20 best Christmas songs ranked: From Fairytale of New York to Step into Christmas
The best Christmas songs for your playlist - with the usual suspects and a few extras
This time of year means all of us are rocking around the Christmas tree, but what are the best songs for getting the festive party started?
Whether you're catering for a crowd of kids on a Sunday afternoon or a golden oldies party night, pop music has enshrined the youthful hope and exuberance of the festive season for decades.
From Mariah's warbling to Dylan's rasping - to Kanye's rapping - there are plenty of different sounds to light up your stereo and make you the Christmas party DJ of the moment.
With lashings of seasonal spirit, here are the top tracks to make sure you get the most out of Christmas - why not share your favourites in the comments below?
1. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
It's a funny one - his teeth are crooked, and the whole thing looks so terribly '80s.
But if you close your eyes and listen, MacColl and McGowan are one of the true great duos, his desperate rasp complementing her much-missed vocals of misplaced hope. A true Christmas classic.
2. All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
Everything that Fairytale of New York has - authenticity, heart, a dark sadness - Mariah's more recent hit resoundingly lacks.
Luckily, it makes up for it all with a saccharine, catchy, finger-snapping tune that you just have to smile at.
3. White Christmas
Despite its vintage, this is the track where Bing sings and winter stops to listen.
The reverie of halcyon Christmas days is of course a fiction - but nostalgia is the flavour of the season, and White Christmas does it oh so very well. Don't let Michael Buble put you off this version.
4. Last Christmas – Wham!
When George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were pop-rapping their way through the '80s, who could have guessed this festive tale of heartbreak would be their lasting legacy - more loved even than Young Guns (Go For It).
5. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Would this be the great it's seen to be if John Lennon hadn't been shot dead 35 years ago this December outside his New York home? Maybe not.
But it's sentimental, it's seasonal and above all, it's a Beatle, so it's nigh-on perfect.
Not so former songwriting partner Paul McCartney's plinky-plonky Wonderful Christmastime, which you will not find featured on this list.
6. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid
The starving in Africa might seem an odd one to capture the imagination, but it's not just the world of dread and fear that grabs us.
This Bob Geldof-driven number one single was one of the first charity singles to truly harness celebrity power for the greater good. And it's easy to dance to.
7. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
Somehow the rest of The Waitresses' output has been lost in the mists of time, but this throwaway pop about a Christmas fan meeting Mr Right at the wrong time is where Bananarama meets The Ronettes and it's lovely for all of that.
8. Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade
There's nothing says Christmas like Noddy Holder - literally screaming "It's Christmas!"
So cum on feel the noize, because this is a Slade classic that even your gran knows - and she'll likely have a boogie to it this year.
9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love
He might be serving a life term in prison, but before Phil Spector was convicted of second degree murder, he was one of pop music's most visionary producers.
The album A Christmas Gift For You from 1963 is filled with wall-to-wall festive favourites, including Darlene Love's soulful track - featured on Gremlins and Goodfellas - The Ronettes' Sleigh Ride and The Crystals' Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
10. Must Be Santa – Bob Dylan
In a slot which should be equally split between the Nobel Laureate and The Boss (in at 11, below) this is in praise of grizzled old rockers with a bit of life.
READ MORE: People celebrate Christmas for 32 days and celebrations last longer than everIt's something special to hear the former Mr Zimmerman singing "Suit that's red, Special night, Beard that's white" over and over in a giddy fashion.
And there's more...
Honourable mentions also go to these 10 hits.
11. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
12. Christmas in Harlem – Kanye West featuring Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Vado, Cyhi Da Prynce & Pusha T
13. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard
14. Days of Christmas – Destiny’s Child
15. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
16. The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth’ – Bing Crosby and David Bowie
17. Step Into Christmas – Elton John
18. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
19. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley
20. Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea
