Normally I ABHOR holiday music. Perhaps it’s because, as a Jew, I take the lack of popular Hanukkah music very personally. Yeah, maybe I should blame my people for the lack of catchy songs honoring the beautiful thing that is the festival of lights (AKA the holiday where privileged Jewish children get a different gift every night for eight consecutive nights…oh yeah and light candles, eat Latkes and say prayers and stuff) but no. Instead I hate on Christmas music. Oh well. I guess I’m grateful that we at least got Adam Sandler‘s “Hanukkah Song.”? Another artist I’m thankful for in general is “Brave“/”Gorgeous“/”Defying Gravity” singer Idina Menzel. While her new holiday album, the aptly titled Holiday Wishes (Warner Brothers Records) is filled with predominantly Christmas music—Idina Menzel is herself, very Jewish. SCORE for the Jews!

While Idina Menzel gained a lot of recent attention and notoriety thanks to her role in Disney‘s animated behemoth of a hit, Frozen (have you heard “Let It Go“?) theater fans know her for her stage performances, including her star making role as the original Maureen in Broadway’s 1996 SMASH RENT (a role she reprised in 2005 for the film version). Oh, then there was her Tony Award-winning performance in Wicked and most recently, her Tony-nominated role in If/Then.  Over the years Menzel has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including Private Practice, Rescue Me, Glee, Enchanted, and of course, Frozen…the film that would ULTIMATELY cement Menzel’s name in the annals of contemporary pop culture—well the film Frozen combined with John Travolta‘s infamous butchering of her name at the Oscars last year. The movie went on to become the highest-grossing animated film to date, winning numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for it’s signature song, sung by none other than Idina Menzel.

To celebrate the upcoming holiday as well as the release of Idina’s new album, I’m giving away 2 copies of Holiday Wishes. To enter, fill out the FORM below (it looks like a comment box) with your name, email and favorite holiday song (Christmas, Hanukkah or other). The contest ends this Friday, December 12th and winners will be announced on Saturday December 13th. GOOD LUCK & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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