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Recommended R&B Christmas Songs

Season's Greetings ...

From , former About.com Guide

The holiday season and R&B are a natural pairing, since each focus a lot on love, joy and happiness. And when you're looking for R&B-style holiday songs, the problem is not trying to find them; no, the problem - if you want to call it that - is that there's so many out there, it's hard to sort through the literally tens of thousands of them to find the really good stuff. So to help you out a little, your Guide to R&B has compiled a list of great holiday songs by R&B artists, including audio streams for some tracks.

1. "The Christmas Song," Brian McKnight

Brian McKnight's smooth, soulful, updated version of the holiday classic "The Christmas Song" is off his 2008 holiday album, I'll Be Home for Christmas, which came out in October 2008.

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2. "This Christmas," Day26

"This Christmas" isn't your typical holiday song; the fellas try to get their sexy on during the tune, and the result is mixed. But the good news is that it's got a highly romantic holiday vibe.

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3. "Boot-off," Bootsy Collins

Boot-Off," is a very funky remake of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," and can be found on Bootsy's first-ever Christmas album, Christmas Is 4 Ever, which was released on the Shout! Factory label back in October 2006.

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4. "Be There for Christmas," Ledisi

"Be There for Christmas" is a swinging, mature tune about spending the holidays with that special someone by jazz-R&B singer Ledisi. The song's off her first holiday album, It's Christmas, which came out back in September, 2008.
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5. "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," Mary Mary

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is from A Mary Mary Christmas, an album of new and classic holiday music by the R&B/Gospel duo Mary Mary that was released by My Block Records back in October 2006.

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6. "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," The Jackson 5

A classic from back when Michael was still young and untroubled. This song perfectly captures the joy and excitement that children feel during the holiday season.

7. "Silent Night," Mariah Carey

From Mariah's 1994 album Merry Christmas, Mariah does a great job updating this song for a modern audience.

8. "Let It Snow," Boyz II Men feat. Brian McKnight

Originally on the Boyz II Men CD Christmas Interpretations, this fun, festive song can also be found on the holiday compilation The Soulful Sounds of Christmas.

9. "O Come All Ye Faithful," Faith Evans

From Faith's 2005 album A Faithful Christmas. You can practically feel the love in Faith's voice on this modern remake of the classic song.

10. "White Christmas," Babyface

From the 1998 CD Christmas With Babyface. 'Face's soft, romantic vocals on this remake are perfect for heating up cold winter nights.

11. "Carol of the Bells," Mary Mary

"Carol of the Bells" originally had its beginnings as, believe it or not, a Ukrainian folk song in the early 1900s. This version can be found on A Mary Mary Christmas.

 

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