Top 10 Best Christmas Songs of all time
There’s nothing that brings the world together more than sharing opinions about Christmas music.
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And why not? Christmas is a very special time of year for many — myself included! — and music is one of the most fundamental joys of life. So it only makes sense that people hold holiday music in such high regard, as it often formulates a major part of our lives growing up and sticks with us throughout adulthood.
10. Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
“Christmas Wrapping” never fails to bring a smile to my face. It’s a Hallmark movie in a four and a half minute song, while also being a complete jam of a tune with that catchy guitar riff and the brass in the instrumental bridge.
9. What Christmas Means to Me - Stevie Wonder
I don’t think there’s anyone that loves Christmas time as much as Stevie Wonder does. Seriously, this song is a love letter to Christmas in all the best ways. Oh, and there’s a harmonica solo! Can’t go wrong with one of those.
8. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Kelly Clarkson
No, not the one you’re thinking of. We’ll get there, trust me. Kelly Clarkson absolutely slays this cover of Vince Vance & The Valiants’s 1989 hit, which is a few years before Mariah Carey came into the picture. From Clarkson’s powerful vocals to those divine horns, this is an underrated gem that more people need to appreciate.
7. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
A quintessential Christmas song. Perhaps overplayed, but to me, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year so it really hits home. Plus, this is usually one of the first songs radio stations decide to play upon switching over to Christmas music in late November (or if you’re lucky, earlier!).
6. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Probably the most iconic Christmas song of them all. Packed with nostalgia and memories of Christmases gone by, “White Christmas” just feels… right. Like pulling on a warm sweater on a cold winter day.
5. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The best Christmas song to blast your eardrums out to. “Carol of the Bells” is the most epic — and maybe kinda creepy? — Christmas song, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra just shreds their rendition of the tune for all its worth. Those guitars!!! The piano!!!! Just perfection.
4. All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
Yes, it may be basic to like this song. But who cares? “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is Christmas joy personified and the most recognizable holiday song of the modern generation. If you hate this song, I want nothing to do with you.
3. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King Cole
Let the dulcet and warm tones of Nat King Cole lull you to sleep with this instant Christmas nostalgia hit. I love the way the piano, strings, and guitar all blend seamlessly into one another to create a jazzy melody that feels so lovely to listen to.
2. Last Christmas - Wham!
I still believe that “Last Christmas” is one of the best holiday tunes to listen to all year round. The crux of the song is a failed romance that fell apart on Christmas and sure, it may not be the most happy of songs, but the earnest yearning in this tune just hits all the right notes for me. One of the best power ballads of all time.
1. Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio
“Christmas Time Is Here” is the Christmas nostalgia song. The vocal version heard in A Charlie Brown Christmas is fantastic, but I want to highlight the instrumental version here because of how lovely it is. How Vince Guaraldi wanders up and down the piano while making the instrument sound so wistful is truly a feat unto its own. The percussion line keeps the song apace while the bass has its own rumbling, but meaningful, solo.
If the feelings evoked around the holiday season could be bottled up and sold, “Christmas Time Is Here” would be the song to choose.
