It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With the holiday season officially in full swing, we suspect you’re no doubt getting ready to trim the tree and deck the halls! But what’s the holiday season without a collection of Christmas songs to act as your soundtrack?
We here at Hypable have taken it upon ourselves to compile the perfect Christmas playlist for your listening pleasure. Some songs and renditions may be familiar, some may not, but we think all will make an excellent addition to anyone’s holiday soundtrack!
So without further ado, we present to you the 25 Christmas songs we think should be on everyone’s playlist this December! (In no particular order because let’s face it, narrowing the list down was hard enough!)
1. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
The Jackson 5
Though some may argue Springsteen’s rendition with its slow crescendo is best, nothing can compare to the energy level the Jackson 5 brings to this toe-tapping Mowtown twist on an old classic!
2. “Little Saint Nick”
The Beach Boys
One for the car enthusiasts! But even if lyrics about how awesome Santa’s sleigh is don’t get you excited, The Beach Boy’s quintessential harmonies coupled with their trademark surf rock sound is the perfect musical blend to bring to mind visions of the California summer sun while Jack Frost is nipping at your nose.
3. “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
This classic Christmas duet has seen so many renditions over the years from John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John to Glee’s Kurt and Blaine, it’s hard to pick just one to recommend! In this case, we figured it was best to go with the original recording which is just as wonderful in it’s own right.
4. “Last Christmas”
Wham!
Wham!’s classic holiday number doesn’t have the cheeriest of lyrics but there’s something about that recognizable 80s power pop melody that counterbalances the tale of heartache in this classic Christmas song which is exactly why we love it!
5. “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)”
Maroon 5
Adam Levine’s tenor is perfectly suited for this thoughtful number, originally recorded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which makes us all take a step back and reflect on ourselves and humanity.
6. “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
Mariah Carey
It’s hard to believe Mariah Carey’s toe tapping pop number has only been around since 1994– it’s quickly become a modern day Christmas classic, holding its own among the likes of holiday songs which have been around much longer.
7. “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
VersaEmerge
Sierra Kusterbeck and Blake Harnage (better known to their fans as VersaEmerge) put a jazzy spin on their acoustic duet version of this children’s Christmas classic.
8. “Mele Kalikimaka”
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
With it’s Hawaiian themed melody and subject matter, this is arguably one of the silliest Christmas songs out there. Regardless, we’ve included it because you can’t deny that it’s fun to sing along to!
9. “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree”
Brenda Lee
An oldie but a goodie– nothing gets that holiday party going quite like Brenda Lee’s up beat track about a night full of dancing with friends, pumpkin pie, caroling, and of course, getting ‘caught’ under the mistletoe!
10. “Merry Christmas (Kiss My Ass)”
All Time Low
The perfect anthem for the cynical romantic in all of us– especially if you’ve been burned by an ex around the holidays! This pop-punk rock number with it’s blunt lyrics might be unfamiliar, but you’ll no doubt find yourself singing along with it’s rather…er…vulgar chorus in no time!
11. “Sleigh Ride”
Fun.
Fun.’s signature indie power pop sound is a perfect fit for this Christmas classic making their version of “Sleigh Ride”, released just this year, the perfect tune for livening up your Christmas song playlist.
12. “Santa Baby”
Eartha Kitt
This track probably needs no explanation– arguably one of the most sensual Christmas songs out there and a definite must have on anyone’s holiday soundtrack!
13. “All Alone On Christmas”
Darlene Love & The E Street Band
If this up tempo number sounds familiar, it’s because it was originally recorded for inclusion on the soundtrack for Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. The E Street Band puts their signature classic rock twist on the melody in this Christmas song and lyrics full of references to the Big Apple are sure to amuse New Yorkers and lovers of the city alike.
14) “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
Michael Buble
Michael Buble’s crooner vocals are a beautiful match for this bittersweet Christmas ballad about the hope of overcoming the distances and making it home for the holidays.
15) “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
She & Him
New Girl star Zooey Deschanel shines in her band’s rendition of this Christmas classic. A slowed down tempo and stripped down melody gives She & Him’s version a melancholy feel which works quite well with the original lyrics.
16) “Merry Christmas Darling”
Christina Perri
Indie artist Christina Perri lends her mellow sounding vocals to this track which is featured on her newly released Christmas EP, A Very Merry Perri Christmas, released just this year.
17) “Jingle Bell Rock”
Rascal Flatts
Though we were tempted to go with the Mean Girls version of this song, but in the end we just couldn’t resist the country twang that comes with Rascal Flatt’s rendition!
18) “Please Come Home For Christmas”
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Potter’s gritty vocals effectively transform this Christmas number, giving it a soulful blues-like feel. Though the Eagles do a wonderful version of this holiday rock ballad, originally recorded by Charles Brown, we think you’ll love what Grace Potter has done her rendition both vocally and instrumentally– especially if you’ve never heard it before!
19) “Christmas Time Is Here”
Diana Krall
This stripped down track brings a new twist to the original track first seen on Charles M. Schultz classic Christmas animation, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. A slowed down melody, coupled with Krall’s soulful vocals makes for a beautiful melancholy rendition.
20) “Blue Christmas”
Elvis Presley
No holiday playlist would be complete without a track from the original King of rock ‘n’ roll himself. Though Presley’s “Here Comes Santa Claus” was quite tempting when trying to decide which song to pick, in the end his iconic Christmas heartache ballad won out.
21) “Run Run Rudolph”
Cee Lo Green
Soul singer Cee Lo Green’s old school vocals are a perfect fit for this rock ‘n’ roll holiday classic which stays true to the original; the track is part of his Christmas album, “Cee Lo’s Magic Moment”, which was released this past October.
22) “Oh Holy Night”
Hey Monday
Current contestant on The Voice and former Hypable Band of the Week artist, Cassadee Pope, belts it in this pop rock rendition of a Christmas classic, originally recorded with her former band, Hey Monday.
23) “What Christmas Means To Me”
Stevie Wonder
This track is full of all the energy and soul you would expect from a Stevie Wonder performance. A perfect up beat track that’ll have everyone at home bobbing along while you’re trimming the tree!
24) “Ho Ho Hopefully
The Maine
Pop punk turned alternative rockers, The Maine penned this number as part of their four-track Christmas EP, “…And A Happy New Year”. Though this acoustic Christmas song may be unfamiliar to some of you, we think that one listen to its sugar sweet lyrics will instantly have you feeling just a bit warmer during those cold December days.
25) “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?”
Nancy Wilson
The perfect New Years song to cap off anyone’s Christmas playlist! “Auld Lang Syne” may be more of a traditional choice but we’re absolutely in love with this number about nervously hoping the apple of your eye will spend New Years Eve with you. Though we’ve recommended the original in this post, it should also be noted that we’re also fans of the version pals Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt covered last holiday season!
Did your favorite Christmas song make our list? If not, tell us what your favorite Christmas song is below!
Use the Spotify playlist below to easily compile all the songs into one! All but a couple of the songs listed here are available within the music streaming service:
