A Special Holiday from The Round Table

Ho! Ho! Ho! No, I'm not reciting a Ludacris lyric, but I'm starting to get into the spirit of the season. The first snowfall has touched the Northeast (that was before the monsoons hit, y'all), houses along my street are starting to string their Christmas lights up, and your local radio station is either starting to mix holiday music in with their regular rotation, or they have switched over to completely holiday music (I'm sorry. I don't have *that* much Christmas spirit. No sane person should have that much Christmas spirit). So, in the interests of making sure your ears don't fall of from listening to too much Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, here are five holiday songs to warm your heart, make you wanna kiss someone under the motel, and possibly make you strangle yourself and/or someone else. Joy to the world!!

Donny Hathaway "This Christmas"-Nearly thirty years after his death, hathaway is finally starting to get his due as a soul legend and one of the greatest voices ever to record a song. He's been name checked by everyone form Justin Timberlake to Amy Winehouse to Ruben Studdard, and rightfully so. This festive holiday jam should be more than enough excuse for you to check out more of his work.

This Christmas - Donny Hathaway

The Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping"-One of the Eighties' best songs-holiday or no holiday-this fun, new wave jam actually tells a complete story within it's lyrics. The song's main character meets a guy at a ski shop and through a series of follies, eventually runs into him...oh, I'm not gonna spoil it for you. Listen to the song.

Prince "Another Lonely Christmas"-Leave it to Prince to be different. Sure to turn your festivities into a bummer real quick, this song finds the Purple One lamenting the loss of a special girlfriend who passed away on Christmas Day. It's sad, but it's an awesome song and proves that during his "Purple Rain" period, the man could do no wrong.

Another Lonely Christmas - Prince

Kenny Loggins "Celebrate Me Home"-One of the sweetest Christmas songs ever recorded. This song makes me feel warm inside. Kenny Loggins catches a lot of crap, but this song is beautiful. Being around loved ones is the true spirit of the holiday season (and I say this without sarcasm, believe it or not).

Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins

Luke "Christmas Time is Party Time"-Christmas is also the time for random butt-shaking. If you want to have a Miami Bass Christmas, check out this song by the former leader of the 2 Live Crew and First Amendment crusader. I guarantee you that this is the only holiday song that mentions Snow White & the Seven Hoes.

Christmas Time Is Party Time - Luke

Happy Holidays!!