If you feel you’ve been inundated with overplayed Christmas songs, you may not be interested in Christmas music (especially if you work in retail like me and hear Christmas songs for hours on end multiple days a week). Even though I very rarely willingly play this genre of music, there are a few songs reflecting the holiday that I’d gladly listen to. What follows are my five favorite songs of the season:
5. Kacey Musgraves – “Present Without a Bow” (ft. Leon Bridges)
By far the least recognizable song on this list, “Present Without a Bow” is a pleasant, easy-listening song written by the country artist and released in 2016 on her Christmas album, A Very Kacey Christmas. The singer’s melodic voice and Leon Bridges’ soulful, blues-inspired vocals lend themselves to creating a comforting yet somber song about missing a significant other during the holiday season.
4. José Feliciano – “Feliz Navidad”
As the oldest song on this list, “Feliz Navidad” offers a simpler, easier listening experience compared to the busier, classic Christmas songs that came after it. Its use of the acoustic guitar and the cuatro (a native Puerto Rican stringed instrument) makes it an upbeat, cheery song that has yet to feel old.
3. WHAM! – “Last Christmas”
This song is by far the most overplayed song on this list. However, I have not gotten sick of this song even though it feels like one of the same ten repetitive Christmas songs played at my job. Despite that, the nature of it being a synth-pop song makes me think of it as more of a quintessential 80s song instead of a classic Christmas song. Despite being one of the most popular Christmas songs, its uniqueness among the other classics makes it one I don’t mind hearing.
2. Kelly Clarkson – “Underneath the Tree”
Chock Full of sleigh bells, bell chimes, an upbeat tempo, and a saxophone solo, many of this song’s aspects are seen in other Christmas songs. What makes this song stand out is Clarkson’s powerful voice. There are few singers out there who can invoke the emotion that she does. That lends to this song being one of the most popular Christmas songs (and I don’t mind hearing it consistently all holiday season).
1. Mariah Carey – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
There’s not much to say besides that this song is one of the best from Mariah Carey and, in my opinion, is the best Christmas song. The world would be a better place if Mariah Carey’s best Christmas song was played as frequently as her most popular one. But alas, it will likely remain one of the most underrated Christmas songs in existence.