Christmas music

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Holiday Song redirects here. For the song by the Pixies, see Come on Pilgrim

Christmas music is a genre which is normally performed during the time period leading up to, and sometimes shortly past, Christmas. Christmas songs frequently are the focus of holiday themes directly taken from Christmas, but occasionally they have no content addressing the holiday, and instead focus on the winter season as a whole. These songs recognisably fall into several different groupings, depending on both the time and melody of the songs.

Songs which are traditional, even some without a specific religious context, are often called Christmas carols. Some songs of more recent vintage, often introduced in films, are specifically about Christmas, but are typically not overtly religious and therefore do not qualify as Christmas carols. The archetypal example is 1942’s “White Christmas”, although many other holiday songs have become perennial favourites, such as Gene Autry’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.

A significant subset of the secular songs are regarded as “Christmas” songs due to the time of year that they are most often sung, despite never mentioning anything about Christmas. These songs include traditional favourites such as “Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride” (whose standard lyrics mention not a holiday party but a birthday party). These songs fall into the generic “winter holiday” classification, as they carry no religious connotation at all. However, it could be argued that it would be impossible to popularise a winter-themed song, especially in the United States, without its being regarded as a “Christmas” song. In fact, winter-themed songs are generally not played on the radio in the U.S. during the larger part of the winter after the Christmas season has ended.

Another subset of the popular holiday songs, apart from the more sincere ones, are the many parodies or twists on existing songs, which are usually classified as "Novelty songs". They range from the cuteness of "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", by Alvin and the Chipmunks, to the Cold War gallows humor of "Christmas at Ground Zero" and the morbid humor of "The Night Santa Went Crazy", both by "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Some songs have little relationship to Christmas, but are hyped up over the period. Each year, record companies compete for the Christmas number one single spot, usually, but not always, with a Christmas-related song. This is parodied in the film Love Actually, whereby an artist records a cover version of a song and adds a Christmas twist to it, all the time admitting that it is "rubbish".

In the United Kingdom, Cliff Richard is famed for his many attempts, with some success, to get the Christmas number one single.

List of Christmas songs

General Christmas songs

The following are well-known Christmas songs that have been performed by multiple artists:

• "Angels We Have Heard on High"
• "Away In A Manger"
• "Blue Christmas" – Introduced by Ernest Tubb (1949), though most famously recorded by Elvis Presley.
• "Carol of the Bells", a Ukrainian-American carol by Mykola Leontovych and Peter Wilhousky, sung by many choruses, but notably the Robert Shaw Chorale
• "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" – Composed by Mel Torme and first performed by Nat King Cole (1946)
• "The First Noël" – traditional English Christmas carol now performed by various artists
• "Frosty the Snowman" – Composed by Gene Autry (1950); countless artists have recorded it in the years since, perhaps the most famous likely being Jimmy Durante, who recorded the version for the television special of the same name.
• "Happy Holiday" - first performed by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical Holiday Inn
• "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" - written by Charles Wesley in 1739; performed by many artists, including Mariah Carey (1994) and Bradley Joseph (2000); also appears in A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life
• "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Introduced by Judy Garland in the film Meet Me In St. Louis (1944); covered by many, including Frank Sinatra, Luther Vandross, Christina Aguilera, James Taylor and Vince Gill.
• "A Holly Jolly Christmas" – From Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (television special), by Burl Ives (1964)
• "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" – Composed by Meredith Willson; first recorded by Perry Como (1951), but also by Johnny Mathis and Bing Crosby.
• "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" – Covered by many including Daryl Hall & John Oates (1984)
• "Jingle Bells" – Composed by James Pierpont (1857); Covered by Kimberley Locke (2006)
• "Jingle Bell Rock" – Originally released by Bobby Helms in (1957). Popular covers include Hall and Oates and Brenda Lee.
• "Joy to the World" – traditional hymn, covered by various artists.
• "Let It Snow" – Vaughn Monroe (1945), Dean Martin (1966)
• "Little Drummer Boy" – The 1958 version by the Harry Simeone Chorale is the standard.
• "Mary's Boy Child" – Harry Belafonte in 1957, Boney M in 1978 and re-released in 2005 by G4/Robin Gibb.
• "Mele Kalikimaka" – Bing Crosby, and later, Jimmy Buffett
• "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – introduced by Andy Williams (1963)
• "Merry Christmas Darling" – Introduced by The Carpenters in 1978 (on their album, A Christmas Portrait).
• "Mistletoe and Holly" – co-written by Frank Sinatra
• "O Come All Ye Faithful"
• "O Holy Night" – traditional hymn, covered by various artists.
• "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" – best-known version is by Brenda Lee (1958). This song was also covered by Amy Grant and LeAnn Rimes.
• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – by Gene Autry (1949) .
• "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt, in 1953 and various other artists including Madonna
• "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" – Perry Como, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters; later by Jackson 5 (1970), Bruce Springsteen.
• "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" – Introduced by Buck Owens in 1965; also by Garth Brooks in 1992.
• "Silent Night" – traditional hymn, covered by various artists.
• "Sleigh Ride" – composed by Leroy Anderson (1948); vocal arrangement by Johnny Mathis w/ Percy Faith & His Orchestra (1958)
• "Take Me Back To Toyland"
• "The Nutcracker" - Notable version from Boston Ballet
• "Twelve Days of Christmas" – Standard version is by the Ray Conniff Singers
• "Up On the House Top" by Benjamin Hanby and Kimberley Locke (2005)
• "Veni Veni (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)
• "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
• "What Child Is This?" sung to the melody of "Greensleeves".
• "White Christmas" – first performed by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical Holiday Inn
• "Winter Wonderland" – Perry Como (1946), The Andrews Sisters (1946), Johnny Mathis (1958), Tony Bennett (1968).

Best known by one particular artist

Below is an incomplete list of songs that are best known for being created and/or performed by one particular artist:

• "Give Love On Christmas Day" – Jackson 5 and Solid Harmonie
• "Give U One 4 Christmas" – Hot Pantz (2005)
• "Go Girlfriend (Have a Merry Christmas) - No Secrets
• "Gothic Christmas" - Within Temptation
• "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" Elmo and Patsy (1983)
• "Greatest Time of Year - Aly & AJ (2006).
• "Grown-Up Christmas List" Amy Grant in 1992, Monica in 2000, and Kelly Clarkson in 2002
• "Happy Holidays" – Percy Faith
• "Happy New Year" Abba
• "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1972), later covered by Melissa Etheridge, The Polyphonic Spree, Celine Dion, Idols - UK Pop Idol search finalists and most recently by Sarah McLachlan, in her 2006 Christmas album, Wintersong.
• "Hard Candy Christmas" – Dolly Parton (1982)
• "Have a Cheeky Christmas" – The Cheeky Girls (2003)
• "Have a Funky, Funky Christmas" – The New Kids On the Block
• "A Heart To Hold You" – Keane (2004). BBC Radio 1 referred it as a Christmas anthem on 2005. However, it was never recorded.
• "Here Comes Santa Claus" – Gene Autry (1947) (famously remade by Elvis Presley)
• "Hey Santa" – Carnie & Wendy Wilson
• "Holly Jolly Christmas" – Burl Ives (1964)
• "Home For Christmas" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006)
• "(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays" – Perry Como (1954)
• "I Believe In Christmas" Tweenies (2001)
• "I Believe in Father Christmas" – Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• "I Can't Wait ('Til Christmas)" – RuPaul (2005)
• "I Celebrate the Day" – Relient K (2003)
• "I Hate Christmas Parties" – Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes (2003)
• "I Hate Fuckin' Christmas" The Rugburns (1995)
• "I Hope I Sell a Lot of Records at Christmastime" – Princess Superstar (2000)
• "I Love Christmas" Fast Food Rockers (2003)
• "I Only Want You For Christmas" – Alan Jackson (1991)
• "I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus" - RuPaul (1997)
• "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" – Jimmy Boyd (1952)
• "I Wanna Kiss You So (Christmas In A Nutshell)" Girls Aloud (2005)
• "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Everyday" – The Wombles with Roy Wood (2000)
• "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" – Blink-182 (2001)
• "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" – Yogi Yorgesson (1949)
• "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" – Wizzard (1973), A*Teens & Girls Aloud
• "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" – Elvis Presley
• "I'll Be Home for Christmas" – Bing Crosby (1943)
• "I'm Your Angel" – Celine Dion and R. Kelly (Duet) (1998)
• "Is This The Way To Santa's Grotto" Santa Sings (2005) a Christmas parody of "Is This The Way To Amarillo" by Tony Christie
• "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe" – Barbra Streisand, and also, Barbara Mandrell
• "It doesn't often snow at Christmas" – Pet Shop Boys (1997)
• "It's Christmas All Over the World" – Sheena Easton (1987)
• "It's Christmas Time All Over the World" Sammy Davis Jr.(1963)
• "Itz The Holidaze" Westside Connection
• "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" – Kenny Rogers (1981)
• "Last Christmas" Wham! (1984) then re-released again in (1985) Whigfield in 1995, (2004) by Jimmy Eat World and in (2006) by Crazy Frog
• "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer" – Joe Diffie
• "Let's Light the Christmas Tree" – Ruby Wright (1957)
• "Let's Party" Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (1989) a medley of 3 Christmas Hits Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard and finally Another Rock & Roll Christmas by Gary Glitter. The Song was remixed again in (2004) replacing Gary Glitter with Mariah Carey singing All I Want For Christmas Is You a mix only available to DJ's
• "Light a Single Candle" Anne Cochran Written by Delilah Rene.
• "Light of the Stable" – Emmylou Harris, introduced in 1976; includes backing vocals by Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt
• "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" – David Bowie & Bing Crosby
• "Little Saint Nick" – The Beach Boys (covered by Sugar Ray)
• "Lonely Christmas" Bobby Vee (1963)
• "Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop)" Adam Faith
• "Lonely This Christmas" – Mud (1974)
• "Love On Layaway" Gloria Estefan
• "Macarena Christmas" Los Del Rio
• "Marshmallow World" Brenda Lee (1964); later popularized by Dean Martin (1966)
• "Mary, Did You Know" Kenny Rogers and Wynonna (1996)
• "Merry Christmas Baby" Chuck Berry(1958), Bruce Springsteen also has a popular version.
• "Merry Christmas Darling" – Carpenters (1978)
• "Merry Christmas Everyone" – Shakin' Stevens (1985)
• "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" – 'N Sync
• "Merry Christmas, I Don't Want to Fight Tonight" – The Ramones
• "Merry Christmas Santa Claus (You're a Lovely Guy)" – Max Headroom (1986)
• "Merry Freakin' Christmas" – Calibretto
• "Merry Merry Christmas Baby" Dodie Stevens (1960)
• "Merry Twistmas" Marcels (1961)
• "Merry Xmas Everybody" – Slade (1973), Dexy's Midnight Runners in (1982), Steps and then Tony Christie in (2005)
• "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" Mariah Carey (1994)
• "Mistletoe and Holly" – co-written and popularised by Frank Sinatra
• "Mistletoe & Wine" – Cliff Richard (1988)
• "Mistress For Christmas" AC/DC
• "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo" – South Park (1999)
• "My Christmas List" Simple Plan
• "My December" – Linkin Park
• "My Only Wish (This Year)" – Britney Spears (2000)
• "Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office)" – Fat Les (1998)
• "New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer" – Z100 Portland (Oregon) (1990)
• "New Year" Sugababes (2000)
• "Nuttin' For Christmas" – Art Mooney & His Orchestra (1955)
• "No Child Should Ever Cry on Christmas" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006)
• "No Presents for Christmas" – King Diamond (1986)
• "Not Tonight Santa" Girls Aloud (2005)
• "Oi to the World" – The Vandals (1996) and No Doubt
• "An Old Christmas Card" – Jim Reeves (1963)
• "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" - David Bowie And Bing Crosby
• "Perfect Christmas" – S Club 7
• "Perfect Year" Dina Carroll (1994)
• "Please Come Home For Christmas" – Eagles (1978), Jon Bon Jovi (1994)
• "Pretty Paper" – Roy Orbison (1963), written by Willie Nelson
• "Proper Crimbo" – Bo' Selecta! (2003)
• "Redneck 12 Days of Christmas" – Redneck Carollers (2000)
• "Red Water (Christmas Mourning)" – Type O Negative (1996)
• "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" – Brenda Lee (1958)
• "Rudi the Red Nose Reindeer" – Musical Youth
• "Run Rudolph Run" – Chuck Berry (1958)
• "Santa Baby" – Eartha Kitt (1953), later covered by Kylie Minogue and Madonna, among others
• "Santa Baby (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme)" - Willa Ford
• "Santa Claus and Popcorn" – Merle Haggard, introduced in 1973
• "Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney" - Ella Fitzgerald
• "Santa Claus is Back in Town" – Elvis Presley
• "Santa Claus is Thumbing to Town" – Relient K (2001)
• "Santa Claus Lane" - Hilary Duff
• "Santa Got Lost in Texas" - Redneck Carollers (2000)
• "Santa's Gonna Come in a Pickup Truck' - Redneck Carollers (2000) (Redneck stlye parody of The Chipmunk Song")
• "Santa's List" Cliff Richard
• "Saviour's Day" – Cliff Richard (1990)
• "Senor Santa Claus" – Jim Reeves(1964)
• "Silver Bells" Bing Crosby & Carole Richards (1950)
• "Six White Boomers" – Rolf Harris
• "The Sound Of Christmas" Ramsey Lewis Trio
• "Step Into Christmas" – Elton John (1973)
• "Snoopy's Christmas" – The Royal Guardsmen (1967)
• "Someday at Christmas" – Stevie Wonder
• "Tennessee Christmas" – Introduced by Amy Grant in 1983, but has also been covered by Alabama in 1985, Steve Wariner in 1990, among other country and Contemporary Christian artists.
• "Thank God It's Christmas" – Queen (1984)
• "Thanks For Christmas" – Three Wise Men (AKA XTC)
• "That Holiday Feeling" – Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
• "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" – Herb Alpert
• "The Gift" Jim Brickman
• "The Greatest Gift Of All" – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (1984)
• "The Lights And Buzz" – Jack's Mannequin (2005)
• "The Man Who Would Be Santa" – Matt Scannell, Vertical Horizon
• "The Marvelous Toy" – Chad Mitchell Trio
• "The Night Before Christmas" – Carly Simon (1994)
• "The Old Man's Back In Town" – Garth Brooks (1992)
• "This Christmas" – Donny Hathaway. Other versions have since been recorded by Gloria Estefan, Joe, Dru Hill and others.
• "This Christmastime (Is the Best One Ever)" – Lonestar
• "'Til Santa's Gone (Milk and Cookies)" – Clint Black (1991)
• "Twistin' Bells" Santo & Johnny (1959)
• "Under the Tree" – The Waterbabies (2005)
• "Upon a Christmas Night" – Michael Learns To Rock
• "Walk This Sleigh" Robbie Williams
• "Walking In the Air" - Nightwish. This is a cover of the theme song from the cartoon "The Snowman."
• "Warm & Fuzzy" – Billy Gilman
• "What Christmas Means to Me" – Stevie Wonder
• "What I Really Want For Christmas" Brian Wilson (2005)
• "When My Heart Finds Christmas" Harry Connick Jr
• "Where Are You Christmas?" Faith Hill (though Faith Hill performed it, it was written and intended to be performed by Mariah Carey, she was not able to, due to record label disputes)
• "Who Would Imagine A King" – Whitney Houston (1996)
• "Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride" – a medley of the two Christmas favorites by Dolly Parton (1984)
• "Wombling Merry Christmas" – The Wombles (1974)
• "Wonderful Christmas Time" – Paul McCartney (1982)
• "Xmas At K-Mart" – Root Boy Slim And The Sex Change Band With The Rootettes
• "Xmas Ketchup Song" – Las Ketchup
• "You Don't Have To Be Alone on Christmas" 'N Sync (2000)
• "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" – written by Dr. Seuss, and sung by Thurl Ravenscroft
• "You're All I Want for Christmas" – Al Martino
• "Yule Shoot Your Eye Out" –Fall Out Boy

• Radio personality Bob Rivers has written countless Christmas parodies, most notably The Chimney Song and The Twelve Pains of Christmas, for his line of albums entitled Twisted Christmas.

Not intended as a Christmas song

Some songs are frequently associated with Christmas because of the time they were released, or for other less obvious reasons, rather than explicit references to the holiday. They are sometimes given a Christmas feel by adding sleigh bells or by recording a Christmas video.

• "Belleau Wood" – Garth Brooks (Set In A WWII battlefield on Christmas Eve, when a ceasefire is called until midnight, and the soldiers on both sides begin a chorus of "Silent Night"

• "Can we Fix it?" – Bob the Builder (2000)^{[citation needed]}

• "Dear Mr. Jesus" – PowerSource from their Shelter From The Storm album. It is sung by a 9 year old girl named Sharon Batts. Richard Klender wrote it in 1985. The song is about child abuse awareness and it has nothing to do with Christmas. Connie Bradley, Director, ASCAP, on April 11, 1988 said that this song was one of the, "most requested songs in the history of radio," (it is still highly requested every holiday season).

• "If We Make it Through December," Merle Haggard (1973). The song is a lament of a father who loses his job at the factory just as the holidays are approaching. Depressed over his predicament during what normally should be a "happy time of year," he observes that his little girl "don't understand why Daddy can't afford no Christmas cheer." The song reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart on December 22, 1973 ... just in time for Christmas. (It should be noted, however, that the song did first appear on Haggard's Christmas-themed album entitled "A Christmas Present.")

• "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" – a 20th century pop standard written by Irving Berlin that mentions winter themes such as snow, icicles, and December. Often performed as a duet, notably by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, which appeared on the album Ella and Louis Again in 1957.

• "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Carrie Underwood (2005). Although the song does briefly mention the setting of Christmas Eve in passing, the song is more of an evangelical contemporary Christian song than an explicitly Christmas-themed song.

• "Last Christmas" – Wham! (1984) (reached no. 2 in the UK Christmas charts, beaten by Band Aid- Feed the World) George Michael originally wrote the song "Last Easter", the record company asked him to change it to Christmas as it would catch a larger audience

• "Mad World" – Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules (2003) (this Tears for Fears cover is included on several Christmas compilation albums. It was Christmas Number One in the UK in 2003, ahead of the livelier "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" by British rock band The Darkness.)

• "My Favorite Things (song)" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein The Sound of Music. US radio stations that played Christmas music played various versions of this show tune, relating "favorite things" to Christmas gifts.

• "The Power of Love" – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984) (was released close to Christmas 1984, and was thus given a Nativity themed video and album cover. The song could be argued to be more suited to Halloween, with its references to vampires.)

• "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" by Annie Lennox with Al Green was on the soundtrack for the movie Scrooged, a modernized retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The promotional video for the song featured scenes from the movie and Christmas-related visuals.

• "River" by Joni Mitchell begins with the sound of Jingle Bells and makes brief mention of the Christmas holiday. It is otherwise a fairly somber song.

• "Somethin' Stupid" – Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (2001) (reached no. 1 in the UK Christmas charts, therefore commonly associated with Christmas)

• "Sound of the Underground" – Girls Aloud (2002) (reached no. 1 in the UK Christmas charts, therefore commonly associated with Christmas)

• "Stay Another Day" – East 17 (1994) (added sleigh bells)

• "Stop The Cavalry" – Jona Lewie (1980) (released in late November when the record company spotted the line "Wish I was at home for Christmas")

• "Thank God For Kids" – The Oak Ridge Boys (1982) This song does mention Santa Claus at the beginning of the song, but according to Eddy Raven, its writer, it is not intended to be a Christmas song. However, the Oak Ridge Boys did release it on their first Christmas album in 1982.

Christmas albums

Some artists record albums dedicated to Christmas or winter. These collections often contain covers of well-known Christmas songs or carols.

• 8 Days of Christmas – Destiny's Child
• A Christmas Album – Amy Grant
• A Christmas Gift To You From Phil Spector – Phil Spector
• A Christmas Story – Point of Grace
• A Christmas to Remember – Amy Grant
• A Christmas Together – John Denver & The Muppets
• A Twisted Christmas – Twisted Sister
• Acoustic Hearts of Winter – Aly & AJ
• All the Joy in the World – Jump5
• An Old-Fashioned Christmas – The Carpenters
• A Santa Cause - It's A Punk Rock Christmas – Various Artists (Charity album)
• Ashanti's Christmas – Ashanti
• Barenaked for the Holidays – Barenaked Ladies
• The Beach Boys' Christmas Album – The Beach Boys
• A Charlie Brown Christmas – soundtrack album of the classic TV special.
• Cheetah-licious Christmas – The Cheetah Girls.
• Chemistry – Girls Aloud (An special limited edition version of the album released contained a Christmas album)
• Chicago 25: The Christmas Album – Chicago
• Christmas Around the World – Bradley Joseph
• Christmas Favorites (with other variations available) – Nat King Cole
• Christmas Eve and Other Stories, The Christmas Attic, and The Lost Christmas Eve – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (containing traditional and original Christmas songs)
• Christmas in America – Kenny Rogers (1989)
• Christmas Interpretations – Boyz II Men (1993)
• Christmas Is Almost Here Again – Carly Simon (2003)
• Christmas Island (album) – Jimmy Buffett (1996)
• Christmas Peace (along with other variations) – Elvis Presley
• Christmas Portrait – The Carpenters
• Christmas With The Chipmunks – The Chipmunks featuring Ross Bagdasarian
• Cliff at Christmas – Cliff Richard
• Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand – Relient K
• Ding! Dong! Songs for Christmas - Vol. III – Sufjan Stevens
• Dream a Dream – Charlotte Church
• Faith: A Holiday Album – Kenny G
• Hark! Songs for Christmas - Vol. II – Sufjan Stevens
• Henkäys Ikuisuudesta – Tarja Turunen
• Ho, Ho, Ho – RuPaul
• Holy Night – Kevin Max
• Home for Christmas – Amy Grant
• Iceland – All About Eve
• I Wanna Be Santa Claus – Ringo Starr
• The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Jethro Tull
• The John Legend Collection – John Legend
• Jingle All The Way – Crash Test Dummies
• Joy - A Holiday Collection – Jewel
• Love Someone At Christmas – Delilah Rene
• Merry Christmas – Mariah Carey
• Merry Christmas Strait to You – George Strait (1986)
• Merry Christmas with Love – Clay Aiken
• Miracles: A Holiday Album – Kenny G
• My Kind of Christmas – Christina Aguilera
• Navidad – Jaci Velasquez
• Naughty Or Nice – 3LW
• Noel! Songs for Christmas - Vol. I – Sufjan Stevens
• Oi to the World! – The Vandals
• One More Drifter in the Snow – Aimee Mann
• One Wish: The Holiday Album – Whitney Houston
• Peace: A Holiday Album – Kenny G
• Rejoyce: The Christmas Album – Jessica Simpson
• Rudy the Redneck Reindeer (Christmas Classics: Redneck Style) – Redneck Carollers
• Santa Claus Lane – Hilary Duff
• The Christmas Collection – Il Divo
• The Magic of Christmas – Joy Electric
• The Spirit of Christmas – Amy Grant
• Strings of Christmas – Russell Shead
• Taste Of Christmas – Various Artists
• These Are Special Times – Celine Dion
• When My Heart Finds Christmas – Harry Connick, Jr.
• White Christmas – Martina McBride
• Winter Wonderland – Point of Grace
• Wintersong – Sarah McLachlan
• Wishes: A Holiday Album – Kenny G
• Wonderland – Heidi Klum

Some bands produce Christmas albums exclusively for their fan clubs, including The Beatles who first released such an album in 1963 [1]. Also popular are the Various Artists collections such as The Best Christmas Album in the World...Ever! & Now That's What I Call Christmas!.

Christmas songs introduced in movies and other popular media

• "Star of Bethlehem" and "Somewhere in My Memory" – John Williams from the Home Alone soundtrack.
• "White Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" – Irving Berlin from Holiday Inn
• "We Need a Little Christmas" – Jerry Herman, from the Broadway play, Mame
• "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – from Meet Me in St. Louis
• "The Night Before Christmas" – Carly Simon, This is My Life
• "What's This?" – Danny Elfman, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
• "Funky Christmas" – James Brown
• "Holly Jolly Christmas" – The Quinto Sisters
• "Silver Bells" – The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)
• "Believe" – Josh Groban, The Polar Express (film)
• "As Long As There's Christmas" – Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
• "Oh, What a Merry Christmas Day" – Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
• "It Feels Like Christmas" – The Muppet Christmas Carol
• "A Heart To Hold You" by Keane was intended to be presented in the film Love Actually but for some reason was retired.

French language Christmas songs

• "Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris"
• "Douce nuit, sainte nuit" (Silent Night)
• "Il est né le divin enfant"
• "La Marche des rois"
• "Les Anges dans nos campagnes" (Angels We Have Heard on High)
• "Minuit chrétien"
• "Noël nouvelet"
• "Venez divin Messie" (O Come, Divine Messiah)
• "Peuple fidèle" (Adeste fideles)
• "Dans une étable obscure"
• "C'est le jour de la Noël"
• "Bergers, l'enfant sommeille"
• "Noël de la paix" (Ô divin enfançon)
• "Un Flambeau"
• "Petit Papa Noël"

German language Christmas songs

German language Christmas carols tend to be less blitheful and more ceremonious than English ones:

• "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" (Lo How a Rose 'Ere Blooming)
• "Heiligste Nacht" (Dutch song!)
• "Ihr Kinderlein kommet"
• "O du fröhliche" Lyrics and MIDI
• "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" (Silent Night)
• "Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her"
• "Alle Jahre wieder"
• "Kling Glöckchen"
• "Lasst uns froh und munter sein"
• "Leise rieselt der Schnee"
• "Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben"
• "O Tannenbaum" (O Christmas Tree)
• "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen"
• "Es wird scho glei dumper"
• "Eine Muh, eine Mäh, eine Täterätätä"
• "Wir sagen euch an"
• "Es hat sich heut' eröffnet"
• "Menschen, die ihr wart verloren"
• "Zu Bethlehem geboren"

Occitan language Christmas songs

• La Cambo mi fa mau
• Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire (William, Tony, Peter), tune attributed to Nicolas Saboly. Frédéric Mistral composed the provençal anthem Coupo santo (The Holy Cup) according to this Christmas carol.
• Nouvé dòu pastre (Christmas carol for the shepherd)
• L'Ouferta de Calèna (The Christmas' offering)
• Pastre dei mountagno (Shepherd from the mountains)

Swedish language Christmas songs

December is the darkest month of the year in Sweden, so candles are often the theme in Swedish Christmas songs. Ljus is the Swedish word for candle.

• "Nu tändas tusen juleljus"
• "När ljusen tändas därhemma"
• "Ser du stjärnan i det blå"

External links

• Pop Culture Madness presents the Top 100 Requested Christmas Songs of the 20th Century
• Christmas Songs hundreds of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs with music
• Scandinavian Yuletide Voices Christmas songs from the Scandinavian countries. Free lyrics to download (pdf).
• [2] Jimmy and the Keyz Xmas Album!