The celebration of Christmas can’t really be complete without the music, serving up all the festivities.
The joyous time of the year, with flakes of snow falling at your doorsteps and starry-eyed kids waiting on Santa to drop new presents under the tree, as you cosy-up inside a blanket on your couch, drinking hot chocolate, is only felt complete when you have an entire playlist of Christmas classics playing in the background.
As we have attempted to put together 20 of the best new and old tunes, that bring out the Xmas-y festivities on the table, we have gone past popular opinion to put together a list of songs which serve various moods of everything that means anything during Christmas.
From the classic carols covered by the likes of Carpenters and Nat King Cole, to the original handwritings turned into timeless classics, by the likes of Mariah Carey and Darlene Love, these 20 recordings serve as ‘essential picks’ to whatever makes-up your Christmas playlist.
Here are the Top 20 ‘Must-Have’ Christmas songs of all time:
1)
Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song
The comforting, serenading voice of the great Nat King Cole in the backdrop of everything that makes-up Christmas celebrations, is all that you need every year – to get into the festivities. The most stunning and heartfelt version of a beautiful holiday classic.
2)
Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Darlene Love has long been the ‘Queen of Christmas’ with her several holiday classics that can easily get you in the ‘spirit of Christmas’. This particular iconic recording perhaps sits on the top, as her definitive ode to the season.
3)
Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby
Released in the year 1953, this forever-classic by the great Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra, is one of the most parodied and covered Christmas recordings. Sensual and irresistible – we won’t be surprised if this track remains in your playlist beyond Christmas, through the year.
4)
Donny Hathaway – This Christmas
Donny Hathaway’s unmistakable soulful vocals breathes life in this Holiday standard. An original recording by Hathaway from the year 1970, this heartfelt and inspiring recording has often been called a ‘premiere’ Christmas recording in Pop culture.
5)
Harry Connick Jr. – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Yet another iconic and classic Xmas recording. Harry Connick Jr. reputed himself as the ‘face of early 90’s Christmas’ with his best-selling Holiday album – ‘When My Heart Finds Christmas’ releaed in the year 1993. The song, featured on this LP, became it’s most popular rendition since it was first recorded by Gene Autry in the year 1949.
6)
Bing Crosby – White Christmas
This still ranks as the best-selling single in history, bar none and remains a catalog seller, visited every year by Christmas-music lovers. Released in 1942, it remains one of the most well-recognized Christmas songs ever.
7)
The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride
The fun and cheery voices of Ronettes, singing ‘ring tingle tingling too’ in harmony – is as festive as a Christmas song could possibly sound. The Phil Spector-produced recording was a Top 10 hit on the US Holiday charts, and has been covered by several singers over the coarse of several years. But nothing beats this version by The Ronettes.
8 )
Whitney Houston – One Wish (For Christmas)
Serving as the lead single to her 2003 released Christmas album, this heartfelt and inspiring recording in the incredibly soulful voice of Whitney Houston, hits all the right strings, to make you melt in feelings with the spirit of Christmas.
9)
Bruce Springsteen – Santa Clause Is Coming To Town
Written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, the song has been recorded by an innumerable number of artists since the 1930’s. While The Jackson 5 and Michael Buble have equally riveting renditions, Bruce adds his own style and flavor to this recording, which will add some dynamic to your Christmas playlist.
10)
Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
The best selling single in all of Mariah Carey’s discography, the song has helped the songstress be up on charts nearly on an annual basis – ever since it acquired a cult status among the masses. What makes it even more special is the fact that it is an original song, co-written by Carey herself, and it’s cheery sound of Christmas romance, can get anyone in the mood and spirit of the Holidays.
11)
Christina Aguilera – Christmas Time
A lyrically beautiful summation of memories of the season in the melodious voice of Christina. The song is a vocal and musical treat, without going overboard.
12)
Gladys Knight – It’s the Happiest Time of the Year
The Empress Of Soul Gladys Knight accompanied by the incredible harmonies of The Pips, belts out this Holiday standard with all her might and heart, turning this into our favorite rendition of this goose-bumps inducing track.
13)
Frank Sinatra – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
A heartwarming song about dreaming to be back home, while being far away – during Christmas time. If you have a loved-one you’re missing around the Holidays, this one is surely going to give you some comfort.
14)
Willie Nelson – Pretty Paper
Released in the year 1964, the song was written by Nelson himself but recorded and turned into a hit first by Roy Orbison a year earlier. Later, this served as the title track of Nelson’s first ever Christmas album, released in the year 1979.
15)
Mahalia Jackson – O Holy Night
The Queen of Gospel music gives it her all, as she belts out one of the most covered and well-recognized Holiday standards. The song has been covered with a number of Pop divas with high and pristine vocal qualities, but leave it to someone as great as Mahalia to not turn it into a singing content, and simply staying true to the heartfelt essence of the song.
16)
Carpenters – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The soothing and smooth sound of Karen Carpenter’s low register carry this serenading Holiday standard and turn this into a magical masterpiece. Another notable version that is equally fantastic is one rendered by Whitney Houston for her 2003 Holiday album.
17)
Gene Autry – Frosty The Snowman
Recorded and released in the year 1950 (Yes! We love old-school Christmas recordings as they’re simply unbeatable), this song by Gene Autry – who also famously recorded the very successful “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, is one of the most adored Christmas recordings, and rightfully so.
18)
Wham! – Last Christmas
One of the most popular and well-known Christmas recordings in the world of Pop music. This George Michael-fronted Wham! recording, is their most loved song – and remains a catalog seller for the iconic group.
19)
Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
20)
Marvin Gaye – I Want To Come Home For Christmas
A few more Christmas tunes apart from these selected 20, which make-up our ‘honorable mentions’ and can easily lighten-up your holiday, include:
Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Judy Garland – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Whitney Houston & Pentatonix – Do You Hear What I Hear
Ella Fitzgerald – Jingle Bells
Andy Williams – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Dean Martin – Winter Wonderland
Dolly Parton – Hard Candy Christmas
Carpenters – Merry Christmas Darling
Destiny’s Child – 8 Days Of Christmas
Michael Bublé – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas