Three Festive Christmas Music Playlists for Every Taste
The season of joy is here, and we all need as much holiday magic as the world will provide right now. Whether you’re a diehard Christmas fanatic—or you’re just happy to have a few days off work—this series will help you pick the perfect presents, playlists, meals, and activities to make this Christmas the Best Christmas Ever.
Other holidays don’t have soundtracks. Take Thanksgiving: There are two famous Thanksgiving songs (Adam Sandler’s “Thanksgiving Song” and Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”) and they’re both interminable. Christmas songs, though, date back to the fourth century and there are thousands of them. Christmas revolves around music, whether it’s the soundtrack you put on while wrapping presents or the music you listen to while driving to your grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. To truly have the best Christmas ever, you need the best Christmas soundtrack ever, so I’ve compiled three separate holiday playlists for three separate kinds of Christmas celebrators.
Christmas music mix for wannabe hipsters
I’m an unapologetic music snob, so Christmas can be a difficult time for me. Each year sees another group of washed-up artists trading in their name recognition for some quick cash by releasing treacly, horrible Christmas dreck to add to the glurge-pile. Here’s Ed Sheeran’s “Under the Tree." Here’s Dan + Shay’s “The Cozy Song.” I could go on (and on and on) but I won't. Because I’m more into lighting candles than cursing the darkness, and because some Christmas songs are actually great, I’ve created a Spotify list of Snob-Approved Christmas Music That Doesn’t Suck.
This playlist is over six hours of holiday songs, and not a single one of them will make you cringe. It’s got originals you probably haven't heard, like Advance Base’s “Christmas Steve” and the Dropkick Murphy’s “The Season’s Upon Us,” and worthwhile covers of Christmas classics like The Jackson’s 5’s “Up on the Housetops” and Sufjan Steven’s “Angels We Have Heard on High." It’s all seasonal bangers, I swear.
More-traditional Christmas playlist for normies
While no one dare question the musical integrity of my list of Christmas songs, some (ex) friends have suggested that my snobby Christmas music mix isn’t in keeping with the spirit. It’s too full of new music, or music that’s a little grating if you’re a middle-of-the-road jerk. Point taken. If your idea of Christmas music hews to the traditional, I’ve got a music mix for you to. I didn’t make this YouTube playlist of standards, but I approve of it.
If you absolutely must: modern pop Christmas
Some people, I have read, like newer Christmas music. Some people are excited to hear PelleK’s “Best Christmas Yet," and Kelly Clarkson’s “For You Christmas" doesn't make them want to fly directly into the sun. Some people want to hear Christmas music from Justin Bieber (it causes physical me pain to type that name.) Secretly, I’m jealous. It must be nice to have everything geared to you. Anyway, enjoy this Spotify list of 2024’s new Christmas music. And happy holidays!