Top 10 Christmas Songs – The Essential Holiday Playlist for Music Lover
The Sound of a Christmas
There’s a moment every December when everyone collectively shifts into Christmas mode. Maybe it’s the first frost on the windows, maybe it’s the supermarket mince pies returning far too early… but more often than not, it’s music.
Christmas songs are more than tradition — they’re comfort, nostalgia, warmth, and pure festive energy wrapped into three minutes of magic. Whether they pour from an old radio or crackle through a turntable, they’re the soundtrack of the season.
Here are the Top 10 Christmas Songs that make a Christmas feel complete — each with its own story, cultural imprint, and generation-spanning charm.
1. “Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
No Christmas playlist in the UK is complete without this gritty, chaotic, beautiful masterpiece. Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl captured the raw edges of life and love in a way no other festive track has matched. It’s heartfelt, it’s messy, it’s poetic — and utterly iconic.
2. “Last Christmas” – Wham!
A synth-pop time capsule wrapped in heartbreak and snow. George Michael crafted one of the most beloved festive songs ever recorded, complete with a music video featuring perfect 80s styling, ski-lodge drama, and unforgettable hair.
3. “Merry Xmas Everybody” – Slade
Nothing says British Christmas like Noddy Holder screaming, “IT’S CHRIIIISTMAAAS!” Loud, joyous and drenched in glittering glam-rock confidence — this song has been filling living rooms, pubs and shops with cheer since 1973.
4. “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” – Wizzard
A brass section, children’s choir and pure festive exuberance. This is Christmas joy at full volume — and it brings a blast of childhood nostalgia every time.
5. “Driving Home for Christmas” – Chris Rea
Smooth, mellow, and quietly emotional. Perfect for late-night motorway drives, foggy windows and the anticipation of returning home to warmth, family and holiday lights.
6. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” – Band Aid
More than a song — a cultural moment. With an unforgettable lineup of 80s legends, it remains one of the most important British musical projects of all time.
7. “Step Into Christmas” – Elton John
Sparkling, upbeat and utterly infectious. Elton brought glam-pop brilliance to the festive season, and it’s impossible to hear this without feeling your mood lift instantly.
8. “Wonderful Christmastime” – Paul McCartney
A whimsical slice of synth wonder. Quirky, warm and unmistakably McCartney — it’s the sound of tinsel and twinkling lights.
9. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey
A modern classic adored in Britain just as much as everywhere else. Mariah brought festive sparkle back to the charts and created a track that defines December.
10. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” – John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Reflective, meaningful and deeply moving - Lennon turned Christmas into a message of hope. A poetic, timeless piece with both tenderness and weight.
Bring Christmas to Life on Vinyl
Whether you’re curating the perfect festive playlist or gifting someone a nostalgic classic, nothing captures the magic quite like vinyl. The warmth, the crackle, the ritual - it’s Christmas in sound form.
Explore thousands of records across categories like vinyl, CDs, cassettes and turntables at Vinyl Castle — the perfect soundtrack to your festive season.
