List of Christmas hit singles
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The following is an incomplete list of Christmas songs (hit singles and tracks) recorded by well known and obscure artists, many of which have hit on various charts around the world. Mostly listed here are US and UK hits (some only released in the artist's home country). A year indicates the first year of release for that artist's version: many were re-released as singles in subsequent years.
For a list of more of the older and traditional Christmas songs, such as carols and hymns, please see Christmas music.
| Song | Artist(s) / Year | Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "12 Days of Christmas" | Mitch Miller and The Gang (1961) | One of the most recorded songs each year. 2006's biggest version in the U.S. was by Taking Back Sunday, with a live performance video and animated clip both gaining attention. The comedy duo of Bob & Doug McKenzie also recorded a parody of this song in 1983 that still receives airplay on radio stations around the holiday season. | ||
| "2000 Miles" | The Pretenders (1983) | Originally released as the B-side of the band's 1983 top 20 pop hit single "Middle Of The Road", and then on the band's 1984 album Learning to Crawl. Also recorded by Coldplay in 2003 as a download single for charity. | ||
| "25 December" | Everything But The Girl (1994) | |||
| "A la Nanita Nina" | The Cheetah Girls featuring Belinda (2006) | An earlier instrumental version of this traditional Spanish carol was a hit for Kitaro. | ||
| "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" | Spike Jones and his City Slickers (1948) | Written by Donald Yetter Gardner. | ||
| "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | Vince Vance and the Valiants (1987) | Not to be confused with the Mariah Carey song of the same name. Honored by Billboard as one of radio's most requested Christmas songs, reached #31 on Billboard country charts in 2000. | ||
| "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (1) | Mariah Carey (1994) | Written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey. iTunes' most-downloaded Christmas song in 2005 and 2006. The rock band My Chemical Romance also recorded a version of this song. | ||
| "All Alone On Christmas" | Darlene Love (1992 and 1994) | Appeared in the 1992 film Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. | ||
| "Alone On Christmas Day" | Travis (2004) | |||
| "An Old Christmas Card" | Jim Reeves (1963) | |||
| "Another Lonely Christmas" | Prince (1984) | |||
| "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" | Gary Glitter (1984) | |||
| "Babes in Toyland/March of the Toys" | Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops | One of the most familiar of all instrumentals every year at Christmas. | ||
| "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark (1949); Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer (1949) | Written in 1944 by Frank Loesser. Featured in the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter starring Esther Williams. Dean Martin recorded another hit version of this classic tune in 1959. | ||
| "Baby's First Christmas" | Connie Francis (1961) | |||
| "(The) Bell That Couldn't Jingle" | Herb Alpert (1968) | Co-written by Burt Bacharach, who also has recorded it. | ||
| "The Bells of St. Paul" | Linda Eder (2004) | |||
| "Best Christmas Of Them All" | Shakin' Stevens (1990) | |||
| "The Blessed Dawn Of Christmas Day" | Harry Connick Jr. (1993) | |||
| "Blue Christmas" | Elvis Presley (1957) | Written by Bill Hayes and Jay Johnson in the 1940s; Still one of the most-recorded. A hit for Wynonna Judd in 1993. | ||
| "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" | Mabel Scott (1948) | |||
| "Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)" | Amy Grant (1992) | Also a hit for Donna Summer. | ||
| "Candy Cane Children" | The White Stripes (2002) | |||
| "Caroling, Caroling" | Nat King Cole (1960) | |||
| "Cashing In On Christmas" | Bad News (1992) | |||
| "Celebrate Me Home" | Kenny Loggins | |||
| "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" | The Chipmunks (1958) | Written by Ross Bagdasarian (a.k.a. David Seville). The most popular novelty Christmas single in the U.S. through the 1960s. Launched a 40-year music 'career' for the fictional 'character' group. | ||
| "Christmas" (1) | King Diamond (2003) | |||
| "Christmas is a pain in the arse" (1) | The Accelerators (2003) | Written by Mike Charles A fun Christmas song from the West Country based UK band the Accelerators | ||
| "Christmas" (2) | The Who (1969) | |||
| "Christmas All Over Again" | Tom Petty (1992) | |||
| "Christmas at Ground Zero" | "Weird Al" Yankovic (1986) | |||
| "Christmas at K-Mart" | Root Boy Slim (1979) | |||
| "Christmas At The Zoo" | The Flaming Lips (1995) | |||
| "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | Darlene Love (1963) | Covered famously by U2 (in 1987) and later by Hanson. | ||
| "The Christmas Blues" | Dean Martin (1953) | Written by David Holt and Sammy Cahn. | ||
| "Christmas Day" | Dido | |||
| "Christmas Day" (1) | Squeeze (1980) | |||
| "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" | Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1995) | The song is a medley including "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and a hard rock version of "Carol of the Bells". | ||
| "Christmas Eve In My Hometown" | Bobby Vinton | |||
| "Christmas Hate Within" | Slipknot | |||
| "Christmas In Dixie" | Alabama (1982) | Lead singer Randy Owen re-recorded the song with Kenny Chesney in 2003. | ||
| "Christmas In Hollis" | Run-D.M.C. (1987) | An original song written by the band for charity, with the MTV music video a perennial favorite through the 1990s. | ||
| "Christmas In My Hometown" (1) | Charley Pride (1970) | |||
| "Christmas In My Hometown" (2) | Sonny James (late 1960s) | Covered by Travis Tritt in 1992 | ||
| "Christmas Is" | Percy Faith (1966) | Written and first recorded by Faith. A hit the next year for Lou Rawls. | ||
| "Christmas Is All Around" | Billy Mack (2003) | Recorded for the film Love Actually. It was released in the United Kingdom, making No23 in the chart. | ||
| "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near at Hand" | Steve Winwood | |||
| "Christmas Is The Time To Say 'I Love You' " | Billy Squier (1981) | |||
| "Christmas Island" | The Andrews Sisters and Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1946) | Later a hit for Jimmy Buffett (1996) and the Brian Setzer Orchestra (2005) | ||
| "(A) Christmas Kiss" | Daniel O'Donnell (1999) | "Christmas Love" | Billy Idol (2006) | |
| "Christmas Means Love" | Joan Osbourne (2006) | |||
| "Christmas Mem'ries" | Barbra Streisand (2001) | Recorded earlier by Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney. | ||
| "Christmas Must Be Tonight" | The Band (1977) | |||
| "Christmas My Arse" | Ricky Tomlinson (2006) | Video features Craig Phillips, first winner of TV's Big Brother series in the UK. | ||
| "Christmas On 45" | Holly and The Ivys (1981) | |||
| "Christmas Rappin'" | Kurtis Blow | |||
| "Christmas Round At Ours" | Girls Aloud (2005) | |||
| "Christmas Shoes" | NewSong (2002) | |||
| "Christmas Song" | Dave Matthews Band | |||
| "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" | The Nat King Cole Trio (1946) | Written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. Torme's version also a hit. Later hits by The Carpenters, Celine Dion, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross and Toni Braxton. Remains one of the most recorded Christmas songs ever. | ||
| "Christmas Time" | Bryan Adams (1985) | |||
| "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" | The Darkness (2003) | |||
| "Christmas Time Is Here" | Vince Guaraldi (1965) | Originally composed for A Charlie Brown Christmas, the very first animated Christmas special produced for network TV in the U.S. More recently, a hit for Toni Braxton and Johnny Mathis. | ||
| "Christmas Time Is Here Again" | The Beatles | Also recorded by group member Ringo Starr for his 1999 Christmas album, I Wanna Be Santa Claus. | ||
| "Christmastime" | Aimee Mann (2006) | A new standard co-written by Michael Penn, brother of Sean Penn. | ||
| "Christmas Through Your Eyes" | Gloria Estefan (1993) | |||
| "Christmas With The Devil" | Spinal Tap (1992) | |||
| "Christmas Waltz" | Kay Starr | Also a hit for Nancy Wilson, The Carpenters, Natalie Cole, and Barry Manilow. | ||
| "Christmas Was A Friend Of Mine" | Fay Lovsky | |||
| "Christmas Wrapping" | The Waitresses (1981) | Later covered in 1998 by the Spice Girls and released as a B-side on their single "Goodbye". | ||
| "Coldcut's Christmas Break" | Coldcut (1988) | |||
| "Cool Yule" | Bette Midler (2006) | Previously, the biggest hit version was by Louis Armstrong. | ||
| "Cruise Into Christmas Medley" | Jane McDonald (1998) | |||
| "December Brings Me Back To You" | Andy Abraham featuring Michael Underwood | The GMTV Christmas single as a challenge for follow host, Michael Underwood. The song was written and sung with X Factor star, Andy Abraham. | ||
| "December Will Be Magic Again" | Kate Bush (1980) | |||
| "Ding Dong Merrily on High" | Celtic Woman (2006) | Only the latest hit version of this traditional carol. | ||
| "Dominick The Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)" | Lou Monte (1960) | |||
| "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | Band Aid (1984) | Written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. Re-recorded on two other separate occasions; Band Aid II in 1989 and Band Aid 20 in 2004. | ||
| "Do You Hear What I Hear?" | Bing Crosby (1963) | A hit for Jim Nabors, Whitney Houston, and most recently, Linda Eder in 2004. Originally recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1962. | ||
| "Driving Home For Christmas" | Chris Rea (1988) | |||
| "Elf's Lament" | Barenaked Ladies (2004) | Featuring Michael Bublé | ||
| "El Burrito de Belen" | Juanes (2006) | |||
| "Every Day It's Christmas" | Do (2004) | |||
| "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas" | Eels (1998) | |||
| "Fairytale of New York" | The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl (1987) | Written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan. Reached number one on the Irish single charts, but to many people's amazement was beaten to number one in the UK, by The Pet Shop Boys' "Always on My Mind". | ||
| "Far Away On Christmas Day" | Bradley Joseph (2000) | |||
| "Father Christmas" | The Kinks (1977) | |||
| "Feels Like Christmas" | Cyndi Lauper | |||
| "Feliz Navidad" | Jose Feliciano (1970) | The best-known version of the best-known Spanish-language Christmas song. | ||
| "Fifty Grand For Christmas" | Paul Holt (2004) | |||
| "Frosty The Snow Man" | Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys (1950) | |||
| "Funky Christmas (Christmas At My House)" | RuPaul (1997) | |||
| "The Gift" | Jim Brickman | |||
| "Give Love On Christmas Day" | Jackson 5 and Solid Harmonie | |||
| "Give U One 4 Christmas" | Hot Pantz (2005) | |||
| "Go Girlfriend (Have a Merry Christmas)" | No Secrets | |||
| "Go Tell It on the Mountain/Mary Had a Baby (medley)" | Vanessa L. Williams (1993) | As is often the case, this hit single and video inspired the artist to record a full-length holiday album the following year. | ||
| "Gothic Christmas" | Within Temptation | |||
| "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" | Elmo & Patsy (1979) | Originally released in 1979, then for several years following, each time a bigger hit. A new version was recorded in 1984, and this is the version that radio plays to this day. The biggest selling novelty Christmas single of all time in the U.S. | ||
| "Great Big Sled" | The Killers (2006) | |||
| "The Greatest Gift Of All" | Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (1984) | |||
| "Grown-Up Christmas List" | David Foster featuring Natalie Cole (1990) | Written by David Foster. More recent hit versions include Amy Grant (1992), Barbra Streisand and Michael Buble. | ||
| "Happy Holiday" | Bing Crosby | Written by Irving Berlin for the 1942 film Holiday Inn, co-starring Crosby and Fred Astaire. Hit versions were recorded by Peggy Lee, Andy Williams and Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme. Billy Idol recorded a recent hit version in 2006. | ||
| "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" | John and Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir (1971) | Written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Later covered by Melissa Etheridge, The Polyphonic Spree, Celine Dion, The Idols, Neil Diamond, the Street Drum Corps ft. Bert McCracken of The Used,and most recently by Sarah McLachlan. | ||
| "Hard Candy Christmas" | Dolly Parton (1982) | |||
| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | Judy Garland (1944) | Written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin for the film Meet Me In St. Louis starring Garland and Margaret O'Brien. A later hit for Frank Sinatra, Chicago, Amy Grant, Diana Krall, The Carpenters, Aimee Mann, and many others. | ||
| "A Heart To Hold You" | Keane (2004) | BBC Radio 1 referred to it as the Christmas anthem of 2005. However, it was never recorded. | ||
| "Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)" | Gene Autry (1947) | Written and first recorded by Autry. Famously covered by Elvis Presley in 1957. | ||
| "Here We Come A-Caroling" | Mormon Tabernacle Choir | |||
| "Hey Santa" | Carnie and Wendy Wilson (1993) | |||
| "The Holly and the Ivy" | Natalie Cole (1994) | From her 1994 same-titled Christmas album. | ||
| "(A) Holly Jolly Christmas" | Burl Ives (1964) | Written by Johnny Marks. Made famous by Ives in the classic 1964 TV special Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and later covered by Alan Jackson. | ||
| "Home For Christmas" | Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006) | Not to be confused with "I'll Be Home for Christmas". | ||
| "(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays" | Perry Como (1954) | This song is also features in a notable cover by The Carpenters for their Christmas album An Old-Fashioned Christmas. | ||
| "I Believe In Christmas" | The Tweenies (2001) | |||
| "I Believe In Father Christmas" | Greg Lake (1975) | Written by Greg Lake and Peter Sinfield. | ||
| "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" | Burl Ives | Other singers with popular versions: Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Sarah McLachlan. | ||
| "I Like A Sleighride (Jingle Bells)" | Peggy Lee (1960) | |||
| "I Only Want You For Christmas" | Alan Jackson (1991) | |||
| "I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus" | RuPaul (1997) | |||
| "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" | Jimmy Boyd (1952) | Written by Thomas Connor. More recent hit versions by John Mellencamp (1987) and Jessica Simpson. | ||
| "I Saw Three Ships" | Sting (1997) | This so-called 'new age' version of the traditional carol was a charity single and video. | ||
| "I Wanna Kiss You So (Christmas In A Nutshell)" | Girls Aloud (2005) | |||
| "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" | Gayla Peevey (1953) | |||
| "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" | Wizzard featuring vocal backing by The Suedettes plus The Stockland Green Bilateral School First Year Choir with additional noises by Miss. Snob and Class 3C (1973) | Re-recorded by Wizzard frontman, Roy Wood as a solo version and then later covered by A*Teens and then Girls Aloud. | ||
| "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Everyday" | The Wombles with Roy Wood (2000) | |||
| "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" | Blink-182 (2001) | |||
| "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" | Yogi Yorgesson (1949) | |||
| "If Every Day Was Like Christmas" | Elvis Presley (1966) | |||
| "If We Make It Through December" | Merle Haggard (1973) | |||
| "I'll Be Home for Christmas" | Bing Crosby (1943) | Written during World War II by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram to honor soldiers overseas. Still one of the most recorded Christmas songs today. Hit singles include Frank Sinatra, Amy Grant, The Carpenters, and Josh Groban. | ||
| "In the Bleak Midwinter" | James Taylor (2006) | |||
| "Is This the Way to Santa's Grotto" | Santa (2005) | A Christmas parody of "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo?" by Tony Christie. | ||
| "It Doesn't Have To Be That Way" | Jim Croce (1973) | |||
| "It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas" | Pet Shop Boys (1997) | |||
| "It Must Have Been The Mistletoe" | Barbra Streisand | Covered by Barbara Mandrell | ||
| "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas" | Perry Como and The Fontaine Sisters (1951) | Meredith Wilson composed this song while writing The Music Man. Also recorded by artists like Johnny Mathis. | ||
| "It's Christmas All Over The World" | Sheena Easton (1987) | |||
| "It's Christmas Time All Over The World" | Sammy Davis Jr. (1963) | |||
| "It's Not the Presents Under My Tree" | Eva Cassidy | |||
| "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" | Andy Williams (1963) | Also a hit for Johnny Mathis and others. | ||
| "Itz The Holidaze" | Westside Connection | |||
| "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" | Josh Groban (2005) | Only the most recent hit version. Most famous instrumental version is George Winston's "Joy" from the album December, an all-time holiday best-seller. | ||
| "Jingle Bell Rock" | < |