We all have that one song.. that one tune that captures the moment, the spirit, and the essence of the holiday season.
It can change through time–we can rock around the Christmas tree in our youth, and reflect deeper as we go through life with more meaningful ballads of the end of the year. It has been a long December, after all.. if we make it through we’ll be fine.
And all that jazz..
If you want to avoid what your life may consider needless verbiage, skip down and just see the YouTube embeds.
We took an honest survey of readers friends and family.. We wanted to find out what songs, from Brooklyn to Broadway, were your favorites amongst the crowd.
Both traditional and non traditional–with a few bizarre twists that don’t seem to relate to Christmas for everyone. But for you do they do.
Because this is personal.
If you talk to people, get personal messages and in-person opinions, you’ll realize that it’s not that easy to define the idea of what makes the perfect song for the season.
As a matter of fact, (FOR THE FIRST TIME) the song ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE became number 1 on the charts in 2023.. A first. It was released in 1958. The holiday classic outperformed familiar chart-topper Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which came in at No. 2. Amazing.
Thanks to TikTok and social media. It was a hard to believe moment since the song has been used so often in movies and TV shows. We just kind of took it for granted. And really, what song other than this reminds you of Christmas. And Home Alone. And all the feelings of warm and fuzzy you get when the calendar turns into December?
It all changes. We are young and dumb and become old and bold. In the middle we lose parents and friends to the trials and tribulations of time. We end up with this strange melancholy sadness of nostalgia.. each year, despite those losses, we try. We want the traditions to persist. While traditions change over time, we all hold that deep magical place in our heart for a Christmas Eve visit from Santa. Despite reality, we ponder, even if for seconds, ‘what if.’ Perhaps we even believe for a very slight moment in time. Until reality settles in again.
Except when we hear the song. THAT song. The one that causes a pause, we stop in our tracks.. Do we tear up, laugh, smile, or just become content? The song of your choice dictates your action. It is personal for you .. it’s your own journey that tells you the ‘song of the season,’ after all.
So presented to you without further ado.. the top ten songs that remind you (and maybe me) of Christmas .. after all these years..we present this list with no real order. While we are listing out, it is not by ranking, importance, or meaning. It just surmises the top ten Christmas songs in 2023, as presented by our own personal analysis and feeling. Enjoy your playlist for the year:
The Wheeland Brothers, Big Ole Christmas Tree:
Commericals too.. such as this from Honda:
Or Coke from 1997:
Some may think of the summer.. but why not Christmas!?
Song for a Winter’s Night make you get the warm and Christmasy’s..
Going more off brand.. Joel the Lump of Coal by the Killers ranks..
Sort of a personal favorite after 9/11 and beyond.. Rob Thomas sings about a New York Christmas..
This one became HIGHLY recommend.. The Pogues with they Fairytale of New York.
John Anderson is there with a Where were you question..
Where is Christmas.. will your heart find it? Ask Harry Conick Jr..
We all want to believe.. in what? Father Christmas, that’s what!
How far would you walk to listen to your favorite Christmas song? Did I hear 2000 miles?
And finally… a few non traditionals that just oddly fit in? Enjoy..
And finally… the final song that really hits deep. From none other than Sarah McLachlan as we are coming on Christmas, again, for yet another year..
