Ah, December, you know what that means: it’s almost Christmas time. How is the preparation for Christmas going? Have you bought all these gifts already? Have you taken advantage of the Black Friday sales to give gifts (even if the offers aren’t great)? That means putting out the decorations, advanced gift planning, and of course, the Christmas playlist. By the time September rolled around, so did the iconic festive tunes in my house, whether in English, Tagalog, or any other language (one of them is in Icelandic).
So, with Christmas just a few days away, here are some songs that are definitely worth adding to that festive countdown playlist – or at least playing now as you prepare your home for one of the ‘most wonderful times of the year’. These tracks are sure to get you into that Christmas spirit, might inspire what you’re planning for this holiday season, or lead you to create your own festive playlist.
“All I want for Christmas is you”
Artist: Mariah Carey
It’s the essential Christmas song. Are you kidding me? It’s on everyone’s playlist. If you don’t know this song or haven’t heard it once, this must be a solid track because even malls and department stores would play it. Since its release in 1994, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Mariah Carey has become a beloved Christmas anthem, not only for its instrumentation but also for its lyrics about wanting to be with someone rather than receiving a physical gift. It’s a festive love song to sing about, and it’s now a must-have.
This song is so iconic and so widely played that, on the Billboard Hot 100, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was number one in 2024. The same can be said for the 2023 charts and those of previous years, and the song will likely peak again in 2025… if it can beat “Golden” by Demon Hunters Kpop And Taylor Swift.
Fun fact: Carey is aware that the streaming numbers for “All I Want For Christmas Is You” increase every time September rolls around, as Filipinos prepare for the festive holiday months in advance. She made a social media post in 2023 in response to a report on the song’s streaming numbers in September, stating: “I will allow it for my Filipino lambs, however, I don’t make the rules.”
“Last Christmas”
Artist: Wham!
Alongside Carey, Bang!“Last Christmas” by is also an iconic track to listen to if you want to get into the Christmas spirit, and a must-have to add to those Christmas countdown playlists. Released in 1984, “Last Christmas” is somewhat of the opposite of Carey’s festive hit, as it is a sad song about heartbreak and the singer hoping to give his heart “to someone special” or someone different. It’s depressing, but it’s still loved by many and has become a huge hit. It has been presented in several countries and in 2019, a film inspired by the song was made.
last Christmas was a 2019 romantic comedy starring Emilie Clarke And Henry Goldinggrossing over $123.4 million at the box office and receiving positive reviews from critics. Unlike the song, which is about sadness and heartbreak, the film put a surprising spin on the lyrics “Last Christmas I gave you my heart”, revealing that Golding’s character Tom Webster was an organ donor. It’s not every day that a song becomes the basis of a film.
Another great thing about “Last Christmas” is that you don’t have to listen to the Wham! version if the instrumentation is not to your taste. Many artists have covered this song to death, and it’s on almost every Christmas album. Among the few people who sang “Last Christmas” were Swift, Ariana Grande, Joy’s Léa Michelle And Cory Monteith, The Wigglesand, curiously, Crazy Frog.
“Mittens”
Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen
Before being known for her viral hit “Call Me Maybe”, Carly Rae Jepsen released an original Christmas song in 2010 called “Mittens”. It’s a cute, wholesome love song set around Christmas or the run-up to the holiday season, in which the singer recalls holding someone’s hand, evoking a warm, mitten-like feeling. In a way, it’s Jepsen’s version of “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” with that festive sound we all know and love, carrying the message of wanting to be with someone. But at the same time, it was a precursor to Jepsen’s innocent “lovey-dovey” lyrics that would later appear in the singer’s other notable tracks like “I Really Like You” and “Cut To The Feeling.”
All these songs, including covers, are available for streaming on Spotfiy, YouTube and other music platforms.
