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After all the Turkey was gone, adult contemporary radio stations around the nation turned on their melodramatic, sappy Christmas tunes that will drone on until a week after Christmas. While there are far too many duds in the epic catalog of Christmas songs, there are some that true music fans can still enjoy without incurring any shame. Here are some of the best Christmas songs ever written.
“White Christmas”
Bing Crosby
(1947)
Does it really get any better than Mr. Crosby belting out this gorgeous song? Sure he was a drunken wife-beater, but this legendary crooner sure does know how to get people’s chestnuts roasting. Along with the classic movie of the same name, Crosby’s “White Christmas” is heartwarming enough to get any Scrooge in the Christmas spirit.
“Blue Christmas”
Elvis Presley
(1957)
It is hard to have an American Christmas without listening to the bastion of Americanism belting out his classic hit, “Blue Christmas.” What is so great about this song is that it is catchy and uplifting in a way, a quality many sad Christmas songs do not possess. The King sure knows how to make people hurt so good during the holiday season. Much like his entire catalog and the aura of his persona, “Blue Christmas” will surely be played in America during the holidays for the rest of time.
“Please Come Home for Christmas”
The Eagles
(1978)
The award for best Christmas guitar solo goes to The Eagles. The prolific American rock band’s cover of Charles Brown’s 1960s sap-fest is a delicious blend of chop chords, Don Henley’s beautifully husky voice and Don Felder tearing into a 30-second solo like a kid through presents on Christmas morning. Much like Presley, this song succeeds because it brings in the sad element inherent in most Christmas songs while uplifting the listener at the same time. Christmas listeners and Eagles fans alike often forget this song but it is truly one of the greatest Christmas songs ever made.
“Happy Christmas (War Is Over)”
John Lennon
(1971)
Hawk or Dove, you gotta love this song. It is classic Lennon subversive war-protest as he does not say anything about war in his lyrics but, rather, leaves the protest up to his wife, Yoko Ono, who belts out “War Is Over If You Want It” during the voices in her strange, original voice. While some may find the song offensive, it is hard not to like this catchy tune written by one half of the greatest songwriting team in history. Much like the best songs in Lennon’s solo catalog, “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” is just Lennon singing a simple song with little to no frills.
“A Mad Russian’s Christmas”
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
(1996)
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is great at taking Christmas and making it rock. Using heavily distorted power chords and blistering solos, the TSO takes this classic tune and brings out the metal in it to ensure that head-bangers of all ages are able to celebrate Christmas the way that they want to. Until Christmas starts seeping into the awesome world of heavy metal, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is the best way to get a good old holiday fashioned face-melting.
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
Various Artists
(1943)
A standard tune done by countless singers since it was written in the forties, this is the greatest Christmas song written for those with broken hearts. What is so impressive about the song is that the speaker talks about being home for Christmas throughout the entire song until the surprise ending where she says that she will be home “if only in her dreams” thus, suggesting that she probably will not be home at all. How heartbreaking.
Well there you have it, some of the best Christmas tunes ever made. It is always hard to listen to Christmas songs for four weeks, but hidden gems like these make it a little easier to bear. So whether you are a Santa or a Scrooge, keep your ear to the radio and you just might get lucky.
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