DREAM STREAM
Rock around the Christmas tree with this playlist of holiday jingles
FROM divas (Mariah Carey) to heartthrobs (Jonas Brothers) to the usual suspects (Pentatonix), there’s something for everyone to sing along to around the tree. Here’s your Yuletide playlist of 12 new tracks that will have you jingling all the way through the holidays.
Lea Michele, “Christmas in New York”
It’s been four years since “Glee” went off the air, but Michele still brings plenty of joy to the world on this track from her new “Christmas in the City” LP. The Bronxborn singer reps for New York with an original song that shows holiday love for everything from the Rockettes to Macy’s.
John Legend, “This Christmas”
People magazine’s reigning Sexiest Man Alive is all suave soul on this new track, featured on the deluxe edition of his “A Legendary
Christmas” album. While the Donny Hathaway original will never be beat, this mistletoe moment does the late R&B legend proud.
Liam Payne, “All I Want (for Christmas)”
Harry Styles isn’t the only One Direction dreamboat making his own moves: Payne dropped his debut solo album, “LP1,” on Dec. 6, and it features this piano ballad that is guaranteed to make the girls swoon over their eggnog.
H.E.R., “Christmas Time Is Here”
The enigmatic R&B artist is looking to add to her Grammy collection next month — with nods for Album, Record and Song of the Year — but for now, she’s gifted us with her soulful spin on the “A Charlie Brown Christmas” chestnut.
Jonas Brothers, “Like It’s Christmas”
You’ll immediately be a sucker for this holly-jolly ditty, an original song on which the JoBros turn on the Christmas charm. It’s about as hard to resist as them wearing Santa hats on the single cover.
Pentatonix featuring Whitney Houston, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
The a cappella group has owned this season with multiple holiday releases. But on this track from their new compilation, “The Best of Pentatonix Christmas,” these carolers lay back and let Houston sparkle with vocals she recorded in her glory days.
Ana Gasteyer, “Sugar & Booze”
The former “Saturday Night Live” comedian spikes the title tune of her new holiday album with plenty of jazzy sass. And let’s face it: She gets into the spirit of what the season is really all about for us grown folks.
Mariah Carey, “Joy to the World (Live at the Cathedral of St. John Divine)”
Yes, there’s a certain other Mariah tune that will be on repeat everywhere this season. But the new Deluxe Anniversary Edition of “Merry Christmas” — Carey’s holiday album that came out 25 years ago — is packed with other holiday goodies, including this live rendition of “Joy to World” that she totally takes to church.
Alessia Cara,
“Make It to Christmas”
The “Scars to Your Beautiful” singer bops with a ’60s girl-group bounce on this original song that wants to delay an inevitable breakup until after the holidays, because “I don’t want to be angry at mistletoes.”
Idina Menzel and Ariana Grande, “A Hand for Mrs. Claus”
On this brassy, buoyant romp from Menzel’s new “Christmas: A Season of Love” album, this unlikely diva duo gives props to the woman “who’s really checkin’ all those lists.”
Dionne Warwick featuring Wanya Morris, “The Christmas Song”
On her new album of collaborations, “Dionne Warwick & the Voices of Christmas,” the eternally elegant songstress shows that she still knows exactly what friends are for: musical moments such as this jazzy joint with Boyz II Men’s Morris.
Puss N Boots, “It’s Not Christmas ’Till You Come Home”
Taken from the new “Dear Santa . . .” EP by Norah Jones’ side project — an allfemale trio — this twangy throwback is much more melancholy than merry.