Not everyone celebrates Christmas, or enjoys it if they do. But for those who love it, all Christmas music seems to be inherently nostalgic â we forget about it for 11 months, and then around mid-November every year, we are suddenly reminded that we inexplicably know all the lyrics to âRockinâ Around the Christmas Treeâ, and dozens of other songs. While we all know art is subjective, and most people have their own strong opinions about Christmas music, Iâve compiled a list of my favourites for anyone who might want to hear it. And so here, in no particular order, are what I have narrowed down to my all-time favourite Christmas songs:
âI Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clausâ, The Ronnettes (1963)Â
This is my favourite cover of Tommie Connorâs 1952 bop, as it begins with a theatrical smooch, before launching into the doo-wop and pop elements inherent to any song by The Ronnettes. The sweet and satirical storyline of the song is also a plus, with the line âwhat a laugh it would have been/ if Daddy had only seen/ Mommy kissinâ Santa Claus last nightâ being a favourite of mine.
âIâll Be Home For Christmasâ, Frank Sinatra (1957)
It seems to be an unspoken truth that this is one of the saddest Christmas songs out there, with Frankâs (yes, we are on a first-name basis) 1957 cover a slower and melancholier version of Bing Crosbyâs wartime classic. The soul shattering emphasis on âif only in my dreamsâ has embedded this song in my heart, and the fact that the flip side of Bingâs original recording was âDanny Boyâ doesnât help stop the tears from a-flowing.
âSanta Babyâ, Eartha Kitt (1953)
The indisputably sexiest Christmas song on this list, Eartha Kittâs smooth voice combined with the amusing lyrics makes this one of my favourites. I love this song dearly, and it remains relatable 70 years later â I, too, would not mind receiving a light blue 54â convertible and several checks for Christmas. It’s also worth mentioning the hilariously hetrifying (a term coined by Florence Given) Michael Buble cover (2011), in which he refers to Santa as âbuddyâ, âdudeâ, and âpallyâ, wants his convertible in âsteelâ blue rather than light blue, and smoothly avoids the marriage proposal at the end of the original song. It’s ok Michael, we know you arenât trying to seduce Santa. We know. You can rest now.
âIt Feels Like Christmasâ, The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)
Iâve limited myself to only one Muppetsâ song, and while it was painful to choose this over Kermitâs perfect âOne More Sleep tilâ Christmasâ, and the lesser known âChristmas Scatâ by Kermit and Tiny Tim/Robin, this song manages to encapsulate everything I love about Christmas. The beautiful cheesiness and booming laughter of the Ghost of Christmas Past make this song a favourite, and underlines that âin all the places you find love/It feels like Christmasâ.
âFairytale of New Yorkâ, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl (1987)
This is the song everyone will tell you is their favourite, and for good reason. This Irish folk-style ballad is the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK, and the sweary lyrics and fairly dark, tumultuous love-story make this song stand out among others, both for the Christmas-obsessed and the begrudgingly festive alike.
âStop the Calvaryâ, Jona Lewie (1980)
Another Christmas song based on the theme of coming home from war, but with a wildly different tone to âIâll Be Home For Christmasâ. Originally a protest song written during the Cold War, âStop the Calvaryâ is now seen as a festive classic, and another alternative to the traditional (not always unwelcome) cheesiness of Christmas music. Also, everyone knows when to join in with the “dub a dub a dumb dumbs”.
âMerry Xmas Everybodyâ, Slade (1973) and âI Wish It Could Be Christmasâ, Wizzard (1973)
For the first ten years of my life, I thought that these two songs were, in fact, the same song. Iâm not sure where this confusion stems from but, even now, whenever I sing either of these songs, itâs a game of roulette for which chorus I will go into: âSo here it is Merry Xmas/ Everybody’s having funâŠâ or âOh well I wish it could be Christmas everydayâŠâ. Either way, both songs are staples of my childhood Christmases, and so both deserve a spot on this list.
âA Spaceman Came Travellingâ, Chris de Burgh (1975)
The last song on this list is a fairly recent addition to the Christmas jukebox in my mind, and I rarely hear it on the radio at this time of year. It re-imagines a science fiction nativity story, with the star of Bethlehem as a space craft, and the angel Gabriel as an alien â donât be put off by this description though, as this song manages to be one of the most magical and beautifully haunting Christmas songs of all time (and definitely not as terrifying as âCarol of the Bells).
Merry Christmas everyone, HCÂ xoxo
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This article is part of our Festive themed week 2019. Happy holidays from Her Campus Bristol!
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