Everyone has heard the classic Christmas songs, and while this list includes those, there may also be a couple that you may not have thought of!
Which festive song is your favourite?
1. Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea
An absolute Christmas classic. With light piano music and the warming, deep voice of Chris Rea, you are sure to want this on your list.
As soon as you hear the first few notes, you know exactly what Christmas classic you’re in for.
Even without the lyrics which speak of heading home for the holidays, the song simple oozes Christmas and reminds you of family and the wholesomeness of spending the festive season with those you love.
2. Christmas Is All Around – Bill Nighy (Reimagined from The Toggs)
This is a different kind of song, but one you will want to listen to again and again – and it comes from a classic Christmas movie, Love, Actually.
The song is not an original, but rather a reimagined work of The Troggs ‘Love Is All Around’.
The comedy that the song invokes due to its role in Love, Actually is fittingly festive, and with the steady beat and surprisingly lovely singing from Bill Nighy, its one to add for sure.
3. Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
With many Christmas songs, within seconds you’re likely to hear something that leads you to recognise the song – Paul McCartney’s wonderful winter classic is no different.
Beginning with Christmas bells, the song then continues this steady beat and is, like McCartney’s Christmas, simple! The tambourine acts as beautiful, effortless sleigh bells and add a magical element to your Christmas playlist.
4. Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens
Now this festive song is another classic – ‘sleigh bells’ carrying the song and Shakin’ Stevens gets right to the point, which is what is so wonderfully Christmassy.
The song seemingly lists what many want in the perfect Christmas, falling snow, joyful children and reminds us that Christmas is “the season for love and understanding”.
After the first time we’re wished Merry Christmas, the beat kicks up and becomes even more jolly and cheerful – you’ll want to add this to your festive playlist right away!
5. Christmas Time (Don’t let the bells end) – The Darkness
Not a very classic Christmas song admittedly, but still a brilliant and powerful ballad for the festive season!
The fantastic guitar playing and the Christmassy lyrics about not wanting the wonderful time to end is such a great way to kick off your Christmas playlist.
The song is rather different to other classic songs of the same genre (Christmas!), so it is worth adding to your list for that bit of variety!
6. Let It Snow – Dean Martin
Another Christmas classic you know within the first few seconds.
This song has wonderful light music, with Martin’s deeper-than-the-music voice – both go as well together as cheese and crackers. The violin is used so well here and compliments the Christmas tone, just as the perfect piano does.
Everyone loves snow during the holiday season, and this song simply adds to the wonderment that is a snowy Christmas.
7. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
Again, another song beginning with the classic sleigh bells and the first words we hear are “Jingle Bell,” – whats not to love?
While being a rather old song released in 1983, the song still holds up strong and brings such cheer to your Christmas playlist. The song may be most famous for its appearance in Mean Girls, during a Christmas talent show.
Everything about this song is perfectly jolly, and the 80’s charm definitely shines through.
8. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Michael Bublé
A wonderfully warm song, opening with calming piano playing - the shining star of course, is the beautiful voice of Michael Bublé.
The song is a cover, originally written for Judy Garland’s 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis.
We all know Mr Bublé to be the King of Christmas voices, with his soothing voice filling up your holiday-themed home. Odds are this song is already on your festive playlist!
9. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
An immediately upbeat song all the way through, from lyrics to the drum and guitar combination, to the famous saxophone solo!
This is the perfect song to play while waiting for Christmas dinner to cook, or even for cleaning the house to prepare for Christmas Day.
A clear choice to add to your festive playlist, especially if you’re having a party! (Although, maybe not until next year.)
10. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day – Wizzard
Ending on perhaps one of the most jovial festive songs of them all!
With an onslaught of marvellous sound, including brilliant guitar playing and some simply wonderful lyrics, you cannot avoid putting this one on your Christmas playlist.
The holiday season is, for the most part, the happiest time of the year for many, and this song truly embodies this.
Wishing it to be Christmas every day may be a bit much to some people, but with the trumpet in background and the unavoidable joy this song invokes – it’s hard to dislike Christmas.
Of course these are not all Christmas has to offer in terms of music, but they’re 10 fabulous tracks to have playing during the festive season!
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
Tagged in Christmas