Family gatherings, reconnecting with old friends, celebrating beloved traditions — the holiday season is always a time of nostalgia. This sentimentality extends to our playlists. Holiday music has a long and varied history, and Christmas albums in particular have been made in just about every genre imaginable. Recently, Debbie Gibson — who burst onto the musical scene as a precocious teen singer-songwriter back in 1987, and is now 52 — released her first holiday album, which got us thinking about how much joy our favorite singers from the ’80s and ’90s have brought us. To honor their gifts, we made a list of seasonal sounds from six of our favorite 80’s and 90’s pop divas (who are all still going strong!).
Debbie Gibson, Winterlicious
The “Only in My Dreams” singer’s new holiday album features a mix of original songs and covers of classics like “Let It Snow” and “Sleigh Ride.” There’s a song for Hanukkah titled “Illuminate,” and a duet titled “Heartbreak Holiday” that’s co-written with fellow ’80s star, Joey McIntyre (of New Kids on the Block). In the spirit of the season, Gibson pays tribute to her family by singing a lovely rendition of “White Christmas” with her father, who she affectionately refers to as “Daddy Joe” on the album’s song list. If you remember Gibson’s time as a teen pop star, you’ll be happy to hear she hasn’t lost any of her cheerful spirit.
Winterlicious is available to buy from Amazon ($15.27) and is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.
