Christmas Songs As December Begins

Christmas is a season that is full of not only Christmas joy, but constant familiar tunes repeating on radios, commercials, and in stores. The classic public domain jingles like “Deck the Halls” and “Joy to the World” are good and all, but there’s nothing like a good, original track to celebrate the holiday season.

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Pentatonix

This song brings an a cappella twist to a holiday classic and shows off a fresh mix between pop and Christmas songs. The harmonies and lightness of the piece can put a pep in your step. Not only that, the TikTok trend of last year with this song of conducting two different shapes with each hand has me making a star with my right hand and a square with my left every time I hear this song.

2. I’ll Be Seeing You – Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was an American jazz and swing music singer that brings this song a holiday feel without being a “classic.” The jazz brings warmth into your soul and makes you want to have hot cocoa with a friend. Plus, who doesn’t love Billie?

3. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) – Nat King Cole

The King Cole Trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed, with Nat being the pianist of the group. Written by Robert Wells and Mel Torme, his group popularized this song for Christmas. The background bass and improvised piano section has placed this song on my favorite Christmas songs list.

4. Sleigh Ride – Carpenters

This is a song about a sleigh ride, of eating pumpkin pie with pals, and of feeling warm despite the cold. The 1978 song celebrates the moment, telling you to be present and enjoy what’s around you. This is one of the songs in which I try to sing every part all at once, being the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, to make up my solo band.

5. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee

The hit movie “Home Alone” featured “Rockin’” in its entirety, exposing the song to a new generation of listeners, many of whom weren’t even born when Lee charted her last non-holiday Top 10 a decade earlier. From that point on, it has become a recognized song worldwide with various artists recording their own versions.

6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Frank Sinatra

Despite have no mention of any holiday, this song has been regarded as a classic Christmas song and has been played countless times on commercials and radio shows all around North America.

7. Last Christmas – Wham!

There’s actually no mentions of anything Christmas or holiday-related in this song outside of the chorus, but to put it simply, the song is about a failed romance that just happens to have begun on December 25, when Michael gave someone his heart, and ended on December 26, when this ungrateful person “gave it away.”

8. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams

A great uplifting song for Christmas, this is from Andy Williams Christmas Album and it is a quality recording. Andy Williams voice is just so evocative and identifiable with this song, it can’t help but be one to be cherished and savored.

9. The Christmas Waltz – Peggy Lee

Kind of old fashioned, but there are not very many standard waltz holiday songs for dancing at Christmas time. It goes into the relaxing side of Christmas music that would stay in the background as you’re enjoying a conversation with a family member.

10. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

This 26-year-old song is the biggest holiday hit machine of all time. Mariah Carey has continued to rise to the top of the Holiday 100 and Billboard Top 100 every year since 1994 and continues to make bank on her holiday classic.