The 62 Best Christmas Songs of All Time

You could think of Mariah Carey as the unofficial Queen of Christmas, so it's no surprise that her hit "All I Want for Christmas is You" is the most popular Christmas song. Both Billboard and Spotify have ranked it in that top spot time and time again. Basically, if December 25 had a theme song, it would be this one.

Even if you've never been a fan of Alvin and the Chipmunks as a kid, it's hard not to bop your head along with this cheery Christmas tune. Kids today will get a kick out of the squeaky voices singing this happy holiday melody.

Boy bands may be a thing of the past but this 1998 holiday song, has certainly proven to stand the test of time.

In 1992 TLC graced us with a happy holiday jam that reminds us of joy surrounding one of the most beloved holiday activites. The combination of smooth singing and an uptempo rap will definitely give reason to dance along.

Not only will this song make you feel like you're celebrating the holidays in the tropics, but it provides an introductory lesson to island food and traditions as he rattles a few off in the song.

Justin Bieber's rendition of Drummer Boy is the perfect example of a spunky classic update done right. Plus, there's even brief mention of Hanukkah and Kwanza.

Even if you're not a fan of the snow, the beautiful harmonies in this holiday melody will certainly have you wishing for a snowy Christmas.

This 1992 classic celebrates the beauty of watching Christmas unfold through the beauty of a child's innocence.

This 1920 Jackson 5 cover of the original version by Jimmy Boyd is made complete by a funky beat and the innocent sounds of children speculating in the background.

This holiday song from the Polar Express soundtrack perfectly captures the magic and emotion surrounding Christmas.

You may have never roasted chestnuts on an open fire, but you've likely hummed along to this tune. Considering this just might be the unofficial anthem of the holiday season, it seems naming it "The Christmas Song" was more than an appropriate choice.

Who said Elvis is the only one who can bring a little rock n roll to the holiday season? The iconic uptempo beat is proof that no holiday season can be complete without a little rock.

This Wham! hit from 1984 is so popular that an entire movie based on the song came out this year. Last Christmas, starring Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding has been a total box office hit. It just goes to show that the '80s really are back in, especially during Christmas.

Michael Bublé's Christmas album dropped in 2011 and became an instant hit. Even years later his songs top the holiday music charts. If Mariah Carey is the Queen of Christmas, Michael Bublé is the King.

Justin Bieber dropped his own holiday album in 2011. By 2017, his hit "Mistletoe" was still the fourth most played Christmas song on Spotify.

While everyone loves a classic holiday tune, modern pop Christmas songs are also being streamed en masse during the holidays. Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me" remains at the top of many listen lists.

Just because people are listening to Bieber and Grande during the holidays doesn't mean they're not also checking out the oldies. The 1963 hit "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" continues to be a chart-topper every Christmas season.

In 1984, a group of musical superstars joined forces and released "Do They Know it’s Christmas?" to raise money for the hungry in Ethiopia. Bono, Duran Duran, Phil Collins, Boy George, and Sting were among the singers on the song.

This is the haunting Christmas tune played during the funeral scene in P.S. I Love You, so that's probably where you know it from. According to The Telegraph, it's super popular in the UK, where it's considered the" most-played Christmas song of the [21st] century."

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" came out years before the movie did and has endured for decades. It holds the Guinness World Record for "Best Selling Single" with 50 million copies sold.

This song has been covered by countless artists, including Dean Martin. But it's the Frank Sinatra version that listeners queue up every holiday season.

For his own rendition of "White Christmas," Michael Bublé teamed up with country pop star Shania Twain. Their version is unique and special in its own way, and people have clearly responded to it since it's one of the most played holiday songs.

"Jingle Bells" didn't make it onto this list, actually, but the classic hit "Jingle Bell Rock" did. One of them is just more fun, OK?

And here we have a meta moment for the Queen and King of Christmas with Bublé taking on the Carey classic. It's one of the top holiday songs that Spotify listeners play this time of year.

Elvis Presley's Christmas song isn't very jolly, but it is iconic for its singing style, evergreen theme, and musical quality. We can all relate to not wanting to be away from our loved ones during the holidays. No blue Christmases, please!

Feliz Navidad means "Merry Christmas" in Spanish, and people everywhere have been singing this fun tune since its release in the '70s. It's just as popular today, decades later.

This tune was originally made popular by its appearance in the 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Christmas special. It was sung by the snowman, played by Burl Ives. These days, listeners seem to want to hear Bublé's take on the song over Ives' rendition.

This holiday tune is a Coldplay original and holds all of the band's signature sounds — the slow start, piano notes, uplifting tempo mid-way through, and all the "wooooahooahhs." Since its 2010 release, people have been listening to it every Christmas season.

This upbeat tune from 1988 is written by English singer Chris Rea. As such, it's popular across the pond as well, and was voted one of the UK's favorite holiday songs.

This Nat King Cole classic was originally recorded in the '40s but remains one of the top holiday songs of the 21st century. The singer released a full album of Christmas tunes in 1960, where he also covered "Deck the Halls," "Silent Night," and more. They've all remained Christmas staples.

The big band melody and his snowy accompanying music video made this an instant hit and a long-lasting one too.

Rudolph is a Christmas mainstay, and the 1949 song about the plucky reindeer has been popular for decades. Everyone from two to 92 loves this tune.

While the 1950s version of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is a popular tune for the holiday season, it's the Glee cast version that listeners are drawn to. The members of the Glee club sang this song in the season five Christmas episode of the popular Fox show.

Sung by the "Queen of Memphis Soul" Carla Thomas, this upbeat Christmastime jam gets everyone ready for the holiday season.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's powerful instrumental Christmas songs will have everyone jamming out during the holiday season. They're particularly popular when paired with Christmas lights displays.

Going to The Nutcracker ballet has long been a fun holiday outing for families, so it's not surprising that one of the songs from The Nutcracker is a popular Christmas tune. This instrumental number isn't inherently Christmassy, but its Nutcracker connection makes it a good fit for the season.

David Archuleta didn't win American Idol, but he's the only alum with a song on this list. So who's the real winner?

The Christmas movie Elf's soundtrack features a number of jazzy big band hits. "Christmas Medley" from the movie remains a must-listen for every holiday season.

This bittersweet ballad is not a very upbeat Christmas song, if you couldn't tell from the title. But it's a beautiful song with haunting lyrics all the same. It would pair well with the Coldplay "Christmas Lights" song for a unique, slower tempo-ed holiday playlist.

This song is a fun take on "Silent Night," but it's much more modern. With lyrics like, "I've made the same mistake before / Too many malls, too many stores / December traffic, Christmas rush / It breaks me till I push and shove," you'll find yourself saying, "Same." The holidays are stressful, y'all! We could all use a silent night for a change.

In this song, musician Darius Rucker imagines what God would have on His own Christmas list. It's probably pretty different than what's on ours.

The title of this '80s song says it all. Christmas is the time to say "I love you," because love is the most precious gift you can give.

Faith Hill's "Where Are You Christmas?" from the Grinch soundtrack is another holiday hit, but it's her rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" that topped music lists. It's not the only cover of this song to be a hit with listeners, but it is one of the best. Her voice is just so good.

New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi's take on this Christmas classic is one of the top streamed songs for... guess where? New Jersey! That state has serious home town pride even during Christmas.

The instrumental version of "Silent Night" is a Spotify holiday hit. But the lyrical version is always worth a listen during the Christmas season too.

The Jackson 5's fun take on "Frosty the Snowman" first came out in 1970. It's still a total bop today. It almost makes the depressing story of Frosty melting less sad.

Musician Sufjan Stevens recorded a version of this Christian hymn for his 2006 holiday album Songs for Christmas. It's a light and sweet Christian tune.

The Jackson 5's take on "Little Drummer Boy" is very different from Faith Hill's. But both renditions are unique and special in their own way and equally popular with listeners.

Straight No Chaser is an a cappella group from Indiana University, and they paid homage to their state with this song that heralds Indiana as the place "where Christmas will always be real." No surprise that "Indiana Christmas" is especially popular in Indiana, according to Spotify.

Bing Crosby's version of "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" is a classic, but the a cappella rendition by Home Free is also popular this time of year. According to Spotify, listeners in Missouri are particularly charmed by this tune.

The Phoenix version of "Alone on Christmas Day" plays in the Netflix holiday special A Very Murray Christmas. As part of that movie, actor Bill Murray guest starred on vocals. It's a real treat.

Surprise! It's another Bublé song. Well, it's a Barenaked Ladies song, but Bublé is featured on the track. That's probably part of the reason it's such a listened to tune this time of year. People just really love Michael Bublé during Christmas.

Another Trans-Siberian Orchestra hit, this one starts out slow and then hits you out of nowhere with an epic rock melody. Nothing says Christmas like head-banging to instrumental tracks, right?

Although this song wasn't originally meant to be a Christmas song, it's become synonymous with the holiday season. One of the most popular versions is the choral one, but the instrumental rendition is also a classic.

This new-age Christmas song is perfect for playing before bedtime as a seasonal lullaby. Soon you'll be dreaming of sugar plums.

No one is cooler than Bette Midler, especially when she's singing "Cool Yule" while wearing a giant red feather wig. Listening to this upbeat song will help anyone have a good Christmas.

This Sarah McLachlan ballad tells the story of Jesus' birth. He's the reason for the season, so it makes sense that this song is popular this time of year.

Unsurprisingly, one of the top streamed songs in Colorado is "Colorado Christmas." Pro tip for musicians out there: state pride songs play very well during the holidays.

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is the perfect song to kick off your holiday celebrations with because it's always true except on actual Christmas Day. And hearing Crosby croon the classic lyrics over the up-tempo melody makes every day feel like a celebration.

What do you know? It's another state-themed Christmas song. But this 1980s jam isn't just for Texans. The country twang of the vocals and melody are fun for anyone to hear, no matter where you live.

Andra Day's R&B take on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is a game changer. Her voice is silky smooth and totally transforms the tune. Check it out ASAP.

Jim Carrey's rendition of this song played in the classic holiday movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Nearly 20 years later, people still hit "play" on this song every holiday season.