One of my favorite things about Christmas is the increased quality and frequency of ads in the end of the year. I don’t always mind how much more frequent the message is hammered home if the ads doing so are of a higher quality. GAP has just released a slew of new commercials that fit right into this description. Combining various celebrities you might not know that well/have thought of in awhile and updated versions of classic Christmas songs these ads are right in my wheelhouse. I’m a sucker for Christmas music.

Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You
Olivia Olson – All I Want for Christmas Is You
from Love Actually

Some people really go all out.
This is a good video, and it is a great Christmas special. I know I’ve been rocking out to this Charlie Brown Christmas Mashup for the last few weeks. Dig it!

This holiday season I’ve noticed a slew of commercials using very similar music. I’m thinking of Old Navy and JCPenney especially. These commercials usually have a lot of beautiful women lounging in sweaters, petting dogs, walking in the snow, etc. The music always has a female singer and is sparsely composed–usually just a guitar or piano. There are no baselines, no throbbing beat, just vulnerable folky warbling. That’s right up my alley. You Tube videos …

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Clark Griswold and his wonderful family. The Griswold’s are really the pioneers of the Hilarious Dysfunctional Family which has been made popular by Everybody Loves the King of Queens Dear at Home (they all run together for me, sorry). Chevy Chase, you sir did it first, and you sir do it best.
That Spirit of Christmas.
Saved the best for last. If you just can’t get enough or find this speech oddly …