Christmas at the Quack

Even the most stalwart holdouts have probably started putting on some holiday tunes as we get deeper into the season.

The staff here at Porterhouse wanted to share some of our favorites with you. So check out Christmas at the Quack, with some singles highlighted by the team below.

Ethan's Pick: Riley Green

I feel a little silly with this as my pick. I got deep into the Louis Armstrong and the Duke Ellington, which feel like safer things to stand behind. But country singer Riley Green dropped Christmas to Me last year and I must have missed it. As someone who grew up in rural Illinois with a big family—my parents had six siblings each—and a smattering of cousins all within a 45 minute drive, this tune got me missing home. I'm excited to get back and see the next generation of little kids enjoying the warmth of their family at Christmas just like I did.

Omar's Pick: Christmas Time is Here  

For my Christmas song pick I went with a classic. Christmas Time is Here - Vocal version by Vince Guaraldi. I will admit that Christmas isn't my favorite holiday of the year, but this song puts it all into place for me, and properly gets me in that holiday cheer. Hearing the vocals always evokes memories of bad Hallmark movies, rich velvety hot cocoa, and a hectic jam-packed Macy's.

Grace's Pick: Whitney Houston

Before Mariah dominated the charts and monopolized the holiday airwaves, we were blessed with the powerhouse voice of Whitney Houston. There’s a Whitney track for every occasion. For example, I’m partial to blasting the Bodyguard soundtrack whenever I enter a National Park. But for the Christmas season, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Is a less ubiquitous choice than “All I Want for Christmas.” It’s also a plea for peace, written during the Cuban Missile Crisis. While popular culture liked to put these two divas against each other, there’s room for both in the rotation. Mariah may have the range but Whitney had the presence. Gone, but not forgotten.