The Festive season rolls around again, and Xmas is almost here. There’s something about the yuletide cheer that comes with this time of year, giving us all that warm, welcoming feeling of community and joy.
One thing that’s unique about the Christmas season is the music. Christmas carols and pop songs permeate through speaker coils across the country and the world. Right now, you probably already hear the radio playing Christmas songs, and the stores all have Xmas tunes blasting.
Whether you’re at the casino enjoying music slots or out for dinner with the family – there’s Christmas music everywhere.
So, what are the top tracks this Christmas? What Xmas tunes can you expect to hear on your way around town this festive season? We curated this list of our favorite Christmas songs from top artists. All of them have something to offer you this festive season.
From Snoop Dogg to Wham! There are plenty of options to add to your playlist this festive season.
The Honorable Mentions
50. John Lennon and Yoko Ono – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971)
49. Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979)
48. Slade – “Merry Xmas Everybody” (1973)
47. Kacey Musgraves – “Christmas Makes Me Cry” (2016)
46. Akim and Teddy Vann – “Santa Claus Is a Black Man” (1973)
45. Albert King – “Santa Claus Want Some Lovin'” (1974)
44. Dolly Parton – “Go Tell It to the Mountain” (1990)
43. The Carpenters – “Merry Christmas, Darling” (1970)
42. The Magnetic Fields – “Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree” (2010)
41. Ariana Grande – “With It This Christmas” (2015)
40. Staple Singers – “Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas” (1970)
39. Poly Styrene – “Black Christmas” (2010)
38. Trinidad James – “Black Santa” (2017)
37. Los Lobos – “Llegó Navidad” (“Christmas Is Here”) (2019)
36. John Denver – “Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)” (1975)
35. Phoebe Bridgers – “Christmas Song” (2018)
34. Snoop Doggy Dogg – “Santa Claus Goes Straight To the Ghetto” (feat. Big Tray Deee, Bad Azz, Daz Dillinger, and Nate Dogg) (1996)
33. Fountains of Wayne – “I Want an Alien for this Christmas” (1997)
32. Neko Case – “Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis” (2000)
31. Pet Shop Boys – “It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas” (1997)
30. Nick Lowe – “A Dollar Short of Happy” (2013)
29. Tracey Thorn – “Maybe This Christmas” (2012)
28. Fairfield Four – “Children Go Where I Send You” (1992)
27. Martha Wainwright and Lily Lanken – “The Rebel Jesus” (2005)
26. The Kinks – “Father Christmas” (1977)
25. Fishbone – “Slick Nick, You Devil You” (1985)
24. Ghostface – “Ghostface X-mas” (2008)
23. Chavela Vargas – “Amarga Navidad” (“Bitter Christmas”) (1996)
22. The Jackson 5 – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (1970)
21. Ohio Players – “Happy Holidays, Pt. 1 & 2” (1975)
The Top 20 Xmas Songs for 2020
20. Run DMC – “Christmas in Hollis” (1987)
This NYC rap group lays it down for you in true hip-hop style this Christmas.
19. The Everly Brothers – “Christmas Eve Can Kill You” (1972)
A fun song for Xmas eve parties this year.
18. John Prine – “Christmas in Prison” (1973)
A heartfelt storytelling musical classic.
17. Willie Colón – “Aires de Navidad” (“Christmas Spirit”) (1970)
Something different to set the tome this Xmas.
16. Marvin Gaye – “I Want to Come Home for this Christmas” (1972)
Marvin’s smooth vocals are all you need this Xmas.
15. Willie Nelson – “Pretty Paper” (1979)
Big Willie Nelson is always welcome around our Christmas tree.
14. The Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (1989)
Let’s punk things up with some energy from the Ramones.
13. The Pretenders – “2000 Miles” (1983)
Anything from the Pretenders is a classic.
12. The Waitresses – “Christmas Wrapping” (1981)
A storytelling Christmas classic.
11. Outkast – “Player’s Ball” (1993)
The music video has an excellent Xmas theme.
10. Wham! – “Last Christmas” (1986)
We hear this song everywhere we go.
9. Bing Crosby and David Bowie – “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” (1977)
David and Bing – the best Xmas present you could ask for this year.
8. Merle Haggard – “If We Make It Through December” (1973)
A 70s classic that’s still relevant today.
7. Joni Mitchell – “River” (1971)
It’s a classic track from the catalog of one of the world’s most loved 70s artists.
6. José Feliciano – “Feliz Navidad” (1970)
This track has something exotic for a different Xmas theme.
5. Prince – “Another Lonely Christmas” (1984)
He may be gone, but his smash Xmas hit lives on.
4. The Pogues – “Fairytale of New York” (feat. Kirsty MacColl) (1987)
It’s one of the most memorable Xmas tracks from the eighties.
3. Donny Hathaway – “This Christmas” (1970)
It’s an instant Xmas classic featuring the silky smooth voice of Donny.
2. Mariah Carey – “All that I Want for Christmas Is You” (1994)
It’s all over the radio every year.
1. Aretha Franklin – “Silent Night (Solo Piano Version)” (2008)
A classic reworked by one of the best voice talents of her generation.