I only take advice from 80s songs.

And so we reach the final day of our calendar. It's been a quick Christmas season this year, but I hope a pleasant one for all of you. On this Christmas Eve I leave you with Peter, Paul and Mary's charming rendition of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Of course, everything they do is charming, so that's no surprise.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you celebrating, and to all of you who aren't. The Yuletide archive opens tomorrow, and there are lots of fun fics posted this year. I can't wait to read them.

I have been busy baking up a storm today and I'm just now getting around to this. Sorry!

Since we're reaching the end of this year's calendar (oh God I have so much to do before Christmas Eve) let's turn our focus to some new year's songs. It's tradition! Today I have a new version of Auld Lang Syne courtesy of Colbie Caillat. I think it's a really lovely version; hopefully you will too.

Auld Lang Syne

Day 20 already! I'm freaking out a little about all the things I need to do before Christmas. So business as usual, then.

Today we revisit the acapella world for a few tracks from Pentatonix, aka the season 3 winners of The Sing-Off. They put out a Christmas EP this year, and some of you may have already heard their version of "The Little Drummer Boy", which has been floating around the interwebs.

The whole EP is great -- well, I'm not a huge fan of their version of "Angels We Have Heard On High" -- but the tracks I'm posting today are the ones that I enjoy most. I have a weakness for "Go Tell It On the Mountain" especially.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Carol Of the Bells
Go Tell It On the Mountain

Our featured artist today is another Motown great, The Temptations. I was serious about how much I love Motown Christmas music. The first is the fantastic "This Christmas", written by the brilliant Donny Hathaway back in 1971 and covered by the Temptations in 1983. It's been covered many, many times, but...The Temptations.

The second is the often overlooked "My Christmas Tree", from 1970's Temptations Christmas Card, which features a gorgeous vocal from Eddie Kendricks just before his exit from the group.

This Christmas
My Christmas Tree

Continuing with our Motown theme, today's artist is Stevie Wonder, with one classic carol and one song that was written for him, as well as the title track of his eighth album. A classic in its own right!

The Little Drummer Boy
Someday at Christmas

ETA: FYI, all the links should be working now. I was copying from Google Docs while I was away and I kept forgetting to fix the smart quotes. Sorry!

Acapella has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity lately, thanks to reality TV, but Manhattan Transfer has been recording for decades now. While they are not strictly acapella (they also record jazz and fusion) they released an acapella Christmas album a few years ago that’s really fun. Here are a few tracks:

Manhattan Transfer -- Jingle Bells
Manhattan Transfer -- Winter Wonderland
Manhattan Transfer -- White Christmas

Our featured song today is O Holy Night, in honor of Cheri, who has waited patiently all these years while I ignore her favorite. It wasn’t intentional, honest. I just never really think about this song. To make up for that, here are five versions, ranging from classic to Irish traditional to Motown.

101 Strings Orchestra -- O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel) (instrumental)
The Backbeats -- O Holy Night (acapella)
Carrie Underwood -- O Holy Night
The Drifters -- O Holy Night
The Chieftains f/Rickie Lee Jones -- O Holy Night

And for those of you who aren’t into church music, here are a couple tracks of the Oxford St. Peter’s Choir doing less religious holiday classics. I had no idea I needed a choir singing "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" in my life until I heard it for the first time.

Oxford St. Peter’s Choir -- Deck the Halls
Oxford St. Peter’s Choir -- Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Today’s featured song is Silent Night. I have three versions for you, one a traditional choir arrangement, one a contemporary recording, and one a Motown classic. Something for everyone!

Oxford St. Peter’s Choir -- Silent Night
Kelly Clarkson -- Silent Night
The Four Tops f/Aretha Franklin -- Silent Night

Today we depart from the traditional a bit with Kelly Clarkson, who just released a new Christmas album. Below are three of her nontraditional tracks, two originals and one a cover. The whole album is pretty good, though, and there are plenty of traditional carols if you want to check out more.

Kelly Clarkson -- Wrapped In Red
Kelly Clarkson -- Underneath the Tree
Kelly Clarkson -- Just For Now (Imogen Heap cover)

PSA: This morning I am flying to Florida for eight days. I'll be incommunicado for at least half that time, but I have a plan to keep up with the calendar. Hopefully my plan will work; if not, I will catch up as soon as I'm able. If I mess up any links while I'm gone, I'll fix them as soon as I get back.