Music is a huge part of my life all year round, and since these are the holidays, Christmas music takes center stage. To go on record, I can't listen to Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving....it just doesn't seem right before that. Now that we're into December, I'm in big-time holiday music mode.

Without question, my favorite Christmas song is "The Christmas Song." Many don't recognize the title, but everybody knows it just as soon as the first line of the song is sung. That line is: "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." Mel Torme is the co-writer of this classic. However, there is a catch to this being my favorite holiday tune. Its only my favorite when Nat King Cole sings it. Every other recording of this song just doesn't "do it" for me. Fortunately, his is the most played version. When I hear him singing it, it immediately takes me back to my childhood yuletide memories. I can almost "see" my grandparents on Christmas Eve when that song is played. That makes it very special to me. Music can be so powerful.

Next time you hear Nat King Cole singing that song on the radio during this holiday
season, I hope you really take some time to listen to the beauty of the lyrics and melody. Hopefully it'll fill you with the holiday spirit. Because what Mel Torme wrote really is true.....
"And so I'm offering this simple phrase, to kids from one to ninety-two. Although its been said, many times, many ways....Merry Christmas to you."