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Here’s some songs to spice up your holiday playlist this year

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Maryland chapter.

The holiday season is finally here. While you’re cramming for finals and putting the finishing touches on those essays, you might want some music to put you in the holiday spirit. Well, look no further. Here’s a holiday playlist with both new hits and classics to keep your spirits high.  

1) “Christmas Tree Farm” – Taylor Swift (2019)

This song is an obvious choice for huge Taylor Swift fans, but can also be enjoyed by non-Swifties. This upbeat tune tells the tale of where Swift grew up: a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania.

The beginning violin melody makes you feel as though you’re falling into a Hallmark Christmas movie, while Swift paints a scene of a cozy barn on a snowy day, making you feel like you’re home for the holidays.

2) “Last Christmas” – Wham! (1984)

This song is more upbeat than most of the slower and solemn holiday songs. If you’re a fan of the  80’s synth piano sounds, this song is the right fit for you.

The trending classic gives the holidays  a classic 80’s pop sound. The song tells a story of a lost love from “last Christmas” with an upbeat, dance-style beat.

3) “Winter Wonderland – Spotify Single Holiday” – Laufey (2023)

Up-and-coming artist, Laufey, just released her cover of the holiday classic “Winter Wonderland,” giving her own twist on the well-known melody.

Laufey’s voice blends perfectly with the jazzy style of this cover, with a trumpet humming and light jingle bells keeping beat in the background. This is the perfect song for a classy holiday dinner with your friends and family.

Laufey in concert at DC
Original photo by Tanvi sivakumar

4) “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee (1964)

Whenever I think of the holidays during my childhood, I always remember this classic playing on the radio. The hit song, known for its feature in the popular holiday movie, “Home Alone,” is also celebrating its 65th anniversary.

The song has classic hints of the 60’s style, with the strum of the electric guitar and hoppy voice of Lee. This song is reminiscent of being cozy at home with friends and family by the twinkle of the Christmas tree.

5) “A Nonsense Christmas” – Sabrina Carpenter (2023)

From her new extended play, “fruitcake,” Carpenter re-released one of her most viral songs, “Nonsense” with a naughty holiday twist. The song is like no other holiday song I have ever heard.

The song puts twists on the lyrics of the original song, with new lyrics like “You’ll be Santa Clause and I’ll be Mrs., I’ll take you for a ride, I’ll be your vixen.” This song is on its way to being a trendy holiday classic you can sing along to with your friends. 

Journalism student at Philip Merrill College of Journalism at UMD