Sarah McLachlan included it on her 2006 collection "Wintersong.". Canada's Crash Test Dummies recorded a version of the song for an obscure Australian compilation titled "A Lump of Coal. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" was first written in 1963 and recorded for "The Andy Williams Christmas Album." 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year': Andy Williams (1963). Put on your PJs, grab a glass of milk and fill yourself with the holiday spirit as a questionably sane Gary Busey plays an insane homicidal gingerbread man hellbent on killing the woman who had him killed. "Oh Santa!" 'Christmas Song': Dave Matthews Band (1998). Bob & Doug McKenzie - The Great White North. Lyrics to 'Happy X-mas' by John Lennon: So this is Christmas And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas From original songs that have become contemporary classics in their own right to soundtracks that so perfectly compile and celebrate some of the best Christmas songs of all time, these are the perfect albums for ushering in the festive season. MTV was young and rock singer Billy Squier was at his peak of popularity when cheery holiday song "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You" was filmed as sort of an office party singalong. It features an increasingly more grand set of gifts with each successive day of Christmas. Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan included the song on her "Wintersong" album. Cowritten with Savan Kotecha and Swedish songwriter-producer Ilya, the record became a new Christmas classic peaking in the top 10 of the adult contemporary chart and topping Billboard's holiday chart. Created by the legendary Filipino music composer Levi Celerio from the 1933 work of Filipino poet Vicente Rubi, the Christmas carol Ang Pasko ay Sumapit is arguably the most popular of all Christmas songs in the Philippines. It remains a clever combination of punk attitude and experimentation with the young genre of rap. Although there is not specific mention of Christmas in "When a Child Is Born," it has come to be associated strongly with the birth of Jesus. This performance of the song was put together for WGN-TV in Chicago featuring the leader of the Smashing Pumpkins (Billy Corgan) and the leader of the classic rock group Styx (Dennis DeYoung). It was reportedly inspired by a near-death experience of the author of the lyrics, William Chatterton Dix. The Killers released "Don't Shoot Me, Santa" during the 2007 holidays as a benefit for AIDS charities. Some are overplayed, some are well-meant but misguided – and some are just plain obnoxious. "Hark! The words of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" are based on the 1864 poem "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It has become a radio Christmas standard. Find all 32 songs in Last Christmas Soundtrack, with scene descriptions. Destiny's Child stopped by CBS's "Early Show" to deliver their masterful a capella performance of the song. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is a Christmas song released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir. R&B legend Natalie Cole performed the song with opera star Jose Carreras in Vienna in 1995. ), pour the hot chocolate into your beloved Santa mugs, … It included their version of "Angels We Have Heard on High.". You really can't celebrate the season without a kickass holiday playlist, so we've compiled 125 of our favourite Christmas songs of all time. The first significant recording of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was Brenda Lee's version released in 1958. Flawlessly funny in the old-fashioned way. ': Buster Poindexter (1987), 'Mele Kalikimaka (The Hawaiian Christmas Song)': Bette Midler (2006), 'A New York Christmas': Rob Thomas (2002), 'We Need a Little Christmas': Mitzi Gaynor (1967), 'Leroy, the Redneck Reindeer': Joe Diffie (1995), 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday': Wizzard (1973). 'Wonderful Christmastime': Paul McCartney (1979). "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is a Christmas song released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir. "The Chipmunk Song," released later in 1958, was a No. Pages in category "Christmas songs… Various Artists - A Very Special Christmas. "Merry Christmas, Baby" was written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore and first recorded in 1947. The filmmakers complained that in the first version, the song's lyrics were too depressing and commissioned a rewrite that became the most popular interpretation. At 1:15, there's a line in this song where Lennon sings what sounds to our ears like "the road is … And yet, somehow, we're still treated to a new recording of the song nearly every year. Drag performer RuPaul put together one of the campiest Christmas specials ever for VH1 in 1997. As part of their comeback, pop band Sixpence None the Richer released the holiday collection "The Dawn Of Grace" in 2008. The song has been a holiday favorite ever since. Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne wrote "Let It Snow! 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)': U2 (1987), 'That's Christmas to Me': Pentatonix (2014), 'Joy to the World': Michael Bolton (1997), 'The 12 Days of Christmas': Taking Back Sunday (2006), 'It Came Upon a Midnight Clear': Josh Groban (2007), 'Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer': Jewel (1999), 'The Chipmunk Song': David Seville (1958). It's become so popular that an entire movie was inspired by the song … Jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi will forever be identified with the music he wrote for "Peanuts" TV specials. Christmas and holiday songs are an indispensable part of pop music. "Santa Claus Lane" is the title song for teen pop star Hilary Duff's Christmas album. The 30 Best Movie Songs of All Time That'll Have You Singing Along Audrey Hepburn singing "Moon River" in Breakfast at Tiffany's is pure gold. Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson turned in their own sweetly romantic version in 2004. "Cool Yule," written by comedian and composer Steve Allen, is a jazzy Christmas classic. Pat Benatar capped her pop and rock career with her own Christmas classic, "Christmas In America." I hate to admit it, but I'm one of those people that are totally ready for Christmas the second that Halloween is over and done with. Clay Aiken joined Megan Mulally on her talk show for this performance. Telling the story of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, songs … In the movie, Billy Mack refers to the recording as a "festering turd of a record. "Blue Christmas" was best known as a country Christmas song in a version recorded by Ernest Tubbs in 1948 until Elvis Presley made it a rock 'n' roll classic with his 1957 recording. Pop punk band Relient K recorded a version of the classic for their 2007 holiday album "Let It Snow, Baby...Let It Reindeer.". James Taylor - James Taylor at Christmas. Let It Snow! ", As part of their platinum album "Merry, Merry Christmas," New Kids on the Block released this top 10 pop hit, "This One's for the Children.". Charlotte Church, a 14-year-old operatic singer, included the classic on her Christmas-themed album "Dream a Dream.". Jazz singer Diana Krall included "Jingle Bells" in her 2005 album "Christmas Songs. ': Charlotte Church (2000), 'Little Saint Nick': The Beach Boys (1963). This carol reminds me of that time in the 1970s when they decided that all movie theme songs had to have lyrics, so the Godfather theme got the words “Speak softly, love, so … It was also featured on the soundtrack for the movie "The Santa Clause 2. I just wish there had been a bit more to the storyline." The song was later translated into English and sung by both sides in the World War I Christmas truce due to the fact it was the primary Christmas carol that both German and British soldiers knew. This slick soundtrack also features some supreme modern interpretations of songs too, including Zooey Deschanel's duet of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Leon Redbone. Josh Groban lent his golden pipes to the song on his six-times platinum (as of 20​17) album "Noel.". ), is just as essential to Christmas as the rest of the movies mentioned on this list. Although the song ​"Marshmallow World" was first written in 1949, it became a signature song for Dean Martin in the 1960s. 'Good King Wenceslas': Loreena McKennitt (1995), 'Don't Shoot Me, Santa': The Killers (2007), 'Grown-Up Christmas List': Amy Grant (1992), 'Go Tell It on the Mountain': James Taylor (2006). Telling the story of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, songs jump between being menacing, moral, loving, and full of fun. 'Christmas Is All Around': Billy Mack (2003), 'Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)': The Ramones (1989), 'Marshmallow World': Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra (1966), 'O Come All Ye Faithful': Twisted Sister (2006). Written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, "Christmas Waltz" was recorded by Frank Sinatra in the 1960s and then, in possibly its most popular version, by The Carpenters in 1978. Bill Lamb is a music and arts writer with two decades of experience covering the world of entertainment and culture. ... Penguin Bloom who sang the song at the end of the movie penquin bloom as the credits were showing more. Billy Squier - "Christmas Is the Time To Say I Love You". 'All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)': Spike Jones (1948), 'Funky, Funky Xmas': New Kids on the Block (1989), 'The Christmas Waltz': The Carpenters (1978), Photo by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images, Recommended R&B and Soul Christmas Albums, Top 10 Christmas Movies and Specials for Kids, 'The Christmas Song': Nat King Cole (1961), 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas': Judy Garland (1944), 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)': John Lennon (1971), 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree': Brenda Lee (1958), 'All I Want for Christmas Is You': Mariah Carey (1994), 'Do They Know It's Christmas? '12 Days of Christmas': Bob and Doug McKenzie (1981). It is a dangerous thing to tinker with a holiday classic, but the following artists are risk takers! The ultimate Christmas rap classic, "Christmas in Hollis" was put together by Run DMC for the Special Olympics fundraising album "A Very Special Christmas," released in 1987. Billy Mack is a character in the film "Love, Actually" portrayed by British actor Bill Nighy. New York Dolls lead vocalist David Johansen made a big comeback in the late 1980s with his lounge-singing alter ego Buster Poindexter, including the Christmas classic "​'Zat You Santa Claus? It quickly became considered a Christmas classic despite the fact the holiday is never specifically mentioned in the song. The greatest soundtracks from Christmas movies are ones that play on people's nostalgia for the season, evoking cozy, happy memories, and all the snuggly feels within just a few seconds of music. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Golden Globes Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events It's definitely not too soon to indulge in some Christmas cookies and The Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack on repeat, right? From soulful covers of up-tempo tracks to punk versions of classical songs these are the cream of the crop for Christmas covers. Images: Walt Disney Pictures / Jim Henson Studios. "Wonderful Christmastime" is Paul McCartney's effort and features a distinctive synthesizer riff. LiveAbout uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The simple recording of "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" remains possibly the most effective Christmas song parody 60 years after it was originally recorded. It is a winter love song that is associated with Christmas although the lyrics never mention the holiday. "Little Saint Nick" was released in late 1963 and has been a holiday favorite ever since. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was introduced by Judy Garland in a poignant moment in the 1944 movie musical "Meet Me in St. David Bowie and Bing Crosby collaborated for a version televised on a Bing Crosby Christmas special in 1977. Carrie Underwood at Idol Gives Back 2008. At the peak of their popularity, they released this unique take on the classic "12 Days of Christmas" song. Ashley lives in the fast lane until a handyman invades her life and she's directing a Christmas play for underprivileged kids. Noel Regney and his wife Gloria Shayne Baker wrote "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Originally published in 1954, "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" has become a frequently recorded classic. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney's legendary duet of "White Christmas" is well worth the price of a download in itself. These are the best Christmas songs of all time. Contemporary technology made possible this duet with country star Martina McBride. Featuring a slew of R&B remakes of Christmas classics, the This Christmas soundtrack includes such treats as B2K's version of "Jingle Bells" and Toni Braxton's "The Christmas Song". 10 Three Wise Women (2012): 5.5 As well as the legendary "Snow Miser / Heat Miser Song", this soundtrack also harbors such treats as "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Blue Christmas". And so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very merry Christmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Christmas For weak and for strong For rich and the poor ones The world is so wrong And so happy Christmas For black and for white For yellow and red ones Listen to trailer music, OST, original score, and the full list of popular songs in the film. Those experiments ultimately led to the creation of the Chipmunks, whose voices were speeded up humans. It has become an R&B Christmas classic. It was the seventh single release by John Lennon outside his work with the Beatles. 'Frosty the Snowman': Leon Redbone and Dr. John (1987), 'Merry Christmas Darling': The Carpenters (1978), 'Angels We Have Heard on High': Sixpence None the Richer (2008). Christmas and holiday songs are an indispensable part of pop music. Brenda Lee - "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". The earliest printed version of English carol "I Saw Three Ships" dates back to the 1600s. For me, this Muppets movie is absolute Christmas perfection, and its soundtrack plays a big part in that. This is a point in the Christmas movie column. dates back to 1865. "River" has been rerecorded many times by a wide range of artists. Rufus Wainwright's performance of the classic song in a Gap commercial brought strong attention to his debut album. in 1962 as a plea for peace during the Cuban missile crisis. However, this version by the disco-pop group Boney M topped the UK pop singles chart in 1978. Frank Loesser, the composer of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Jon Anderson of the progressive rock band Yes put together his own version in 1985. This album is basically just one big gigantic celebration of Christmas and of some of the greatest holiday songs of all time. 'When a Child Is Born': Johnny Mathis (2005), Photo by Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images, 'I'll Be Home With Bells On': RuPaul (1997), 'All Alone on Christmas': Darlene Love (1992), '(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays': The Osmonds (1977), 'The First Noel': Crash Test Dummies (1991), 'This One's for the Children': New Kids On the Block (1989). ': Rufus Wainwright (1998). Here are a few brand-new Christmas songs that came out in 2019 that you should definitely listen to while you’re wrapping presents and sippin’ eggnog. "Carol of the Bells" is a Ukrainian holiday song based around a four-note motif taken from a pagan Ukrainian New Year's chant. 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