My rule for Christmas music is that I’m not allowed to start listening to the whimsical tunes until after Remembrance Day. That said, here is a list of songs I’ve been looping frequently in my house or on my drive to and from work since November 12th in no particular order (the Spotify playlist can be found at the bottom of this post):
‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ – The Pointer Sisters The A Very Special Christmas CD was a popular one in the household when I was a kid. My parents would load up a few CDs to have the stereo rotate through and I was particularly obsessed with this track as I danced around the real Christmas tree in the basement.
‘Winter Wonderland’ – Eurythmics Off the same 80’s CD this is one song I still insist we play every Christmas morning as we open gifts.
‘Mele Kalikimaka’ – Bing Crosby Two memories come to mind when I hear this one. First, Christmas Vacation and second, baking with my mom. You can’t have a Christmas playlist without at least one Bing Crosby song!
‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ – Gene Autry Though this is also featured in Christmas Vacation, I think my first memory of this song comes from an old home video where my oma was casually playing it in the background whilst saying something to the camera… Probably scolding my dad for recording her.
‘The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)’ – Alvin and the Chipmunks Who doesn’t love the Chipmunks?! (Probably a lot of people). We just listened to this jam in my classroom the other day and the kids were in fits of laughter. Whenever I hear this song now, I remember the scene from King of Queens when Arthur exclaims: “A hula hoop he wants!” (RIP Jerry Stiller).
‘Merry Christmas Baby’ – Hanson I had a difficult time deciding whether or not to add this one or their cover of ‘Run Rudolph Run’, but this one was featured in the film Jack Frost, so there you have it. Seven-year-old me loved sitting with the keyboard (that I borrowed from my cousin) in front of the Christmas tree in my parents’ living room and pretending to be Taylor. With my long blond hair, I basically WAS a Hanson.
‘Finally It’s Christmas’ – Hanson We have to acknowledge that the band put out another Christmas record a few years ago and this track became an instant favourite of mine. I legit remember playing it for the first time and getting goosebumps when the first “Finally it’s Christmas” is sung.
‘Santa Claus Lane’ – Hilary Duff Sorry not sorry, this song is still fun. The Santa Clause 2 was blessed to get the rights to use it.
‘Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays’ – NSYNC Admittedly, I was never a huge boy band fan. I tried, but I was always more ‘MMMBop’ than ‘Bye Bye Bye’, ya know? Even at the young age of 7 I was judgemental of bands that didn’t play their own instruments. That said, this song and ‘Kiss Me at Midnight’ get an A+.
‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ – Shakin’ Stevens I have YouTuber Zoella to thank for this one. It’s just so happy and makes me want to swing dance (I don’t know how to swing dance).
‘2000 Miles’ – Pretenders I think I first heard about this one thanks to my friend Maxiekat (who has written some of the greatest Four Brothers fan fiction). She featured it on a playlist for her story Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (my favourite of her many written works).
‘Santa Stole My Girlfriend’ – The Maine I can’t recall where I first heard this one, but I can tell you that pop punk and Christmas music go together seamlessly. I’ve been listening to this track all year because it’s part of the playlist I have for the current novel I’m working on revising. I also just discovered their song ‘Mr. Winter’ and their cover of ‘Last Christmas’, which brings us to…
‘Last Christmas’ – Jimmy Eat World I could really list any cover of this classic Wham! song (one of my top two favourite Christmas songs), but we’ll go with this one!
‘Silver Bells’ – The Yobs My other ultimate favorite Christmas song. Again, any cover will do, but in keeping with the punk theme we’re going with this fast-paced version that is currently my ringtone and often looped when I decorate my tree (particularly if I have to chuck tinsel anywhere).
‘Oi to the World’ – No Doubt I love the original version by the Vandals as well, but this one is super fun to dance around to. OI TO THE WORLD! Get along, ya filthy animals.
‘Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)’ – The Ramones I feel like I went on a binge of punk Christmas songs as a teenager one day and that’s how I came across this one to add to my growing list of tunes. This song is meant for any film that needs a montage of someone baking, decorating and wrapping presents in a frenzy. (Did Christmas with the Kranks do that?)
‘Xmas Eve (She Got Up and Left Me)’ – Rancid It’s not on Spotify, but you can listen to it here. I LOVE the end of this song. It’s all sloppy and aggressive and perfect. I need Frank Iero to cover this one, stat! With his style of singing and guitar playing he’d rock this, I know it! He was recently involved with covering Annie Lennox’s ‘Walking on Broken Glass’, which is a song that I love and didn’t know I needed a cover of, so maybe if I throw this out there into the universe it’ll happen!
‘My Christmas List’ – Simple Plan It’s not on Spotify, but you can listen to it here. Spotify has their song ‘Christmas Every Day’, but not ‘My Christmas List’? Blasphemy! ‘Christmas Every Day’ is great and all, but nothing can beat the nostalgia of ‘My Christmas List’. The lyrics are the perfect flashback to the early 2000’s.
‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ – My Chemical Romance When the cymbals chime in and then Gerard starts wailing the lyrics!? YES! I STG if I don’t get to see this band in person again, I am going to sue Covid-19. I don’t know how, but I’ll figure it out.
‘Island of Misfit Toys’ – Misfits I learned about the Misfits because of My Chemical Romance, so it only seems suiting to include this track next. Jersey is a haven of incredible bands and musicians.
‘Father Christmas’ – The Kinks Thanks Bob’s Burgers for introducing me to this jam!
‘Christmas Treat’ – Julian Casablancas I can remember watching SNL when they debuted this little song and skit (back when I had a major crush on Jimmy Fallon). When I stumbled across this song on the internet I had to do a bit of research to figure out whether or not this song came first or the SNL skit. SNL is the originator and then Julian Casablanacs came and turned it into a Christmas hit.
‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)’ – The Darkness I saw the music video for this on TV and can remember doubling over in laughter when the lead singer opens the doors to a bunch of caroling kids and then invites them all in: “C’mon, kids!” I realize it doesn’t sound at all funny in writing, but it is when you watch it.
‘Naughty Naughty Christmas’ – Danger Danger It’s not on Spotify, but you can listen to it here. I originally heard this song in The Santa Clause 2, but since then, all it reminds me of is an original character that I wrote named Jesse and I’m perfectly fine with that. Out of all Christmas songs, I’ve probably played this one the most this year.
‘Do They Know it’s Christmas?’ – Band Aid (1984 version) To complete this list I have to include this iconic song, if only for the last minute of it. I often wish I’d grown up in the 80’s because I’m obsessed with the decade’s pop culture. I like to think I would have attended this concert. Imagine seeing so many incredible musicians on one stage!? (Even if they didn’t realize it at the time). Queen’s set alone!
What’s on your Christmas playlist?