12 – “All I Want for Christmas is You” – Mariah Carey

This is an absolutely iconic release from Mariah Carey. It is also the only reason she guards any relevance in a post-Taylor-Swift world. The song is everything a Christmas carol should be; it had the jungle bells, the festive vocab, and a killer, Santa-themed album cover. Unfortunately, it’s nothing that hasn’t been done before, thus being the last place on my list.  

11 - A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra

Number 11 is not one song but an entire album. Sinatra’s Christmas album is the epitome of Christmas nostalgia. Every song on this album will throw you straight back to 4th grade when Christmas was all joy and no stress. Unfortunately, I didn’t necessarily enjoy the 4th grade too much, as that’s when my parents got divorced, so this album is being placed toward the end of the list. 

10 – “Blue Christmas” – Elvis Presley

This song makes me think about when I got into my record phase in middle school, and I found Elvis’ Christmas record in a weird gas station in the middle of nowhere. I appreciate how Elvis didn’t buy into the whole *sleigh bells and tinsel* tropes of normal Christmas music, instead opting for an island sound. Even still, he managed to keep it Christmaslike (probably because he says Christmas in every other line). Down with white Christmas! It doesn’t snow in Louisiana anyway, so I could never relate. 

9 – “Mistletoe” – Justin Bieber

This is one of three Justin Bieber songs I know and easily my favorite. After the release of “Mistletoe,” I personally believe Bieber should have stopped releasing music and allowed himself to be known as Hailey Bieber’s husband. Regardless of my personal opinions on the artist, I think this is a very simple yet sweet song. It is exactly what someone expects and wants from a Bieber Christmas song

8 – “Santa Baby” – Eartha Kitt

There are a lot of versions of this song, but none are quite as fantastic and alluring as Kitt’s rendition. I’ve listened to some that are trying too hard, some that are trying too little, and some that shouldn’t be trying. Kitt brings the perfect about of jazz to this Christmas classic. 

7 – “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” – Elmo & Patsy

I’m a big fan of narrative songs, and this one is just too much fun. Not only is it nostalgic, it’s chaotic. Gramma forgot her meds?! And then got run over???!!!!! By SANTA? And then Grandpa doesn’t even care?! It just gives incredible A Christmas Story vibes. 

6 – “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” – Michael Bublé

I’m not sure what to say about this one. It’s Bublé. Duh. 

5 – “The Polar Express”

Imagine: It’s December 19th, 2009. You’re in elementary school, and it’s the last day before Christmas break begins. Your school tells all the parents that the students can come to school in pajamas. You show up in a matching two-piece set with teddy bears on it. You sit down in your homeroom, and the teacher has no lesson planned. Instead, she hands out powdered donuts and hot chocolate, cuts the lights, and turns on The Polar Express. The theme song plays after the main characters board the train. Life is so good, and you are happy. This song is 5th on the list. 

4 – “Sleigh Ride” – Ella Fitzgerald

I’ve always had a sweet spot for Ella Fitzgerald, indeed, I believe most of the musical world has a soft spot for Ella. “Sleigh Ride” keeps all the familiarity of Fitzgerald’s most popular styles while incorporating a holiday vibe. The “Giddy-Yup” of the pre-chorus is an unforgettable part of the Christmas music discography. This song is sure to put any holiday lover in a laid-back spirit. 

3 – “Feliz Navidad” – José Feliciano 

Are you a dancer? Do you like to dance around your room when a good song comes on or to up your spirits? Then this Christmas song is for you. The very first notes cause my shoulders to shimmy and my toes to tap. By the chorus, I’m positively bopping to this wonderful example of Christmas music. The integration of Latin music aspects seamlessly fits into the Christmas genre. I will play this song in April, July, or any time I want an upbeat, fun song. 

1. – “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – Thurl Ravenscroft

The Grinch featuring Jim Carrey is an institution of Christmas movies as well as this author’s personal favorite Christmas movie. This song incorporates all the same aspects of dry humor. The lines “I wouldn’t touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half-foot pole” and “your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots” are two of the most devastating roasts in media’s history. For the eloquent wording alone, this song deserves the second spot on this list. 

1 – “Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)” – Lou Monte, Joe Reisman’s Orchestra and Chorus

Now, this is not a typical pick for the best Christmas song. In fact, seldom is it that I find someone who knows this majestic masterpiece. It’s offbeat, it’s unexpected, it’s underground, and it awakens the Italian in all of us. The human mimic of a donkey’s bray throughout the song is one of the highest compliments humans bestowed upon the animal kingdom. The simplistic lyrics and relatable storyline make this song accessible to listeners of all ages. May your holiday season be as exciting as “Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey).”

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