Song #3 - That's What Christmas Means to Me

December 3
Song #3

"That's What Christmas Means To Me"
by Stevie Wonder

Surprise! It's another toe-tapper! I love songs that get me in the holiday mood, and Stevie delivers with this song! I must tell you that most of the songs you'll see on this top 25 list are songs that I've grown up hearing and/or are quite traditional. Today's song, however, did not reach my ears until I was already in college. 

For a brief time while attending North Park University in Chicago, I worked at The Gap at Old Orchard Shopping Mall in Skokie (shout-out to Matty and Rene!). Fun times, fun times. The BEST part about working at The Gap (other than getting to fold and put all the clothes back in order by size - always have had a librarian's heart for organization) was the Holiday Playlist. True, it may have broken my "no Christmas music before Thanksgiving" rule, but it sure made the hours of work more bearable! One of the songs on that playlist (which played over and over and over and over) was today's song - "That's What Christmas Means To Me." The true test of a good Christmas song is being able to listen to it repeatedly for weeks on end without ever tiring of it. It's been over 15 years, and I still love hearing this one! 

When I went back for my first shift after Christmas, there was a new playlist. I was crestfallen, and asked my manager about it. He told me he broke the CD he was so sick of it. (Yes, kids, back then we had to use these things called CDs to play music.) No more Christmas Playlist? Suddenly, my zeal for working at the Gap diminished.

Well, lucky for me, the playlist is seared into my memory, so I can recreate it whenever I like. 

Here's the Spotify Link to my favorite discovery from my days working at The Gap:

That's What Christmas Means To Me - Stevie Wonder

Don't have Spotify? Try your luck with this random YouTube link.


Side note: While I will tolerate most any Christmas song, not every song can make it to the top 25. Another song from the Gap Playlist that did NOT make my list was "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney. Sorry, Paul. Not my style. Interestingly enough, "Cool it Now" by New Edition, which is NOT a Christmas song, feels like a Christmas song to me now due to its inclusion on the Gap Playlist for that month. Who knew working at The Gap would have such a profound influence on my life? Now, please excuse me while I go fold some clothes.