Beginning around Thanksgiving, the holiday music comes out and can be heard everywhere. While some of the songs have been around for years, others were released more recently.
All I Want for Christmas Is You: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is a fan favorite song by American singer Mariah Carey from her first holiday album, Merry Christmas (1994). The track is an upbeat love song with bell chimes and backing vocals. It has topped the charts for 12 consecutive years, with it being the number one song from 2019 to 2022. The song is adored on radios across the world, and its popularity rises every December.
Last Christmas: This song, written and produced by George Michael, is one of the most popular songs of the holiday season. It is most classically performed by the British pop duo Wham! and perfectly captures the sadness of a holiday romance that didn’t work out. Released in December of 1984, it quickly topped the charts in the UK, Denmark, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the US.
Let It Snow: “Let It Snow” is a holiday classic loved by many generations. Ironically, it was written in July of 1945 in California during a heat wave. Its artists, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, wrote it as they hoped for cooler conditions. The song does not mention any specific holiday, but it is now covered by so many artists in their Christmas albums that it is now mostly considered a Christmas song.
Rocking Around the Christmas Tree: Written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958, “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” is a rockabilly Christmas classic sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. By the song’s 50th anniversary in 2007, Lee’s original version had sold over 25 million copies around the world. With the fourth most digital downloads of any Christmas single, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2019.
Feliz Navidad: This Christmas favorite was written and first recorded in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Jose Feliciano. “Feliz Navidad” has simple, heartfelt lyrics and includes the traditional Spanish Christmas and New Year greeting as its main chorus. This song has attracted fans from all around the world, topping charts in 29 different countries. In 2012, the first recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Underneath the Tree: This song is seen as a potential Christmas classic and is often compared to the legendary “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey. This song talks about relationships during the holiday season. This romantic Christmas song is both catchy with all the instrumental sounds as well as heartwarming as it refers to the importance of love around the holiday season.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is a classic Christmas song as well as a classic movie. The song’s lyrics remind children to be good because Christmas is soon, and they’d better be on their best behavior to ensure that they are on the Nice List. Appearing on the radio for the first time in 1934, this is truly a timeless Christmas song.
Baby It’s Cold Outside: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is a very popular holiday song written in 1944 with many different recordings. This song is often referred to as a Christmas song because of its winter theme. This Christmas song, although seen as controversial by some, is still a piece that’s very well known.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: This song is extremely well-known as the song talks about all of Santa’s reindeer. His most important reindeer is Rudolph who has become a iconic Christmas character being shown in many movies and Christmas decorations. Rudolph is best known because of his glowing red nose which makes him the most unique reindeer leading Santa’s pack. This snappy Christmas song is loved by people of all ages because of Rudolph’s positive story about the benefits of being different.
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch: This special Christmas character was created by none other than Dr. Seuss and has been performed by many different people. The Grinch is an extremely well-known Christmas story and has had several movie adaptations over the years. Although later in the story this Grinch changes his ways, this story reflects on the Grinch negatively.