Christmas music: Encyclopedia II - Christmas music - List of Christmas songs

Christmas music - List of Christmas songs

Christmas music - General Christmas songs

The following songs are well known for being performed by more than one different artists:

• "Blue Christmas" – Introduced by Ernest Tubb in 1949, though most famously recorded by Elvis Presley.
• "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" (1946) (composed by Mel Torme and first performed by Nat King Cole)
• "The First Noel"
• "Frosty the Snowman" (1950) – popularized by Gene Autry. Countless artists have recorded it in the years since.
• "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – introduced by Judy Garland in the film 'Meet Me In St. Louis; covered by Luther Vandross and then later covered by Vince Gill (1996).
• "Jingle Bells"
• "Jingle Bell Rock" – best-known version is by Bobby Helms, released in 1957.
• "Joy to the World" – covered by various artists which include Mariah Carey.
• "Little Drummer Boy" – The 1958 version by the Harry Simeone Chorale is the standard.
• "Mary's Boy Child" – Harry Belafonte in 1957, Boney M in 1978 and re-released in 2005 by G4/Robin Gibb as "Mary's Boy Child/First of May".
• "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – introduced by Andy Williams in 1963
• "Merry Christmas Darling" – Introduced by The Carpenters in 1978 (on their album, A Christmas Portrait).
• "Mistletoe and Holly" – co-written and popularised by Frank Sinatra
• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1949).
• "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" – Introduced by Buck Owens in 1965; re-popularized by Garth Brooks in 1992.
• "Silent Night" – popularised by Frank Sinatra
• "Twelve Days of Christmas"
• "Up On the House Top" by Benjamin Hanby
• "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
• "White Christmas" (first performed by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical Holiday Inn)

Christmas music - Best known by one particular artist

The following songs are best known for being created and/or performed by one particular artist:

• "Yule Shoot Your Eye Out" Fall Out Boy
• "50 Grand for Christmas" – Paul Holt
• "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey (1994)
• "All Alone On Christmas" – Darlene Love (1963)
• "Another Lonely Christmas" – Prince (1984)
• "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" – Gary Glitter (1984)
• "The Chanukah Song" – Adam Sandler (1994-2002)
• "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" – Alvin and the Chipmunks (1958)
• "Christmas" – The Who (1969)
• "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love
• "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" (aka "Carol of the Bells") – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• "A Christmas Kiss" – Daniel O'Donnell (1999)
• "Christmas in Dixie" – Alabama, introduced in 1982. Lead singer Randy Owen re-recorded the song with Kenny Chesney in 2003.
• "Christmas in Hollis" – Run DMC
• "Christmas in My Hometown" – Charley Pride, issued in 1970. A different song of the same name was recorded by Sonny James in the late-1960s, and covered by Travis Tritt in 1992.
• "Christmas is all around me" – Bill Mack (2003)
• "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near" – Coil (1998)
• "Christmas Round At Ours" – Girls Aloud (2005)
• "Christmas Shoes" – NewSong (2002)
• "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" – The Darkness (2003)
• "Christmas Wrapping" – The Waitresses (1981)
• "Christmastime" Billy Corgan
• "Cruise into Christmas" – Jane McDonald (1998)
• "December Will Be Magic Again" – Kate Bush
• "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – released three times by Band Aid (1984), Band Aid II (1989) and Band Aid 20 (2004).
• "Driving Home For Christmas" – Chris Rea
• "Fairytale of New York" – The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl (1987)
• "Father Christmas" – The Kinks (1977)
• "Feliz Navidad" – Jose Feliciano (1968)
• "Give you one for Christmas" – Hot Pantz (2005)
• "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" Elmo and Patsy (1979)
• "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1972) and later by The Idols in 2003
• "Have a Cheeky Christmas" – The Cheeky Girls (2003)
• "Here Comes Santa Claus" – Gene Autry (1947)
• "Holly Jolly Christmas" – Burl Ives (1964)
• "I Believe in Father Christmas" – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• "I Hope I Sell a Lot of Records at Christmastime" – Princess Superstar (2000)
• "I Only Want You For Christmas" – Alan Jackson (1991)
• "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" – Jimmy Boyd (1952)
• "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day" – The Wombles and Roy Wood (2000)
• "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" – Blink-182 (2001)
• "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" – Wizzard (1973)
• "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (1943)
• "It's Christmas All Over the World" – Sheena Easton (1987)
• "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" – Kenny Rogers (1981)
• "Last Christmas" – Wham! (1984) and later by Whigfield in 1995.
• "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer" – Joe Diffie
• "Let it Snow!" – Dean Martin (1945)
• "Light of the Stable" – Emmylou Harris, introduced in 1976; includes backing vocals by Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.
• "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" – David Bowie & Bing Crosby
• "Little Saint Nick" – The Beach Boys
• "Lonely This Christmas" – Mud (1974)
• "Merry Christmas Darling" – Carpenters (1978)
• "Merry Christmas Everyone" – Shakin' Stevens (1985)
• "Merry Christmas Santa Claus" – Max Headroom (1986)
• "Merry Xmas Everybody" – Slade (1973), Dexy's Midnight Runners in (1982) and then Tony Christie in (2005).
• "Mistletoe and Holly" – co-written and popularised by Frank Sinatra
• "Mistletoe & Wine" – Cliff Richard (1988)
• "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo" – South Park (1999)
• "My Only Wish" – Britney Spears (2004)
• "Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office)" – Fat Les (1998)
• "Oi to the World" – The Vandals (1996)
• "An Old Christmas Card" – Jim Reeves (1963)
• "Please Come Home for Christmas" – Jon Bon Jovi (1994)
• "Proper Crimbo" – Bo' Selecta! (2003)
• "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" – Brenda Lee (1958).
• "Rudi the Red Nose Reindeer" – Musical Youth
• "Run Run Rudolph" – Chuck Berry (1958)
• "Santa Baby" – Eartha Kitt (1952), later covered by Kylie Minogue.
• "Santa Claus and Popcorn" – Merle Haggard, introduced in 1973.
• "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" – Jackson 5 (1970)
• "Saviour's Day" – Cliff Richard (1990)
• "Silver Bells" (1950)
• "Sleigh Ride" (1950)
• "Step Into Christmas" – Elton John (1973)
• "Thank God For Kids" – The Oak Ridge Boys (1982)
• "Thank God It's Christmas" – Queen
• "The Greatest Gift Of All" – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (1984)
• "The Man Who Would Be Santa - Matt Scannell, Vertical Horizon
• "The Old Man's Back In Town" – Garth Brooks (1992)
• "'Til Santa's Gone (Milk and Cookies)" – Clint Black (1991)
• "Under the Tree" – The Waterbabies (2005)
• "What Christmas Means to me" – Stevie Wonder
• "Who Would Imagine A King" – Whitney Houston (1996)
• "Winter Wonderland" – Johnny Mathis (1958) and then Perry Como (1946)
• "Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride" – a medley of the two Christmas favorites by Dolly Parton (1984)
• "Wombling Merry Christmas" – The Wombles (1974)
• "Wonderful Christmas Time" – Paul McCartney (1979)
• "XMas Ketchup Song" – Las Ketchup

Christmas music - Not intended as a Christmas song

Some songs are frequently associated with Christmas because of the time they were released rather than explicit references to the holiday. They are sometimes given a Christmas feel by adding sleigh bells or by recording a Christmas video.

• "Can we Fix it?" – Bob the Builder (2000)
• "If We Make it Through December," Merle Haggard (1973). The song is a lament of a father who loses his job at the factory just as the holidays are approaching. Depressed over his predicament during what normally should be a "happy time of year," he observes that his little girl "don't understand why Daddy can't afford no Christmas cheer." The song reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart on December 22, 1973 ... just in time for Christmas.
• "Mad World" – Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules (2003) (this Tears for Fears cover is included on several Christmas compilation albums. It was Christmas Number One in the UK in 2003, ahead of the livelier "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" by British rock band The Darkness.)
• "The Power of Love" – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984) (was released close to Christmas 1984, and was thus given a Nativity themed video and album cover. The song could be argued to be more suited to Halloween, with its references to vampires.)
• "Somethin' Stupid" – Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (2001) (reached no. 1 in the UK christmas charts, therefore commonly associated with christmas)
• "Sound of the Underground" – Girls Aloud (2002) (reached no. 1 in the UK christmas charts, therefore commonly associated with christmas)
• "Stop The Cavalry" – Jona Lewie (1980) (released in late November when the record company spotted the line "Wish I was at home for Christmas")
• "Stay Another Day" – East 17 (1994) (added sleigh bells)
• "Last Christmas" – Wham! (1984) (reached no. 2 in the UK christmas charts, beaten by Band Aid- Feed the World) George Michael originally wrote the song "Last Easter",the record company asked him to change it to Christmas as it would catch a larger audience

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "List of Christmas songs", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki