Song of the Day: 'Christmas Day' by Dido

Day 5 of my holiday gems you may not know: Today's pick appeared on the fifth edition of "A Very Special Christmas," the iconic holiday album Jimmy Iovine put together in 1987 as a way of coping with the death of his father. To be honest, I don't think I even knew they'd made more than two of these, but the 2001 edition ("A Very Special Christmas 5") featured Macy Gray, Wyclef Jean, Eve 6 as well as established acts like Darlene Love, B.B. King, Tom Petty, Jon Bon Jovi and Stevie Nicks. 

But it was this contribution by Dido, who was on top of the world with her quadruple platinum debut, "No Angel," that subtly stole the show. 

ICYMI:

How a 1987 Christmas album changed the way the holiday sounds 

Song of the Day: 'Give You Up' by Dido

Empowering new breakup anthem from the aughts favorite. Read about Dido's upcoming album and tour HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Mary's in India' by Dido

Read that Dido is releasing a new album and touring for the first time in 15 years and went on a listening bender over the weekend. I'd forgotten how much her music meant to me in the aughts -- my friend Greg and I even produced a rarities CD of her work -- few songs more so than this one, about the fallout of a young woman who moves away from her boyfriend and best friend. I eventually learned Dido had put out an album in 2013 called "Girl Who Got Away" -- the last one I had was 2008's "Safe Trip Home" and I don't remember listening to it much. While "Girl" has some nice moments, I was really turned off by the men she recruited to scream over her lovely songs, one of whom turned out to be the Kendrick Lamar. Are we sure he's not some kind of performance art/social experiment being played on the world?

Something old ...

and something new.

Song of the Day: 'Smalltown Boy' by Dido

This would have been a nice one for my post on Gender-Reassignment Cover Songs!

Song of the Day: 'White Flag' by Dido

White Flags Mysteriously Appear Atop the Brooklyn Bridge

I smell a comeback attempt.

Song of the Day: 'Honestly OK' by Dido

Heard this in a bar the other night and was reminded just how flawless "No Angel" is, where the album tracks are just as good as the singles. 

A look at the Dido collection my friend Greg and I produced about a decade ago ...

Addicted to 'Sex'

It's no secret what I think of the "Sex and the City" movie franchise -- as awful as the first one was, this one looks even worse (Abu Dhabi and Miley Cyrus???). But I love my "girls," so you know I jumped at the chance to attend a screening and a press conference -- in the shoe department at Bergdorf Goodman(!) -- with all four women and Chris Noth. Details on Monday. And even if the movie isn't great, at least there's a new Dido tune!

Plus this surprise ...