There is nothing like ringing in the holiday season with some good old Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey! But there are other gems that made it to our list of timeless holiday songs. Here they are...
30. Michael Bublé: It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas (2011)
Basically dubbed as the modern King of Christmas, Michael Bublé and his incredibly soothing voice never cease to amaze us - especially during the cold wintery months as we gear up for the holiday szn.
So naturally, one of Bublé's biggest hit songs from his 2011 holiday album, Christmas, was going to make the cut. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas was originally written back in the early '50s, but once Bublé put his touch on it, it hit number 10 on the Billboard charts and forever reigns as one of our favs.
29. Justin Bieber: Mistletoe (2012)
Remember when Bieber put out his festive album, Under the Mistletoe, and somehow it made us love him even more? Well, we sure do remember because even if it's not the holidays, we still find ourselves listening to these Christmas tracks all year long.
Justin was only seventeen at the time of its release, but he was looking for someone to kiss under the mistletoe! The song debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart following its release, defining Bieber as not only a teen heartthrob but as the ultimate Christmas gift.
28. Bruce Springsteen: Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1985)
Born To Run, Dancing in the Dark, and Born in the U.S.A may be some of Springsteen's most iconic songs of all time, but his cover of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town goes down in history as one of the best. Although the original was done in '34, Springsteen's tone truly makes it the hit that it is.
From Michael Bublé to The Jackson 5 and even Mariah Carey, these musicians have all re-created the catchy jingle - but perhaps nothing will compare to the upbeat twist Springsteen put on the song. No wonder it was in the top 20 US Billboard charts even thirty years after it debuted!
27. Bobby Helms: Jingle Bell Rock (1957)
Although some of us may associate this holiday song with one of the most iconic movies of all time, Mean Girls, the OG version of Jingle Bell Rock is all thanks to Bobby Helms. Known as a country artist, Helms' biggest hit of all time was the 1957 classic.
The feel-good song is sure to put anyone in the holiday mood, so no wonder The Plastics decided to sing it for the Winter Talent Show. Jingle Bell Rock really is the gift that keeps on giving, seeing as it hit number three on the Billboard chart in January 2020!
26. Kelly Clarkson: Underneath the Tree (2013)
Clarkson's Underneath the Tree comes straight from her first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red, and it might just be our favorite Kelly song after Since U Been Gone. Underneath the Tree was the album's hidden gem after it peaked on the Billboard charts at number 8 in 2014.
Christina Vinson of Taste of Country labeled the track as having everything we could want in a Christmas song, "jazzy, big band sound, saxophone and bells ringing, all bottled up in an optimistic and catchy holiday track." And we couldn't agree more!
25. Donny Hathaway: This Christmas (1970)
Originally by the late soulful musician Donny Hathaway, This Christmas goes down in history as one of the greatest songs of all time. Hathaway, known as one of the "most important Black performers" of his time, per Rolling Stone, released this holiday bop in 1970.
Hathaway mixes his soulful vocals with the spirit of the holiday season in this jam and, even years later, continues to make the US Billboard charts. The lyrics, "Presents and cards are here/ My world is filled with cheer and you/ This Christmas," gives us all the feels!
24. The Jackson 5: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (1970)
Jimmy Boyd might have been the original artist behind this song, but something about The Jackson 5's cover gives us a much more Christmas-y feel. The upbeat, funky and catchy song gives us the best vocals from all the Jackson brothers in I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.
In the Motown version of the 1952 original, the youngest Jackson brother tries to convince the rest of his brothers that he did really see mommy kissing Santa Claus, luring listeners into all their cuteness! No wonder the song continues to peak on the Billboard charts decades later.
23. Jose Feliciano: Feliz Navidad (1970)
According to Feliciano himself, he wrote the "first ever bilingual Christmas song" after being in Los Angeles and feeling homesick for Puerto Rico. The English lyrics were added later on to ensure radio time and instantly became a holiday hit song for all.
Feliciano's lyrics, "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas, from the bottom of my heart," has become one of the catchiest lines in all of the holiday music, both Spanish and English. Despite it being released in 1970, the song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard chart in 2012.
22. Dean Martin: Winter Wonderland (1966)
Like a lot of holiday songs, Winter Wonderland was actually written years before its most famous rendition in 1966. Originally released around 30 years prior by Richard Himber, it wasn't until Dean Martin's upbeat twist on the song that the track truly exploded.
Martin released an entire Christmas album, including Winter Wonderland, back in the '60s with covers of some of our favorite holiday songs. He also included some of our favorite classics, from Jingle Bells to I'll Be Home For Christmas and even Elvis' Blue Christmas!
21. Burl Ives ft. Owen Bradley & Orchestra: A Holly Jolly Christmas (1965)
We can't think of December without thinking of having a "holy jolly Christmas." This boppy tune dates back to The Quinto Sisters in 1964, but folk singer Burl Ives added his holiday spin onto the track for the holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Even Michael Bublé redid the iconic song years later, but Ives' rendition stayed on the charts year after year, despite the tune being decades old. The song hit number 3 on the Billboard charts in 2019 and again the following year, reaching number 4, proving we all need a holly jolly Christmas!
20. NSYNC: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (1998)
It's important to never forget that '90s boy bands always did the holiday season impeccably well. There was just something about the matching outfits and coordinated dance moves that screamed Christmas sing-along special - and NSYNC always triumphed.
NSYNC's Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays gives us major 90s nostalgia, and it seems like the world agrees. Regardless of the song being over two decades old, the hit still plays each year on the radio for us to enjoy and even hit the top fifty on the Billboard charts a few years ago.
19. Eartha Kitt: Santa Baby (1953)
This cheeky tune may be a holiday hit, but it was also known as Eartha Kitt's most well-known song ever. Santa Baby created a little controversy back in the '50s following her hit song after seductively serenading her listeners into letting them know exactly what she wanted.
"Santa baby... hurry down the chimney tonight," Kitt alluringly sings. The song continues to be labeled as one of the sexiest Christmas songs of all time, and we can definitely understand why. Each Christmas, Santa Baby hits the Billboard charts - over sixty years later.
18. John Lennon & Yoko Ono with the Harlem Community Choir: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) 1971
Between Lennon's magical voice and Ono's artistic talent, this dynamic duo was one of the most powerful couples of the '70s. The pair recorded Happy Xmas (War Is Over) in 1971 as a protest song against the Vietnam war - but it ended up becoming a major Christmas hit.
The hit song became a part of the couple's goal to promote peace throughout the world and, while they were at it, promote some sweet holiday spirit as well. "And so happy Christmas for Black and for whites/ War is over, if you want it/ For the yellow and red ones/Let's stop all the fight/ War is over now," they sang.
17. Joni Mitchell: River (1971)
Although this track isn't the typical holiday jingle, Joni Mitchell's River gives listeners a different interpretation of the holiday season. From Mitchell's 1971 album, Blue, River, gives audiences who experience some of the holiday time blues a relatable tune.
River "redefined the way people look at Christmas music," Brandi Carlile told her audience at Carnegie Hall when she sang the whole song. "There needed to be a song that embraces the sorrow of Christmas," she said. For all the cheerful, joyous holiday songs there are, there aren't so many for those that don't love the holiday time.
16. The Beach Boys: Little Saint Nick (1963)
Following the band's hit song, Little Deuce Coup, the boys put in their unique sound to develop the Christmas track, Little Saint Nick - and the people loved it. The Beach Boys rose to fame in the early '60s and continued to make hit after hit, which eventually even led to a Christmas album!
In 2004, the boy band was placed number 12 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest artists of all time. Even decades after Little Saint Nick was released, the upbeat song hit number 25 on the Billboard charts in 2017 and continues to be played all Christmas long!
15. Judy Garland: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1944)
Similar to Joni Mitchell's River, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas also is a rather somber holiday song, reminding people that the holiday season can be tough for some. Although her voice is soothing and reassuring, Garland relates to those who find Christmas time quite heartbreaking.
Although the song has been redone many times, from Frank Sinatra to Sam Smith, B. Crosby, and more, Judy Garland was the original artist behind the song. Have Yourself a Merry Christmas came from the movie musical, Meet Me in St. Louis back in 1944, but still reaches the top 100 during Christmastime according to Billboard.
14. Andy Williams: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (1963)
From the department stores to all the radio stations, this inescapable Christmas gem is always playing on repeat during the holiday season, and we sure do understand why. Andy Williams', It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is the perfect way to welcome in the holiday season in early November all the way through New Year!
The song was originally released as a part of Williams' first Christmas album, The Andy Williams Christmas Album, back in 1963 in celebration of all things Christmas, family, and friends. So no wonder the song continued to make it to the Billboard charts and peaked at number two in 2018.
13. Darlene Love: Christmas, Baby Please Come Home (1963)
Although the song did not hit commercial success at first, Darlene Loves' Christmas, Baby Please Come Home has become a holiday staple. Loves' soothing vocals feel like the gift that keeps on giving, making us all feel extra warm and want to go home during Christmas time!
Considered one of the most exquisite holiday albums of all time, Christmas, Baby Please Come Home came from Phil Spector's 1963 A Christmas Gift for You album. Since then, the holiday classic has been covered by everyone from Mariah Carey to Michael Bublé - and even peaked in the top 15 in 2020.
12. Ariana Grande: Santa Tell Me (2014)
If there is anyone we can trust to create the ultimate pop Christmas song, it's Ariana Grande. So, when she released her Christmas Kisses EP back in 2014, we knew we were in for the ultimate holiday treat. Although the album only has four songs, Grande never ends to amaze us with her powerful voice!
Santa Tell Me is the perfect light-hearted pop jingle we can totally relate to. Grande asks Santa for a new beau, singing, "Don't make me fall in love again, if he won't be here next year," and girl, we all get it! Immediately following its release, Santa Tell Me hit number one on the Billboard charts and keeps making it back every year.
11. Elvis Presley: Blue Christmas (1957)
Blue Christmas was actually released a decade before The King of Rock' n' Roll turned it into a rock-and-roll holiday classic. The song was first recorded by country singer Doye O'Dell in 1948. However, during Elvis' musical reign, the singer released a Christmas album and included O'Dell's song, turning it into a holiday staple.
"I'll have a blue Christmas without you; I'll be so blue just thinking about you," Elvis famously sings as he declares his loneliness during the holiday season. Regardless, millions of people seem to relate as Blue Christmas continues to hit the Billboard charts, peaking at number 12 in 2013.
10. Chuck Berry: Run Rudolph Run (1958)
Run Rudolph Run was originally written and recorded by Chuck Berry in the '50s, but there was a little bit of controversy surrounding the popular tune! The song was credited to Johnny Marks due to his trademark of the character of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but that didn't stop the public from loving Berry's version.
The song has been covered by multiple artists throughout the years, sometimes changing the song's title to Run Run Rudolph, giving it their own twist on the jazzy pop song. However, it is Berry's version that continues to hit the Billboard charts, reaching number 9 just last year.
9. Run-D.M.C: Christmas in Hollis (1987)
We have so much to thank Run-D.M.C for, but something we don't talk often enough about is their iconic Christmas hit, Christmas in Hollis. The hip-hop trio originated back in the early '80s and quickly became one of the most influential groups in the game, that even their Christmas single got major love!
The perfect mix of hip-hop meets yuletide spirit is seen throughout the track, which can explain why it continuously hits the Billboard charts year after year. The song famously samples parts from Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bells, and more, and the title refers to Hollis, Queens, where the NYC group grew up.
8. Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (1958)
It doesn't have to be Christmas to have this catchy jingle stuck in our heads! This song just radiates a Merry Christmas and really does give us that "sentimental feeling." When Lee sings, "Voices singing, let's be jolly, Deck the halls with boughs of holly," we can't help but smile and sing along.
Since its release in 1958, the song has been recorded by every artist under the sun to spread the ultimate joyful spirit. However, it was Lee's OG version that sold over 25 million copies, making it one of the most downloaded Christmas songs of all time! And it continues to make the Billboard charts, even hitting number two 10 years ago.
7. Bing Crosby: White Christmas (1974)
This song makes us want to curl up on the couch, start a fire, and make some hot cocoa while enjoying a crisp winter's night. Bing Crosby's White Christmas is one of those holiday classics we can listen to on repeat and never get enough of, which could explain why Good House Keeping labeled it as the number one holiday song of all time.
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas / With every Christmas card I write / May your days be merry and bright / And may all your Christmases be white," he famously sings. With 50 million copies sold worldwide, the song remains the biggest physical single of all time, making it the ultimate holiday classic.
6. Frank Sinatra: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1948)
We can't help but smile when we hear this tune. Is it the inviting sensation of Christmas, the idea of snow falling from the sky, or is it Frank Sinatra's soothing voice doing all the work? Regardless, the combination of it all led Good House Keeping to keep it at the top of their holiday list.
Tons of artists following Sinatra covered the catchy bop, even Bing Crosby himself, who added it to his holiday album, I Wish You a Merry Christmas, in 1962. We already love Sinatra and all his magical talents, but there is something about Let It Snow! Let It, Snow! Let It Snow! that really gets us in the holiday spirit!
5. Gene Autry: Frosty the Snowman (1947)
Some of the greats, from Michael Bublé to Ella Fitzgerald, have all covered this classic holiday hit, Frosty the Snowman - but we have to thank the song's originator, Gene Autry, for giving us this catchy tune! The singer may be known for his country roots, but Frosty the Snowman became one of his biggest hits.
Not only did Autry record Frosty the Snowman, but he is responsible for the original recording of Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, ensuring him a sport at the top of this list! Autry's recording of the song made it to number 1 on the Billboard pop singles chart during the week of Christmas in 1949.
4. Wham!: Last Christmas (1984)
Immediately following its release in the '80s, Last Christmas took over the charts, spending five consecutive weeks at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Wham! members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley gave us the ultimate Christmas love song with a touch of heartbreak while still giving us all the holiday feels.
"Last Christmas I gave you my heart / But the very next day you gave it away / This year, to save me from tears / I'll give it to someone special," the duo famously sings. We wonder who it was who stole their hearts? Regardless, the song seems to keep coming back and even peaked at number three in 2019, per Billboard.
3. Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song (1946)
The Christmas Song, sometimes known as Merry Christmas to You or Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, was originally recorded by The Nat King Cole Trip back in 1946 and became a huge holiday hit on both the R&B and pop charts. There really is nothing like Nat King Cole's soothing voice, especially next to an open fire…
The song makes us feel warm and cozy inside, giving listeners the total holiday experience as they sit fireside, roasting chestnuts and enjoying the holiday spirit. Although the song debuted over 75 years ago, it hit number 2 on the US Billboard charts in 2014 and was even inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.
2. Bing Crosby: I'll Be Home For Christmas (1943)
Initially, I'll Be Home for Christmas was written in honor of soldiers overseas who wished to come home during the holiday time but could not. However, Crosby turned the sad but soulful song into a Christmas staple, and soon it became a top ten hit after its release in 1943.
The track felt close to home for many Americans who were longing to come home during the tough winter months and for family members who couldn't see their loved ones during the holiday season. However, Crosby's hit song "accomplished more for military morale than anyone else of that era," according to the GI magazine Yank.
1. Mariah Carey: All I Want For Christmas Is You (1994)
The moment Halloween ends, the Queen of Christmas appears, and we wouldn't have it any other way! Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You is the ultimate Christmas carol, the song that lives inside our heads and the gem we will never get enough of.
MC somehow combines all the elements of a traditional pop song with the makings of a Christmas classic to give us the gift that keeps on giving! No surprise it's been crowned the best-selling holiday song by a female artist - Carey's song tops the Billboard chart every holiday season... and we don't think that'll change anytime soon.