Top 10 Holiday Songs

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the best way to start it off is by listening to the top 10 Christmas songs based on Billboard’s Holiday 100 as of December 8, 2017.

  1. Starting off the list at #1 is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas is You”, written by Mariah Carey herself and Walter Afanasieff. The hit song was recorded in August of 1994 and later released in November 1, 1994. The song was nominated for World Music Award for World’s Best Song and World Music Award for World’s Best Video back in 2014.  To watch the video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY
  2. Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” takes its place at #2. At only 13 years old, Lee recorded the song written by Johnny Marks. After being recorded in late 1958, it was later released that year. Listen to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xNuUEnh2g
  3. Written by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé, a song commonly known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” or “Merry Christmas to You”, Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song” is a holiday classic released in 1946. The song is still holding it’s place #3 on Billboard’s Holiday 100. To listen to this holiday classic, visit  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6usS7Yi3PLE
  4. Looking for a song to define Christmas? Look no further than Andy Williams “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Recorded and released in 1963, Andy Williams made Edward Pola and George Wyle’s song a hit that other artists have gone on to record. To listen, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtb3EtjEic
  5. Want a holly jolly Christmas? Listen to Burl Ives “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.” Originally written by Johnny Marks in 1962, “A Holly Jolly Christmas” came out in 1964 and has since then become a Christmas favorite, most famously performed by Burl Ives. Listen to the song by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Em2Ixvefo
  6. Originally written and produced by George Michael, the Wham! duo released the popular song “Last Christmas” back in 1984. Since it was released, the song has been recorded by many artists. Listen to the Wham! duo’s version via the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI
  7. Bobby Helms recorded “Jingle Bell Rock” back in 1957. Written by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe, Helms recording has made the song a hit holding at #3 on Billboard’s Holiday 100. Listen to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBjN7qVFcrY
  8. “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” was written during a heatwave in Hollywood, California by composer Jule Styne and lyricist Sammy Cahn in July 1945. The composer and lyricist imagined a much cooler condition at the time, but their imagination quickly became number one on Billboard Best Sellers Music Chart in late January of 1946, thanks to recorder Vaughn Monroe. Today, Dean Martin’s version has become more well known holding at #8 on the holiday 100. Listen via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2uvtl-1V70
  9. Written, recorded, and released in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer and songwriter, José Feliciano is credited with the making of the original version of “Feliz Navidad.” This is a song first charted on the US Billboard Hot 100 more than two decades after it was first recorded. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMtuVP8Mj4o to listen to “Feliz Navidad.”
  10. Holding at number 10 is Bing Crosby’s version of “White Christmas.” This song was written in only 18 minutes by Irving Berlin. Many versions of the song have been released since it’s recording, but Crosby’s holiday classic was the one that went on to become the best selling record ever with over 50 million copies sold globally. View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9QLn7gM-hY to listen.

For weekly updates on the Holiday 100, visit https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-holiday-songs