Your Top 5 Christmas Songs of all time

Oh definitely a tough one! Top one is easy for me but the next 4 were very hard to narrow down.

The one thing they all have in common is really strong opening bars. They are the kind of songs where if you hear the first couple of bars in the car, you’ll definitely go to turn it up

5. Do they know it’s Christmas - Band Aid
4. Driving home for Christmas - Chris Rea
3. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
2. It’s the most wonderful time of the year - Andy Williams
1. All I want for Christmas is you - Mariah Carey

1. "Christmastime is Here" is an absolute fave - Daniela Andrade does a lovely version
2. "River" is always good - Sarah McLachlans arrangement is nice
3. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Helen Merrill and Mel Torme
4. "A Christmas Love Song" - Babrba Streisand
5. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" - I like Lady Antebellums rendition

I was reading this thread last night & decided I'd take some time to have a little think before jumping in, also didn't fancy typing loads on the phone, my typing on a standard keyboard is bad enough (trying to go too fast for my feeble typing skills) but on a mobile..... good luck!

Anyway, my top 5 Christmas tunes!!

5. Band Aid (1984) : Do they Know its Christmas
From the very first time I heard this song as an impressionable 12yo I loved it. The simple melody, the intro & the rousing sing along chorus. Despite the serious nature of the song itself and the reason for its creation I cant help but tap along or sing along to it when it comes on the radio. A highlight over the years was Gavin & Smithy singing it in the original Gavin & Stacey christmas Special. This is always on my christmas playlist as one of the opening 3 to kick start the christmas vibe.

4. Prokofiev : Troika
Not a song, but for me the quintessential christmas tune/piece of music that for many many years I just instantly 'go to' christmas when I hear it. Tom Dunne used it as his intro on his Radio show when his Newstalk show was on in the mornings for the month December & I used to love listening in & hearing it every morning in work.

3. Bing Crosby : Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas
A surprise entry for me, I definitely wouldn't have had this in my top 5 a few years ago, but its association with the launch of Christmas FM has catapulted it up my own chart. Not a fan of the cover versions, especially Michael Buble's (Just can't take to covers for Christmas tunes) but have grown to really love the original, so a solid mid table entry for Mr Crosby!

2. The Pogues & Kirsty McColl : Fairytale of New York
What's left to be said about this behemoth of a song, for me Christmas wouldnt be Christmas without this in the background, and I do my best to avoid hearing it until Christmas FM launches to ensure it isnt overplayed & potentially have my enjoyment of it diluted in any way. I have great memories of belting this out in my younger years on Christmas Eve in the local with my mates, and will always associate it with those fantastic nights.

1. Andy Williams : Its the most wonderful time of the year
It was always going to take something special to beat FONY to the No.1 spot in my Christmas chart, but just like in 1987, the pogues have been topped by a surprise entry, this time its not the Pet Shop Boys but by Mr Christmas himself, Andy Williams. The funny thing is, despite song being considerably older than i am (& that's saying something) for years it was out of popularity & didnt really appear on the radio or Christmas compilation albums for quite some time. It first came back to my attention around 2007 when visiting my now in-laws who had a 5ft tall dancing santa that played music, and the first song was always this one, when the kids came along they associated this song with visits to nanny & Grandad at Christmas and insisted on me playing it all the time, to the point where it has become our family Christmas anthem of sorts. Theres been many mnay cover versions, but for me the original will never be topped & I never tire of hearing this song, its simple melody, charming lyrics and the smooth velvety tones of Andy Williams voice makes this an easy choice for my Christmas No.1

Loughc wrote: »

DVB in with a BANG! Great work man!

And thank you for number 4 Prokofiev : Troika, I never knew what that was called and boy am I glad to have found it. I love that piece of music, it's so uplifting, and used in almost every Christmas advert at some stage haha

The gas thing is the music itself has nothing to do with Christmas but like many songs is totally associated with it now, though whoever put the two together is a genius! I absolutely adore it.

I thought this would be a lot easier that it was. List and order changed a few times!!

'The phone lines are now closed, in no particular order (not), though to next week are'...........


5. Chris Rea- Driving home for Christmas
This song has grown on me over the last few years mainly from listen to Christmas FM in the car. I love hearing stories of people saying they play this as drive home to see family at Christmas.

4. Wham- Last Christmas
My ultimate sing along Christmas song. Can remember singing this (badly!) at many Christmas parties, nights out and now just around the house.

3. Bing Crosby- It's being to look a lot like Christmas
Childhood memories and Christmas FM. Enough said.

2. The Pogues- Fairytale of New York
I dare anyone to listen to this and not sing along at some stage. As DvB said has a bit of everything.

1. Bing Crosby- White Christmas
One of my favorite Christmas memories as a child was Christmas day and we would come back from church, my Dad would go into the front room, put Bing's Christmas album on (vinyl), get a glass of sherry and hum along. That memory and song will stay with me for ever.

1. Driving Home for Xmas - Chris Rea
This has been a family favourite for years, universally liked by all, never any arguments. The trip home from the UK a week before Xmas every year becomes more magical the closer to "home" this is played. One year I caught it 5 minutes away and it was brilliant.

2. It's the Most Wonderful Time - Andy Williams
My Mam, God rest her was a huge Andy fan so his Xmas albums always get repeated play around that time of year. It's just a brilliantly up tempo Xmas song too and I loved the M&S advert that used it. They went together brilliantly.

3. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
I was never a huge fan growing up but as I got older and moved abroad it began to resonate more and more and I became aware of the brilliance of it. It's the one Xmas song I'd argue is almost uncoverable. Almost. Christy Moore's stripped down version is excellent.


I'm going to be controversial and omit a 4 and 5.
I actually find that every year an older song will hit me at the right time and I can't get enough of it but will lose it's impact next year. Additionally on Spotify there are so many great playlists now, new versions of songs are excellent.

I think if I had to choose for now, based on last year, it would be:
4. Last Xmas - Can't recall the singer it's on the Coffeehouse Christmas playlist on Spotify

5. It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas - Perry Como
First Xmas, in our own house, with my then 9 month old son, it was the "holly on your own front door" lyric. Such an apt, true lyric.


If I remember, I'll come back on Xmas Eve and update 4 and 5!

I'd normally stay away from Christmas stuff until (Mid!) December as I dont like it being drawn out but with everything thats going on, a bit of festive cheer is well needed. So my order is (some of these are a bit left field!)
I also have found the last few years that radio stations are concentrating on the same christmas songs (Mariah & the Pogues) so its nice to hear songs that arent played as much. I used to religiously hear the Frog Chorus and Frankie Goes to Hollywood on Christmas eve but I havent heard them the last few years, maybe they were played.


5) Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin Stevens.
I'm torn between this and Last Christmas. Probably went with this one as it was my favourite as a child!

4) Stop the Cavalry - Jona Lewie
It can imagine the hurt that soldiers must have felt being away from home on Christmas Eve.

3) Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
Just love it. My mother loves it as she had a long commute to work and used to hear it on the last drive home for the christmas holidays.

2) I Believe in Father Chrismas - Greg Lake
Magical song. Nearly an anti christmas song. The emotion he sings the song with.

1) Same Auld Lang Syne - Dan Fogleberg.
I think that this song is a brilliant song, no matter the time of the year! I've often listened to it in the middle of summer! Its sang with such emotion and we all can relate to meeting someone who might be the 1 that got away. Its not a typical christmas song and its not played that much, often played down home on NYE on local radio and that probably helps me love it even more.



Ah FFS, theres so many....Power of Love, Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy, When a Child if Born, Do They Know Its Christmas Time

Loughc wrote: »

Welcome along, always great to have new posters

Fantastic list!

thanks, I occasionally think of popping by to see the countdown during the summer but its very sporadic. Maybe its having 2 kids now and the oldest 1 maybe beginning to understand Santy a bit now has me excited!

bmorrissey wrote: »

Honorable mention to Wham; last Christmas: Solely because this was played during our wedding two years ago by mistake (in mid june at 25 degrees) during the meal. everyone had a good laugh and always reminds me of that

Finally, it get another mention, not in top 5 however will take it.

Really thought this song would feature more!

Loughc wrote: »

Last summer when I was on holidays (remember them) our hotel had a Geroge Michael tribute act and it was painfully obvious he only knew 3 or 4 George Michael songs when he busted out Last Christmas.... in the middle of Summer... in 35 degrees heat...

Absolute great list by you. Darkness great choice!

There is (or was) a pub in Sydney, the Lord Nelson in the Rocks area, that used to have an Irish band in to do the Sunday session every week. Was always rammed.

But every session, regardless of month or season, they’d finish with Fairytale of New York. And every single person in the pub would sing along with it.

It’s a testament to the Irish connection and grá for Christmas that we get away with this 52 weeks of the year