Some of the most memorable parts of life are music and sharing it with others. These come hand in hand during the holiday season. Christmas tunes are some of the most nostalgic and well known aspects of cultivating holiday cheer. Some of these Christmas tunes are classics such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Sleigh Ride,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” These and many others are some of the tunes that will warm even the Scroogiest of people and those who have a heart two sizes too small.

Amongst all of the Bing Crosbys, Frank Sinatras, Mariah Careys, Ella Fitzgeralds, and Michael Bublés, there are a few not as well-known artists who have Christmas albums that are guaranteed to have you rockin’ around the Christmas tree.

One of those artists is Matt Wertz, who has a Christmas album titled “Snow Globe.” The album has many great songs such as “Snow Globe,” “Tennessee Christmas” and “Wake up, Wake up” which are bound to make you dance around your living room. Even though Wertz many not have any show-stopping hits like our favorite rendition of “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley, his songs will hit you in the feels and will be a great addition to any playlist that is populated with all of the classics.

If you are looking for some artists who have some great Christmas versions of the classics like “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” Lauren Daigle and Nat King Cole are where it is at. Lauren Daigle is a Christian artist who has a Christmas album titled “Behold.” The album has other Christmas classics like “White Christmas” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Cole’s Christmas album titled “The Christmas Song (Expanded Edition)” is a pastiche of all his classic Christmas tunes that will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

A band that has a great Christmas album that is sure to turn some heads with the humor and originality of its songs is Straight No Chaser. Straight No Chaser’s Christmas album titled “I’ll Have Another…Christmas Album” has a song titled “The 12 Days of Christmas” that trades to the tune of “Africa” by TOTO about 1 minute and 30 seconds through the song. This addition of the well-loved song by TOTO, but with the lyrics changed a tad, is one catchy tune that you will have in your head and heart for the whole holiday season and probably after. Straight No Chaser has many other Christmas albums but one song on their album titled “Christmas Cheer” is “Who Spiked the Eggnog” and it will bring you back to your last Christmas party where the eggnog was questionable. One last song titled “The Christmas Can-Can” is bound to raise spirits with its catchy tune and funny random interjections throughout the song.

One last honorable mention is Lea Michele’s new album that came out this past October titled “Christmas in The City.” This album has a song by Michele titled “Christmas in New York” that will leave individuals aching to spend Christmas in New York with all of its festivities and unique experiences.

After individuals have played all of these songs on repeat for countless hours it could be lots of fun to gather a group of friends and go caroling around at local nursing homes or care facilities. This is also another great way to brighten spirits this holiday season and allow music to be the gift that keeps on giving.

Some places that could be good to carol at would be Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center, Children’s Mercy, Saint Luke’s Hospital, Santa Marta and the Olathe Medical Center. These are places where the residents or patients could really use some cheering up this season. Always make sure that you call or email the community beforehand to make sure that they allow caroling and that you are aware of specific protocol that could be in place when it comes to caroling or visitors in general.

Listening to new music and sharing its blessings with others can be some of the most meaningful gifts that can be shared this season.