Sounds of Christmas: A dozen beats for your holiday playlist
We all need a soundtrack packed with some of the best Christmas songs to set the mood on a festive tone while we deck the halls full of lights and decors.
Because of this, it’s been a mark of every celebrated artist to release a holiday-themed tune at some point during their careers. Some even have an entire album dedicated solely to Christmas songs.
From under-the-radar picks, to holiday novelties and modern remixes, Christmas songs have been a constant presence in our yearly holiday traditions.
If you still haven’t decided what to listen to, or if you want to perk up your old playlist, we’ve listed down a dozen Christmas songs for your holiday set, packed with a few trivia on what makes them special.
(For full versions of these song previews, sign in with your Spotify account for maximum effect)
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Almost 80 years since it first aired on the radio, this dreamy ballad introduced the public to a picturesque Christmas scene. Since then, it has become one of the most popular holiday songs of all time. So popular, that even the famed Guinness World Records even named it the best-selling single ever, with more than 50 million copies sold.
Jingle Bells by Ella Fitzgerald
This jazzy rendition of this Christmas classic is a holiday staple no matter where you go worldwide. Such was its popularity that a harmonica version of it was actually the first song ever played in outer space, according to the Smithsonian.
Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano
This upbeat song from the Puerto Rican singer has easy-to-remember lyrics in both Spanish and English, making it one of the best bilingual Christmas songs that most Pinoys can relate to.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by The Jackson 5
When the Jackson siblings were still performing as a group, this Yuletide offering showcased the talents of a young Michael Jackson, turning this song into one of his most joyous early performances.
All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Mariah has a whole album filled with your favorite Christmas songs, but this cheerful song is arguably her most timeless piece yet. The song had so much staying power that it hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts at the end of 2019, 25 years after it was originally recorded. It also earned the distinction of selling more than 16 million copies worldwide to become the 12th best-selling single of all time.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by N’ Sync
Boybands are the last people you would associate a Christmas album with. But '90s pop group N’ Sync has managed to churn one out. This song is from their holiday album Home for Christmas which features some catchy, upbeat Christmas tunes that it’s hard not to bop your head along.
Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley may have passed on decades ago, but back in 1999, his Christmas single Blue Christmas became the first-ever Christmas song to reach Platinum status, based on physical sales alone.
Rockin' around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
This 1958 classic by Brenda Lee was born at a time when Rock and Roll was fairly new. Nonetheless, this timeless melody has managed to capture the hearts and ears of generations. According to Billboard magazine, this song has sold more than 25 million copies and has been downloaded (legally) at least a million times.
Do You Want to Build a Snowman? by Kristen Bell
Who would ever forget that catchy theme from animated film Frozen, the one urging both young and old alike to build a snowman? This song was among the pieces in the film soundtrack that went Platinum. In 2016, the song managed to garner more than 16 million downloads, a number that has sure increased since the release of the second Frozen movie.
Last Christmas by Wham!
Written by George Michael, this song was first performed in 1984 with the band donating all royalties to help alleviate the Ethiopian famine in Africa. Since then, there have been more than 100 covers and 1,200 different versions of the song in various streaming services.
Christmas Lights by Coldplay
Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin first played a part of this song back in December 2008 during a "60 Minutes" interview. Fans have wondered about the origins of the song, which at the time, Martin was still writing. Two years later, the band officially released it on their website. A 10th anniversary special version of the song launched on Dec. 4.
Christmas in our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan
Whenever ‘Ber-Months’ arrive, it has become increasingly difficult to ignore the Yuletide hits of Pinoy balladeer Jose Mari Chan, dubbed the “King of Philippine Christmas Carols” owing to his large collection of Christmas songs and albums recorded over the years. Memes of his face and likeness appear as early as Sept. 1 so this playlist won’t be complete without his most popular piece to date, especially the song’s indelible first verse.