This is undoubtedly my favorite time of the year. I love the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have fond memories of this time period growing up, especially while I was away at college. I always looked forward to finishing up the semester, getting home a couple of days before Christmas, and doing my last minute shopping for gifts.
There are so many things that make this time special – family, celebrations, decorations, anticipation, and the music. Oh yes, the music.
To the dismay of my family, I am a serious Christmas music addict. It starts the evening of Thanksgiving and lasts through the end of the year. With relatively few exceptions, I listen to a steady diet of Christmas tunes this time of year. And why not? It’s really the only time you can get away with playing it throughout the day and not risk being committed.
Five years ago, I posted a list of my 50 favorite Christmas songs. Since then, the list has grown. While I have a playlist with over 170 songs on it, below are the 65 that I could shuffle and put on endless repeat. So here’s the updated, refreshed list (new additions are in bold).
- Do You Hear What I Hear? – Bing Crosby
- Joy To The World – London Symphony Orchestra
- Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby (w/ David Bowie)
- My Favourite Things – Tony Bennett
- Sleigh Ride – Harry Connick, Jr.
- Love Is Christmas – Sara Bareilles
- All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
- Someday At Christmas – Stevie Wonder
- Christmas In Dixie – Alabama
- Heaven Everywhere – Francesca Battistelli
- I Believe In Father Christmas – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Where Are You Christmas – Faith Hill
- The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) – Alvin & the Chipmunks
- Overture And A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
- What Christmas Means To Me – Stevie Wonder
- Please Come Home For Christmas – The Eagles
- It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Bing Crosby
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Amy Grant
- White Christmas – Bing Crosby
- Christmas Canon – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- The First Noel – Andy Williams
- Silent Night – Reba McEntire
- Last Christmas – Wham!
- Christmas Time – Christina Aguilera
- Christmas Vacation – Katie Campbell
- 2,000 Miles – The Pretenders
- Song for a Winter’s Night – Sarah McLachlan
- Home – Blake Shelton
- Believe – Josh Groban
- Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon
- Mr. Heatmiser – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
- Wonderful Christmas Time – Paul McCartney
- It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams
- Winter Wonderland – Ray Charles
- I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Michael Buble
- Little Drummer Boy – MercyME
- Underneath the Tree – Kelly Clarkson
- Christmas In The Sand – Colbie Caillat
- Angels We Have Heard On High – Josh Groban
- Mary Did You Know? – Pentatonix
- O Holy Night – Celine Dion
- I Wander As I Wander – Lindsey Stirling
- I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day – Echosmith
- Winter Song – The Head and The Heart
- I’ll Be Home – Meghan Trainor
- Mr. Right – Leona Lewis
- Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
- Snoopy Christmas – The Royal Guardsmen
- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2
- Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) – Gene Autry
- Mistletoe and Holly – Frank Sinatra
- Frosty The Snowman – Jimmy Durante
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry
- Baby! It’s Christmas – Jessie James Decker
- Christmas C’mon – Lindsey Stirling
- Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
- Ave Maria – Celine Dion
- Christmas/ Sarajevo 12/24 – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- The Twelve Days Of Christmas – McKenzie Brothers
- The Nutcracker Suite: Trepak / March / Dance of the Reed Flutes / Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
- Carol of the Bells
- Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande
- Mele Kalimaka – Jimmy Buffet
- Christmas Island – Leon Redbone
- Christmas Time Is Here – Vince Guaraldi