Jingle Bell Rock
Ah, that spirited nasal twang of 16-year-old Brenda Lee singing the "Deck! The Halls with Boughs of Holly!" chorus from her mega-hit "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"! When it comes to Christmas classics, some people like their Bing, others their Perry, but for some folks there's nothing quite like that tortured holiday teenage (and beyond) angst of the girl once known as "Little Miss Dynamite." Who else could sing songs like "Marshmallow World" and "Strawberry Snow" and not only make it forgivable, but enjoyable? Brenda gets a bit on the weepy side here with "Blue Christmas" and "Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day," but that's the part of her shtick that many people consider the money shot.--Steve Gdula