Sick of Christmas Music Yet? Try These Top Ten Christmas Songs That I Love (And You Won't Mind Hearing Over and Over)
There's so much great seasonal music out there. Why do we listen to the same ones over and over?
I love Christmas! I love Christmas music but with it starting in September (a small exaggeration), by the time we get to the middle of December I’m like, oh my gosh, I’m done with the five or so songs that are played over and over.
As a former classical pianist and mix-tape afficionado, I feel it’s my duty to bring you some songs that are so satisfying but may have been overlooked by the Christmas music authorities. And there are categories! As you can see by the exclamation point, I’m very excited about this.
So I put together a few short playlists to share with you on Spotify to help us keep our Christmas sanity while preparing for the big day.
If you have some awesome Christmas songs that you like, leave a comment below!
Aine’s Top Ten Traditional Christmas Songs
Angels We Have Heard on High: Sarah McLachlan. I’ll admit that I’m a leftover from the nineties and have a soft spot for Ms. McLachlan. Singing the way she does with so much emotion fused with angelic pipes. It’s a beautiful song.
Good King Wenceslas: Loreena McKennitt. Ms. McKennitt is a Canadian singer/songwriter who’s has a very Celtic sound to her music and her Christmas music is a joy (no pun intended) to which to listen.
Away in a Manger: Choir of King’s College. Seriously, I can see Jesus sitting in the church listening to this version and praising his father for the amazing sound! You might want to listen to the rest of their Christmas album—It’s miraculous!
Joy to the World: The Supremes. Diana Ross has got the goods! This is a unique rendition of this standard that is a great find and reminder of that creative force that was known as Motown!
Carol of the Bells: Lindsey Stirling. It was hard for me to pick my favorite from Ms. Stirling’s Christmas album, but every time I hear this version, I’m mesmerized by the beautiful melodies in this arrangement.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman: Barenaked Ladies/ Sarah McLachlan. This is a rather contemporary simple take on the traditional arrangement, but I love the harmonies in this song. It was a favorite of mine in the nineties and is still high on my list.
O Holy Night: London Symphony Orchestra. I love going to the symphony and this song reminds me why. This longer rendition of the traditional classic is so moving that you want to listen over and over again.
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You: Carrie Underwood. I think as Christians, we are so lucky to get to hear Ms. Underwood’s voice. It’s so clear and beautiful and it reminds me of the praise I have for the King and how lucky I am to be one of his children.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel: For King and Country. I’m a big Chosen fan and was introduced to For King and Country during the Chosen Christmas in 2022. Such a powerful rendition of the song. For those of you who love Christian music, you probably already know For King and Country, but still check out this rendition. It’s worth it!
Silent Night: Frank Sinatra. Holy Christmas! This version of my all-time favorite song is so moving it brings tears to my eyes every year. The feeling in the Chairman’s voice, it’s almost like he’s right there, watching the birth of Jesus. Just listen and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Aine’s Top Ten Contemporary Christmas Songs
Mr. Heat Miser: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Bid Bad Voodoo Daddy are not only bad, but great! Their arrangement of my childhood favorite song is so fun to listen to that I had a hard time making it number ten instead of number one.
Must Be Santa: Mitch Miller and The Gang. This is a pick by my husband but it is so good that I let him sneak this one in. After doing some research or Mr. Miller, I was stunned to learn that he was super popular in the 50s and 60s (and married to the same woman for 65 years - nice going Mitch!) Miller was one of the most influential people in American popular music during the 1950s and early 1960s, both as the head of A&R at Columbia Records and as a best-selling recording artist with an NBC television series, Sing Along with Mitch. So I would say you can’t go wrong with Mitch and his gang.
Winter Wonderland: Harry Connick Jr. Let me first say that I don’t know why Winter Wonderland is a Christmas song at all but people like it and I actually have two versions on this list! The shame.🤨 I’ve never heard this instrumental rendition on the radio. It’s classic Harry Connick Jr with amazing chops and someday, I’d like to find the sheet music to play it myself.
Run, Rudolf, Run: William Shatner. I know what you’re thinking: Kirk, right? Not the William Shatner. Mr. Shatner actually has quite a few musical offerings out and you know why? Because I read in one of his books that he says yes to everything. Honestly, anything by Mr. Shatner is good, but his Christmas renditions are pure gold.
Christmas Wrapping: The Waitresses. Again I know what you’re thinking! You’re thinking this is played all the time. And you are correct! But it’s so good I can’t resist putting it on the list because someday I’m going to sing it in front of a bunch of drunk people at a karaoke bar.
We Wish You The Merriest: Frank and Bing. I’m including this because when my nephew was only a few months old, we danced to this song and I can’t forget that memory. And it’s a great song.
Celebrate Me Home: Kenny Loggins. This soulful melody accomapnied me home when I was living in Florida and driving the twenty four hours home to my parent’s house in New Jersey. This song is right from the heart—like a different version of I’ll Be Home For Christmas.
Sant Claus Is Coming To Town: Andrea Boccelli. This is such a refreshingly inspiring arrangement that I will actually listen to this song off season if I’m in traffic! It calms me down. Seriously, just listen—it’s fantastic.
Winter Wonderland: Ray Charles. Two words: Ray Charles. That’s really all I need to say but if I must, Ray Charles Christmas is very soothing and his voice so familiar I feel like I’m back in Allenhurst, NJ hanging with my dad listening to his reel-to-reels.
My Favorite Things: Tony Bennett. This is my husband’s pick (I think it sounds more like James Bond’s Favorite Things with that horn section). Something we both agree on though is why this song is even associated with Christmas? It’s probably a question on EVERYONE’S mind, I’m sure. 🤔
Honorable mention: Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Folgerberg. Again, is it a Christmas song because I think you can listen to it anytime. Mr. Folgerberg was an amazing songwriter and passed in 2007 from cancer. I miss his music.
Click here for the Spotify Contemporary favorites playlist. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy my picks for the season and if you have any you’d like to share or recommend, please leave a comment below! I love talking to people on comments.