Ava-May RooneyThe Christmas season is upon us, and nothing sets the festive mood like the right music. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a huge party, crafting the perfect Christmas party playlist is essential.
To make it easier, we’ve curated a Christmas musical selection that spans genres and decades, from Christmas classics to reggae Christmas hits. Courtesy of Encore Musicians, the UK’s largest musicians’ bookings platform, here’s the ultimate Christmas party playlist, tailored just for you.
Christmas songs from every genre
Popular Christmas Songs
1. Bing Crosby – “White Christmas”
2, Nat King Cole – “The Christmas Song”
3. Frank Sinatra – “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”
4. Dean Martin – “Winter Wonderland”
5. Ella Fitzgerald – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Carol Songs
1. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
2. “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
3. “Silent Night”
4. “O Holy Night”
5. “Away in a Manger”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas Pop Songs
1. Mariah Carey – “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
2. Michael Bublé – “Holly Jolly Christmas”
3. Ariana Grande – “Santa Tell Me”
4. Justin Bieber – “Mistletoe”
5. Kylie Minogue – “Santa Baby”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas RnB Songs
1. Donell Jones – “My Gift to You”
2. Mary J. Blige – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
3. TLC – “Sleigh Ride”
4. Aaliyah – “The Christmas Song”
5. Anthony Hamilton – “Please Come Home for Christmas”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas Rap Songs
1.Run-DMC – “Christmas in Hollis”
2. Dax – GRINCH GOES VIRAL
3. OutKast – “Player’s Ball”
4. Snoop Dogg – “Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto”
5. De La Soul – “Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas Rock Songs
1. Chuck Berry – “Run Rudolph Run”
2. Bruce Springsteen – “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
3. The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale of New York”
4. John Lennon – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
5. Queen – “Thank God It’s Christmas”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas Jazz Songs
1. Louis Armstrong – “Zat You, Santa Claus?”
2. Diana Krall – “Let It Snow”
3. Harry Connick Jr. – “Sleigh Ride”
4. Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
5. Tony Bennett – “My Favorite Things”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas Folk Songs
1. Joni Mitchell – “River”
2. Simon & Garfunkel – “7 O’Clock News / Silent Night”
2. Fleet Foxes – “White Winter Hymnal”
3. The Civil Wars – “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
4. Iron & Wine – “Winter Prayers”
5. Sufjan Stevens – “Silver & Gold”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas Reggae Songs
1. Jacob Miller and Ray I – “Silver Bells”
2. Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child
3. John Holt – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
4. Toots and the Maytals – “Happy Christmas”
5. Yellowman – “Santa Claus Never Comes to the Ghetto”
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Celtic Christmas songs
Irish Christmas Songs
1. “The Wexford Carol”
2. “Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil” (That Night in Bethlehem)
3. “The Darkest Midnight”
4. “Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
5. “Christmas in Killarney” – The Irish Rovers
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Welsh Christmas Songs
1. “Suo Gân”
2. “Deck the Halls (Ar Hyd y Nos)”
3. “Pan Fo’r Nos Yn Hir (While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night)”
4. “Dydd Nadolig Blwyddyn Newydd Dda” (We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year)
5. “Carol y Seren” (The Star Carol)
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Scottish Christmas Songs
- “Tha Nollaig a’ Teannachd (Christmas is Coming)”
2. “Jingle Bells” – The McCallans
3. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” – Billy McIntyre & His All Star Ceilidh Band
4. “Auld Lang Syne” – Susan Boyle
You can listen to the rest on Spotify:
Christmas songs by instruments
Best Christmas Songs for Piano
-
“O Holy Night”
This classic Christmas carol has a sweeping, melodic line that sounds incredibly rich on the piano. It provides opportunities for pianists to practice expressive playing and build their technique.
2. “Silent Night”
With its slow tempo and beautiful, flowing melody, “Silent Night” allows pianists to showcase their expressiveness and emotion through careful phrasing and dynamics.
3. “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
This carol’s majestic melody and harmonies sound beautiful on the piano. It provides opportunities for pianists to practice smooth legato playing and experiment with expressive phrasing.
Best Christmas Songs for Guitar
- “Deck the Halls”
This lively and upbeat song is fun to play on the guitar. Its repetitive chord structure and cheerful melody make it a great choice for both beginners and intermediate players.
2. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
This timeless song carries a meaningful message and is often played with acoustic guitar accompaniment. Its chords are relatively simple, making it suitable for guitar players of different skill levels.
3. “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano
This bilingual Christmas song features a catchy rhythm and easy-to-play chords, making it a popular choice for guitarists, especially for those looking to add a festive Latin vibe to their holiday repertoire.
Best Christmas Songs for Harp
- “The First Noel”
The flowing melody of this carol translates beautifully on the harp. Its uplifting and melodic nature allows harpists to showcase the instrument’s expressive capabilities, creating a serene and magical ambience.
2. “Away in a Manger”
The gentle and tender melody of this lullaby-like carol is well-suited for the harp. Harpists can emphasise the song’s sweetness and innocence, creating a heartwarming and soothing rendition.
3. “What Child Is This?”
Based on the melody of the traditional English folk song “Greensleeves,” this carol has a timeless quality that suits the harp exceptionally well. The harp’s ability to sustain notes and create harmonics complements the song’s melancholic atmosphere.
Best Christmas Songs for Violin
- “Ave Maria”
This timeless piece, often associated with Christmas, has a beautiful melody that sounds exquisite on the violin. Its reverent and tranquil atmosphere makes it a popular choice for holiday performances
2. “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
This traditional carol has a gentle and peaceful melody that works beautifully on the violin. Violinists can focus on creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere, allowing the song’s simplicity to shine..
3. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
This humorous and light-hearted song is often enjoyed by audiences of all ages. Violinists can have fun with the playful melody and add expressive nuances to enhance the song’s charm.
Best Christmas Songs for Saxophone
- “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
This upbeat and cheerful song is perfect for saxophone players. Its catchy melody and festive vibe allow for expressive playing and creative interpretations.
2. “Winter Wonderland”
The jazzy melody of this song makes it a great choice for saxophone players. Its swing rhythm allows for improvisation and creative embellishments, showcasing the saxophone’s versatility.
3. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
This heartfelt ballad is well-suited for the expressive nature of the saxophone. Saxophonists can focus on emotive playing and smooth, lyrical phrases to convey the song’s sentiment.
Conclusion
As you wrap up your playlist with this diverse list of the best Christmas songs of all time to get everyone in the festive spirit for the holiday season. From the timeless classics of Bing Crosby and Mariah Carey to the soulful tunes of R&B and the energetic beats of rap, your playlist promises a musical journey that resonates with everyone.
Music has the ability to bring people together, creating an atmosphere of joy, warmth, and togetherness. Whether you’re dancing to the rhythm of pop hits, feeling the soulful melodies of jazz, or embracing the contemporary vibes of electronic and rap, these carefully curated songs are sure to enhance your holiday gathering.
So, as the melodies fill the air and your guests find themselves captivated by the tunes, let the music be the backdrop to the laughter, the shared stories, and the cherished moments.
If you’re looking for live music to bring these classics to life, browse our varied collection of talented Christmas musicians.