We all have our favourite classic Christmas songs that we play every year, but would it surprise you to know that many of them aren't technically Christmas songs at all? Some have found their way onto festive playlists because of their wintry themes, their release dates or simply their accompanying videos. Whichever it is, it seems that it doesn't take much for a song to qualify as a seasonal favourite.
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Stop the Cavalry - Jona Lewie
While Jona Lewie is emphatic that this anti-war hit was never intended as a Christmas song, it still appears time and time again amongst other seasonal hits owing to the festive brass arrangements and the line: “Wish I was at home for Christmas”. Still, he can’t complain too much; he has previously mentioned that royalties from the track account for half his income, because it’s one of those tracks that gets played to death year after year.
Stay Another Day - East 17
Nothing about this track initially said “Christmas” until they added jingle bells towards the end of the song. An infuriatingly lazy way to appeal to the Christmas market but, amazingly, it worked. The track became the UK Christmas number one of 1994, and while Christmas number ones aren’t generally associated with this time of year unless they are themed so, thanks to the video showing East 17 decked out in white parkas, it frequently gets shown every Christmas. Et voila! It’s a Christmas song.
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Lynn Garland and Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser and his wife Lynn Garland originally wrote this track to play at parties as a way to indicate to guests that the party was over, but he eventually sold the track to the producers of the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter and it went on to win an Academy Award. Too many cover versions have been released over the years to count, and the only reason it’s a festive favourite is because it’s set during the Winter time. There’s no mention of Christmas whatsoever!
The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
There’s nothing in this 1984 track that suggests Christmas, or even a Winter theme, but there are a lot of biblical references within the lyrics which lends itself well to a festive track. It was an early December number one, and the video would go on to feature the Nativity of Jesus. So as much as it wasn’t intended as a Christmas song, FGTH certainly jumped on tying this theme of love and spirituality to this special time of year.
Walking in the Air - Howard Blake and Peter Auty
Howard Blake wrote this iconic piece for the 1982 animated short film The Snowman, which was based on the 1978 Raymond Briggs story book. Peter Auty performed it for the movie, though Aled Jones is more famous for his cover of the track. While The Snowman is very much a Christmas film with Santa and reindeer and everything, the song actually makes no reference to the time of year.
MORE: 10 Christmas songs to add to your festive playlist!
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn
Snow is largely associated with Christmas which makes this classic tune a perfect festive track, but when you actually examine the words, there’s nothing especially Christmassy about it - snow aside. There’s no sleigh bells, gifts, mistletoe, parties or carols - it’s just about a couple being glad to be snowed in together.
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