (because most singers sing it in their best "Marilyn Monroe baby-talk" voice)
• Christmas Shoes -- Newsong (because the first part of the song is so depressing, it's not worth hanging around long enough to hear it get good)
• I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus -- all artists (again, because it is annoying)