Robby Klein
After what has been an extremely chaotic 11 months, this Christmas season may not be feeling like the most wonderful time of the year.
If you're finding yourself a little short on holiday cheer, why not try turning to the healing power of music? On the heels of the release of his new Christmas EP Miracle of Love: Christmas Songs of Worship, we asked renowned Christian artist Chris Tomlin to share some of his favorite Christmas songs with Nashville Lifestyles.
From timeless tunes like "O Holy Night" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" to his very own "Miracles Of Love" single, these Christmas carols are a reminder of the joyfulness of the season in a year that has felt like anything but.
So don your most festive Christmas sweater, turn up the radio, and see below for five of Chris Tomlin's favorite Christmas classics.
"Miracle Of Love"
Christmas is the great surprise to the world, and personally this Christmas continues in the spirit of unexpected gifts. When I found out that my wife and I are expecting our third child this December, I was surprised… to say the least.
Around the same time, I was starting to write music for this Christmas project and as I sat down the concept came so quickly. Christmas is about celebrating a gift from God, a surprise child for Joseph and Mary, a true Miracle Of Love. For me, it is another gift to be able to write a song about the surprise of our third baby girl and the parallel story of the birth of Jesus. As a songwriter, I felt so inspired and loved how each line of the song could have a double meaning.
"O Holy Night"
I have said for years that "O Holy Night" is one of my favorite Christmas songs. For me, the lyrics are so impactful and meaningful that I am reminded of the true reason for Christmas.
"O Come All Ye Faithful"
I often think about how when many of these classic songs were written, the writers didn’t know that they were writing some of the greatest Christmas songs we would come to know but rather they were writing a song of worship for that moment in the church. Now, they have become such standards that we call them carols. For me, when it comes to writing music around Christmas, I am inspired by these classics and try to write songs that create a sense of wonder around the Christmas season.
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
I am reminded of each year that Christmas is the only holiday to have its own genre of music, and for me I believe that is because Christmas started with a song. The story of Christmas begins when the angels appeared before the shepherds saying ‘Glory to God in the highest’. So many of the songs we sing today, including "Hark The Herald Angels Sing” remind us of the joyful celebration of Christmas.
"Silent Night"
For the last several years I have spent the better part of the Christmas season on the road, traveling from city to city on a Christmas tour and each night I end the concert with the song "Silent Night". As the Christmas season approached this year I was sure that we wouldn't be able to make the tour happen in light of COVID-19. However, together with some of my incredible partners we found a way to take the annual event online and at the end of the night I had the honor to sing that Christmas classic once again but this time with my two little girls Ashlyn and Madison. It will be a memory I never forget.