Christmas can be one of the most charitable times of the year. It is in that spirit that we at CBC Music bring to you the gift of music.
OK, it's true, we do that every day, but starting today we're bringing you the gift of Christmas music. Hours of music expertly curated into 12 streams that can get you through the holiday season. We're pretty pumped about them, and we think you're going to like them, too.
Classical Holidays
The Classical Holidays stream is a yearly tradition here at CBC Music. Looking for a steady stream of Christmas concertos, carols and choral music? We’ve got you covered.
One of our finest yearly traditions, a perfect seasonal mix of concertos, carols, and hits from the choral, vocal and instrumental repertoire. Cozy up in front of the fire and delight in a wide range of gifts from this musical tree, from Handel's Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio to Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride. Love this holiday playlist? Try the Julie Nesrallah's Tempo playlist, featuring the top works and best performances from the classical world, any time of the year. Download the app to stream it now.
Seasonal Favourites
Enjoy Bing, Bublé, Bocelli and more singing all of your holiday faves without suiting up to head to the mall to hear them. These pop and jazz standards are the modern sounds of Christmas.
Spruce up your holiday happenings with a delicious mix of seasonal pop and jazz standards. Make sure these songs are nearby on nights when the weather outside is frightful, yet the fire is so delightful. Hear: Bing Crosby, Michael Bublé, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and more.
Pop Christmas
If you’re a musician, one of the smartest things you can do is release a Christmas song. Wham!, Madonna and Lady Gaga learned from the lessons laid down by Handel, Brahms and Leroy Anderson and created original holiday classics that you’ll be singing for decades to come.
The ultimate sign of success for a pop star is releasing a hit Christmas album. A collection of beautiful musical presents gifted to us from the past 2 decades of pop divas, boy bands, and superstar acts. Hear: Wham 'Last Christmas', Madonna 'Santa Baby', Lady Gaga 'White Christmas', Justin Bieber 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' and more.
Marvin's Room Christmas
From R&B renditions of Chrsitmas classics to remixed carols, this stream covers it all. Hear James Brown's "Soulful Christmas," Jully Black's "Christmas Song," Jackson 5 singing "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and more.
A celebration of the holidays through funk, soul, the blues and hip hop. From R&B renditions of Christmas classics to remixed carols, we're covering it all. Hear: James Brown 'Soulful Christmas', Jully Black 'Christmas Song', Eartha Kitt 'Santa Baby', Jackson 5 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' and more.
Country Christmas
Brett Kissel, Corb Lund, Leann Rimes and more sing some Christmas classics along with original holiday tunes, each one with a distinct country feel.
Celebrate the holidays with country music's biggest and brightest stars as they sing cherished holiday favorites and original songs. A perfect country soundtrack for wrapping presents, decking halls or simply driving the open road. Hear: Blue Rodeo 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas', Gord Bamford 'Christmas In Canada', Amy Grant 'Tennessee Christmas', Paul Brandt 'Let It Snow' and more.
Jazz Loves Christmas
Christmas standards that are anything but! Scat along with your favourite artists performing "You're a Mean One Mr.Grinch" (Tim Tamashiro), "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (Oscar Peterson), "Frosty the Snowman" and more.
Christmas standards that are anything but. Scat along with your favourites and let the swingle-bells ring out. Hear: Tim Tamashiro 'You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch', Oscar Peterson 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town', Ella Fitzgerald 'Frosty The Snowman', Vince Guaraldi 'Boy Named Charlie Brown', Louis Armstrong 'Zat You Santa Claus' and more.
Gospel Christmas
Listen to Christmas classics in the gospel tradition featuring such artists as Odetta, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Andrew Craig, Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Lou Rawls, Gospel Choir Celebration and more.
Christmas Classics in the Gospel Tradition featuring artists: Odetta; Montreal Jubilation Choir, Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin and more.
Christmas Blues
Join us for the ultimate blue, blue, blue Christmas with songs from B.B. King, Bessie Smith, Shakura S'Aida, Matt Anderson, Sharon Jones, Elvis and more.
Having the blues at this time of year shouldn't be anything but pleasant, musically speaking. So if your not doing alright, with your Christmas of white, join us for the ultimate blue, blue, blue Christmas.
Hear: B.B. King, Bessie Smith, Shakura S'Aida, Matt Anderson, Sharon Jones, Elvis and more.
Global Christmas
Take a trip this Christmas with music from — or inspired by — all over the world. You'll hear music from South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, the Caribbean and Africa, with the African Children's Choir, Fairuz, Heidi Igualada, Sultans of String and more.
Take a global trip this Christmas with music from or inspired by the four corners of the world. Your free music visa takes you to South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the far East, Caribbean and Africa. With Steel Drums, fiddles, kotos, percussion, Children's choirs and lots of guitars too as you celebrate the holiday season! Hear African Children's Chorus, Fairuz, Heidi Igualada, Sultans of String and more.
Noël
While waiting for Père Noël, and sculpting the perfect bonhomme de neige, why not settle in with traditional carols and beautiful modern classics en français? Hear songs like "Noel Blanc," "Nous Sommes Trois Souverains Princes," "Anges de Neige" and more.
While waiting for Père Noël, and sculpting the perfect bonhomme de neige, why not settle in with traditional carols and beautiful modern classics en français?
Hear: Daniel Lavoie 'Noel Blanc', Claire Pelletier 'Nous Sommes Trois Souverains Princes', Maryse Letarte 'Anges de Neige' and more.
Alt Christmas
This stream is the ugly sweater of Christmas music: it’s not for everyone, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a seat at the table. Clarence Carter’s “Back Door Santa,” the mighty Miss Sharon Jones’s “Ain’t no Chimneys in the Projects” and Bryan Adams’s “Reggae Christmas” (wait, what?) all have a home here. For those who like their Christmas jams with a twist.
The ugly sweater of Christmas music. Festive treats which are weird, colourful, fun, and strangely the most comfortable thing you could put on for the holidays. Hear: They Might Be Giants 'Santa's Beard', Bootsy Collins 'Winter Wonderland', Run DMC 'Christmas In Hollis', Shonen Knife 'Space Christmas' and more.
Folk Christmas
With his perfect white beard, corn-cob pipe and black suspenders it should be obvious to all that Santa is a folk-loving saint. Listen to songs by Mountain Band, Sufjan Stevens, Natalie Macmaster, Great Big Sea, Good Lovelies and more.
With his perfect white beard, corn-cob pipe and black suspenders it should be obvious to all that Santa is a folk-loving saint. A pluck of the banjo, a strum of the guitar, and the elves will be singing in his cabin at the North Pole.
Hear: Smokey Mountain Band, Sufjan Stevens, Natalie MacMaster, Great Big Sea, Good Lovelies and more.
Related:
Your guide to CBC Music's 2018 holiday schedule
20 weird songs for your best Christmas ever
David Bowie, Bing Crosby and the story of the strangest Christmas duet ever