I have a confession.
The first song on my Christmas playlist is — don’t judge me! — Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You.”
Yes, I know.
For someone who’s got almost every album by The Cure and got excited — I mean really excited — about tickets to The Aquabats, a Mariah Carey Christmas song — or any Mariah Carey song — would seem out-of-place on my playlist.
Oh, but it’s there. At the top, too.
I have a serious addiction to Christmas songs. I’ll listen to them even in the summertime and, if I’m allowed, will sing them at karaoke events. It’s not something I like to discuss publicly, but I can’t deny it, either. I’m a fan.
So naturally I love this time of the year, when radio stations don’t have to have an excuse to play Christmas music, from the classic “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby to the hot “O Holy Night” by Susan Boyle.
So here’s my current Christmas playlist — some old, some new — that’s taking me into the holidays:
- “All I Want For Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey
- “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Dean Martin
- “The Hanukkah Song” by Adam Sandler
- “Sleigh Ride” by Ella Fitzgerald
- “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey
- “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
- “Jingle Bells” by Diana Krall
- “Mele Kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters
- “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy William
- “Winter Wonderland” by Johnny Mathis
- “My Only Wish (This Year)” by Britney Spears
- “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt and Henri Rene
- “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
- “(Everybody’s Waiting For) The Man with the Bag” by Kay Starr
- “O Holy Night” by Willie K
- “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by NSYNC
What’s on your playlist? Got any I should add?
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41 Comments
Guud morning Cat!
I don’t have a favorite Christmas playlist. I enjoy Christmas music to a point.
I don’t have a Christmas playlist either, but I do love Christmas music. Now I want those light sabre chopsticks!
CAT: You are spot on! Xmas music is the greatest. What about the Hawaiian version of the 12 days of Xmas by Ed Kenney? I also enjoy the Mannheim Steamroller Xmas instrumentals.
I don’t have a play list of Christmas music, but I’m a sentimental slob who loves all holiday music. The music reminds me that this is a special time of the year. A couple I particularly like:
* Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC.
* Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley.
* Anne Murray’s entire Christmas album since my mom loves Anne Murray.
run run rudolph!!
I find it funny that you say “don’t judge me” by the Mariah track when you also have NSYNC, Britney and Jessica Simpson/Nick Lachey on that playlist, yikes! 😉 I like Christmas music too, but for this genre I usually think more entire albums than playlists/mixes, like The Carpenters, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. although I bought that “Now That’s What I Call Christmas” compilation to get the common tracks that are played on the radio (Elvis, Bing Crosby, etc.). By the way anyone remember when Tower Records would immediately mark down all Christmas music 50% starting Christmas Day? Used to always go down for that. Of course now you can just download.
Be back with some tracks. I’ll mention one now though: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid. Totally 80s, totally my era. “Feeeed the woooooorld!”
@808marv Yeah… Mariah I can accept… but Lachey and Simpson? Cat, get help… now! LOL!!
I prefer the versions by Ray Charles & Betty Carter or Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan.
@808marv Oh, and I second your “YIKES” on Britney too!
Just having fun with you Cat!
@MaxMaxMax @808marv I can’t help it. I’m a sell out. 🙂
@Cat @MaxMaxMax Robert Smith would be most displeased haha.
@Cat @808marv To your credit Cat, you didn’t list any Justin Bieber! (hehe)
I love Xmas music. Can listen to it over and over. In addition to your list, Cody likes :
Sleighride by Leroy Anderson
Sleighride by The Boston Pops
O Holy Night by Willie K
Carol of the Bells by David Foster
Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi
Oh Tannenbaum by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Home Alone soundtrack by John Williams
Ode to Joy by Beethoven
The Xmas Song by Vic Damone
Silent Night by Bing Crosby
Have a Holly Jolly Xmas by Burl Ives
Merry Xmas Darling by The Carpenters
Frosty the Snowman
Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas
Little Drummer Boy
Silver Bells
Joy To The World
No one likes “White Christmas”? I must say that I too am a Christmas song junkie and would always have Christmas songs on hand on my iphone/ipod, but ever since Pandora and my iPhone came along I got to free up space on my iPhone and stream an excellent vairety of Christmas time carols all day long. 😉
First, THE definitive Christmas song:
• “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole
…and the rest:
• “The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie
(* I saw this on TV when it first broadcast as a kid. I thought it wast he best song I’d ever heard then!)
• “A Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney & Wings
• “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Emerson Lake and Palmer
• “Christmastime, Skating, and Linus and Lucy” all by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (from Charlie Brown)
• “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid
• “Little Saint Nick” by The Beach Boys
• “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee
• “Merry Christmas Darling” by The Carpenters
• “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano
• “Run Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry
• “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by the Jackson 5
• “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
• “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Michael Bublé
• “Frosty the Snowman, Sleigh RIde and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” all by the Ronettes
(* really, ANYTHING off of the 1963 Phil Spector produced “A Christmas Gift For You!”)
• “Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo” from South Park!–hahahaha!
• “Someday At Christmas” by Stevie Wonder
• “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses
(I know you mentioned it, but I love it so much I HAD to include it, LOL!)
…and for some local flair:
• “Away in a Manger” by Keola Beamer (slack key instrumental)
Some YouTube links from the list above for your Holiday enjoyment!
• “The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJp-lSv0S0
• “A Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney & Wings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y
• “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXCEdrnaFlY
(* and a Greg Lake bonus–this guy was so bad ass in the day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoxHGxQw9ws)
• “Skating” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (from Charlie Brown)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfEK1wlykLI
• “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYLaFsapMRI
• “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM
• “Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo” from South Park!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu4AuQA50pg
• “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzjDOk_u9I
…and a remake by my fave all-girl rock group The Donnas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRTU0wrW5Dc
…and another bonus song by The Waitresses, “I Know What Boys Like”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UX2afsTqFI
• “Away in a Manger” by Keola Beamer (slack key instrumental)
https://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-slack-key-christmas-r1838483
* CLICK sound icon of #4 for preview
M • E • L • E • • • K • A • L • I • K • I • M • A • K • A
(repost–removed inappropriate YouTube version of Lennon song and replaced it)
Some YouTube links from the list above for your Holiday enjoyment!
• “The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJp-lSv0S0
• “A Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney & Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y
• “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXCEdrnaFlY
** and a Greg Lake bonus–this guy was so bad ass in the day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoxHGxQw9ws)
• “Skating” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio (from Charlie Brown)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfEK1wlykLI
• “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYLaFsapMRI
• “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYhaZ2pV0CQ
• “Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo” from South Park!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu4AuQA50pg
• “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzjDOk_u9I
…and a remake by my fave all-girl rock group The Donnas! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRTU0wrW5Dc
…and another bonus song by The Waitresses, “I Know What Boys Like”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UX2afsTqFI
• “Away in a Manger” by Keola Beamer (slack key instrumental)
https://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-slack-key-christmas-r1838483
** CLICK sound icon of #4 for preview
M • E • L • E • • • K • A • L • I • K • I • M • A • K • A
@MaxMaxMax Sweet! Thanks for the links!
I am very much into pop music so this playlist will have a very pop feel to it. I would highly recommend Lady Antebellum’s version of “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Mariah Carey turned that song into a x-mas music staple but Lady Antebellum does a fine job of putting their own twist on it.
Nsync – I Don’t Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You
Mariah Carey – Oh Santa!
Ashley Tisdale – Last Christmas
98 Degrees – This Gift
Kurt & Blaine – Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Glee)
Clay Aiken – Merry Christmas With Love
Demi Lovato – Wonderful Christmas Time
Charice – The Christmas Song
Hilary Duff – What Christmas Should Be
Carrie Underwood – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Honor Society – White Christmas
David Archuleta – Joy To The World
Aly & AJ – Greatest Time Of Year
Taylor Swift – Silent Night
Jesse McCartney – One Way Or Another
Katharine McPhee – Christmas Is The Time
Josh Groban – Thankful
Lady Antebellum – All I Want For Christmas Is You
Michael Buble – Grown Up Christmas List
Nsync – Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
Aly & AJ – Silent Night
David Archuleta feat. Charice – Have Yourself A Merry Little X-mas
Jordan Pruitt – Celebrate Love
Tina, Mercedes & Kurt – We Need A Little Christmas (Glee)
Selena Gomez & The Scene – Winter Wonderland
Kristinia DeBarge – Do You Hear What I Hear
Josh Groban & Faith Hill – The First Noel
Leighton Meester – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Clay Aiken – Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day
Aly & AJ – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Faith Hill – Where Are You Christmas
David Archuleta – Melodies of Christmas
Finn, Puck & Artie – Jingle Bells (Glee)
Christina Aguilera – This Christmas
Katharine McPhee – O Holy Night
Lady Antebellum – On This Winter’s Night
@seancena Nice list! Hey, what did you think of Lady Gaga’s Christmas song? I can’t remember the name…
@Cat @seancena Thanks. It’s Lady Gaga – Christmas Tree. I suppose it’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.
A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.
@Cat @seancena Thanks. It’s Lady Gaga – Christmas Tree. I suppose it’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.
A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.
@Cat
it’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.
A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.
@Cat Thanks! That would be Lady Gaga – Christmas Tree. It’s okay. I mean it’s an extremely eclectic x-mas song. I’m not sure I could handle listening to that song multiple times.
A lot of people really like Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” I am also a big Owl City fan and his song “Peppermint Winter” is very enjoyable.
No Christmas is complete without some Mariah Carey!
nooo Cat …. nooooo Jessica Simpson …. noooo … even this old scratcy recording is better than Jessica Simpson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-70qMhLfjLI
lot of great songs listed below … thanks everyone
@Maxcat I know but it’s the sentimental value of the song. You know, from their “Newlyweds” days on MTV. Ah, televised romance.
N Sync’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” and Wham’s “Last Christmas” are two of my guilty Christmas pleasures. Don’t forget “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer!”
@JennaLanger How could I forget WHAM!
@Cat @JennaLanger Oh to watch the video for “Last Christmas” now and laugh at George Michael. If the female fans of Geroge only knew then what they know now LOL.
Here’s just a few not-so-well-known Christmas songs that I like to play during the holidays:
Lisa Ono – Winter Wonderland
Cool bossa nova version by the Brazilian-Japanese singer/guitarist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vpODb8PCzk
The Rubber Band – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph in the style of the Beatles’ song “Taxman” by a Danish tribute band. Awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYvrWD7xLY
Tuck Andress – Jingle Bells
Killer solo guitar version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aklB9flLkMg
Chicago – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It snow!
Ok a pretty well known band but I don’t hear it all that much on the radio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYvrWD7xLY
Here’s just a few not-so-well-known Christmas songs that I like to play during the holidays:
Lisa Ono – Winter Wonderland
Cool bossa nova version by the Brazilian-Japanese singer/guitarist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vpODb8PCzk
The Rubber Band – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph in the style of the Beatles’ song “Taxman” by a Danish tribute band. Awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0HFEMzVc1k
Tuck Andress – Jingle Bells
Killer solo guitar version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aklB9flLkMg
Chicago – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It snow!
Ok a pretty well known band but I don’t hear this all that much on the radio anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYvrWD7xLY
Podsafe for Peace
A collaboration of musicians produced this song in 2005 to promote podsafe Christmas music. All proceeds from sales of this song are donated to UNICEF.
https://www.musicalley.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=b69291b9e6017fff1ba9a1514f5f4c27
Chiron Beta Prime
Every Internet geek’s favorite Christmas song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5M9UTlDb10
Tennessee Christmas – Amy Grant (and no, haven’t been to Tennessee)
Grown-up Christmas List – Amy Grant
Christmas Portrait/An Old-Fashion Christmas (Albums) – The Carpenters
No Mo’ Christmas Blues – Frank De Lima, Honolulu Boy Choir
Numbah One Day of Christmas – Ed Kenney, Honolulu Boy Choir
At Christmas Time – Pure Heart
An Island Christmas – Pure Heart
Hawaiian Santa – Brothers Cazimero
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Frank Sinatra
White Christmas – Bing Crosby
December Makes Me Feel This Way – Kenny Loggins
Little Drummer Boy – Rick Braun
Beneath the Moonlit Sky – Dave Koz & David Benoit
Only Always – Kathy Troccoli
Awesome comments flowing in here! If you haven’t posted your Christmas favorites yet, we’d love to see what they are!
Time to ROCK!
O Come Ye All Faithful – (sung to the tune of “We’re Not Gonna Take It”) – Twisted Sister
You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch – Whirling Dervishes
White Christmas – Kiss
Jingle Bells – Gary Hoey
Deck the Halls – Ted Nugent
Little Drummer Boy – Joan Jett
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen
Oi to the World – No Doubt
Back Door Santa – Bon Jovi
Christmas Christmas – Cheap Trick
@nkvball OH MY GOD!!! How could I have forgotten to put some rockin’ in your stockin’ on my You Tube links earlier? Thanks for the spark! Here’s my absolute favorite:
“The Twelve Days Of Christmas” by Gary Hoey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QqmpLzZ5_A
…and live in studio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PIyCGi0i7k
The first time I heard this was on the Mark and Brian show back in the ’90s when they were in syndication on KPOI!
Jingle Bell Rock! 🙂
No love for Darlene Love? It’s not Christmas without Marshmallow World and the best version of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).
Cool collection of Christmas tunes here–before Ozzy and industrial rock–Handel laid down the first power chords in his Messiah’s Hallelujah Chorus. A pure Christmas classic!
@padams Did you see this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
@J very cool–thank you!