I’m a summer baby, but Christmas is my favorite time of year. Decorating the tree with funky, nostalgic ornaments, carefully handpicking presents for the people I love, spending time with family and friends and especially, the seasonal tunes.
That being said, here are five of my favorite Christmas songs that I keep on repeat during the most wonderful time of the year.
“Christmas Wrapping” – Long Version — The Waitresses
This song is a certifiable banger. Argue with a wall. I love a song that tells a story, and this one does just that. It’s so fun, so festive and transports you into something reminiscent of an 80s Hallmark Christmas movie.
The writer, Chris Butler, actually didn’t even like Christmas, but his record label requested he write a Christmas song — so the song actually contains bits and pieces of his own life, spending Christmas alone.
Sometimes the best things come out of those that you don’t really want to do.
“River” — Joni Mitchell
I love my sad girl songs, and this is the sad girl Christmas song. Here, Mitchell croons over a breakup set at Christmastime. The piano borrows from the tune of “Jingle Bells” throughout the song, and recalls it directly at its end, making it feel that much more nostalgic and Christmas-y.
There’s actually a science behind this, too. Most Christmas songs have that “sound” that makes them recognizable as a Christmas song beyond the lyrics about Santa Claus and sleigh bells. According to musicologists from across the country, the “Christmas swing button” motif and the use of specific timbres like bells, strings and mellow vocals have a heavy influence on many Christmas classics and even newer songs with modern twists in the genre.
However, the biggest indicator of the sounds of Christmas lies in chord progressions, specifically the melancholic minor iv chord that creates contrast to the overall major key feel. Using minor chords adds a sprinkle of nostalgia that makes me feel like I’m at home for Christmas.
“Please Come Home for Christmas” – 2013 Remaster — Eagles
Speaking of being home for Christmas, this song is next on my list. This cover of the Charles Brown classic sits in that perfect pocket of soulful rhythm and (holiday) blues.
I love the opening bells in this song, specifically over any other version of the track. They’re a bit more lively and melodic than prior, and I think it adds a nice contrast to the velvety instrumentals and vocals that follow.
I especially enjoy the festive imagery in the song that almost polarizes the loneliness within the lyrics. The traditional mention of Christmas carols, bells and “Silent Night” — met with the sadness of spending the holidays alone.
“7 O’Clock News / Silent Night” — Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple and Matt Berninger
Let’s circle back to “Silent Night,” which has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs — however, this version brings me to my knees. Initially done by Simon & Garfunkel, the song is layered over a reading of a seven o’clock news bulletin with actual events that occurred during the summer of 1966.
Bridgers released her cover with Apple back in 2019 with a different news report. I love the juxtaposition of merging this holiday classic with the modern world, once in the 60s and now in times that I lived through and remember.
The news report in this rendition touches on more recent events, like the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Purdue Pharma, the first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump and more. This cover, like all of Bridgers’ other Christmas covers, is a benefit single that donates its proceeds to Planned Parenthood.
When political climates become heavy and polarizing, it can be hard for many to focus on and enjoy the holiday season.
However, the thing I love most about this cover is that it makes me feel like I’m a kid again, sitting in the living room during Christmastime while my parents watch the news. I hear what they’re saying, but all I’m really listening to is the sound of Christmas carols as I play with my brothers and our new toys. Oblivious to what’s happening in the world around me, I’m naive again.
“cindy lou who” — Sabrina Carpenter
When Carpenter dropped her “fruitcake” EP (extended play), I was excited to stream it. I’m not usually the biggest fan of modern pop Christmas music — as I said before, I typically lean more toward either a traditional or a mellow vibe.
Although Carpenter is typically a synth-pop type of girl, she has a few deep cuts like “Don’t Smile” and “things i wish you said” that had me hopeful — and she pulled through with “cindy lou who.”
This song is a standout on the EP — the rest of the songs are far more upbeat. The entire record is great, but I play this song specifically year-round.
Honorable mention: “Last Christmas” — Wham!
This is my go-to karaoke song during the holidays. I will sing this in a bar, in the car and anywhere else I possibly can. It stays stuck in my head all season and is such a Christmas classic.
