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Whether you want to rock around the tree, make out under the mistletoe or chill by the fireplace sipping spiked eggnog, Christmas just doesn’t jingle all the way without a sleighing soundtrack to the season.
From Nat King Cole and Bruce Springsteen to Brenda Lee and a certain Queen of Christmas — Mariah Carey — these 10 yule tunes never fail to turn up the holiday spirit.
Nat King Cole, “The Christmas Song”
If you’re going to anoint a song as the Christmas song, you better be able to bring all the holiday feels. And whether or not you’ve ever roasted a chestnut in your life — really, who has? — this is the definitive version of the definitive Christmas song.
Donny Hathaway, “This Christmas”
When it comes to hanging under the mistletoe, nothing beats the old-school R&B romance of Hathaway’s 1970 classic. And although it’s been covered by everyone from Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin to Christina Aguilera and Chris Brown — who sang it for the same-named movie in 2007 — the original still blazes brightest.
Wham!, “Last Christmas”
Forty years ago, George Michael — well on his way to leaving Wham! for solo superstardom — gave us his heart with this holiday ditty that still stands as one of the last original Christmas classics. It even inspired a 2019 movie named after it. But the song took on a sad sentiment when Michael had his “last Christmas” when he died on the holiday in 2016.
Bruce Springsteen, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”
From the moment that the Boss commands, “You better watch out, you better not cry,” about the imminent arrival of Saint Nick, it’s enough to make kids of all ages be good, for goodness sake. Honorable mention to the Jackson 5’s version for a more youthful and soulful spin on the seasonal standard.
Brenda Lee, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
It only took 65 years of twirling around that evergreen, but Lee’s 1958 Christmas chestnut finally hit No. 1 in 2023. That gave the 80-year-old legend just the third-holiday single ever to jingle all the way to the top, following Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” in 1958 and, of course, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 2019. Now that’s some rockin’ for the ages.
Joni Mitchell, “River”
Although not technically a Christmas song if you really want to nitpick, this beauty from Mitchell’s classic “Blue” album is set during the holiday season and is the very essence of angelic. And when those echoes of “Jingle Bells” chime in, it makes us want to skate away on that river every single time.
Prince, “Another Lonely Christmas”
One of those brilliant B-sides that Prince used to give us at the peak of his powers, this guitar-charged Christmas confession is more melancholy than merry. But it captures the holiday heartbreak that many feel during the season. And hey, any excuse to play Prince is a good one.
Vince Guaraldi Trio, “Christmas Time Is Here”
The jazzy, ivory-tickling vibes of this dreamy ditty from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” never fail to hit the right notes for “yuletide by the fireside.” Special shout-out to the children’s choir from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael, California.
Whitney Houston, “Joy to the World”
Houston takes it all the way to church with the Georgia Mass Choir on a righteous rendition of this bop to the heavens from 1996’s “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack. In all of her gospel glory, the greatest voice of all makes you feel the holy spirit as well as the holiday one.
Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
Because the Queen of Christmas will not be denied, dahling. Thirty years, 16 weeks at No. 1 and nearly 2 billion Spotify streams later, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.