Must-listen Christmas Songs from every major genre
I take great pride in my annual Christmas playlists. After all, Christmas is my favorite holiday, and music is my favorite topic of conversation. As my music taste shifts and grows, my yearly soundtrack moves with it. Though a lot of the songs on these playlists change and rotate through the years, I have a few staples that have earned permanent spots in my rotation.
To preface, there are other genres of Christmas music besides just these, and everybody defines genres differently. There are a lot of strays on every playlist that don’t fall into these categories, but these six are generally the most consistently and well-represented. There are also a lot of covers in this list (which sort of comes with the territory when it comes to Christmas songs), so I apologize if you are a purist when it comes to any of these songs.
1. Hip Hop
While most people don’t think of hip-hop first in conversations about Christmas music, I believe there are more than enough great rap songs about Christmas to make it worth mentioning. First up, I have “Christmas in Hollis” by Run-D.M.C., a relaying of a boy’s encounter with Saint Nick. This is one of those songs that can also stay on my Hip-Hop playlist year-round. Similarly, “I Am the Grinch” by Tyler, the Creator ft. Fletcher Jones is just an all-around great song, as we should expect from anything Tyler puts out at this point. In fact, the whole soundtrack for the 2018 version of The Grinch is a great starter playlist, with Nat King Cole, Run-D.M.C., the Supremes, and more. “Christmas in Harlem” by Kanye West, CyHi and Teyana Taylor is another fantastic song about Christmas in the city with elements of both smooth R&B songwriting and rap. Finally, the album “Christmas on Death Row” from Death Row Records has notable mentions, “Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto” by Snoop Dogg and “I Wish” by the Dogg Pound. This Christmas, open your mind to Hip-Hop!
2. Pop
My first two pop Christmas picks need little explanation: “Drummer Boy” by Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes and “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande. Both are cult classics for good reason, as they provide us with great modern takes on classic Christmas themes. On the other hand, “Come on! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!” By Sufjan Stevens is an original that, in my opinion, sounds like it could be a contemporary, instrumental take on an old school Christmas song. The relatively new “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call” by Bleachers also immediately became a favorite after its release last year. Now, probably my favorite Christmas song of all time: “Christmas Wrapping” by Kylie Minogue and Iggy Pop. I could write a whole separate essay on this song. I love it so much.
3. Country/Folk/Americana
I love country music, but I am very passionate and particular about what subtype it is. Some of my acceptable choices include “That Christmasy Feeling” by Johnny Cash and “Everything Is Cool” by John Prine, as well as Prine’s “Christmas in Prison.” These are two of my essential year-round artists that I grew up listening to, so it’s only fair they make this list too. My more modern-day picks would include “Baby It’s Cold Outside” covered by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Julie Davis, and “A Willie Nice Christmas” by Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson. Rateliff can never do any wrong and his Christmas covers are no exception. Kacey and Willie on the other hand, offer a fun, upbeat original that you should expect when two artists of their stature come together for a holiday jam.
4. Oldies
I’ve been told that I have the personality, music taste and vocabulary of an old woman, so I feel reputable enough in this category. My classics of the classics include songs like “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl and “Auld Lang Syne,” particularly Dougie McLean’s and Sufjan Stevens’ versions. Two British classics I grew up with that will always be relevant. Additionally, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Ella Fitzgerald, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love and Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Paper” remind me of my grandparents’ house and Christmases of my childhood.
5. Sad Girl Xmas
Because Christmas is the saddest time of year for lots of people worldwide, it’s only right to dedicate a category to the slow, crooning songs. “Blue Christmas,” covered by the Lumineers or by Sharon Van Etten is a great song to have a good, emotional singing sesh to. “Home Alone, Too” by The Staves is another song with a similar concept and equally sorrowful delivery. Eagles’ contribution to the Christmas Downer category has a hopeful ending, but “Please Come Home for Christmas” is overall a tale of longing, much like the other two. Finally, Margo Price’s cover of “River” by Joni Mitchell happens to be intensely gut-wrenching and melancholic, so please go give it a listen!
6. Soul/Blues
As with most good things in life, I’ve saved my favorite for last. I think that soul and blues music just mesh so well with the warm feeling of Christmas and the genres themselves are so timeless that these songs never fail me. First, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings’ It’s a Holiday Soul Party album has a perfect dinner party feel, especially my personal favorite song, “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects.” Next, “Driving Home for Christmas” by Chris Rea is one of those all-around perfect Christmas songs that I will always associate with specific good memories. Other notable mentions include “Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas” by The Staple Singers and “All Alone on Christmas” by Darlene Love, two more melancholy songs perfect for your Christmas-time blues. Finally, a more modern addition of the exceedingly smooth and soulful “Dreaming of A Christmas With You” by the Teskey Brothers rounds out the last of my annual must-listens.
Now this is just a starter pack list. The number of songs I had to narrow down for this list is extraordinary, so if you like these, I encourage you to see what else is out there that runs in a similar vein (Spotify suggestions are a beautiful gift). I have not yet crafted this year’s playlist for the holidays, but I can guarantee that all these songs will be some of the first ones on there. Happy listening!