By Ksenia Vlasova-Kuznetsova, Y12
It is finally that time of year where we put aside our differences and agree that Mariah Carey and Michael Buble have established a veritable empire around Christmastime. However, this doesn’t stop anyone from blasting “All I want for Christmas is You” in supermarkets, cafes and restaurants all the way to intimate family reunions at the dinner table. Nevertheless, when it comes to Christmas songs, we must establish a genre balance, as listening to pop songs on end leads to messy eggnog related incidents as well as children bouncing off of walls. So, dear readers, consider this your special holiday guide to the ultimate christmastime playlist.
In the words of Andy Williams, Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year”, and to ensure that Christmas is indeed wonderful, adding this traditionally pop song to your playlist is a must. Although Williams precedes Carey, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” emits a similar vibe to “All I Want for Christmas Is You”. For the latter, I must begrudgingly add it to this list, as although it is severely, SEVERELY overplayed, the sheer joy it brings immediately qualifies it a spot on the ultimate christmas playlist.
Bing Crosby’s “Winter Wonderland” and “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” are oldies but goldies, along with “Last Christmas” by Wham. Their spots on the list are simply unquestionable. Now, in order to change up the genres, adding jazz – “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt, and some soul/funk – “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, “Santa Claus is coming to town” as well as “Sleigh Ride” by the Ronettes ensures that your playlist has minimal variety.
Now, for all of the Christmas bangers you once shazamed but don’t know the name of: “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” by Wizzard, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid, and “Merry Christmas Everyone” by Shakin’ Stevens. These can best be described as your christmas classics with a little bit of spice (cinnamon, if you will). Consider these your Christmas dance party songs.
For all my Christmas film fanatics, “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson is a must: Love Actually is also a Christmastime must, but I shall leave that for the Christmas Films article. A special addition to this section, as well as a shoutout to all the readers that prefer Halloween to Christmas, is “What’s This?” by Danny Elfman, from the Nightmare Before Christmas. I have met people who consider Halloween to be “the only thing stopping Christmas season from growing on us like a cancerous growth”, so I hope you enjoy this addition.
Overall, dear readers, I hope you enjoy COVID-Christmas, I hope you stay safe, and I hope you blast these songs on repeat. Here is a spotify link for the complete playlist : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1cMZRcJBD3tGxayETMeWHF?si=cIq_B2B6TZ-A1YgEwCDe6w .
FULL LIST OF SONGS:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – Andy Williams
All I want for christmas is you – Mariah Carey
Merry Christmas Baby – John Legend
This Christmas – Chris Brown
Winter Wonderland – Michael Buble
Baby It’s Cold Outside – Idina Menzel & Michael Buble
White Christmas – Bing Crosby
Silent Night – Michael Buble
Here Comes Santa Claus – Bing Crosby
Twelve Days of Christmas – Bing Crosby
What’s This? – Danny Elfman
Santa Baby- Eartha Kitt
It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas – Bing Crosby
Frosty the Snowman – Clay Walker
Last Christmas – Wham!
Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
Holly Jolly Christmas – Michael Buble
Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande
Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow – Kurt Nilsen
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – Jackson 5
Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano
Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin Stevens
Jingle Bell Rock – Daryl Hall & John Oats
Winter Wonderland – Bing Crosby
I Wish It could be Christmas Everyday – Wizard
Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding
Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes
Underneath the tree – Kelly Clarkson
I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jackson 5
Everybody’s Waiting For The Man With The Bag – Kay Starr
Dock The Hall – Nat King Cole
