Christmas: a time of joy, love and forgiveness; spent cozying up by the fireplace sipping hot cocoa, exchanging cookies with family and friends or tobogganing down a snowy hill while the chilly air turns your cheeks pink. Aside from the fun wintertime activities and delicious treats, the holiday season brings a festive music selection, heard all around the world at parties and department stores alike. I have compiled a list of the 10 best Christmas songs, some timeless classics, others more modern; some upbeat and others on the slower side. Despite their differences, these songs all capture the essence of the holidays and are essential parts of the season’s soundtrack.
10. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” – Michael Bublé
I always play this song the morning after Thanksgiving Day because it perfectly describes the start of the holiday season: shoppers already flooding the stores, wreaths hung on lampposts and the overall excitement that comes around this time of year. It is a great song to play while decorating your Christmas tree or strolling through Lancaster City to see the lights.
9. “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” – Nat King Cole
The vintage feel of this song reminds me of reading a book next to the fireplace while snow falls outside. It returns to the simple, timeless phrase “Merry Christmas” and the wonder we all experienced during the holidays when we were children. The soft piano and Cole’s warm vocals work in harmony to create what is the most nostalgic Christmas song on this list.
8. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Bing Crosby
No Christmas soundtrack would be complete without a Bing Crosby song. This classic is sung from the perspective of someone far from home who promises his loved ones that he will be back in time for Christmas Eve, emphasizing the comfort of spending the holiday season with family and friends. The longing in Crosby’s voice is very clear, and the last line—“I’ll be home for Christmas/If only in my dreams”—paints a slightly sadder picture of a lonely man wishing he could be enjoying the season’s festivities with those people.
7. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee
Fun fact: Lee was only 13 years old when she recorded this song, which has become one of the most popular Christmas songs in America. Unlike the previous three songs in this ranking, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is cheerful and upbeat, perfect for holiday parties. It captures the light, carefree side of the season in a way that not many other songs accomplish, and it makes me want to literally dance around my Christmas tree while I decorate.
6. “Santa Tell Me”- Ariana Grande
Released in 2014, Grande’s most loved Christmas song is certainly more modern than most other popular sounds of the season, but nevertheless it is on its way to becoming a classic. It is about reflecting on a failed relationship and asking Santa for your current one to turn out better. That may sound disheartening, but the catchy melody and infectious beat, paired with Grande’s famous high notes, make for a bright pop song perfect for holiday parties.
5. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” – John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band, and Yoko Ono
This song, originally written in protest to the Vietnam War, is about an ideal Christmas, a holiday everyone can enjoy without fear of something bad happening. The voices in the background remind me of children’s voices, which I think adds to the innocent joyfulness of the piece and compliments Lennon’s more mature vocals. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” captures the simultaneous relief, hope, excitement and peace that we feel at the end of the year when everything is going well.
4. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey
Referred to as the “Queen of Christmas,” Mariah Carey has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the holiday season every year since 2019 with this iconic song- and for good reason. Rather than snow or presents under the tree, the only thing on Carey’s wishlist is a certain someone, and she conveys that longing in a more cheerful way with the bright beat and melody. Starting Nov. 1, this song is heard worldwide, and Carey even makes a short video each year in which she sings “it’s time” in her famously high falsetto followed by the first few lines. All of this just goes to show how much of a Christmas music staple “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is.
3. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Frank Sinatra
Out of the more old-fashioned classic Christmas songs, this one is definitely my favorite. The slow tempo and promise of brighter days ahead makes it the perfect track for sitting in front of the tree on Christmas Eve, taking in the lights. It has a certain nostalgia and simplicity, and the chorus of voices in the background along with Sinatra’s own smooth, crisp voice adds to its coziness and peaceful charm. The chorus of voices in the background adds to its peaceful charm.
2. “Hallelujah” – Pentatonix
Although it’s not technically a Christmas song, “Hallelujah”—a stunning Leonard Cohen cover with many lyric changes—still deserves a spot in the ranking because it is often associated with the holidays. The gorgeous acappella style of the song, as well as the raw, heart-wrenching lyrics like “And it’s not a cry that you hear at night/It’s not somebody who’s seen the light/It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah,” never fails to give me chills. As the cherry on top, the soft humming at the end concludes a piece that embodies the passion and deeper reflectiveness of Christmas.
1. “Last Christmas” – Wham!
One of the most iconic Christmas anthems, “Last Christmas” is universally loved. The lyrics tell a classic story of heartbreak and simultaneous longing, captured within a timeless and festive 1980s melody. Although Wham! broke up, this song lives on as one of the most recognizable hits of the season. It is also one of the most played Christmas songs, but that has not affected its appeal, as it remains a classic made for sing-alongs and holiday-themed karaoke.
No matter your music taste, the Christmas season presents a huge selection of songs that embody the various feelings surrounding this time of year. The tracks listed here are just some of the countless ones heard all over, from parties to dimly-lit living rooms to the mall. Listening to seasonal music is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.
