This is a holiday season like no other. No parties, no family gatherings, no big, boisterous dinners. But I’m really trying my best to keep things festive at home. Music always gives me a boost, so we’ve been blasting holiday music since before Thanksgiving. How can you not smile when “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is blaring, the fireplace is roaring, and the cutest little elves are dancing up a storm?
Music has been getting me through these strange days, so I wanted to share my holiday playlist, in case you need some tunes to get you in the holiday spirit. Give it a listen, and then let me know in the comments what holiday songs are your favorites. I’m always looking for more songs to put on my nice list.
My Holiday Playlist
“Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helm & Anita Kerr Singers
“Little Saint Nick” by The Beach Boys
“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
“Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes
“If We Make It Through December” by Phoebe Bridgers: Oh my gosh, this song. It shoots me right in the heart every time I hear it. I love Phoebe Bridgers, and I love that all proceeds from her version of the Merle Haggard tune goes toward helping homeless women in Los Angeles.
“O Tannenbaum” by Vince Guaraldi Trio
“Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” by Bruce Springsteen
“A Great Big Sled” by The Killers
“The Christmas Song” by The Raveonettes
“Just Like Christmas” by Low
“Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry: Two words: Home Alone. (Raise your hand if you saw it in the theater!)
“Donde Esta Santa Claus” by Guster
“Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley
“What Christmas Means to Me” by Stevie Wonder
“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” by Dean Martin
“Jingle Bells” by Frank Sinatra
“All That I Want” by The Weepies: The perfect calming, cozy song for curling up in a blanket with hot chocolate and a good book.
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Phoebe Bridgers
“A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
“Christmas Time is Here” by Vince Guaraldi Trio or Khruangbin
“Christmas Will Break Your Heart” by LCD Soundsystem: Could there be a more perfect song for 2020?
“Wonderful Christmastime” by The Shins
“White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes
“Christmas Treat” by Julian Casablancas
“Silent Night” by Sharon Van Etten: I’m digging this haunting new version of the holiday classic.
“Sleigh Ride” by Ella Fitzgerald
“Santa Baby” by Eartha Kit
“Last Christmas” by Taylor Swift (But definitely check out the Arlo Parks version!)
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey: A must for every holiday playlist.
26 Comments
Michelle Williams
I love folk music and traditional music. Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band did a great Christmas album called Carols and Capers which is very good.
Abby
I am in love with Sarah McLaughlan’s Christmas album, Wintersong. My favorites are ‘Song for a Winter’s night’ and ‘River’. You should give it a listen!
Lorry Wilkie
You need to check out Straight No Chasers Christmas albums. Their version of the Twelve Days of Christmas is fantastic!
kat
chris cornell- Ave Maria
Lisa
mele kalikimaka by bing crosby
Lara
We definitely have some overlap between our playlists!
While I have multiple recommendations for ya, I’ll limit it to “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).” So many versions. I say you can’t go wrong with Mariah Carey, U2, or Darlene Love.
Pam Castle
Hi Gen, two of my favorite Christmas songs are:
Christmas In Dixie by Alabama
Tennessee Christmas by Alabama
Hope you enjoy these
Marion
This song : “Silent night” reminds me of the rare Christmas meals with my family, my grandfather and grandmother used to take me to see when I was little the houses lit up before Christmas Mass, the opening up the few gifts I had for Christmas.
Me my holiday songs of course Silent night, then songs from my country, France: “Petit papa Noël, vive le vent, les anges de nos campagnes, douce nuit, mon beau sapin, la colombe de Noël”
LisaB
This is a really great collection of holiday music thanks for sharing
Paige
I always enjoy jamming out to the Christmas With Friends album by Jason Manns. It makes me happy when I hear my #SPNFamily sing! ❤
Mags
We’ve been doing the same thing at our house. Lindsey Stirling’s Warmer in the Winter album is great! Plus anything by Mannheim Steamroller. Wishing you a blessed holiday season!
Trisha Garcia
I love “Mary did you know?” By Kenny Rogers and Wynnona Judge. The entire album is really great. I think it’s called The Gift. For young kids it tells the story of Jesus’s birth through songs.
Karen Graham
You forgot White Christmas by Jared Padalecki and Jason Manns 😉
Iva Marinkovic
That song is literally on repeat for me! Jared has amazing voice 👏🏻❤️
Cindy
Love the play list. Ruduolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Gene Autry, is always fun. Also Celtic Thunder’s first Christmas CD is amazing, their arrangement of Silent Night is beautiful. Their other Christmas CD is very good as well. Another one that I love is The Statler Brothers Christmas Card, their Christmas Present is good but the first one is a favorite. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Hannah
“Mary, Did You Know” is a favorite of mine. I also love “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
Terri David
Porky Pig’s version of Dreaming of a White Christmas is so fun. It always makes me smile or laugh. And the kids should get a hoot out of it. Hope your family has a wonderful Christmas.
Valerie Goike
I love the Christmas song, Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson.
Gayle McGowan
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by Bebo Norman
O Holy Night by Josh Groban
Diane
The Muppets Christmas with John Denver is one of my favorite Christmas albums, especially “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as sung by Kermit & Miss Piggy. Merry Christmas, Gen! ❤️
Sigrid
Thank you for the playlist, I’ll definitely check out some of the songs. I have to agree with Paige, Christmas with Friends is high up on my playlist 🙂 Here are some more songs I love:
Bring Me Love – John Legend
Let It Snow – Dean Martin
The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot – Vera Lynn
We Need a Little Christmas – Glee
The Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby + David Bowie
Kleiner weißer Schneemann – Götz Alsmann (I’m German)
Gail Hunter
My personal favourites are mostly British ones that probably never crossed the Atlantic, but most are quite “bouncy”, so the kids might like them – “I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day” by Wizzard, “Merry Christmas Everybody” by Slade, “Wonderful Christmas Time” by Wings, and two more thoughtful songs “Stop the Cavalry” by Jonah Lewie, and “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders. Happy Christmas Gen and all your crew – seeing your posts has been a great smile-bringer this year.
Heather Perdigon
So Tori Kelly’s new Christmas Album has some super songs – as does Dolly Parton’s Holly Dolly Christmas that she just released.
Melanie
Some of the songs I love best are from my childhood..i still love some “traditional” Christmas songs..but these songs always bring back memories..and the fact my parents always listened to good music! Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses ,Please Come Home for Christmas by the Eagles, Do They Know its Christmas by Band Aid, Father Christmas by the Kinks..and we always have to play Jingle Cats for a giggle.
Melany MacDougall
Omg I love your play list!! I lost my mom 2004 and dad in 2006, both right around Christmas and I havent really been able to enjoy Christmas since. Christmas was my mom’s favorite holiday, Dad’s on the other hand, he did care what it was as long as it made my mom happy. I have been trying to get into the hristmas spirit ever since though! So I will be using your playlist this year. Thank you
Natalie
A few I like this season is …
O Come All Ye Faithful by Pentatonix
Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson
& of course various Michael Buble Chirstmas songs 💗