25 Christmas Party Songs for Your Holiday Playlist
Check out this eclectic holiday playlist!
The Merriest Playlist of All
Looking for some Christmas music that won't put you to sleep? Here is an excellent mix of songs for a holiday party, with plenty of selections to dance to. Your guests won't feel as if they are in church or sitting around at an old folks' home.
Some of these songs are originals, some of them are more traditional and have been covered by artists from different genres, and some of them are classics that have been remade. They range from slow, fast, and somewhere in between, so there's a good mix to keep the vibe upbeat without being too wild. The moods range from cheery to silly to heartwarming. Not all of the tunes are specifically Christmas ("The Chanukah Song"), but none of them are boring.
1. "Christmas is the Time to Say 'I Love You'" (Billy Squier)
If you have fond memories of the '80s, this video is sure to make you feel nostalgic, as it's filled with big hair, ugly sweaters, and some of the original MTV VJs, not to mention enough genuine and unabashed good cheer to make you wonder what was going on behind the scenes in this 1981 video.
2. "Merry Christmas, Baby" (Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band)
Originally recorded in 1947, this song has been covered by everyone from Chuck Berry to Melissa Etheridge. Here's The Boss and his E Street Band giving a great 2002 live performance on Conan O'Brien's show.
3. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (U2)
This is the 1987 U2 version, but the song was originally recorded by Darlene Love in the early 1960s. (She later sang backup on the U2 version, though.) In 2011, Mariah Carey also did a cover. Darlene Love's version is featured in the movie Gremlins as the opening credits roll.
4. "Wonderful Christmastime" (Paul McCartney)
Originally recorded in 1979, this one has been covered by an array of artists in subsequent years, but nobody does it better than Sir Paul McCartney. The video is pretty weird, but that was how most music videos were; the weirder, the better.
5. "Little Saint Nick" (The Beach Boys)
Released in early December of 1963, this song is about Santa and his sled, the little St. Nick. Maybe it's just conditioning, but when you listen to the Beach Boys, it magically feels like summer is in full swing.
6. "Christmas All Over Again" (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
Petty informs us that "Christmas is a rocking time," and he's right; it doesn't have to be stuffy and boring, which is what this list is all about. There's a touch of realism in the lyrics in reference to relatives not seen in a long time, "Yeah, I kind of missed them, I just don't want to kiss them." Yeah, we know the feeling, Tom.
Recommended
7. "Jingle Bell Rock" (Hall & Oates)
The song was made popular by Bobby Helms after its release in 1957. Daryl Hall and John Oates produced a fantastic cover, but this is one of the goofiest videos I've ever seen. Watch at your own risk.
8. "Rock and Roll Christmas" (George Thorogood and the Destroyers)
Here's a fast, lively number that's perfect when everyone has fallen into a lull. The title pretty much sums it up; you can't go wrong with this one. It was released in the early '80s, but it's George Thorogood, so it's got some bite to it rather than having that gratuitous 1980s sound.
9. "Merry Christmas, Everybody" (Slade)
This 1973 number is full of optimism and good cheer, although it's not a good one to dance to. It doesn't have a fast beat, yet it's not quite slow enough for a slow dance. No matter, it helps add the right ambience to any x-mas party.
10. "All I Want for Christmas is You" (Foghat)
Not to be confused with the popular 1994 Mariah Carey carol or the Vince Vance and the Valiants ditty of the same title; although all three are worth a listen, they are completely different songs. The Foghat carol is fast-paced and carefree.
11. "The Chanukah Song" (Adam Sandler)
A fun way to be a little more inclusive of other faiths (okay, well, at least one other faith) during the holiday season, "The Chanukah Song" has parts I, II, and III, each with slightly different lyrics and celebrity name dropping. Here is part one, which was originally part of a Saturday Night Live skit from 1994.