25 essential Christmas pop songs

We’ve got your festive playlist covered, pop fans. Here are our top 25 Christmas songs from your favourite classic pop artists that’ll have you wishing it was Christmas every day…

25. Coventry Carol – Alison Moyet

We kick off this Christmas countdown of classic pop songs with something slightly more traditional: Alison Moyet’s version of the 16th century Coventry Carol. King Herod’s story may not be the most popular festive tale to tell, but Moyet makes her musical talent known in this electronic take on the British carol. It featured on the album A Very Special Christmas in 1987, which has cover art designed by Keith Haring and was produced to benefit the Special Olympics.

24. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2

In 1987, Bono and the gang released their version of festive heart-wrencher Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). Their rendition of the song was recorded during a soundcheck on the Scottish leg of their Joshua Tree tour, and features backing vocals from original singer Darlene Love. Also appearing on the compilation A Very Special Christmas, it later resurfaced on the 2004 album Unreleased & Rare in the digital boxset The Complete U2.

23. A Winter’s Tale – David Essex

David Essex expresses how personal sadness seems insignificant “on a worldwide scale” in this wintry ballad penned by Mike Batt and Tim Rice. Historically divisive as a Christmas song, the Classic Pop team voted in favour of giving it a place in our countdown.

22. Every Day’s Like Christmas – Kylie Minogue

We’re skipping forward a few decades with this next entry: Kylie’s 2016 feel-good Christmas hit Every Day’s Like Christmas, which was a popular choice among Classic Pop readers. Taken from her 13th studio album, 2015’s Kylie Christmas, we highly recommend checking out the Stock Aitken Waterman remix if you want to be transported back to the 80s!

21. Christmas in Hollis – Run-D.M.C.

Okay, we admit, we’re straying a little far from the pop world by including this hip-hop classic, but we couldn’t resist! Run-D.M.C. give us an insight into Christmas in their hometown of Queens in the accompanying video, which came out on top as Rolling Stone’s Best Video Of The Year 1987. It was included on two 1987 Christmas compilation albums: A Very Special Christmas and Christmas Rap.

20. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard

Featuring a little further down the list than you might expect, because we wouldn’t want to be too predictable, is the Christmas glam-rock anthem I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday. Wizzard shout their way through this one with obligatory children’s choir backing vocalists; it’s not exactly groundbreaking pop, but it’s still a festive classic. First released in December 1973, it was beaten to the Christmas No.1 spot by Slade…

19. Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade

As with the previous entry, we feel that Slade’s 1973 No.1 hit is a tad overrated as a Christmas pop song. That being said, the festive season doesn’t quite feel complete until we’ve heard Noddy Holder shout “It’s Chriiiiiiiiistmaaaaas!”, so it makes the cut!

18. Winter Wonderland – Eurythmics

Over 200 different artists have performed their own versions of this 1934 Felix Bernard song, but there’s nothing quite like Eurythmics’ take on it. The eery opening makes for even more satisfaction when the up-beat chorus chimes in, and Annie Lennox glides effortlessly along the vocal line. It too appeared on 1987’s A Very Special Christmas album.

17. All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

We’ve spent more than 20 years attempting to hit that final top note, and we’re still going! Despite being released in 1994, later than most of our selections, this song has definitely earned its place at the festive table as a bonafide Christmas classic, Going triple-platinum in the UK. Due to the song’s lasting impact, Carey has been dubbed the “Queen of Christmas”.

16. December Will Be Magic Again – Kate Bush

December Will Be Magic Again was another popular choice amongst Classic Pop readers, and peaked at No.29 in November 1980. No promotional video was filmed for this single, but an alternative recording of the song was performed on Kate Bush’s 1979 Christmas television special where the singer’s usual ethereal vocals are particularly stunning.

15. Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord – Boney M. 

This mash-up of Harry Belafonte’s 1956 hit with original song Oh My Lord proved to be a Christmas smash for Boney M., who bagged themselves a Christmas No.1 with this Eurodisco-meets-reggae track. When Jester Hairston, who originally wrote Mary’s Boy Child for his choir, found out how well Boney M.’s cover had done, he said: “God bless my soul. That’s tremendous for an old fogey like me”.

14. It Doesn’t Often Snow At Christmas – Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys don’t disappoint with this synth-pop Christmas cracker, as Neil Tennant reminds us that we don’t need all the traditional trimmings to enjoy the festive season. Originally an exclusive 1997 fan club single, a new version was included on the 2009 Christmas EP alongside covers of Madness’ My Girl and Coldplay’s Viva la Vida.

13. Thank God It’s Christmas – Queen

Queen look back on what 1984 had to offer in this festive pop-rock single written by Brian May and Roger Taylor. It’s a sentiment we can all agree with this year, as we anticipate a short break from the constant onslaught of depressing news. The single spent six weeks in the UK charts over Christmas 1984 and new year of 1985. It appears on the Christmas compilation LP The Edge of Christmas and a bonus EP packaged with the deluxe edition of their album The Works in 2011.

12. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – The Pointer Sisters

These American singing sisters put their own R&B stamp on this much-covered song and we can’t get enough of it at this time of year! This is a live performance video that has been dubbed with the original recording, so never fear: you’ll still get to hear them cry “I want a bicycle!” Bruce Springsteen’s rendition was released as the B-side to My Hometown, from his Born in the U.S.A. album, and it remains a fan favourite when The Boss plays it live.

11. She Won’t Be Home – Erasure

A much under-appreciated Christmas song, in our humble opinion. Part of 1988’s Crackers International EP, which peaked at No.2, Erasure were enjoying their imperial phase at this time. In fact, there were several Christmas contenders from the synth-pop duo, but this melancholic track somehow helps us forget our sorrows, so it comes out on top.

10. December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas) – George Michael

George Michael is, unsurprisingly, always in the hearts and minds of Classic Pop readers at Christmastime, and this heart-warming festive ballad was a highly-requested entry. The importance of family is George’s key message here, and if the quirky animated video, featuring the singer as a boy, doesn’t bring a tear to your eye then we don’t know what will!

09. Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney

Despite appearing in the music video, Wings didn’t feature on the original recording of Wonderful Christmastime. More curiously still, the choir of children practised all year long simply to sing “Ding Dong Ding Dong” in unison. These mysteries aside, it wouldn’t quite be Christmas without Macca, and this 1979 hit is a festive classic.

08. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Mel & Kim

A brilliant cover version of Brenda Lee’s original Christmas song, all in the name of Comic Relief. It has a great video to match with Mel and Kim hosting a Christmas party which includes an appearance from Smith’s comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones, carol singers played by Curiosity Killed The Cat, as well as Spitting Image puppets of Bette Midler and Tina Turner. However, we’d like to start an official petition to have the thumbs-up in front of Rolf Harris’ portrait replaced with a big thumbs-down, if possible.

07. Step Into Christmas – Elton John

Elton John is, in many ways, synonymous with Christmas and recently released a new festive song with Ed Sheeran. But nothing can beat this classic from 1973. While “Welcome to my Christmas song…” may not be his most genius lyric, it fits perfectly with the eccentricity of this holiday single. It was released as a stand-alone single in November 1973 with the song Ho, Ho, Ho (Who’d Be A Turkey At Christmas) as the B-side and later appeared on Elton John’s Christmas Party album.

06. Last Christmas – Wham!

It’s arguably one of the most iconic Christmas pop songs of all time, and we’re transported straight to the festive season whenever we hear that jingle-bell synth sound. Wham! donated all the royalties from the Last Christmas release to the Ethiopian famine. Peaking at No.2 when it entered the chart in 1984, it would go on to hit the top spot in 2021 and 2022, however in 2023, Wham! finally secured the coveted Christmas No.1 for the first time – a whole 39 years in the making.

05. Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens

When we hear that key change, we know it’s Christmastime, and we’re not alone: since its original release in 1985, Merry Christmas Everyone has amassed over 60 weeks in the charts. To date it remains the last No.1 single for Shaky in the UK. In time for Christmas 2015, Stevens released a new version of the song as a charity single in collaboration with The Salvation Army. While the revamped version failed to chart, the original returned to the Top 40.

04. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses

With excellent lyrics and a high-energy musical performance, this is a truly brilliant Christmas song from the US new wave outfit. The story of a busy single woman facing the usual festive stress was an unexpected hit from The Waitresses, though unfortunately it became the straw that broke the camel’s back when its success apparently caused the rift that ended the band. First released on ZE Records’ 1981 compilation album A Christmas Record, it later appeared on the band’s 1982 EP I Could Rule The World If I Could Only Get The Parts.

03. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid 1984

This was the choice of most Classic Pop readers, and it still serves as an important yearly reminder to consider the lives of those less fortunate at a time of mass consumption. A heart-warming display of togetherness, along with strong vocal performances from legendary 80s artists, Do They Know It’s Christmas is a truly brilliant Christmas song. Released in the UK on 7 December 1984, it sold a million copies in its first week and entered the chart at No.1 – where it stayed for five weeks.

02. Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea 

Apparently Chris Rea never intended to write this Christmas song, but was testing pianos and discovered the light, jazzy introduction that now conjures festive thoughts worldwide. We’re very glad indeed that Driving Home For Christmas was conceived, and it’s one of our top picks here. The first version was originally released as the B-side to the single Hello Friend in 1986, however a re-recorded version appeared on his New Light Through Old Windows compilation album in 1988 as well as his The Christmas EP.

01. Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl

The UK’s most-played seasonal song of the 21st century, it’s no surprise that Fairytale Of New York takes the top spot in our countdown. We’re yet to see another festive tune that has you performing a drunken ballad one minute and then dancing a céilidh the next. Sadly, we’ve now lost both vocalists: Kirsty MacColl tragically died in a boating accident on 18 December 2000 while on holiday in Mexico, and The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, who was born on 25 December 1957, passed on 30 November 2023.  Thankfully we have this iconic number to remember them by every year.

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Read more: Band Aid: The Next Generation