Best Christmas Songs of All Time

Christmas songs are the perfect way to ring in the holiday season. They set the mood and get the entire family in the holiday feels. If you are looking for Christmas songs to play while you decorate your tree and prepare the Christmas feast, here are some of the best to add to your playlist to get in the festive spirit.

1. All I Want for Christmas Is You (1994)

This is a must for Christmas! The holidays are incomplete without hearing Mariah Carey singing this upbeat song. The 1994 Christmas song dominates retail and public spaces across the globe throughout the holiday season, even today.

The singer was again seen dancing to the song in the “Make My Wish Come True” edition in 2019, making fans go gaga over the piece. Moreover, it topped Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs chart in 2021, a whopping 27 years after being recorded.

2. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (1958)

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958. Lee was only 13 years old when she sang this holiday favorite. Even after 65 years since its release, people still love to listen to this broadly secular song.

It is no surprise that the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2019. Also, Brenda Lee recently released a music video that is a joy to watch, leading the song to top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 2023.

3. Last Christmas (1984)

Playing “Last Christmas” is a must during the holidays, especially for those feeling heartbroken around this time of the year. The song by British pop duo Wham!, composed of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, was released in 1984. The song was liked by many, but it never topped the charts until 2017, shortly after Michael’s death in December 2016. Over the years, it has inspired covers from Jimmy Eat World, Hilary Duff, Taylor Swift, etc.

4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1944)

This beloved festive song was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. However, Judy Garland originally recorded this song for the 1944 MGM Christmas musical “Meet Me in St. Louis.” It plays during a scene when Esther Smith’s (played by Judy Garland) younger sister Tottie (played by Margaret O’Brien) thinks that Santa won’t be able to visit them if they move to New York City. Smith then sings this song to cheer up her sibling.

5. White Christmas (1942)

Bing Crosby’s classic 1942 hit has been named the best-selling single of all time by Guinness World Records. However, this popular holiday song wasn’t originally recorded for the movie of the same name. The song was written by Irving Berlin in 1940, and Crosby first performed the tune 13 years before “White Christmas” came out. He first performed the song on the radio show “The Kraft Music Hall” (via Good Housekeeping).

6. Jingle Bell Rock (1957)

This holiday classic was recorded by Bobby Helms in 1957. The song topped the Christmas charts five years in a row. However, Hall & Oates and their band released it as a non-album single in 1983, complete with a music video. The song has two video versions – one with Hall and another with Oates singing lead. Both versions feature G. E. Smith as a grandma, playing the guitar with gloves.

Other than these, you can’t miss out on other hit Christmas songs like “Hard Candy Christmas” by Dolly Parton, “Run, Rudolph, Run” by Chuck Berry, “Winter Wonderland” by Dean Martin, and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams along with many other. So, add these songs to your collection and have a joyful and merry Christmas with your loved ones.

If you want a mix of classic and contemporary tunes, here are the top ten songs in Spotify’s Christmas Hits playlist.