Rock the Season with Our Joyfully Curated List of Holiday Songs
Our team shared some of their favorite holiday songs in this fun playlist that can melt even the Grinchiest among us.
Listen Now SHARE
It's the most musical time of the year.
Every winter season, the radio waves are briefly interrupted by a constant stream of nostalgic, feel-good holiday music. Walk into a coffee shop? They’re playing classic Christmas songs. Stop by the mall to pick up a gift for your aunt? Bing Crosby is probably telling you that he’ll be coming home for Christmas.
Music associated with the holidays often covers a mix of topics, including cultural figures such as Santa Claus, religious stories, weather, and so much more. While most early holiday songs were more spiritual, after the Great Depression, a new form of holiday songs started to appear that focused more on secular tradition and customs associated with Christmas. Some of the most popular of that era include “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Test Your Knowledge
What is the most played holiday song of all time?
Silent Night, Holy Night
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Deck the Halls
According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 2016, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie in 1934, is the most played holiday song of the last 50 years.
BACK
While for some of us, the thought of 6 weeks of holiday music brings back feelings of nostalgia, others might feel like the Christmas Grinch at the first sound of Christmas bells. But whether you’re a holiday music enthusiast or Grinch, it may surprise you to learn that music artists from every genre have contributed their own spin on holiday classics.
So, grab your favorite warm beverage, a cozy blanket, and let’s break down some of the best holiday songs from rock stars!
Queen
Thank God It’s Christmas
The Kinks
Father Christmas
Elvis Presley
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Stevie Nicks
Silent Night
Queen
Thank God It’s Christmas
Released in 1984 by the British rock band, Queen. The lyrics share words of hope that the Christmas season has finally arrived after what had been a “long hard year.”
The Kinks
Father Christmas
Elvis Presley
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Stevie Nicks
Silent Night
Queen
Thank God It’s Christmas
The Kinks
Father Christmas
Released in 1977, “Father Christmas” is a catchy song that includes riffs and hooks that will have you jumping up and down in your ugly sweater.
Elvis Presley
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Stevie Nicks
Silent Night
Queen
Thank God It’s Christmas
The Kinks
Father Christmas
Elvis Presley
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
The original performance of “I’ll be Home for Christmas” featured Bing Crosby and was written to honor soldiers who were overseas and missing their loved ones. Elvis Presley covered the song in 1957. Other artists to cover the song include Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Rascal Flatts, and Sufjan Stevens.
Stevie Nicks
Silent Night
Queen
Thank God It’s Christmas
The Kinks
Father Christmas
Elvis Presley
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Stevie Nicks
Silent Night
Stevie Nicks once said that “Silent Night” was her favorite holiday song. Stevie’s voice is unmistakable and can be both haunting and uplifting at the same time. Her rendition of “Silent Night” was released in 1987 and includes backup vocals from Robbie Nevil. In 2000, Stevie gave a performance at the White House of Silent Night alongside Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
Run DMC
Christmas in Hollis
Chicago
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
The Ronettes
Frosty the Snowman
Outkast
Players Ball
Run DMC
Christmas in Hollis
When Run DMC was first asked by music journalist, Bill Adler to contribute to the “A Very Special Christmas” compilation album - they refused. But once the idea to create a song about Christmas in their neighborhood, Hollis, Queens, they gave in. The 1987 hit continues to be a holiday favorite and has been in several holiday movies including the 2018 hit, The Grinch.
Chicago
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
The Ronettes
Frosty the Snowman
Outkast
Players Ball
Run DMC
Christmas in Hollis
Chicago
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Chicago released their version of the classic holiday song in 2011. Originally performed by Brenda Lee and released in 1958, this hit was always meant to get people moving and celebrating the holiday spirit. Thanks to Chicago, they can now officially rock out too.
The Ronettes
Frosty the Snowman
Outkast
Players Ball
Run DMC
Christmas in Hollis
Chicago
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
The Ronettes
Frosty the Snowman
The Ronettes 1963 cover of Frosty the Snowman was released as part of the album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector which was voted No. 142 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list.
Outkast
Players Ball
Run DMC
Christmas in Hollis
Chicago
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
The Ronettes
Frosty the Snowman
Outkast
Players Ball
Players Ball is the Die Hard of holiday songs - some people list it as one of their holiday songs while others maintain it is not a Christmas song. In 2007, Elton John released a collection of his favorite Christmas party songs, and right in the middle of it was Players Ball. If Sir Elton thinks it’s a holiday song, we do too!
U2
New Years Day
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Christmas All Over Again
Bruce Springsteen
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
The Ventures
Jingle Bell Rock
U2
New Years Day
If you like to hit the town on New Year’s Eve, you’ve likely found yourself at an event where U2’s 1983 hit New Years Day is blasting over the speakers. New Years Day is not a song to celebrate the end of the year and the new year to come. U2 lead singer Bono is said to have written the lyrics about the persecuted leader of the Polish Solidarity movement, Lech Walesa.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Christmas All Over Again
Bruce Springsteen
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
The Ventures
Jingle Bell Rock
U2
New Years Day
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Christmas All Over Again
Appearing on the album A Very Special Christmas 2, the second in the A Very Special Christmas series of Christmas themed songs, benefiting the Special Olympics, this Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 1992 hit was an instant classic.
Bruce Springsteen
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
The Ventures
Jingle Bell Rock
U2
New Years Day
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Christmas All Over Again
Bruce Springsteen
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
Originally recorded in 1975, Bruce Springsteen’s performance of Santa Claus is Comin to Town first appeared on the album, In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record.
The Ventures
Jingle Bell Rock
U2
New Years Day
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Christmas All Over Again
Bruce Springsteen
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
The Ventures
Jingle Bell Rock
The 1965 cover of Jingle Bell Rock by The Ventures has no vocals and instead is purely instrumental but that won’t stop you from wanting to belt out the lyrics to this classic holiday tune.
Test Your Knowledge
How long did it take Mariah Carey and her writing partner, Walter Afanasieff to write and compose “All I Want for Christmas Is You?”
15 minutes
Five years
One month
One year
During the summer of 1994, Carey decorated her upstate New York home with Christmas trinkets and decorations to inspire her to write a holiday song for her album Merry Christmas. The composition and lyrics took her and Afanasieff fifteen minutes to complete and was recorded in August of 1994.
BACKNEXT Test Your Knowledge
What Christmas song is also the best selling single of all time?
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Frosty the Snowman by the Ronettes
Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
Test Your Knowledge
The first song played in space was a holiday song. Which one was it?
Jingle Bells
White Christmas
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
Frosty the Snowman
“Jingle Bells” became the first song played in space when, on December 16, 1965, it was broadcast during NASA’s Gemini 6A space flight. The song, written by James Lord Pierpont (USA) in 1857, was originally titled “One-Horse Open Sleigh”.
BACKPowered by:
