Melz Christmas Top 5: My 5 Favorite Christmas Songs!

Happy Holidays fam! I can't lie, I've been very "hum-buggish" this holiday season. I don't know if its the weather or if its because my wife's job is sending her out of town for 3 weeks during the holidays so my family won't be together as a unit this year, but I'm starting to come around! So, I thought about what are my favorite all time Christmas songs, and I got 5 of them! Here they are starting with Numero Cinco!   5. "Players Ball" - Outkast / Believe it or not, Outkast's debut single is actually a "Christmas" song. Released on Nov. 19 1993, "Players Ball" was included in "A LaFace Family Christmas" a christmas compilation album featuring TLC, Toni Braxton and more. Listen for the "jingle bells" in the background of the track.

4. "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" - The Jackson 5 / Michael and his brothers put the FUNK on this one which is why its one of my all-time favorites.

3. "This Christmas" - Donny Hathaway / Okay, before you curse me out, here me out. I was one of the those people who said "This song should NEVER be covered" because there are quite a few crappy covers floating around out there. But there are also some excellent ones by artists like The Whispers, Dru Hill and Chris Brown. While the late Donny Hathaway's version remains the gold standard, I've come to enjoy other versions over time.

2. "Silent Night, Holy Night" - Bebe and Cece Winans / What I love about this version is how beautiful Bebe and Cece harmonize throughout the song, sends chills up your spine at times. The most amazing thing about this song, is you could play this on any given day of the week outside of Christmas because of its smooth rhythm and blues feel. Definitely one of my favorites!

And my all-time FAVORITE CHRISTMAS OF LIKE ALL TIME IS.......

1. "Silent Night" - The Temptations / OKAY! So i basically picked the same song twice! That's how much I love the song! In this CLASSIC version, The Tempts start with what seems like a childhood story then Melvin Franklin comes in with that SOULFUL "In my mind...." From then on, just harmony, soul, and love just fills your earlobes. Every time this song comes on I'm taken back to childhood at Grandma's with the family and gifts all around the tree.