10. *NSYNC – “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays”
If you have a problem with *NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” being in the top ten, then you have either never listened to *NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,” or your soul has fallen out your butt and you live in a trash compactor. Those are really the only two options, I think.
9. Chuck Berry – “Run Rudolph Run“
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives (Getty).
Everyone loves this song, but suggesting that Rudolph needs to run or should take the freeway is terrible advice. He does realize Rudolph has the ability to fly, right?
8. Run-D.M.C. – “Christmas in Hollis”
Who would’ve thought that, after all these years, there would only be one truly iconic Christmas rap song? The best part is that even your grandparents probably know it, so if you need a last minute holiday karaoke performance they can fill in the other two parts.
7. The Temptations – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer“
Photo: John Shearer/WireImage (Getty).
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is the best song of all time about how bullies will mock your mercilessly until they need something from you or you become popular. Then they’ll want to be your best friends in the world.
6. Wham! – “Last Christmas”
No song has ever captured the feeling of what it’s like to be single on Christmas and think back on what it was like to be happy and loved quite like Wham! in “Last Christmas.” Of course, what else would you expect from the man that gave us “Careless Whisper?”
5. Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime”
I really appreciate that Paul McCartney was like, “Look, we could point out all the great things about Christmas and try to come up with some sort of new spin on it, or we could just simply say that we’re having a wonderful Christmastime.” Nailed it.
4. Prince – “Another Lonely Christmas“
Photo: Sherry Rayn Barnett /Michael Ochs Archives (Getty).
I wish there was Prince music for every holiday. I’d let Prince serenade my Christmas, Thanksgiving, Arbor Day, Columbus Day, and Easter. Hearing a 14-minute Prince guitar solo would’ve made looking for painted hard-boiled eggs in my parent’s yard so much more rewarding.
3. Hall & Oates – “Jingle Bell Rock”
Hall and Oates is the best combination of two wonderful things since they figured out how to put jelly and peanut butter in a jar that you don’t have to refrigerate. They may not be the originators of “Jingle Bell Rock,” but they certainly took something great and made it that much better. Rest in peace, sweet angels. Unless they’re not dead. In which case, Merry Christmas, fellas!
2. Donny Hathaway – “This Christmas“
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives (Getty).
I know a lot of Christmas songs have heart and passion, but none of them light up your soul quite like Donny Hathaway’s rendition of “This Christmas.” It’s just so perfect, and personifies what being happy around the holidays is all about.
1. Mariah Carey – “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
You could take literally every other song on this list and toss it in the trash if it meant listening to this one on repeat every December for the rest of your life. No holiday song will ever come close, and we should be thankful we even get to experience it. It belongs in a museum: the museum of our hearts. And also, an actual museum, but you get the idea.
