There are several Christmas songs have stood the test of time and spanned generations when the holiday season arrives. Let’s take a look at the songs that have brought joy to millions around the world.
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“All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
One of the best-selling and top-streaming Christmas songs of all time, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is a timeless classic that continues to capture the love and spirit for the holidays. Released as a lead single on October 29, 1994, the song initially landed number 6 on the Billboard chart. The single has sold 16 million copies worldwide and reached a billion streams on Spotify.
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
Considered a must-have addition to Christmas playlists, this song is about the simplicity of a perfect Christmas and is the best-selling single of all time, according to the Guinness World Records. Released in July 1942 as part of the movie “Holiday Inn” soundtrack, it has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide.
“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” & “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by The Jackson Five
The “Jackson Five Christmas Album” was released on October 15, spanning the two hit singles, which remained frequently requested on the radio during the holiday season. Additionally, the album itself spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard charts in December 1970 and became the best-selling Christmas album of that year. These two songs are still considered holiday classics and a must-have on your playlist.
“Last Christmas” by Wham!
This solemn Christmas song was originally released by Wham! in 1986 and has become a staple in modern holiday playlists. A challenge called Whamageddon has taken social media by storm as you’re not supposed to listen to the original song unless its a cover. The challenge ends on December 24, do you think you can last that long? Whamageddon originally began as an annual tradition created by a group of friends in Denmark 18 years ago.
“Christmas Time Is Here” by Vince Guaraldi Trio
This sweet, melodic song takes you back to a simpler time when the Peanuts gang would look foward to the holidays in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The 1965 animated tv special was the first TV special based on the comic strip by Charles M. Schultz and has remained as a staple in Christmas playlists.
”Rockin’ Aroud The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
This holiday hit was originally recorded and released in 1958 but took two years to hit the Hot 100 in 1960 then reached No. 14. According to Billboard, the song led the Hot 100 for the second week, falling behind Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” and a music video was released to commorate the song’s 65th anniversary.
”Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
A timeless Christmas classic originally sung by Judy Garland in the musical “Meet Me in St. Louis”, Sinatra’s version is a perfect song to play while setting up the Christmas tree and wrapping gifts. Apparently he revised the original lyrics to make it sound more positive and celebrate the present rather than anticipate the future.
”Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano
This bilingual classic is a staple in many Christmas party playlists since its release in 1970. In 2010, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and reached digital sales of 808,000 copies along with becoming the eighth best selling Christmas digital single in SoundScan. Originally, the song did not enter the US Billboard chart until 20 years later and first entered the Adult Contemporary chart peaking at no.18 in December 1997.
The holiday season is a time to spend with family and friends and these songs capture that magic. These songs have stood the test of time and continue to inspire generations to come.