Best Christmas Songs Of All Time: These Will Have You Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – It’s the most wonderful time of the year and that means Santa’s coming to town!
As you’re getting those fir trees decorated and spruced up with Christmas ornaments and garland, make sure you get the right playlist to feel the atmosphere with the cheery sounds of the season. These songs will certainly brighten up any humbug spirit and get them in a Christmas mood.
“All I Want For Christmas“
Christmas diva Mariah Carey took to Instagram around Halloween to make a statement in a short clip that said it was time to smash those pumpkins at midnight. That means Mariah season is here again. Soon after that, a bar in Texas posted a sign banning the jingle from being played on their jukebox before Dec. 1. And after Dec. 1 there will be a limited play of the song 1 per customer.
“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town“
With over 200 versions of this classic song being made by over a dozen artists, there’s one that really stands out. Recorded in 1970 by the Jackson 5, the version by the one and only Michael Jackson and his brothers is probably the main version most of us have listened to growing up around the holidays. The way the then 12-year-old MJ belts out “Santa Claus is coming to town” makes you believe that he really is coming.
Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree
This Christmas classic bop was first written by a Jewish songwriter, Johnny Marks, who also wrote “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Some 63 years later, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” still makes you want to rock out with some spiked egg nog or kiss your significant other under the mistletoe. You’ve got to have this bop on your Christmas party playlist and let the Christmas spirit ring.
“Christmas in Hollis“
A (then) modern holiday bop written and performed by Run DMC, this song features a rap mashup mix over samples of “Frosty the Snowman,” “Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells.” It’s one of the culture’s 80s bops that you can play if you’re feeling rapped up at Christmas.
“Have Yourself a Merry Christmas“
In the mood for a Christmas slow jam under the mistletoe? Let Toni Braxton and Babyface get you in the mood with your significant other or someone you deeply admire. If you’re not really a Christmas person, this song will definitely change your mind. The chemistry these two artists have together is nothing short of pure and amazing. But, the song itself is timeless and classic all by itself.
“Santa Tell Me“
Ariana Grande’s song has grown into a classic over the years, and the Christmas vibes are real on this ultimate bop. It seems like every year Ariana’s voice on this song sounds cleaner and fresher than ever. You will know for sure it’s the holiday season when you hear this song being played everywhere. The nostalgia this Christmas song has makes it all the more worthwhile to play on your headphones the entire month of December.
“8 Days of Christmas“
If you listen to this song now in 2021, it will bring back the nostalgia of one of the most fabulous girl groups on the planet, Destiny’s Child. There are 31 days of Christmas but this song is magical and fits the mold back in 2001 for eight days of Beyonce.
“Christmas Tree Farm“
There’s something so sweet about watching old family movies around the holidays. For all, you Swiftie’s out there, Taylor Swift’s “Christmas Tree Farm” is a cute little video of some of her childhood memories with her family around Christmas time. Watching this video may remind you to have some fun with your own family or make some holiday videos of yourself jamming out while baking cookies.
“Last Christmas“
George Michael’s “Last Christmas” is another song that has stuck like glue all these years around Christmas time. This masterpiece will never get old it’s plain and simple, and it gives the same energy every time. Hearing Michael’s voice is smooth as butter and since his death, it has been a fact that it somehow hits way different now.
“Santa Baby“
Ahead of its time, Eartha Kitt made every woman feel like they needed to be Santa’s baby. Her high-pitched but sultry and smooth voice made a Christmas song feel more than just like a holiday but a personal encounter to share milk and cookies with Santa. If you haven’t made your specific Christmas list yet, Eartha will remind you to do so.
Here Are 8 Great New Christmas Music Albums To Hear In 2021
As Christmas approaches, millions of people will cue up their old favorite holiday albums. You know — the same ones they’ve been listening to for decades.
Not that there is anything wrong with that. We love hearing tracks from Nat King Cole’s “The Magic of Christmas,” Johnny Mathis’ “Merry Christmas,” the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Anne Murray’s “Christmas Wishes” and other such classics during this most wonderful time of the year.
Yet, we also like hearing new Christmas albums — of which there is never any shortage, as countless pop/country/rock stars churn out new product each year in hopes of finding their albums wrapped up under a goodly amount of Christmas trees come Dec. 25.
Here’s a round up of some of the top new seasonal offerings from 2021, all of which can be streamed on the major platforms. So, while you’re enjoying the holidays, make some room between Mathis and Murray for these cool new Christmas albums.
“When Christmas Comes Around…,” Kelly Clarkson: The multi-talented superstar, who must rank high on the list of the busiest celebs in all of Hollywood, returns with her second Christmas offering. Like the first seasonal outing (2013’s “Wrapped in Red”), “When Christmas Comes Around…” is a gorgeous showcase for Clarkson’s pristine and versatile vocal work. The album is spirited and sassy at times, such as when the singer is informing a certain someone that “Christmas Isn’t Canceled (Just You),” but mainly just full of joy as Clarkson sounds like she’s having the time of her life “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and belting out the “Jingle Bell Rock.”
“King Size Manger,” Josh Turner: Josh Turner is blessed with one of the best, and certainly most distinctive, voices in all of country music. The multiplatinum-selling artist puts those crystal clear, canyon-deep vocals to great use on his first Christmas album, of which four of the 11 tracks are originals. Highlights include Turner being joined by his wife and four sons on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the collaboration with Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent on “Joy to the World,” and “Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana” with ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro and acclaimed Hawaiian trio Ho’okena.
“I Don’t Want Christmas to End,” Zach Williams: Listeners won’t want this Christmas album to end. It’s one of the best seasonal offerings to come around in years, filled with intriguing renditions of traditional favorites. Check out the rowdy, Southern-rocking version of “Go Tell It on the Mountain”; the revved-up “Run Run Rudolph” that should please Chuck Berry fans; and the (Memphis) soulful telling of “Mary, Did You Know?” Truly, “I Don’t Want Christmas to End” is one worth playing long after Dec. 25 passes by.
“How Does Christmas Sound?” Kirk Whalum: The acclaimed saxophonist answers his own question as he offers up a great sounding batch of seasonal tunes for fans. Whalum, whose many accomplishments include providing the sax solo on Whitney Houston’s blockbuster rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” is in top form as he tackles the likes of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
“The Season,” Steve Perry: The Journey faithful will certainly want to celebrate “The Season” — Perry’s first Christmas album and only his second full-length solo outing since departing from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band in the late ‘90s. Obviously, fans have missed hearing his voice, given that the first-weeks sales of this collection of standards resulted in “The Season” debuting at No. 6 on the pop charts.
“This Is Christmas,” Tasha Layton: The terrific pop vocalist, who earned ample amount of airtime this year with the inspirational “Look What You’ve Done” single, shines brightly on this six-song seasonal offering. Layton covers a goodly amount of musical territory, from a lighthearted cover of comedian Heywood Banks’ “Diddly Squat” to a gorgeous rendition of the classic “O Holy Night,” and every one of the six tracks is a winner.
“A Different Christmas,” Bryson Tiller: The R&B star does a nice job with his first collection of holiday tunes, featuring contributions from Justin Bieber, Kiana Ledé, Poo Bear, Tayla Parx and Tiller’s daughter, Halo. Tiller reportedly came up with the idea for the project while thinking about what it’s like to spend Christmas alone — something that he himself has done in the past. “I was watching Christmas movies and next to a Christmas tree and it was a weird day. And I was like, ‘I can’t even fathom what it would be like to do that this year,’” he said in an interview with Essence.
“We Need Christmas,” Matthew West: Having delivered one of the greatest Thanksgiving songs of all time — the amazing “Gobble Gobble” from 2020 — this popular Nashville singer-songwriter turns his attention to a different holiday. It’s West’s second topnotch seasonal outing, following 2011’s “The Heart of Christmas,” and features a solid mix of holiday standards and inspired new material (such as the title track). And, yes, it also features “Gobble Gobble” — which, we warn you, may take weeks to get out of your head once it’s in.
And one for the Thanksgiving fans as well:
The 10 Best ‘Glee’ Christmas Songs, Ranked
Glee is a show that defined a generation. And every time the holidays come around, almost every Gleek is transported back when the Glee Christmas songs and episodes also defined the festive season.
Undoubtedly, no matter how old you are, if you’re a fan of the musical comedy, then there’s a big chance that you’re listening to the show’s holiday albums every December. So, to celebrate the season, we put together a list of the top 10 best Glee Christmas songs.
Jenna Ushkowitz, Lea Michele, and Dianna Agron | Photo by FOX Image Collection via Getty Images 10. ‘Let It Snow’ kicks off our top 10 ‘Glee’ Christmas songs list
A Glee Christmas album isn’t the same without a Kurt and Blaine duet, and “Let It Snow” is one of their most memorable songs.
In 1945, Vaughn Monroe originally performed “Let It Snow,” written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. The song has been covered many times, most notably by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Chris Colfer’s and Darren Criss’ voices blend beautifully in the Glee version. And their interpretation of this holiday classic is whimsical and perfect for the season. It’s fast-paced, festive, and puts you in the holiday spirit.
9. ‘Blue Christmas’
It’s hard to replicate the same feelings that people get when they listen to Elvis Presley sing “Blue Christmas.” But the good thing about the Glee version of the sad Christmas song is that they weren’t trying to copy the King perfectly.
Damian McGinty’s character Rory tenderly sang “Blue Christmas” during the third season’s holiday episode. His emotion came across as raw and heartbreaking as he expressed his sadness at not being with his family during the holidays, something many of us will experience this year.
8. ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’
If there’s one person that can capture the charm and delight of Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” it’s Amber Riley.
Riley’s character, Mercedes, can sing the rooftop off of any room she walks into. And when the Christmas episode in Glee Season 3 had Mercedes lead “All I Want For Christmas Is You” while the characters decorated the choir room, it was pure magic.
7. ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’
This Glee Christmas song wasn’t featured in an episode, but it’s a favorite, thanks to Cory Monteith and his character Finn Hudson.
Finn’s voice matured and significantly got better over the years, and by the time Glee Season 4 rolled around, it was a pleasure whenever he got a solo. He was just a joy to listen to.
Monteith perfectly balanced the innocence and heaviness of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” originally sung by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. We’re still mad we didn’t get to see Finn sing the Christmas song in Glee, but we’ll take what we can get.
6. ‘Santa Baby’
Naya Rivera was one of the most underrated and underused artists in Glee. But whenever her character, Santana, performed, everyone stopped to watch and listen. And her performance of “Santa Baby” in a deleted scene from season 3 was no different.
Santana’s voice lends itself perfectly to the sultry song, and we have a hard time understanding why “Santa Baby” got cut from the episode. Nevertheless, Rivera turned a song that some may find cringeworthy into a catchy tune that is a must-listen during the holidays.
5. ‘River’ is an underrated ‘Glee’ Christmas song
To be honest, we think that “River” by Joni Mitchell is an underrated Christmas song in general, but that’s a topic for another day.
Not all Christmas songs can and should be happy and cheerful. That’s why we’re so glad Glee covered ‘River.” It’s an achingly beautiful song highlighting the loneliness and sadness some people feel during the holidays. And Lea Michele perfectly captured that emotion.
Lea Michele‘s character, Rachel, expressed the despair she felt the previous year after she cheated on Finn during her performance. It was raw, beautiful, and memorable. Michele brought a theatrical quality to “River” that changed the song slightly, but the impact was all the same.
4. ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’
It’s always a good time when all the characters in Glee get to sing together on one song. And their performance of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” perfectly showcased all of their voices.
Band Aid, a charity supergroup, performed the original version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to raise money for anti-famine efforts in Ethiopia in 1984. And according to Playbill, all proceeds from the Christmas song by the Glee Cast went to benefit The Band Aid Trust, which was formed with the same mission in mind.
3. ‘Christmas Wrapping’
Heather Morris didn’t usually get to sing in Glee, but it was always a delight when she did. And her character’s performance of “Christmas Wrapping” was especially fun.
The song by The Waitresses isn’t a popular one that many hear when December comes along. So Glee introduced this energized and festive song to a brand new audience who absolutely loved it.
Many Gleeks praise “Christmas Wrapping” for its lighthearted nature and ability to make anyone get up and dance along to it. Brittany’s rendition of the Christmas song in Glee is undoubtedly a favorite among fans.
People adore listening to “Last Christmas” by Wham! During the holidays, so it’s no wonder that Glee covered it.
“Last Christmas” fit perfectly into Finn and Rachel’s storyline during the season 2 episode, and it broke our hearts almost as much as it did theirs. Their version of the song strayed a bit from the original melody, and in doing so, made it entirely their own.
It’s no wonder why so many fans love Glee‘s “Last Christmas” because Cory Monteith and Lea Michele were born to sing together. And their interpretation of the song is a must-listen during Christmastime.
1. ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ is the best ‘Glee’ Christmas song
The controversy surrounding “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” aside, this Kurt and Blaine duet stands out among the rest of the Glee Christmas songs.
Their version is filled with even more tension than the original because the audience knows how much Kurt was crushing on Blaine. Their back-and-forth throughout the melody leaves you hanging on every word. And the chemistry between the couple is just outstanding.
If there’s one Glee Christmas song you listen to this holiday season, it should be “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
