My Top 25 Christmas Songs of All Time!

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone! This is the second part to what I uploaded last week, where I ranked #50-26 of my all time favorite Christmas songs. You can read about that here: https://pigzfromagun.blogspot.com/2022/12/my-top-50-christmas-songs-part-1-50-26.html

But today, we're ranking my Top 25 Christmas songs of all time, the songs that truly define the holiday season for me. So without further ado, let's get started!

#25: My Kind of Present by Meghan Trainor (2020)

After the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad year that was 2020... I needed some things at the end of the year to cheer me up. One of those things was the album "A Very Trainor Christmas", and this original track that leads it off. It's a cute and catchy song that caught my attention right away.

#24: Merry Fucking Christmas by Mr. Garrison (1999)

Perhaps you need some politically incorrect songs to mix in with all the holly jolly stuff. Well, South Park does the trick! Sung by the ridiculous teacher Mr. Garrison, the song explores how Christmas is simply the best holiday around the world... and Hindus, Muslims, etc... they just gotta deal with it.

#23 Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt (1953)

If the last song was dirty by turn of the 21st century standards, this song was certainly dirty by 1950s standards. Eartha turns Santa Claus into a sugar daddy, which certainly wasn't fit for socially conservative ears of the 50s. But who cares now, it's a certified holiday classic.

Are we sure she's "been an awful good girl"?

#22: Happy Holiday by The Shells (1961)

Sometimes songs can be confusing. There's another "Happy Holiday" song, the one done by Andy Williams that I covered last week. But then there's another "Happy Holiday" doo wop song, done by the Jaguars. Well, I prefer this upbeat version, where bells are ringing and old folks are singing!

#21: Three Angels by The Persuasions (1972)

The opening to the Persuasions "Spread the Word" album, this is a Christmas song the same way "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. Well, that doesn't matter to me. Jimmy Hayes tells of an enthralling Bob Dylan tale in his deep bass voice, while the backing vocalists join in fantastic harmony towards the end.

#20: Sleigh Ride by The Ronnettes (1963)

In 1963, a certain legendary producer released "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector". Fortunately this song was on there, and no corpses were to be found. In all seriousness, the Ronnettes collaborated with The Crystals, Darlene Love, and others to record a fantastic album here.

This album was actually released on November 22, 1963... The same day JFK got shot.

#19: Little Red Shoes by Jerry Butler (1997?)

This emotional song is about watching a boy grow into a young man over the years... My Dad has talked with me about how it's an emotional song for him. It stars an older Jerry Butler, long past his "Your Precious Love Days", though I'm not sure if 1997 is the exact year it came out.

#18: O Holy Night by Eric Cartman (1999)

If you thought we were done with South Park, you stand corrected! As punishment for his poor behavior, the notoriously naughty Cartman has to sing "O Holy Night" in front of the class. The catch? He's shocked with a cattle prod whenever he bungles the lyrics. Hilarity ensues!

Those aren't the words, Eric!

#17: Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley (1957)

I know from having recently watched the Elvis movie, that one Col. Tom Parker desperately wanted Elvis to sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" during a Christmas special. Well instead of that, I prefer to think of this classic... especially as it concluded an Elvis Christmas medley I sang back in high school.

#16: Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio (1964)

This jazzy piano tune from "Peanuts" has become very, very associated with Christmas over the years. It's what I like to call a certified classic, and you simply can't go wrong with having this upbeat ditty on your holiday playlist. It's an instrumental, but it doesn't need words.

#15: White Christmas by Meghan Trainor & Seth MacFarlane (2020)

This is not the first rendition of this song that'll be on the list, so buckle up! But, this duet certainly caught my attention a couple years ago. MTrain singing with the legendary voice behind "Family Guy"? Well, it turns out Seth is not just a talented voice actor for Stewie... he's also a beautiful crooner!

The duet I didn't know I needed!

#14: Silent Night by Nat King Cole (1960)

When it comes to Christmas songs, I often prefer the secular over the sacred. I suppose that's not surprising. But Nat King Cole's performance on this song is undeniably powerful. This song has German origins, as "Stille Nacht" dates back to 1818.

#13: Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano (1970)

We're back to the certified classics with this selection. José is known for a couple things, singing a protest version of the National Anthem at the World Series, singing a cover of "Light My Fire"... but let's be honest. This upbeat Latin pop song is what defined his career, and that's a-okay.

#12: Silver Bells by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards (1950)

This will not be our last Bing Crosby song as we approach The Top 10... just so you know, I associate his voice with Christmas more than any other singer. And this cheerful song is all about the excitement of Christmas... children happy, street lights, shopping, etc.

#11: White Christmas by The Drifters (1954)

Just narrowly missing the Top 10 is perhaps the most famous certified classic in the doo wop genre, this song by The Drifters. In fact, the Meghan Trainor version is stylized after theirs, at least in the beginning. The contrast between bass singer Bill Pinkney and tenor Clyde McPhatter is notable here!

Can't go wrong with the OG Drifters.

#10: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon (1971)

Especially in the wake of Russia-Ukraine, this song of peace is getting played more and more, 50 years later. If you're not the biggest fan of this song... maybe you don't like being subject to Yoko Ono's chorus. But I say it actually contributes well to this classic John Lennon song.

#9: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee (1958)

Speaking of classics that get played all the time, this is another one that was "rockin" from the rock 'n roll era of music. "Little Miss Dynamite", as Brenda was known, was 14 when she recorded this song. Well now she's 78, and we still remember her song quite fondly.

#8: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra (1957)

No Christmas song is more well-suited for the smooth-voiced crooner than this one, I think. It's right up there with "Summer Wind" and "New York, New York" in my favorite Sinatra songs of all time... not a bad feat for a Christmas song. 

#7: You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)

Bing Crosby is not the most deep-voiced of the classic Christmas singers. Nor is the bass singer for the Drifters on "White Christmas". Instead, it would have to be Ravenscroft... who goes full basso profundo on this song about a certain rotting monster. It's a deserving certified classic!

I wouldn't touch him with a 39 and a half foot pole!

#6: It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas by Bing Crosby (1951)

Much like "Silver Bells", this Bing Crosby song evokes the different joys of Christmas time. One of those joys is the "5 & 10", which I suppose was the 1950s version of the Dollar Tree. Oh how the times have changed! But Bing remains a classic.

#5: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams (1963)

Name me a more happy Christmas song than this one, you'd be very hard-pressed! After all, you'd expect a song called "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" to be very joyful. It's certified classic status is cemented, especially as it re-peaked at #5 on Billboard last year.

There'll be parties for hosting, marshmellows for toasting!

#4: Christmas in Jail by The Youngsters (1956)

Now I had to throw one curveball in the Top 10, and this is the perfect song for that! I discovered this gem a few years back, realizing that not everyone is having a happy Christmas. Some poor fellows spend the day in jail. Instead of having turkey, they're given bread and water to eat!

#3: White Christmas by Bing Crosby (1942)

Okay, I promise this is the last Bing Crosby song, and the last White Christmas song! Both trilogies conclude here. But you can't deny that out of all the true Christmas classics, this is perhaps the most famous of them all. Irving Berlin's song sold 50 million with Bing's original version... the most ever!

#2: Christmas Morning by Tommy Evans & the Masters (1975)

From a song that sold 50 million copies, we go to a song where half the people on Earth who know it have the last name "Olson". Remember when I said Thurl Ravenscroft was the deepest bass singer to ever record a Christmas record? I lied, it's this guy, Tommy Evans. And it's a family tradition to wake up every Christmas morning and play this joyful song!

#1: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole (1961)

As much as "Christmas Morning" is a fantastic family tradition, I have to go with this as the greatest Christmas song of all time. This poetic song was originally recorded by Cole back in 1946, but it's his 1961 version that is definitive - the certified classic if you will. His beautifully smooth voice, along with the reflective lines, make this the perfect Christmas song. That's why it literally is "The Christmas Song".

Although it's been said, many times many ways, Merry Christmas to you!

My Top 50 Christmas Songs! (Part 1: #50-26)

It's the holiday season, my semester at college is finally over, which means I now have time to blog again! And in the spirit of Christmas, I'm going to write a two-parter here. I've made a list (and I'm checking it twice) of my Top 50 Christmas songs of all time. Today, I'll release my Part 1 of the list, going over #50-26. And on Christmas Eve, I'll have the real good part of the list, #25-1, as an early Christmas present! So without further ado, let's christen this list!

#50: Christmas With You by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (1972)

I'll admit, Johnny Cash's gruff voice probably isn't the first thing I associate with Christmas music. But this cute duet with his wife is certainly a solid entry for your holiday playlist. It has some very serious nostalgic vibes, much like the more famous "White Christmas".

Not the first folks you associate with Christmas music!

#49: Deck the Halls by Nat King Cole (1962)

I'm probably docking this song a bit considering it's just over a minute long. But wow, Nat King Cole and his backing musicians get a lot in with this short but thrilling song! With intense orchestration and fast-paced singing from Cole, the song is over in a blink of an eye. And you wish it wasn't!

#48: Merry Christmas, Baby by The Beach Boys (1964)

It's not as famous or as good as "Little Saint Nick"... we'll get to that later. But this certainly has The Beach Boys circa-1964 touch to it, with the protagonist in question begging for his baby. No one wants to be lonely during the holiday season.

#47: The Chipmunk Song by Alvin and the Chipmunks (1958)

With their high-pitched voices, the Chipmunks are sure to annoy some people. Hey, they annoy me sometimes... if this pops up on my Christmas list, there's no guarantee I don't skip it. But when I'm in the mood, I'm singing right along with those devilish rodents. 

ALVIN!!! Btw, is it any surprise the same guy who did "Witch Doctor" is behind this?

#46: Joy to the World by Nat King Cole (1962)

It's another Cole song I admittedly put on the list as a bit of an afterthought (we'll get to the real good stuff in Part 2). But this and its fellow short counterpart often showed up on a Pandora playlist a couple years ago. And with Cole's joyful singing, it certainly captures one's attention.

#45: Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry (1947)

I gave this the ever-so-slight nod over the Elvis version. This one is more joyful, and it just screams classic Christmas. After all, this 1947 recording is one of the oldest on my entire list. The Singing Cowboy does have a more famous Christmas song though, which we'll get to in a bit.

#44: The First Noel by Frank Sinatra (1957)

This song is a certified Christmas classic, and by classic... I mean a song dating many centuries back. It evidently has origins in the Late Middle Ages, with modern translations appearing in the early 19th century. In any case, Frank does a faithful rendition here with his famously smooth voice.

#43: I'll Be Home by Meghan Trainor (2015)

Meghan was still early on in his career when she took her first venture into Christmas music. And it was quite a beautiful and sentimental song in my opinion! She hits quite a beautiful high note at the end of the song... though her Christmas album from 2020 has even better songs in store.

This was quite the conclusion to Meghan's amazing career year in 2015.

#42: Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1950)

This song will teach you how to say "Merry Christmas" on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day... and it'll teach you that about a decade before Hawaii was an actual state! Also, Bing and the Andrews Sisters was practically a supergroup for that era, so let's appreciate it.

Bing and the Sisters singin' in the studio.

#41: Baby it's Cold Outside by Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé (2014)

This song has gotten flak from modern day critics for being "sexist", to that I say... eh, whatever. And if you're bothered by the classic version by Dean Martin, perhaps you'll like this version better. Idina and Michael's duet is incredibly cute, and still sounds like it could be recorded many decades ago.

#40: Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder (1966)

Stevie's Christmas plea for a better world has gotten more attention as of late, perhaps as a song that anticipated the more famous "Happy Xmas" song from John Lennon. My Mom has been frustrated that it's not been on the local radio, so it gets a well-earned spot on my list!

#39: The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser (1998)

This group's hilarious take on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" would eventually launch them to fame. It's certainly better than Bob and Doug McKenzie's comedic take on "Twelve Days". And though it took 10 years for Straight No Chaser to go viral... it took only a couple days for the Nazareth Crescendudes to reach over 300k likes on TikTok... check it out here! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRVbMBUX/

#38: Jingle Bells by The Newports (1978)

It was a battle between Frank Sinatra's classic 1957 version of "Jingle Bells", or this doo wop revival version by the Newports. And I knew what my heart wanted me to do. The Newports' don't try to hide where they're from in this recording, singing "It's Christmas in New York".

You know from the opening line of this song that it's pure street-corner!

#37: Christmas Coupon by Meghan Trainor (2021)

Meghan followed up her "A Very Trainor Christmas Album" from the previous year with this deluxe release. And it's a cute song about how Daryl is her "Christmas Coupon"... whatever that means. In any case, it's another catchy MTrain bop, and a worthy addition to the holiday list.

#36: A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives (1964)

The modern Michael Buble version has gained some popularity, but I'll go back to the classic by Burl Ives here. This song was famously put in the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer movie from 1964. Needless to say, that one isn't as good as Elf!

#35: Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms (1957)

The 1950s were a special decade for Christmas classics, that a song like this almost gets lost in the shuffle for me. But this song has a very interesting combination of a more classic singing style to go along with the popular and contemporary rock 'n roll. The results are a rockin' song!

#34: Christmas of Love by Little Isidore and the Inquisitors (2000)

This song got some notoriety for being in the Grinch movie. Given that it's an obvious doo wop song, I've tried to search for when the recording was "originally" made... but it really appears that it was just made for the movie. So, the man behind "Peppermint Stick" truly has some modern fame!

Doo wop is kept a little more alive by Jim Carrey's "Grinch" movie...

#33: Christmas in Hollis by Run-D.M.C. (1987)

There's nothing like having chicken and collard greens, rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese for Christmas. That sounds like a meal where I'd want to be there! Run-D.M.C. blend hip hop and the holidays in this song that has now become a certified classic.

#32: Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! by Dean Martin (1959)

When I hear "Let it Snow" nowadays, I can't help but think of the way Sean Connery says it on the famous Celebrity Jeopardy skit. But when my mind is not in the gutter, I think of good old Dino singing this Christmas classic. 

This man has a different way of saying "Let it Snow".

#31: Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry (1958)

In the same year he recorded the world famous "Johnny B. Goode", Chuck takes a very similar opening riff and rolls with it on this song. If "Jingle Bell Rock" from the previous year incorporated rock 'n roll into the Christmas genre, this song does so in a much more obvious way. I mean, it's Chuck Berry!

#30: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry (1949)

Why not go back to the original Rudolph classic as well? The Singing Cowboy made Rudolph famous, though we owe a man named Robert L. May for the concept of the red-nosed reindeer. Back before Mariah Carey had a #1 hit ever year with her trite song, Gene hit #1 at the end of 1949 with this one.

#29: Hey Santa Claus by The Moonglows (1953)

The Moonglows are doo wop legends for songs like "Most of All" and "Sincerely", but their contribution to the Christmas genre can't be ignored. This groovy song with some killer saxophone has their bass singer saying "Yeah!" after each "Hey Santa Claus". It's truly an enjoyable tune.

They are deserving members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

#28: Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season by Andy Williams (1963)

Andy was a crooner that was very famous for "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", which we'll definitely get to in Part 2. But for now there's this "whoop dee do, hickery dock" song... perhaps unsurprisingly, it was originally composed by Irving Berlin.

#27: Santa Claus is Back in Town by Elvis Presley (1957)

When I was at Nazareth, this song was part of an "Elvis Christmas medley" that we sang. And that's certainly part of the reason I love the song to this day. It's a rock 'n roll classic that is certainly meant for Elvis's charisma... even when all his backup singers have to offer is "Christ-maaas".

Got no sleigh with no reindeer... no sack on my back!

#26: Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys (1964)

The California kids sing a song about how the air gets cold "way up North". In any case, this is a Christmas classic that Mike Love still loves to galavant around with nowadays, performing with whatever constitutes "The Beach Boys" nowadays. But back in 1964 it sounded very crisp.

1964 was truly a career peak for the Beach Boys.

So what do you think of the list so far? What are some of your favorite Christmas songs? Feel free to let me know in the comments.