Top 20 Best Modern Christmas Songs
These modern Christmas songs are already classics. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the biggest and best Christmas hits released from 1980 on, not including carols or covers.
Transcript
00:00 "It was December 24th when Holla's having the talk.
00:02 When I see the man chilling with his dog at the park."
00:05 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at the biggest and best Christmas
00:09 hits released from 1980 on, not including carols or covers.
00:13 "Merry Christmas, I wrapped it up and sent it."
00:19 Number 20. Christmas Tree Farm - Taylor Swift
00:22 "My winter nights are taken up by static."
00:28 Nostalgia is a key ingredient in most Christmas hits, and no one knows that better than Taylor
00:33 Swift. In her 2020 track, "Tis the Damn Season," Swift spins a festive fable fit for a holiday
00:39 rom-com. But for that real Christmassy feeling, you can't beat Christmas Tree Farm.
00:43 "And I'm somewhere else, just like magic."
00:50 The singer mined her own childhood home movies for the music video, which features a tiny
00:56 Taylor opening presents and playing in the snow. The orchestral beginning makes way for
01:00 jingle bells and a bouncy, feel-good chorus.
01:02 "Under the mistletoe, watching the fire burn."
01:09 The lyrics reminisce on childhood Christmases at Swift's family farm.
01:13 Throw in a touch of romance under the mistletoe, and what's not to like?
01:16 "Oh baby, baby, merry Christmas."
01:20 Number 19. My Only Wish This Year - Britney Spears
01:24 "Last night I took a walk in the snow, couples holding hands, places to go."
01:30 The 2000s might not be everyone's go-to decade when it comes to iconic Christmas songs,
01:35 but you cannot go wrong with a bit of Britney. This slice of noughties nostalgia is festive,
01:40 up-tempo, and pure pop.
01:41 "I signed my letter that I'd suit with a kiss."
01:45 It first appeared on a holiday compilation album called Platinum Christmas, which also
01:49 featured songs by Whitney Houston and NSYNC. My Only Wish appears to take some inspiration
01:54 from Mariah Carey's most famous Christmas hit, but Spears still manages to make this song her own.
01:59 "I want my baby, baby, yeah."
02:02 In recent years, it's been hailed as a holiday classic,
02:05 and that chorus is definitely an earworm.
02:08 "Santa, that's my only wish this year."
02:14 Number 18. Merry Christmas - Ed Sheeran & Elton John
02:18 "Build a fire and gather 'round the tree."
02:22 Elton John's best-known Christmas song has to be 1973's Step Into Christmas. However,
02:28 he hit the holiday charts once again in 2021, this time with the help of Ed Sheeran.
02:33 "So kiss me under the mistletoe, pour out the wine, let's toast and pray for December snow."
02:40 Although the production is typically cozy and feel-good, there are nods within the
02:44 lyrics to the pain and loss of the COVID years, when the song was written.
02:47 "I know there's been pain this year, but it's time to let it go."
02:52 The song was also a charity single, with all of the UK proceeds going to support good causes.
02:57 With Elton John's trademark piano riffs, Sheeran's star power and a catchy chorus,
03:02 we think we'll be listening to this one for years to come.
03:05 "We'll have a good night and a merry Christmas time."
03:13 Number 17. Snowman - Sia
03:17 "Don't cry, snowman, not in front of me."
03:21 Sia broke the mold with her 2017 single "Snowman,"
03:24 which manages to be both a modern Christmas staple and also totally original.
03:29 "You should know that I'm never leaving, 'cause I'll miss the snow 'til death will be freezing."
03:36 There are no jingle bells, trumpets, or children's choir. Instead, this mid-tempo ballad relies on
03:42 piano and vocals to set the scene. The track caused a storm on TikTok and was the breakout
03:47 single from Sia's festive album, Every Day is Christmas.
03:50 "Go below zero and hide from the sun. I love you forever, we'll have some fun."
03:57 It's a song about a crying snowman, or taken less literally, a cleverly crafted love story.
04:02 "Snowman" has a touch of melancholy about it, but so do some of our favorite seasonal songs.
04:08 "My snowman and me."
04:13 Number 16. Santa Tell Me - Ariana Grande
04:16 "Santa tell me if you're really there."
04:21 When you listen to the lyrics, Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me" is another bittersweet tale of
04:26 broken hearts, but it's much easier to dance to. The production is a little bit pop, a little bit
04:31 R&B, and a lot of fun. "Christmas all around, and I'm trying to play it cool."
04:37 The chorus is bound to get stuck in your head, and at this point, it just feels like Christmas.
04:41 "Santa tell me if you're really there."
04:46 It's not the singer's first seasonal song, but it is her favorite, and it's ours too.
04:51 Not every holiday hit has the staying power to make it onto our yearly playlists,
04:55 but Grande seems to have cracked the code.
04:57 "I can give it all away if he won't be here next year."
05:04 Number 15. The Spirit of Christmas - Ray Charles
05:07 "Christmas is the time of year."
05:12 Ray Charles is a legend, but this mellow 80s ballad is criminally underrated for a Christmas
05:18 song. "I was sitting by the fireside."
05:24 The Spirit of Christmas is the title track of Charles' first holiday album,
05:28 which also features covers of The Little Drummer Boy and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
05:32 It was recorded late in the artist's career, when Charles was 55 years old.
05:37 "All the kids all gather 'round."
05:43 The song calls back to the cozy fireside standards of the 40s and 50s,
05:46 but adds a touch of rhythm and blues. The track was also featured in the
05:50 seminal Christmas movie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
05:54 "Oh, that's what I wanna get."
06:00 Number 14. Sleigh Ride - TLC
06:02 Nothing says the 90s like an R&B girl group remixing a Christmas classic.
06:12 Just watch the music video for TLC's Sleigh Ride if you don't believe us.
06:16 Technically, it is a cover song, but with a new melody, new lyrics, and some added festive rapping,
06:21 it bears very little resemblance to the original.
06:24 "Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too."
06:29 It might not be the sleigh ride you know best,
06:32 but this feel-good gem deserves its spot in the Christmas music canon.
06:35 It featured on the soundtrack for Home Alone 2, and more importantly,
06:44 paved the way for Destiny's Child's 2001 track, Eight Days of Christmas.
06:48 "They put an eight day of Christmas, my baby gave to me,
06:51 a pair of Chloe shades and a diamond belly ring."
06:53 Number 13. Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
06:57 "The child is a king, the carol a sing."
07:01 Mistletoe and Wine is a heartwarming Christmas classic that feels like a throwback to an earlier
07:07 era. British singer Cliff Richard bagged a UK Christmas number one with the song back in 1988,
07:12 charting higher than other holiday songs by Kylie Minogue, Petula Clark, and even U2.
07:17 "A time for living, a time for believing."
07:22 The melody and chorus are reminiscent of a traditional carol. Richard also asked to adapt
07:27 the lyrics, building on the religious theme. "Silent night, holy night."
07:34 The song was originally written for a musical version of The Little Match Girl,
07:38 and sung by 60s supermodel Twiggy in a TV movie. However, it's Cliff Richard's with
07:43 his carolers and marching band that people remember most fondly.
07:47 "Time to rejoice in the good that we see."
07:53 Number 12. One More Sleep - Leona Lewis
07:56 "Snow was falling all around us."
08:01 As we moved into the 2010s, it seemed like the golden age of the Christmas song was behind us.
08:06 But not everyone was ready to throw in the towel.
08:08 "So I wait, and I wait."
08:13 In 2013, Leona Lewis came back fighting with a peppy Motown-inspired hit,
08:18 destined to become a new festive staple. The hummable chorus is built on a Christmas countdown,
08:24 and as hooks go, it's a good one.
08:26 "Cause I got five more nights of sleeping on my own."
08:32 One More Sleep feels both modern and timeless, and Lewis' dreamy vocals give it that extra
08:37 sparkle. It's a song that's sure to give you that Christmassy feeling as soon as you hear that intro.
08:42 "One more sleep."
08:47 Number 11. Mistletoe - Justin Bieber
08:50 "It's the most beautiful time of the year. Lights fill the streets, spreading so much cheer."
08:55 It's been over 10 years since a baby-faced Justin Bieber released this holiday hit,
09:00 and it's starting to feel like a modern classic.
09:02 Okay, so it's corny, but aren't Christmas songs supposed to be?
09:06 "Everyone's gathering around the fire. Chestnuts roasting like a hot chiller."
09:12 From the opening jingle bells to the catchy chorus,
09:14 it's chock-full of references to the holiday season. Some might call Mistletoe an unashamed
09:19 bit of marketing, designed to cash in on the artist's teen heartthrob appeal.
09:24 But it turned out pretty good.
09:25 "I don't wanna miss out on the holiday. But I can't stop staring at your face."
09:31 The song itself is a chilled and likable listen,
09:34 and Bieber has the charm and the voice to carry it off.
09:37 "Kiss me underneath the mistletoe. Show me baby, how you love me so."
09:45 Number 10. Where Are You Christmas - Faith Hill
09:48 "Where are you Christmas?"
09:52 If you grew up watching Jim Carrey's Grinch every holiday season,
09:55 you are sure to remember this emotional power ballad.
09:58 Originally titled Christmas, Why Can't I Find You,
10:00 the song was performed by a young Taylor Momsen in the movie. It was renamed "Where
10:05 Are You Christmas" and released as a single by Faith Hill.
10:07 "My world is changing."
10:12 The additional lyrics for the pop version were written by the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey.
10:16 The track sets Hill's powerful vocals to a tinkling piano refrain,
10:20 while the lyrics spin a melancholy tale of lost Christmas spirit.
10:24 "Christmas is here, everywhere, oh."
10:32 It's surprisingly moving, as long as you ignore the music video.
10:35 "You will feel like Christmas all the time."
10:43 Number 9. Cold December Night - Michael Bublé
10:47 "Stockings are hung with care, children sleep with one eye open."
10:52 In 2003, Michael Bublé released his first festive record, Let It Snow. However,
10:57 it wasn't until the winter of 2011 that the Canadian crooner established himself
11:01 as the king of Christmas.
11:03 "Twinkling of the lights, the Santa carols fill the household."
11:08 Bublé's record-breaking Christmas album was chock full of festive favorites and duets with the
11:13 stars. Co-written by Bublé and his longtime collaborator Alan Chang, Cold December Night
11:18 stands out from the covers on the album. "So please just fall in love with me this Christmas."
11:26 The song is a real blend of old and new. Bublé's trademark singing style is complemented by the
11:31 twinkly and festive production. Meanwhile, the lyrics are reminiscent of many modern-day
11:36 Christmas songs. "The call, the season, the gift, I'm here, I'm yours."
11:42 Number 8. Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson
11:45 "You're here where you should be, snow is falling at the cabinet seat."
11:53 Of all the Christmas songs from this century, we'd argue that Underneath the Tree has made
11:58 the biggest impression. ASCAP even named it the biggest Christmas song released since 2000.
12:03 "Tonight, I'm gonna hold you close."
12:09 It feels like it's been around forever, despite being released in 2013.
12:13 This modern classic was the breakout hit from Clarkson's first Christmas album,
12:17 Wrapped in Red. She co-wrote the song with producer Greg Kirsten and provided all her
12:22 own backing vocals. Joyous, upbeat, and easy to dance to, it's now a firm favorite with radio
12:28 DJs come the festive season. "Christmas on a beautiful side, don't make a thing of you and
12:34 holdin' me tight." And of course, no Christmas party is complete without it. The lyrics have
12:39 a familiar theme, but who cares when the song is so catchy? "Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah."
12:50 Number 7. Christmas Rapping - The Waitresses
12:52 "Bah humbug, well that's too strong, 'cause it is my favorite holiday."
12:57 It's hard to find a Christmas song that can be described as unique, but this one is definitely
13:02 different. It's feel-good without relying on the usual Christmas tropes. Festive, but not overly
13:07 saccharine. "Those lines so dark, those halls, trim those trees, raise up cups of Christmas cheer."
13:13 Does anyone actually know the words? Probably not unless you work in retail,
13:17 but it doesn't matter as long as you know the bit that goes, "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas,
13:21 but I think I'll miss this one this year." If you do know the words, you'll have noticed it's a
13:26 love story, but mostly it's about Christmas fatigue. The holiday season can be exhausting
13:31 at times, and even those of us who love Christmas can relate, with some memorable riffs and a great
13:36 hook. The Waitresses served up a Christmas classic. "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas,
13:42 but I think I'll miss this one this year."
13:44 Number 6. Fairy Tale of New York - The Pogues, featuring Kirstie McCull
13:48 "It was Christmas Eve, babe."
13:53 "Bah humbug" was too strong a sentiment for The Waitresses, but for The Pogues and Kirstie
13:57 McCull, it doesn't go far enough. Fairy Tale of New York is the one seasonal song that the
14:02 Christmas cynics can belt out along with the rest of us. "I've got a
14:06 feeling." Written in the style of an Irish folk ballad, it's about two people who hate
14:13 the sight of each other and have given up on ever feeling happy again. "You were pretty
14:17 clean off New York City when the Pogues came, they all loved them all." It's dark and chaotic
14:24 and irreverent, but it still feels like Christmas. From the opening piano chords to the raucous
14:29 chorus, it's hard not to get swept up in the spirit of it all. "And the bells are ringing
14:34 out for Christmas Day." Number 5. Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rhea
14:41 British singer Chris Rhea started writing this likable ditty while stuck in Christmas traffic.
14:49 As his wife drove them home from London in the heavy snow, Rhea jotted down lyrics whenever
14:54 light shone into the car. "And it's been so long." It's a happy little song, with a hopeful,
15:01 lilting melody and a simple, relatable story. The track kicks off with a memorable intro and
15:06 is arranged in a 1950s style that makes it feel like a real holiday standard.
15:10 "Tucked in tow and tailpipes." It might not be the first Christmas song that comes to mind.
15:17 However, Driving Home for Christmas is the perfect easy listening track for the busy holiday period.
15:22 "Driving home for Christmas." Number 4. Merry Christmas Everyone - Shaken Stevens
15:29 "Snow is falling, all around us, children playing." Back in the 1980s, Shaken Stevens was
15:39 one of the UK's most successful musicians. Nowadays, he's best known for this enduring
15:44 Christmas hit. "We're gonna have a party tonight." The song feels like a successor to Paul McCartney's
15:51 Wonderful Christmas Time. With its catchy chorus and celebration of the simple pleasures of the
15:56 season, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. "It's the season, love and understanding."
16:02 It's true that the Christmas classics of the 70s and 80s do tend to blend together,
16:06 but what this song lacks in originality, it makes up for in charm. Jingle bells,
16:12 feel-good lyrics, and old-school rock and roll are a killer Christmas combination,
16:16 and this one is bound to get the whole family up dancing. "Merry Christmas, everyone."
16:24 Number 3. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band-Aid
16:27 Bob Geldof and his then-wife Paula were the driving force behind this record-breaking
16:38 charity single. In an effort to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia,
16:42 the lead singer of the Boomtown Rats put together a star-studded supergroup.
16:50 Band-Aid stormed to Christmas number one in the UK, and within a year,
16:54 their record had raised 8 million pounds. The song has been re-released three times to date,
16:59 featuring different celebrities each time. Sometimes known as Feed the World,
17:03 it is a banger of a Christmas hit, designed to be belted out at the top of your lungs.
17:08 In hindsight, some of the lyrics seem a bit insensitive, but it's the thought that counts.
17:19 "Feed the world."
17:21 Number 2. Last Christmas - Wham
17:26 George Michael, one half of British pop duo Wham, was one of the celebs featured in the
17:35 original Band-Aid. The same year, Wham released a future Christmas classic of their own,
17:40 which just narrowly missed out on that number one spot in the UK.
17:48 They also donated all of their royalties to famine relief. Almost 40 years on,
17:53 Last Christmas remains a holiday favorite, and has even inspired its own Christmas movie.
17:58 The song was written in Michael's childhood bedroom on a visit to his parents in 1983.
18:02 Wham recorded the track the following year, with Michael playing all of the individual instruments.
18:08 The bittersweet lyrics are set against a cheerful background melody,
18:16 making Last Christmas the perfect festive song, whatever mood you're in.
18:19 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
18:27 Stay Another Day - East 17 This 90s UK number one will
18:32 always be a Christmas song to us.
18:34 Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC Their Christmas rap featured on the Die Hard soundtrack.
18:44 Christmas Time - Don't Let the Bells End The Darkness - A glam rock Christmas classic from the early aughts.
18:54 Christmas Lights - Coldplay It's understated for a Christmas song,
19:03 but still one for the playlist.
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19:25 All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
19:37 Although many of the songs on this list have topped the holiday charts,
19:40 our Christmas number one has to be All I Want for Christmas Is You.
19:44 No festive playlist would be complete without Mariah Carey's iconic hit.
19:48 As an upbeat pop love song, it's often been imitated but never bettered.
19:58 Amazingly, both the lyrics and the melody were written in just 15 minutes.
20:03 I'm just gonna keep on waiting underneath the mistletoe.
20:09 The track is featured in numerous Christmas films and has been covered by a wide range of artists,
20:14 from Dolly Parton to My Chemical Romance. It may have taken 25 years to chart at number one,
20:20 but it is definitely here to stay.
20:21 Which festive favorites are on your Christmas playlist? Let us know in the comments.
20:33 It's getting in your head, it's getting in your head, it's getting in your head.
20:37 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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20:46 [Music]