Top 10 Modern Christmas Songs
Top 10 Modern Christmas Songs
Top 20 Best Modern Christmas Songs
‘Tis the season to eat, to drink, to be merry... And to sing-along! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 modern Christmas songs! For this list, we’ve chosen our entries based on the modern idea of a ‘Christmas song’. We are not focusing on traditional carols and hymns, or variations of traditional carols and hymns - so no Bing and Bowie today!
#10: “Feliz Navidad” (1970) José Feliciano
Written by a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, “Feliz Navidad” is easily one of the most popular and most played winter records in North and South America. A simple Spanish hook is matched with an equally simple English verse line, and the two combine to put us all in the holiday mood! The Latino sound might not be one that is immediately matched to Christmas for many, but it really works here! José Feliciano ‘wishes us a Merry Christmas!’ and makes it into our top ten as he does so!
#9: “Jingle Bell Rock” (1983) Hall & Oates
Billy Idol’s 2006 cover of this Christmas classic was good, but Hall & Oates have just ousted the rocker with their effort! Originally recorded by Bobby Helms in 1958, this early ‘80s version from the duo was given away with the album Rock ‘n Soul Part 1 as a promotional item. An appropriately cheesy video accompaniment was made and broadcast in the early days of MTV as well, ensuring that the duo’s version would not be forgotten in a hurry!
#8: “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” (1958) The Chipmunks
Top 10 Modern Summer Songs
Of course, Christmas is about having fun - and that’s exactly what our next record does! Alvin and the Chipmunks have been cornerstones of American kid culture for decades, and their most memorable foray into yuletide festivities is surely this song! Alvin, Simon and Theodore receive the official vocal credits, although the real man behind the mic is one Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., who usually went by the stage name David Seville! The single sold 4.5 million copies in 7 weeks and topped the Billboard Hot 100 - meaning its chart performance was as high as its pitch!
#7: “Christmas in Hollis” (1987) Run-D.M.C.
Top 20 Greatest Christmas Songs of All Time
It’s got sleigh bells, it’s got Saint Nick, and it samples “Joy to the World”... This Run-D.M.C. record is perhaps the most traditional untraditional Christmas song ever! The hip hop group certainly put an alternative spin onto all things season’s greetings when they released “Christmas in Hollis” in 1987. Referring to the neighborhood of New York in which the band grew up, the song also references “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman”... It’s a Christmas song you didn’t see coming, but you’re glad came!
#6: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971) John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir
Top 10 Songs That Make Us Happy Cry
As is becoming clear, and perhaps rightly so, this Christmas countdown is bursting with bouncy, blatant messages of fun and positivity... However, John Lennon and Yoko Ono felt that festivities shouldn’t pass without at least a little protest! “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” was written with Vietnam in mind, as the couple sought to remind us of conflicts that rage regardless of the time of year! The song is by no means downbeat though, as the Harlem Community Choir carries hope enough for us all!
#5: “Blue Christmas” (1964) Elvis Presley
The Quadroholics - Blue July (Official Music Video)
First recorded by Doye O’Dell in 1948, it wasn’t until Elvis got his hands on this record that it proved a real Christmas cracker! The King laid down a recording of “Blue Christmas” as early as ‘57, but it wasn’t commercially available as a single until ‘64. Clearly worth the wait, this sorrowful take on the season proved a hit in the UK. In amongst the reds, greens and golds combining for a traditional Christmas color-scheme, Elvis’ blue is a beauty!
#4: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (1958) Brenda Lee It’s possible that some Christmas songs might pass you by one year... But this is not one of them! Brenda Lee’s lines are as engrained into Christmas culture as “Away in a Manger” or “Silent Night”! A toe-tapping rhythm and some true-to-life lyrics, this is a song that’s played over and over, but is rarely described as ‘overplayed’! What’s not to love about “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”?? Whether you’re young or old, a girl or a guy - it’s infectiously happy!
#3: “Last Christmas” (1984) Wham!
Top 10 Naughty But Nice Christmas Songs
In the ‘80s especially, the race for Christmas number one was especially fierce! Wham’s “Last Christmas” is an effort from that era which has really stood the test of time! With some sickly sweet lyrics that were typical of the duo, and a snow-laden video to match, it’s easy to see why everyone loves it! A tale of unrequited love much like Mr. Presley’s, “Last Christmas” scores a top three spot as we all invariably try to sing-along, and we all inevitably embarrass ourselves!
#2: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (1994) Mariah Carey
Top 10 Must-Hear Modern Christmas Albums
After an early ‘90s barren spell in terms of Christmas tunes, this Mariah Carey classic was much-needed, and is much-loved! An upbeat rhythm, bells ringing in the background, a brilliantly fun and festive video... This is a song that really gets it! If you aren’t in the mood before Mariah, then you definitely are afterwards! Kids love it, adults love it, probably the pets love it! If you’re wrapping presents, eating dinner, or hanging decorations with this playing in the background, then Christmas is here and you’re very happy about it! But, before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. - “Santa Baby” (1987) Madonna - “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979) Paul McCartney - “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (1970) The Jackson 5 - “The Spirit of Christmas” (1985) Ray Charles - “Fairytale of New York” (1987) The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - “Where Are You, Christmas?” (2000) Faith Hill
#1: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984) Band Aid
Top 10 Christmas Love Songs
A record that eclipsed the usual cultural impact that music can have, when Bob Geldof and Midge Ure got together to raise money for poverty-stricken Ethiopia, they etched themselves into music history forever! Band Aid was essentially a huge supergroup, recording “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” on November 25th, 1984! Requiring unparalleled effort, particularly from Geldof and Ure, the song would eventually sell over 11 million copies worldwide and inspire 1985’s ‘Live Aid’ concerts - which would raise over $200 million, as well as much-needed global awareness! Do you agree with our list? Which modern Christmas song did we forget? For more seasonal top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
1
0
report