Here are 10 holiday songs for your uber-gay Christmas Day.
All of these artists are proudly LGBTQ, and celebrated for their artistry their respective genres.
1. George Michael (back in his Wham! days) delivered unto us this now-required listening holiday pop gem, “Last Christmas,” in 1986.
2. Out country hunk Ty Herndon takes the iconic “O Come All Ye Faithful” into African rhythm territory here, and it totes works.
3. It doesn’t get any more camp than this: the first true bear band, Bearforce1, with their holiday mashup, “Christmas is here!”
4. Two-time Out Music Award winner Matt Zarley covered Mariah Carey’s “Miss You Most At Christmastime” to spectacular result as part of his ‘UnCOVERED’ cover song series.
5. Award-winning cabaret star Ann Hampton Callaway offers this uber-jazzy “Jingle Bells.”
6. Before winning an Emmy Award as an insane murderer on American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, Darren Criss’ “Blaine” was singing and dancing the holiday classic “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in high style with out actor Chris Colfer’s “Kurt” on GLEE.
7. Tony Award winner Levi Kreis (Million Dollar Quartet) gives you a little bit gospel, a little bit rockabilly on his new cover of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”
8. Elton John released his “Step Into Christmas” in 1973 and it raced all the way to #1 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart that year.
9. Handsome out smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz shared this cover of “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” on his 1997 release, December Makes Me Feel This Way.
10. Bright Light Bright Light gifted us with this synth-pop version of the classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
Easily my favorite thing today, this new recording of "Higher and Higher" by the fab Dave Koz with buds Rick Braun and Kenny Lattimore just lifts my spirit.
This is what the New York Times had to say about Dave:
“The saxophonist Dave Koz reigns not only as one of the most bankable stars of smooth jazz but also one of the most hospitable, a point hammered home on his new compilation album, ‘Collaborations: 25th-Anniversary Collection.’”
Out smooth jazz star (and nine-time Grammy nominee) Dave Koz teams up with Scott Bradlee & Postmodern Jukebox for this "smooth version" of the "Game of Thrones" theme.
Dave guests on a very different version of the 80s hit "Careless Whisper" with Postmodern Jukebox.
Scott Bradlee, the genius behind Postmodern Jukebox, seeks to reinvent pop songs in what he feels are new, more artistic settings:
"My goal with Postmodern Jukebox is to get my audience to think of songs not as rigid, ephemeral objects, but like malleable globs of silly putty. Songs can be twisted, shaped, and altered without losing their identities–just as we grow, age, and expire without losing ours–and it is through this exploration that the gap between “high” and “low” art can be bridged most readily."
Dave (9-time Grammy Award nominee, don't you know) has a great solo beginning at 1:42 exploring different styles with the song. He's also a little cagey in the beginning playing a bit then sneaking out.
You can check out more from Dave here, and more from Postmodern Jukebox here.
For Valentine's Day, I wanted to share a special Valentine's Day edition of The Candi & Randy Show from 2012.
In addition to celebrating romantic Valentine's Day music, we were thrilled to be joined by very special guests: smooth jazz superstar - Dave Koz; the fabulous Donny Osmond; Star of ABC's True Beauty & Chippendales - Billy Jeffrey; and the "First Lady of British Musical Theatre"- Elaine Paige.
They share with us personal their favorite Valentine's Day memories.
AND - we feature lots of our favorite romantic songs perfect for Valentine's Day. Sit back and enjoy. We really loved this one.
