We all know “River” was written and originally sung by Canadian icon Joni Mitchell in 1971.

But do you know about my favorite version of this song sung by Robert Downey, Jr. in 2000? Yes, Iron Man can sing. And he performs this song so well.

Downey performed the song while a cast member on the hit TV show “Ally McBeal”. His version appears on the “Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas” soundtrack.

So why is this my favorite version? Well, it’s Robert Downey, Jr. A man who has overcome so much in his 59 years and has proven time and time again how talented he is, not just in acting but in singing. This song isn’t the only music Downey has ever recorded. There’s many more. Do yourself a favor and scan Spotify or any music streaming service for his tunes. You won’t be disappointed.

All it took was a heat wave in July 1946 for composer Leroy Anderson to come up with the song “Sleigh Ride”. Then BOOM! You have Arthur Fiedler’s Boston Pops first performing it on May 4, 1948. And it’s all fully enjoyable from there.

A few years later in 1950 Mitchell Parish came up with the great idea of adding lyrics and suddenly we were enjoying coffee and pumpkin pie at Farmer Gray’s birthday party. You know, it’s nearly like a picture print by Currier and Ives. Which is one of the things I love about it the most. You can close your eyes and listen to this piece and picture yourself on a sleigh ride, then stopping to have fun and warm up at an old farmhouse. It’s so Christmasy!

Fun facts about this song: ASCAP named it the most popular piece of music in the U.S. between 2009 and 2012 based on performance data from over 2,500 radio stations. Anderson’s recording remains the most popular instrumental version, while Johnny Mathis‘s has become the most popular vocal version.

Yes, the Leroy Anderson version of this song is my favorite but my second favorite is Bob Rivers’ “Flu Ride”.

I’ll also add that it’s origination is entirely based in Massachusetts: Anderson was born in Cambridge, MA and the song was first performed by the Boston Pops. Yeah! Another feather in our Masscaps!

Although the song “Blue Christmas” has been recorded by everyone from Billy Idol to Porky Pig, the best version in my opinion is by Elvis.

The song was written in 1948 by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and was first recorded by Dove O’Dell. Elvis really put it on the map when he recorded it in 1957.

What I like most about it is that Elvis doesn’t sing it like it’s a sad song, he sings it with soul and style.

It’s been twenty years since Josh Groban brought “Believe” alive as the closing number to the hit Christmas film “The Polar Express”.

Written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, the song won a Grammy in the category Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media in 2006.

One reason why it’s one of my favorites is because it is a very moving song, sung by one of the greatest voices of our time. I never tire of hearing it during the holiday season.

We now come to our second Beatle Christmas song with 1979’s “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney. This song was McCartney’s first solo single since 1971. Members of Wings did not appear on the recording but appear in the video.

Why I like it: although critics have called it a mediocre work by McCartney, it is a song done by a Beatle and it’s cheerful with lots of bells and background singers chanting “ding-dong, ding-dong”.

Although the original is well-done, in 2013 Straight No Chaser recorded a version with McCartney which outshines the original.