12 Songs of Christmas - #1 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Mel Torme 1990

Disclaimer: All perspectives, opinions, and memories in this entry are mine and mine alone. Some content is rugged, raw, and - sometimes - NSFW, but it's all authentic and included with purpose.

To read the "12 Songs of Christmas Intro," please CLICK HERE
To read Song #12 - "God Bless Us Everyone," please CLICK HERE To read Song #11 - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," please CLICK HERE To read Song #10 - "All I Want for Christmas is You," please CLICK HERE To read Song #9 - "Santa Baby," please CLICK HERE To read Song #8 - "Baby, It's Cold Outside," please CLICK HERE To read Song #7 - "Celebrate Me Home," please CLICK HERE

To read Song #6 - "Don't Waste Your Wishes," please CLICK HERE

To read Song #5 - "I'll Be Home for Christmas," please CLICK HERE To read Song #4 - "Winter Dreams (Brandon's Song)," please CLICK HERE

To read Song #3 - "Do They Know It's Christmas" please CLICK HERE

To read Song #2 - "Somewhere in My Memory" please CLICK HERE

Why it’s on the list…

As I mentioned last week, I love this song so much, it made it to the list twice. Mel Torme’s version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is my no doubt-uncontested-all time favorite Christmas song.

I had always heard this version used at the end of “Home Alone” as Kevin waves to the wet bandits as they get arrested. I had just assumed that the producers of the movie simply selected an old Mel Torme cover for the film - little did I realize that they actually went out and got Mel Torme to record his version FOR THIS FILM.

The best word I can come up with to describe this song is: rich.

From Torme’s vocals to the sweeping strings, it’s like an absolutely decadent meal.

At 40 years old, this is my longest running Christmas tradition: ever since I was a teenager, I will be the last one to bed on Christmas Eve and I will just sit alone in front of the Christmas tree and listen to some music. This is always THE last song I listen to before going to bed. The past few years I’ve added in a nice pinot noir and it’s a perfect experience.

Thanks for joining me on another journey the past 12 days. Hope you all have a merry little Christmas.

While We’re Here…

We’ve already established my love of sitcoms, so here are my Top 5 All Time Favorite Christmas-Related Sitcom Episodes:

5. The Bob Newhart Show - “Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital” (Currently available on Hulu)

Exactly what the title suggests! The on-call volunteer nurse was an all time epic one-off character.

4. Cheers - “Christmas Cheers” (Currently available on Hulu)

Great episode with different subplots that just happen to be centered around Christmastime: 1. Sam scrambles to find a gift for Rebecca, 2. Frasier is grinchy but discovers his inner Christmas spirit, 3. Norm hangs out with his other Santa Claus buddies and as the gang gathers around the TV to watch the end of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the movie is interrupted with a news report that a “mailman throwing boxes of Chinese food at an airplane on the runway.”

3. Friends - “The One With the Girl from Poughkeepsie” (Currently available on HBO Max)

Similar to Cheers above, another good episode with Christmas plots: Monica hires Joey just so that she can fire him in front of her disrespectful staff, Chandler sets up Rachel with some of his eager co-workers and Ross has to choose between a great girl that lives two hours away or a terrible girl that lives nearby.

2. Frasier - “High Holidays” (Currently available on Hulu)

Niles feels like he’s never done anything rebellious so he gets Roz to get him a pot brownie. Of course there is a mixup and Martin accidentally consumes the marijuana. Niles, THINKING he is stoned, starts acting “recklessly” (pairing a Chilean sea bass with an aggressive zinfandel!) but it’s Martin suffering the effects (fridge pants!). I cry laughing at the scene where he believes Eddies is talking to him on the TV. In classic “Frasier” style they nail the build up and hammer home all of the hilarity that inevitably ensues.

1. The Office - “Christmas Party” (Currently available on Netflix)

“The Office” became pretty well known for their regular Christmas episodes but the first one from Season 2 is still my favorite. Of course Michael spends way too much money on the gift exchange and embarrasses everyone. The only way to save face? Turn it into a White Elephant game! This episode also contains one of my ALL TIME favorite sitcom punchlines.