Christmas Music

The happiest time of the year is upon us! Christmas is coming up, so why not add some holiday cheer to your everyday music? These are songs that I’ll be including in my yearly Christmas playlist and ones you should take a listen to!

Christmas music has a very specific feeling to it warm, nostalgic, cozy, and cheerful all at once. Even when the lyrics are simple, the sound of sleigh bells, orchestral strings, smooth jazz vocals, or bright pop production instantly transports you to glowing lights, fluffy scarves, and the comfort of being around the people you love. Whether it’s upbeat rock-and-roll classics or slow, sentimental ballads, Christmas songs are really built to evoke joy, togetherness, and that magical sense of childhood wonder.

Christmas music has changed a ton over the years! Early Christmas songs were deeply rooted in religious choral traditions. In the 1940s–60s, the “classic Christmas sound” was born crooners like Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland shaped what we now think of as timeless holiday music with warm vocals and big-band arrangements.

By the 1980s, pop and rock began influencing Christmas hits, giving us songs like “Last Christmas” and “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The 1990s and 2000s brought powerhouse vocalists like Mariah Carey, whose soaring pop style modernized the holiday sound. Today, artists release Christmas songs in every genre R&B, country, pop, indie, even lo-fi so the holiday spirit truly has a sound for everyone.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into full albums, here are some iconic ones worth listening to:

• Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas (The album that gave us the “All I Want for Christmas Is You”)

• Michael Bublé – Christmas (Basically the soundtrack of every mall in December)

• Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (A warm and timeless classic)

• A Motown Christmas – featuring Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Jackson 5, and more

• Bing Crosby – Merry Christmas (One of the best-selling albums of all time)

And of course, artists like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Kelly Clarkson, Pentatonix, and Ariana Grande have all carved out their own Christmas legacies with modern or inventive takes on holiday standards.

Many of these songs come to life even more during live performances. From orchestras performing “Sleigh Ride” with actual whip and sleigh bell sound effects, to Mariah Carey’s annual Christmas shows, to community choirs filling concert halls with carols—live Christmas music adds a magical energy you can feel in the room. Some artists, like Pentatonix, even tour every winter with full Christmas productions. Whether it’s a jazz trio in a cozy lounge or a giant televised special, hearing these songs live is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit.