Music has always been a fundamental part of holiday festivities. Christmas celebrations are no different; in fact, there is even a genre of songs dedicated to the jolly holiday. These holiday songs are the best to listen to set the mood this time of year, no matter if you’re doing a simple vacation or celebrating with relatives you haven’t seen in a while.
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee: 5/5
The Christmas rockabilly song sung by Brenda Lee is a great song to play during Christmas celebrations. The song captures the enthusiasm of the winter holiday with iconic lines like “everyone dancin’ merrily / in the new old-fashioned way” and “voices singing, let’s be jolly / deck the halls with boughs of holly.” Lee’s upbeat voice and the rock instrumental adds a layer of joyful energy to the song, making a lovely vintage song about the joy of Christmas.
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams – 4.5/5
Andy Williams’s iconic Christmas song is about the various festivities during the winter. Williams’s grand voice and the loud instrumentals create a great song to usher in the winter holiday season. While the second half of the song mostly consists of backup singers repeating previous lines, the song does a great job of describing fun activities like family gatherings, toasting marshmallows, and caroling.
“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms – 4.5/5
Bobby Helms’s rendition of “Jingle Bells,” which was originally published by James Lord Pierpont in 1857, adds a new rock element. Helms’s version of the song contains a beautiful blend of guitars and Christmas-y bells as he sings about “dancin’ and prancin’ in Jingle Bell Square.” The song is a catchy, rock update to the original song.
“Winter Wonderland” by Richard Himber – 4.5/5
Richard Himber’s Christmas song’s lyrics are filled with imagery about the unique visuals of winter. Throughout the song, the singer sings about fun activities during the cold season, such as building snowmen and embracing loved ones by the chimney fire. The symphony of instruments also helps create a whimsical atmosphere. The mixture of all these aspects creates a wonderful song to listen to while, as the song itself says, “walking in a winter wonderland.”
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey – 5/5
In the song, Mariah Carey sings about her desire to be with her lover during Christmas rather than have material goods. While the song starts out slow, it quickly picks up the pace and turns into an energetic ode to celebrating Christmas with loved ones. The song has since left a legacy as one of the most defining Christmas songs, with it reappearing on music charts every December. The song has also inspired a series of yearly videos called “The Defrosting of Mariah Carey,” in which Carey utilizes her high vocal range to usher in the countdown to Christmas as the song plays in the background.
The holiday season has arrived, so it’s important to start finding some good Christmas songs to add to your playlist to celebrate.
