The 50 Best Original Christmas Songs Since 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'
A study on similarities in the music and lyrics of Christmas songs was published by a musicologist.
A whopping 95 percent of the surveyed tracks were in a major key, and 90 percent were in the time signature that echoes clopping horses and sleigh bells. Home, romance, family, and the usual trappings of Christmas were all in the lyrics.
The peak of modern Christmas music, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", was checked by Bennett. The lovelorn open letter helped land Carey the unofficial title of "Queen of Christmas"
because of the vibe of a lost track from A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector. Since the Holiday 100 began in 2011, the single has topped it for 52 weeks. It re-enters the Hot 100 this year and is currently at 25 on the chart. Carey has embraced the Queen of Christmas ideal despite a recent legal ruling denying her a trademark of the title.
The song "All I want" is wonderful. Despite their merit, other, more modern Christmas tracks have been demoted to lower ranks of holiday playlists due to its 28 year reign over charts and hearts. If the song were a car, it would be in the company of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" The new classics created in the last 25 years have the potential to become holly, jolly staple. Bennett wants an ideal holiday track that is better than others, but only one has the commercial appeal and ear worm potential to compete against the queen herself.
Christmas has a restaurant named "Snaildartha." Thanksgiving has a restaurant called "Alice's Restaurant."
The 2004 composition tells the story of Jerry the Christmas Snail, a man who searches for enlightenment and ends up at the North Pole. The title is derived from the story of the Buddha. Chris Strouth's "Snaildartha" is a 45ish-minute investment that gets even better with repeated listenings. Its vibe makes it an ideal Christmas Day soundtrack, and its story is a balm for depressed holiday revelers. Is it possible that the Snaildartha 6 could wear a crown for the diva? It's likely not, so it's at 50.
Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" is one of the best power pop albums of all time. The re-skinning of the song isn't the most original Christmas tune out there, and the realization that "to want me" and "for Christmas" had a similar cadence probably caused a lot of high-fiving in the studio. The more gift-receiving-centered songs of the season echo how it channels its source material.
A Christmas Day clash between a punk and a skinhead is the subject of a new song by the Vandals. No Doubt covered this cut for 1997's A Very Special Christmas 3, but the final message from God is "Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins, but Oi to the world and everybody."
It feels like a 21st-century update of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" for the singer-songwriter's mother, who died last year. The track grapples with grief in a way that is suffused with love.
The no-good ex of the narrator of the cut showed up in Christmas stockings to make the case for crawling back into her good graces.
The prospect of watching the queen on TV while having some solo fish and chips is a much better present than any reconciliation according to Long Blondes vocalist Kate Jackson. It is an admirable stance for a new classic to take.
Hatfield, whose recent run of writing productivity led to this track about an actual plant of hers, is pretty Zen about the whole thing. Hatfield told the Boston Globe that he has faith in the future. If it doesn't, that's alright as well.
Alphabeat was a collective that specialized in time-suspended dance-pop that was cheerful even as its singers spoke of longing and sad. The 2012 Christmas single is all about stoking merriment, though, as they welcome the world to their party with their personable voice.
The band's first Christmas single is a hooky return to the call-me-maybe era, with Lili Trifilio longing to hear the voice of an ex: "We can pretend the holiday antics/ Give us an excuse to speak." The doo-doo-doos that close the song suggest that she has figured out ways to distract herself, but the song's sweet and longing make it hard not to root for her. It is one of the younger classics and still has room to grow.
The resurgence of the Monkees resulted in two albums that showed how the Prefab Four had influenced so many modern pop masters. Christmas Party was the final album of the Monkees and included tracks written by Rivers Cuomo and Andy Partridge. R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Young Fresh Fellows' Scott McCaughey wrote a song called "Christmas Party" which is a sun-dappled bit of psych-pop that channels the band's later-period experimental side.
Alphabeat was a collective that specialized in time-suspended dance-pop that was cheerful even as its singers spoke of longing and sad. The 2012 Christmas single is all about stoking merriment, though, as they welcome the world to their party with their personable voice.
The band's first Christmas single is a hooky return to the call-me-maybe era, with Lili Trifilio longing to hear the voice of an ex: "We can pretend the holiday antics/ Give us an excuse to speak." The doo-doo-doos that close the song suggest that she has figured out ways to distract herself, but the song's sweet and longing make it hard not to root for her. It is one of the younger classics and still has room to grow.
The resurgence of the Monkees resulted in two albums that showed how the Prefab Four had influenced so many modern pop masters. Christmas Party was the final album of the Monkees and included tracks written by Rivers Cuomo and Andy Partridge. R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Young Fresh Fellows' Scott McCaughey wrote a song called "Christmas Party" which is a sun-dappled bit of psych-pop that channels the band's later-period experimental side.
The gently glum guitar-pop cut, which showcases their collective songwriting prowess in impressive fashion, was written by the two men. Mann and Leo would have their depictions of holiday loneliness descend into self-pity, but instead they would turn the radio on and wait for the song to come on.
Lizzo wrote a song about how the holiday season can double as cuffing season. When it was released seven years ago, it shows how fully formed the Minneapolis singer, rapper, flautist, and mogul was through how she balanced honesty with good taste.
The 1975 Britpop heirs have been refining their observations. Their peppy entry into the holiday-song canon, which appeared on being funny in a foreign language, shows how trenchant their observations are. A brisk whirl through overheard family conversations about logistics and gossip that musically recalls early-'80s modern-rock holiday offerings like Squeeze's "Christmas Day" shows how exhausting and gratifying going home for the holidays can be.
This mid-2000s cut by the Swedish disco duo is an icy homage to an out-of-reach crush. The outro, in which she repeats "Don't go, don't go" as if she's trying to beam it into her lover's brain, is worthy of a new version. The official version of "All I Want for Christmas" was released in 2003 with Bow Wow andJerald Dupri.
Hip-hop came late to the Christmas-music game, as the first rap song to come out on a major label was Run-D.M.C. Despite great songs like Outkast's "Player's Ball" and others, making inroads into the canon has been difficult. The season-ending edition of the Christmas 100 does not include any hip-hop tracks. The way adult-contemporary radio has colonized the holiday space as well as the way holiday is synonymous with tradition in the minds of those station's programmers is to blame.
Never one to be intimidated by what people might think, Jon entered the holiday-song fray with this heavy metal start to the party. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the crunk pioneer admitted he had had it kicking around his files for a while, but it didn't come together until the sugar-water pushers at Kool-Aid approached him. It is not solemn by any means, but the sheer glee conjured by Lil Jon's feisty bark being contrasted with the Kool-Aid Man's rumbling "Oh yeahhhs" over a manic '00s-channeling beat will put a smile on even the most festive of holidays
Christmas is one of the highlights of the slowcore pioneers' lengthy catalogue, with versions of "Blue Christmas" and "Silent Night" as well as originals like the stark "Take Down the Tree" and rueful "If You Were Born Today" On the opener, the drummer-vocalist, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 55, recalls a trip through Scandinavia, with the track's distortion-aided guitars and insistent beat giving the journey a youthful wonder.
Are you aware of Christmas? At the beginning of 8 Days of Christmas, the fourth album from Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland proclaims that it was made for the children. The title track shows off DC's innovative approach to pop-R&B, adding a pre-chorus and jubilant refrain to the original's day-by- day rundown. By the end, the trio gets to show off their skills on a bridge before Bey takes the stage. Someone would be crazy in love after receiving gifts that were thoughtful and expensive.
Nick Offer channels his new-wave crooner side as he sings about how he laid down his feelings one Christmas: "I've been 'round the world' and seen all kinds of girls but I've seen nothing." She disappeared into the ether like the track ended, but the memories are still there.
Smashing Pumpkins songs like "Disarm" and "Tonight, Tonight" show Billy Corgan being surrounded by grandiosity. While the alt-rock survivor and wrestling promoter has a reputation for being a bit of a grouch, this cut from 1997's A Very Special Christmas 3 is by no means Grinchy.
The Wu-Tang member used his flair for description and rhyme to depict Christmas scenes in his 2008 holiday offering, where he used his flair for rhyme and description to depict Christmas scenes.
The Pipettes channel their forebears on this track, which has plush harmony, a triumphant key change, and a declaration of love to the red-suited toy-toter.
The emotional song about Christmastime loneliness is at its center. Its simply stated lyrics are given extra oomph by the Rae Sremmurd rapper and singer's wide open vowels, particularly when he wails "Holiday's been quiet" at the end of the first verse.
A Christmas day spent under the covers with a loved one is the subject of this song. Marie Ulven's romanticism is in full force here, and the sing-song vocal melody and crisp production make "two queens" a sweet soundtrack to anyone using the holidays as an excuse to turn in. This was the first track Ulven worked on with an outside producer.
Country-pop singer Cam reflects on Christmas as a time to summon optimism. The song's message of hope for better days ahead is added to by the fact that it has a minimalist arrangement and vocal harmony.
In 2008, the Celtic new-age master released her holiday-themed album And Winter Came..., and while all of its tracks were new Enya compositions, "White Is in the Winter Night" has a timeworn feeling.
A romantic song about getting down for the holidays is the only original entry on the Christmas album. As he describes his dreams of a mistletoe kiss he weaves around strings and jingle bells.
Home for Christmas, the biggest hit from NSYNC's 1998 holiday album, is one of the best holiday songs of all time. This new classic doesn't catapult it to the top 20.
Tyler, the Creator contributed two songs, including his interpretation of "You're a Mean One, Mr. The self-penned songs included this entertaining careening boast, which is filled with references to his childhood and hip-hop peers, was released as part of a self-penned songs that included this entertaining careening boast.
Gaga's entry into the holiday-music catalogue is a song called "My Christmas tree's delicious." The film shows how her avant-pop was on the verge of leveling up.
Tuscadero's track holds up for decades after it was released. The vintage synthesizer accompanying its dour verse adds a dose of gloom, while the shout-along chorus allows anyone to say Merry this and happy that with enough venom to fill a fireplace.
Christmas-loving pop spitfire Musgraves's bright Soprano and R&B belter Bridges's wail prove to be great foils for each other on this country-soul cut, where two star-crossed lovers complain of being apart during the holiday season over vintage organs and swoop
Tegan and Sara Quin's contribution to the soundtrack for Happiest Season shows how their pop studies translate to the Christmas-song ideal. The collaboration with Alex Hope, who produced the track, outlines a wishlist with one person on it, and its insistent chorus is comforting.
The two Second City legends, who were backed by beats from producers like Francis and the Lights, collaborated on a two-disc version of Merry Christmas Lil' Mama, which was originally surprise-released in 2016 and then expanded to a two-disc version in 2017! The opening track of the 2020 re-reissue is a solo Chance track in which he lays down a series of boast-tinged nicknames for himself.
2010's "Boots" is grand yet pensive, tracing the inner monologue of a stray son who's been welcomed home for the holidays, while the trilogy of 2007's "Don't" is a bit more somber. The band's first offering, released in 2006, is the star on its tree, and it has the Old West synth-pop vibe of Sam's Town.
This flirtatious offering from their Christmas album Hell of a Holiday was written by the trio of Miranda, Angaleena, and Ashly. Is there a better Christmas queen than one? We're getting there.
Thorn has a song that distills sad moments into pop gems. This gleaming track from her Christmas album of the same name captures the memory of a romantic holiday to New York like a snow globe, frozen in time, glittery when shaken up, and isolated from the crueler, less shiny world.
Enuff Z'Nuff was one of the more under appreciated acts of the hard-rock era. Donniie Vie's rasp gives this chiming yet robust cut an air of wistfulness, his harmonies with band namesake Chip Z'Nuff add an extra tinge of poignancy, and the guitar heroics byDerek Frigo crack open the song's heart just in time for.
The Taylor Swift segment has been reached. The 2020 diptych of folklore and evermore showed Swift spreading her writing wings, and this track is one of her best recent offerings. The emotional cut shows how going home for Christmas can sometimes be about taking a trip to one's past self. The kind of simple but effective Christmas story that comes from a beloved singer is capable of cracking the top 10 new classics.
Sharon Jones said that she wrote this cut in a burst of creativity. It's lyrics, which tell the story of a young girl confused over how Santa Claus will get into her apartment, possess the wit and know-how that made Jones such a dynamic force in 21st-century R&B.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra has been proving for a quarter-century that Christmas music and over-the-top rock pomp are a good match. This 2003 Christmas single is from British band The Darkness. The lyrics of the song are both poignant and impudent, with the bandmates throwing themselves fully into a song that is both poignant and impudent.
The genre of Christmas music known as the "awkward family times" has been on the rise in recent years. Leave it to Jepsen to make home-for-the-holidays tension into a sweet song. Getting grandma accidentally high is much nicer than toasting her being run over by a reindeer.
Her first holiday album, which she worked on with pop guru Greg Kurstin, sounds very much of the decade. The yaWP was one of the era's most prominent voices, but songs like the slow-burning title track and the strutting "Sunshine" could have fit in on a top-40 list, with some lyrics tweaking. The title of the opener, "Santa's Coming for Us," is a bit menacing, but it is actually meant in a nice way. The bounce soundtrack is called "Cheap Thrills" and it is called for the big man to arrive.
This Miami bass-posse cut is the perfect soundtrack for riding the Christmas train back to the ’90s. The song has a galloping beat, liberal use of vocoders, and multiple riffs on "The 12 days of Christmas" that include wishes for "ten-karat gold," "nine Sega tapes," and "five months' free rent." Who amongst us?
Christmas Kisses was an anthology of two pop-R&B originals co-written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and two covers, including a vocal-run-laden take on Wham!'s chestnut "Last Christmas." The self-penned Christmas song "Santa Tell Me" was added to the Japanese re-release of the album. Santa, don't make me fall in love again, if he won't be here next year, she's saying.
Since then, Grande has stayed in the spirit by releasing her second holiday project, Christmas & Chill, dueting with Idina Menzel and Kelly Clarkson, and collaborating with Megan Thee Stallion. Ari is attempting to position herself as a true heir to the throne with her song, "Santa Tell Me."
The Raveonettes were one of the cool acts of the early-00s. Their mix of shoegaze, proto-rock, Wall of Sound pop, and black leather-clad attitude has made their catalog stand the test of time. Their first holiday song, which came out on the heels of their debut, Chain Gang of Love, only adds to their popularity. Nat King Cole, the Everly Brothers, the Beach Boys, and Bing Crosby were some of the Christmas songs that I always enjoyed. We have a certain nostalgia in our music that makes it translate well into Christmas epics. Combining fuzzed-out surf guitars with simply expressed longing, it's a brief example of how holiday-season brightness can enhance deep- seated feelings.
The smoothie Lloyd was at a fork in the road. His debut album, King of Hearts, contained showcases for his soaring voice, including a wide-eyed love song called "Cupid" and a club-ready cut called "Bang!!!!" The 2000s top 20 hits like "You" and "Get It Shawty" were due to the disappearance of Lloyd's crossover airplay, which was caused by pop's embrace of electropop and casting away of R&B.
Lloyd had a happy year thanks to the release of "She's All I Want for Christmas." The Polow Da Don-produced romp calls back to the brass-laden Christmas cuts released by the likes of James Brown, the Jackson 5, and Stevie Wonder while also having a 21st century edge. Lloyd told Global Grind that he was stuck in the 1960s. It's a good place for Lloyd to be, because his giddy vocal makes his rundown of his romantic wishlist sound like a pile of fun, and the brass surrounding him makes his promises of "a lot to give" sound like a pile of fun. Lloyd wanted to give the people of his generation that same feeling that he got when he was a child.
Carey was associated with Christmas because of the success of "All I Want for Christmas is You". As the 2010s rolled around, she really started to lean into the Christmas season being the Time of Mariah: She was the first to headline her first Christmas residency at the Beacon Theatre, directed a Christmas movie, and developed an animated flick around her signature Christmas movie. Thanks to switched-up chart rules, the rise of streaming, and the large swath of radio stations flipping to all- holiday music, "All I Want" finally hit the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100.
Merry Christmas II You was Carey's second Christmas album. Carey wrote the lead single, "Oh Santa!," which was more uptempo than "You" and had a girl-group vibe. Carey invited a comparison between the two when she released a mash-up of the two. She was the main star of the Apple TV+ show, which featured a remake of the song "Oh Santa!" with Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson filling out the vocals. Carey said that he liked it as a producer and a writer. It was a very special moment when I reinvented that song with these incredible women. She might have lost her trademark for the title of Queen of Christmas, but that doesn't mean she won't hold onto it.
There are other people giving a chance for Carey to win the title. It's Kelly Clarkson. Every year, there is more proof that the show should have stopped after its first season because of the way Kelly Clarkson has become a pop star.
Clarkson nailed the pop-star ideal with Wrapped in Red. She covered the solemn "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and the playful "Run Run Rudolph" as well as sneaking in a cover of an old song. Everyone in my career is asking if I am pop. Do you live in a country? Do you rock? During a 2013 appearance on Today, she said that she didn't have to pick which song to record for the Christmas album.
The song "Underneath the Tree" is one of the originals on the record and has all the right elements. She noted on Today that she had been alone for six and a half years before she met Brandon Blackstock. The willingness to revel in tradition while showcasing modern pop's sparkle is a big part of why it's the most worthy heir to "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
There are some of the best Christmas songs of all time.
Keywords: Christmas,Berklee musicologist Joe,musicologist Joe Bennett,Joe Bennett published