The Top 10 Greatest Christmas Songs

This post originally appeared on my music column ‘The Crossroads’ over at Dad-Blogs.com on December 14, 2009.

‘Tis the season to be jolly, which means stores have eggnog again, I become even more thankful for the invention of the DVR because of those damn Jared commercials and, of course, Christmas music is dominating the airwaves. I don’t know how it is in your neck of the woods, but around here several radio stations went to a ‘holiday only’ format before we had the chance to recover from our tryptophan comas.

I’m not quite in the holiday spirit yet, but every year there are a handful of songs that I need to hear when it comes time to wrap up the presents and trim the tree. Some are timeless classics, some are just personal favorites, but, to me, these are the top 10 greatest Christmas songs of all time.

10. A Holly, Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives

How can you not like Sam the Snowman?

9. Merry Christmas Darling – The Carpenters

I know what you’re thinking, this song sucks. Talk about lame. Totally. You can change it if you want. I don’t care, it’s up to you. I can live with it if you can.

Yes, I like the Carpenters and I’m man enough to admit it.

8. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Johnny Mathis

If you guessed Johnny Mathis would be on this list, chances are you were correct.

7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra

Ole Blue Eyes sings a timeless classic.

6. Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys

You have to wonder how artists get roped into doing Christmas albums, I think it went a little something like this:

Big Record Producer Guy: “What you Beach Boys need is a Christmas album.”
Beach Boys: “Um, why?”
BRPG: “Because it will be fun”
BB: “Seriously?”
BRPG: “Yes, all you have to do is change the words to some songs you’ve already written, boom, instant hit. Besides, I hold your contractual rights, now get to work.”
Brian Wilson: “I guess we can just change the words to Little Deuce Coupe?”
Mike Love: “Sounds good.”
BRPG: “Now that’s the spirit!”

BTW, totally true story*

* or not

5. Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne – Jimi Hendrix

And now for an instrumental interlude…

4. (It Must Have Been Ol’) Santa Claus – Harry Connick, Jr.

Love the big band/swing feel to this modern classic.

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Every time I hear this song I hope that Clarence has been good enough to get a new saxophone from Santa.

2. Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth – Bing Crosby/David Bowie

Just absolutely classic. Bowie didn’t really want to sing ‘Little Drummer Boy’ so the original lyrics for ‘Peace on Earth’ were written for him and was added as a counterpoint to Crosby’s vocals.

1. Do They Know its Christmas? – Band Aid (Various Artists)

Not only is it a great song, but it is for a great cause. Phil Collins rocked it out and then you had Bono, Sting, Simon Le Bon, Paul Young and that guy from Spandau Ballet, you know this much is true.

Honorable Mention: Christmas in Hollis – Run DMC

If it was good enough for Die Hard, it’s good enough for me.

What are some of your holiday favorites? Is there anything you need to hear to put you in the holiday spirit?