By Sierra Credico and Sophia Villamor
It’s finally December! And that means that the Christmas season is in full-swing, so we’re listening to Christmas music non-stop (but let’s be real we’ve been listening to it for months). Here’s our ranking of some of the most iconic Christmas songs out there.
17. “Silver Bells” by Bing Crosby
Sophie: This song is a total classic, but let’s be honest, it’s totally boring. The lyrics are kind of lame, and I don’t trust any song with the words “ring-a-ling” and “ding-a-ling”. We feel bad for putting it last, but there’s a lot better songs out there.
Sierra: The song is only 3 minutes, but it feels like an eternity. You can only hear Bing Crosby say ‘silver bells’ so many times before you want to shove tinsel up your ears!
16. “Frosty the Snowman” by Ray Conniff
Sophie: This movie is trash, this song is trash, but Sierra likes it, so that’s why it’s not last. The song is cute but it has no soul to it, is meant for children, and isn’t a total bop. Sure, it’s fun to sing in the car sometimes, but it’s definitely not memorable.
Sierra: “Frosty the Snowman” is a very cute and heartwarming film, unlike certain other films on this list (I’m looking at you, Charlie Brown!), and definitely not trash. Don’t even pretend you didn’t tear up when Frosty was melting! But, I will admit, Frosty is not the first song on my playlist when Christmas rolls around.
15. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Frank Loesser
Sophie: I used to really like this song and think it was cute and fun to sing (especially in Elf aw ily Zooey) but as I got older I realized how creepy it was, hence why it’s low on our list. I still bop to it occasionally, but never without being creeped out.
Sierra: The girl literally sings, “Say, what’s in this drink?” Enough said.
14. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” by Burl Ives
Sophie: The stop-motion Rudolph is one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies, but if I’m being honest, the title song isn’t great. It’s made for children, and there’s no remedying the basic ass lyrics. Burl Ives is the best tho.
Sierra: “Rudolph” is very nostalgic and singing it totally takes me back to being a little kid on Christmas morning again, but I cannot have it on repeat for the entire month of December.
13. “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
Sophie: This song is really sweet, but being from California I (sadly) cannot relate. I dream about having a white Christmas but can lowkey never have one (unless climate change keeps creating huge temperature spikes and drops hahahaha), and that makes me sad. A total classic and makes me nostalgic but not my first pick.
Sierra: This song is such a snooze-fest. It is nice, however, to dream of a white Christmas and this song does hold a very real sense of Christmas magic.
12. “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt
Sophie: Eartha Kitt is a total legend and an absolute baddie, and this song is funny, but gets old after a while. It’s also kind of sexist and assumes that women are just lusting after material goods. Also is a little bit too sexy for comfort. Love you Eartha, but this ain’t it.
Sierra: I’m not a huge fan of this song, but it’s such a classic that it can’t be ignored. I can’t think of a single female artist who released a Christmas album that didn’t cover this song, and that in itself is majorly impressive.
11. “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole
Sophie: I do really like this song, but it’s a little bit boring. I listen to it a lot but there’s a lot of songs I like more. I’m pretty neutral on this song and don’t have anything against it.
Sierra: Can’t think of a single time I roasted a chestnut on an open fire.
10.”Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms
Sophie: This song is iconic as hell because of Mean Girls, and if it wasn’t in the movie, it would probably be lower. Again, kind of repetitive and boring but every time I hear it I think of the movie and laugh.
Sierra: This song also makes me think of the classic vine, “Are you ready to jingle your bells?”
9. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
Sophie: A true bop but not my fave (why am I saying this for every song lmao).
Sierra: I LOVE this song! My girl, Brenda Lee’s, version cannot be topped no matter who tries it.
8. Charlie Brown Christmas (Album) by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
Sophie: This is MY number one. This entire album is absolutely amazing and nothing puts me in the Christmas mood more. It makes me SO happy and nostalgic, and I listen to it almost every day leading up to Christmas. But it’s in the middle cause it’s Sierra’s least favorite and I’m HEATED.
Sierra: The Charlie Brown Christmas Special is the suckiest of sucky when it comes to Christmas specials, and the album is not much different. It’s Christmas, and you’re going to tell me you want to listen to Charlie Brown whine for an hour? Also, the album HAS NO WORDS! A solid no for me!
7. “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by the Jackson Five (and Elvis, I guess)
Sophie: This song is usually kind of boring and repetitive, but the Jackson Five version puts me in a MOOD. It’s such a bop and little Michael Jackson could sing anything and I would bop to it.
Sierra: The Jackson Five version is truly magical and bop-worthy, but I also have to show some love to the Elvis version! Listen to Elvis sing, “Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,” and then try to convince me it’s not the greatest thing you’ve ever heard.
6. “Sleigh Ride” by Ella Fitzgerald
Sophie: I like the classic version of this song by the Ronettes a lot, but Ella’s version just adds an extra layer of amazingness and jazziness to it that I cannot RESIST. She’s an absolute queen forever and the fact that this song is in Elf makes it 1000x better.
Sierra: Honestly, I’ve never heard this version, but the OG version is so amazing I feel like it’s hard to mess it up no matter what.
5. “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives
Sophie: THIS is the best song from Rudolph hands down. So cute and fun to jam to, and is a great finale to the movie.
Sierra: This is Christmas at its peak! Tell me you don’t want to check under the mistletoe to see if anybody waits for you! That you don’t want to say hello to friends you know and everyone you meet!
4. “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” by Thurl Ravenscroft
Sophie: Another song that isn’t my favorite but Sierra loves it so we put it pretty high. I do love it if I’m in the mood but I never remember the words (lol).
Sierra: The live-action Grinch movie is the BEST Christmas movie in existence, so obviously the song is a true classic, as well. I could listen to this song on repeat probably 16 times! The lyrics are also worth mentioning. I mean, come on! “Garlic in your soul”? “Nasty, wasty skunk”? Name a better diss track. I’ll wait.
3. “What Christmas Means to Me” by Stevie Wonder
Sophie: Stevie Wonder is an absolute ICON and this song is so good ? Like way too good to be real.
Sierra: I forget about this song ALL THE TIME, but it’s honestly so good and puts me in the Christmas spirit so fast.
2. “Last Christmas” by WHAM
Sophie: A true classic. Will probably stand the test of time and be iconic forever tbh.
Sierra: Obviously.
1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
Sophie: Duh. Any other Christmas song ?? I don’t know her.
Sierra: What were you expecting? Of course this is first.