As we begin to get into the Christmas spirit we decided to pool together our favourite Christmas songs, the ones that no matter what we are doing we always listen to year on year. There was some debate and also some firm favourites picked by a number of people but we managed to decide on a list in the end. Take a look below and see if yours is there.
The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale of New York
The song was originally released in 1987 but has had prolonged success since the introduction of streaming services. Since 2005 the song has ranked in the top 75 of the charts every December and is one you will hear year on year in all Christmas playlists.
Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea
This is one of the songs that was picked by multiple people, which was surprising. Released in 1988, peaking at 53 in the charts this is another song that has had prolonged success over the Christmas period. If you are travelling this year this one is a must!
One More Sleep – Leona Lewis
A rather left field selection from Shannon, one of our design team. The song had success in the charts when released in 2013, peaking at number 3. It has also had some success in later years reaching the top 20 again last December. It was ranked as the best song to get drunk to at a Christmas party in 2013 and if that isn’t praise enough then I don’t know what is!
Baby It’s Cold Outside – Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews
A Christmas classic that has had a number of covers over the years since it was originally composed in 1944 by Frank Loesser. The Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews, lead singer of Catatonia, version was released in 1999 and had decent chart success reaching 17. The song is one that will grace plenty of Christmas playlists year after year.
2000 Miles – The Pretenders
Released in 1983, this Christmas song is one that wasn’t meant to be a Christmas song but was written as a tribute to the groups original guitarist who had died the year before. Since it’s original release, where it peaked at number 15, there have been a number of covers for Christmas albums over the years.
All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
One of the most revered Christmas songs of all time. First released in 1994 and has been in the Christmas chart every year since. The song is Carey’s most successful international single of all time and has been adapted into a book and film over the years.
Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid
Founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof, the charity super group released the Christmas single in aid of the Ethiopian famine and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. It has been re-recorded and released with different artists in 2004 and 2014 in honour of 20 and 30 years since the original. This is a single that you will hear in some guise over the Christmas period.
White Christmas – Bing Crosby
A true classic, not just a Christmas classic but in any way it is a worldwide classic. The song was written for the film, White Christmas that stared Crosby and was originally released in 1942. The song has been covered by a multitude of artists over the years but the Crosby version is the one that comes to mind when you think of the song. It is the most bought single of all time!
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Michael Buble
Written in 1951 the song has been performed and recorded by a vast array of artists from Bing Cosby to Big Bird. The version we are focusing on is the Buble version from 2011, which reached number 13 in the UK charts. A song that will be hear from 1st December right through to the Christmas period.
Last Christmas – Wham!
British duo Wham! released Last Christmas in 1984 peaking at number 2. The song has been in the top 50 of the charts most years since it’s release and was as high as number 2 last year. There have been numerous covers of the track over the years continuing the legacy of the song.