WE DON'T LIVE IN THIS COURTROOM:  In honor of Denzel Washington's 60th birthday this Sunday, The Root lists his top ten movies, but since it doesn't include Devil in a Blue Dress it is wrong.

I CAN SEE A BETTER TIME WHEN ALL OUR DREAMS COME TRUE: How "Fairytale of New York" came to be.

[This year's UK Christmas #1: Yet Another X-Factor Winner, with Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson's pretty completely fantastic "Uptown Funk" in second.]

UP WHERE HE BELONGS:  R.I.P. Joe Cocker, whose soulful voice remains unforgettable.