What’s on my Playlist – Christmas songs!

Because it’s Christmas, here’s the music I’m dancing around the kitchen to … well some of it …

Swing Around the Sun, by Paul Kelly – you can’t get more Aussie than “do another donut round that great big star…” or “we’ll clock another lap before we’re through…”.

It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas, by the Pet Shop Boys, makes me smile every time I hear it – and no list of my music faves would be complete without something by PSB. Merry Christmas, by Ed Sheeran and Elton John, is another that makes me smile.

I can’t hear All I Want For Christmas without:

  • Doing a little boob wobble at the bells bit just after the intro – even if I’m out in public (too much information?)
  • trying to hit the high note or
  • seeing that scene in Love Actually with Hugh Grant trying to sneak a snog behind the curtain at the school concert.

Michael Buble’s Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) was playing as the snow was falling outside Bakewell’s Pudding Shop when we were in there one Saturday morning before Christmas and whenever I hear this version I’m taken back to that Derbyshire December morning.

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, by Wizzard, the original Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade, and this swing version of Merry Christmas Everybody by Robbie Williams and Jamie Cullum (not to be confused with Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone) always remind me of Christmas in England with every second shop in Oxford or Regent Street banging out one or all of them.

Wrap Me Up by Meghan Trainor and Jimmy Fallon and My Only Wish (This Year), by Britney Spears have me dancing around the kitchen.

One More Sleep, by Leona Lewis, One I’ve Been Missing, by Little Mix, and Underneath the Christmas Tree, by Kelly Clarkson are ear-worm songs – try getting them out of your head.

Do They Know It’s Christmas, Band Aid – the original, of course. It takes me back to, well, 1984, when high school was over and every single one of my favourite bands (except Culture Club – I could never stand them) were on this record.

Last Christmas, by Wham – I don’t care how many times I get Whammed during December, I could listen to it over and over. As an aside, after a little google rabbit-holing I’ve found the chalet the video was filmed in – and it’s for sale. For just over AUD 2.5M it could be yours.

Bing Crosby’s White Christmas reminds me of Christmases when I was growing up, and Frosty The Snowman reminds me of my sister who only knew the words “Frosty the Snowman had to hurry on his way…”. Honourable mentions to Guy Sebastian’s version of The Christmas Song, John Lennon’s Happy Christmas (War is Over), a couple by the Jonas Brothers and … I could go on.

Not on my playlist, but if you’re after a little Christmas music craziness there’s Furnace and the Fundamentals Christmas versions of YMCA (Xmas Today). They also give Sweet Caroline, You Shook Me All Night Long the Christmas treatment.

The stand-out though has to go to Ladbaby who have now achieved 5 straight UK Christmas number-one singles between 2018-2022 with their sausage roll-themed charity Christmas tracks. There was I Love Sausage Rolls, We Built This City (on Sausage Rolls). They even did Sausage Rolls For Everyone with Ed Sheeran and Elton John.

What about you – are you a fan of the Christmas song? Do you prefer a traditional carol to a modern pop song?

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Author: Jo

Author, baker, sunrise chaser

36 thoughts

  2. I tend to prefer the pop versions like many that you mentioned here; though there are also many I have never heard of too.

  3. Great list (although Last Christmas by Wham makes me want to stuff my ears with tinsel). I’m not religious at all but O Holy Night will always be my favorite Christmas song. There’s just something about those high notes that bring tears to my eyes.

  4. You’ve certainly put me in the mood Jo, and it is great that you feel that way about All I Want for Christmas is You. I do exactly the same thing. The other day I was minding the boys and Rachel has a Christmas songs playlist. We had so much fun dancing around to all the songs. They bring such joy. Thanks for sharing your playlist and keep those high notes coming!

  6. I hate to admit it…but I haven’t listened to any Christmas music yet! lol. Thanks for the boost here. I clicked on the Ed Sheeran and Elton John link so I’ll start with that one for 2023! 🙂

  7. I love a good Christmas tune and you’ve listed so many of my favourites. I think you need to add this to Spotify so I can sing along with you!

  8. Well that just sent me down a rabbit hole of watching and listening to Christmas tunes! Very amusing so thank you. Heard of most of the classics – love Wham’s Last Christmas but also a lot of new ones. Thank you for such a fun post

  9. Loved your list Jo and all the memories attached to the various songs. Anything from Love Actually always makes me smile too. I’ve started listening to Santa Radio when I’m crafting (mixed in with Easy Listening of course) and there are so many Christmassy songs I’ve never heard of – most of the famous artists have at least one that has been written for them…..but you still can’t beat the oldies – or Wham’s “Last Christmas”…..

  10. These Christmas songs make a great play list Jo. I would add Jimmy Barnes’ Silent Night, for a modern one. Also my favourite Christmas song of all, Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy! I’m definitely going to check out the one one’s at the end of your post, that are not on your playlist. They sound fun.

  11. This is a fabulous list, Jo. I was listening to some of the songs when I saw your post. I like both modern pop songs and traditional carols. Before COVID, I used to attend Toronto’s Christmas concert performed by several choirs; their singing of traditional carols is amazing. Keep on dancing! #WWWhimsy

  12. I listened to several of your links. Lots of work to pull that together so thanks. Quite a few bands I’ve never heard of! But I live under a musical rock and stick to my genre.

    1. I was, of course, supposed to be writing – which is why I began youtubing my fave Christmas songs – procrastiblogging

  13. I love Christmas music, Joanne. I typically prefer the traditional songs. I like so many of them, but my favorite has to be Josh Groban’s O Holy Night. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

  14. Hi Jo – I love Christmas songs and love just about all you listed. I was the daggy middle aged woman yesterday at the aged care facility Xmas concert toe tapping and jigging away to the carols and Xmas songs and singing along beneath my face mask! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy – hope you’ll be back again next week for the final one for 2023! xo

  15. Christmas songs, carols and more are what sustain me in the month of December. I have my (many) playlists and memories are from being a kid and seeing White Christmas at the movies, singing in a church choir, teaching kids Christmas songs for concerts…and then ensuring my grandkids LOVE Christmas music by playing it in the car way back. “We Need a Little Christmas” from Glee (even tho not a fan) was/is my anthem for when we lived near the grandkids and then went away and now back..because it connects this sentimental grandma with them…

  16. I love your list Jo, so much fun! I am partial to the Tin Lids from when my daughters were young and like an eclectic mix of music at this time of the year. I have a family playlist from all my family of their favourites and we play it on road trips!

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