Christmas songs are a thing, and as December 25 draws inexorably closer, they become a thing that is more and more impossible to avoid, whether you love them or detest them or just accept them as an unavoidable part of life. And while a lot of ephemeral novelty garbage has been produced over the years, most Christmas songs are rather good. The top 10 Christmas songs of all time are listed below.
List of Best Christmas Songs of All Time
1. ‘All I Want for Christmas is You By Mariah Carey:
It’s hard to imagine, but Mimi’s perpetual earworm was once just a forgotten novelty tune from another generic pop-singer holiday album. One of the best indicators that the holidays have arrived in the post-Love world is hearing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” for the first time in a year. When it was first released in 1995, the song fizzled out quickly but gained cultural cachet in the 2000s. Its popularity gradually increased each year until it ultimately topped the US charts in 2019 and the UK charts in 2020. In pubs, whining about its prevalence has turned into a pastime for grumpy people.
2. ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ By Band-Aid:
A publicity machine of epic proportions, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s response to the Ethiopian famine in 1984 included participation from Phil Collins, Sting, Macca, and Bono. The strategy paid off: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was the biggest UK chart success of the decade and spent five weeks at the top. If you set that entire aside, it’s also a fantastic (and surprisingly original) pop song, meteorological misconceptions about snow be damned.
3. ‘Sleigh Rides’ By the Ronettes:
The distinctive and seductive vocals of Ronnie Spector could readily melt any Christmas snow. She croons about cuddling up on a sleigh ride while her fellow Ronettes ‘ring-a-ling-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding’ in this standout from the legendary Phil Spector Christmas album. Even though Spector’s arrangement is jam-packed with tinkling bells and hoof beats, the melody’s unstoppable warmth gives away the fact that this song was written during a July heat wave by light symphonic master Leroy Anderson.
4. ‘Christmas in Hollis’ By Run-DMC:
Run DMC’s clever “Crimbo” storyline tells the account of Run discovering Santa’s wallet filled with bills in the park on Christmas Eve. It is undoubtedly one of the best and most well-known Christmas hip-hop songs ever. However, I would never steal from Santa since that is wrong, claims Run with a beautiful display of holiday cheer. The result is a catchy song that gives you a little bounce if you’re feeling down after listening to too much Slade and Macca or just eating too many mince pies.
‘Christmas in Hollis’ By Run-DMC
5. ‘Santa Tell Me’ By Ariana Grande:
With this cheery, joyful hymn to joy, Ariana didn’t achieve a Mariah-level megahit, but she came closer than virtually any other pop diva in the roughly 30-year period since “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Unlike Kelly Clarkson, who channeled Darlene Love to achieve memorable success, Ari’s song seamlessly blends into her discography of smash hits. i.e., you may reasonably transition from this request to St. Nick to her most recent song about a late-night tantra session.
6. ‘Zat You, Santa Claus?’ By Louis Armstrong:
Even though it was recorded by one of the greatest jazz musicians to ever live, this Crimbo song manages to maintain a surprise low profile when Christmas music is played. Louis wasn’t particularly impressed either, but you know what? The song’s upbeat, witty lyrics and bouncy trumpet lines demonstrate that he is having a good time. And ultimately, Christmas should be enjoyable. Well done, Louis. Let’s hope Santa complies with your request to smuggle that very nice present under your door.
7. ‘Underneath The Tree’ By Kelly Clarkson:
Even though Kelly Clarkson’s excursion into holiday music is essentially a fresh version of Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” mashed together with “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” it manages to get away with it. Why? The songs’ perfect balance of schmaltz and Spector-style sass is partly due to Clarkson’s outstanding vocal performance, which also exudes an appealing honesty. Oh, and she briefly hits a high note near the end.
8. ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree By Brenda Lee:
Another timeless holiday classic that rather unexpectedly came out of the 1950s’ primarily fad-like, fleeting rockabilly craze Brenda Lee, who was thirteen at the time, has said that she doesn’t understand why Johnny Marks was so anxious for her to perform this song. But even after more than 60 years, it is still a charming, vivacious classic that perfectly captures a child’s enthusiasm for the holidays. Lee shouts about how much she is enjoying a holiday boogie.
9. ‘River’ By Joni Mitchell:
Do you feel that burning the turkey last year ruined your Christmas? Think of devastated Joni Mitchell, who wants to flee the holiday cheer all around her. It’s obvious from the somber piano introduction of “Jingle Bells” that this isn’t going to be a fun journey, yet it’s nonetheless lovely and delicate. By the time the song is over, all you’ll want to do is skate away with Joni and work to mend her shattered heart. It has been recorded by more than 500 people, so perhaps that is why it is one of her most frequently covered songs.
10. ‘’Tis the Damn Season’ By Taylor Swift:
Taylor Swift’s pre-pop career is still haunted by many ghosts, including a Christmas album that she presumably won’t record again as she did with Red and Fearless. The song “is the damn season” from the post-folklore and post-capitalization album evermore is far superior to any of the songs from The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection. It finds the singer spending the holidays at her parents’ house and becoming sentimental at the small-town sights and a familiar feel. Would you be able to sing it like “Jingle Bell Rock”? No. But if you’re bored, it might motivate you to call your high school sweetheart and go for a walk.
