I was planning on writing about rock Christmas songs, but as Mr. Google walked me through a few lists, I instantly became overwhelmed. I had no idea there were so many freaking Christmas songs. If I tried to compile any kind of definitive list, I’d still be writing next Christmas.
There have been Christmas albums of every genre: jazz, world music, rap, hip-hop, even multiple punk and metal albums. Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, and Kenny G. made huge fortunes off of their Christmas albums. The rock Christmas album I remember best is A Very Special Christmas, which celebrated its 25th anniversary a couple of years ago. Everyone was playing it on Christmas 1987, even my mother-in-law. It spawned several later albums as well. But there have been tons of other rock compilation albums, all the way back to the 1963 Phil Spector’s Christmas Album, which had the tragic distinction of being released on the day JFK was assassinated. And there appear to be Christmas rock singles almost beyond counting.
There are three categories of Christmas songs: traditional standards, original holiday songs, and original songs in which there is a mention of Christmas but they are really about something else. So here, in roughly chronological order, is an absolutely not-definitive list of rock Christmas songs, both well- and lesser-known:
Bobby Helms: Jingle Bell Rock (also covered by Halls and Oates)
Elvis Presley: Blue Christmas
Chuck Berry: Run Rudolph Run
Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
The Ronettes: Frosty the Snowman
The Supremes: Twinkle Twinkle Little Me
Beach Boys: Little Saint Nick
Stevie Wonder: Someday at Christmas (also done by Mary J. Blige)
Otis Redding: Merry Christmas Baby (also done by Bruce Springsteen)
Bob Seger & The Last Heard: Sock It to Me Santa
James Brown: Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto
The Beatles: Christmas Time is Here Again
John Lennon: Happy Xmas (The War is Over)
Elton John: Step Into Christmas
The Kinks: Father Christmas
Bruce Springsteen: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Jethro Tull: Ring Out, Solstice Bells
Paul McCartney: Wonderful Christmastime
David Bowie (WITH BING CROSBY!!): Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
Pretenders: 2000 Miles
Queen: Thank God It’s Christmas
Band Aid: Do They Know It’s Christmas (later covered by Far)
Prince: Another Lonely Christmas
Spinal Tap: Christmas with the Devil
Ramones: Merry Christmas
Run D.M.C.: Christmas in Hollis
U2: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (which was a cover of Darlene Love (from that ill-fated Phil Spector album I mentioned, and later performed by Death Cab for Cutie)
Eurythmics: Winter Wonderland
Stevie Nicks: Silent Night
Bon Jovi: Back Door Santa
Madonna: Santa Baby
John Mellencamp: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Henry Rollins: Twas the Night Before Christmas
Tom Petty: Christmas All Over Again
Pearl Jam: Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time)
Mariah Carey: All I Want for Christmas is You (later covered by My Chemical Romance)
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Deck the Halls
Flaming Lips: Christmas at the Zoo
The Vandals: Oi to the World
Beck: The Little Drum Machine Boy
Sting: I Saw Three Ships
Smashing Pumpkins: Christmas Time
Insane Clown Posse: Santa’s a Fat Bitch
Eels: Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas
Cyndi Lauper: Early Christmas Morning
Dave Matthews Band: Christmas Song
Pat Benetar: Christmas in America
Blink-182: I Won’t Be Home for Christmas
Coldplay: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
White Stripes: White Christmas
Linkin Park: My December
Radiohead: Winter Wonderland
Long Blondes: Christmas is Cancelled
Ravenonettes: Come On Santa
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: All I Want for Christmas
Twisted Sister: Deck the Halls
Killers: Don’t Shoot Me Santa
Hollywood Undead: Christmas in Hollywood
Alice Cooper: Santa Claws is Coming to Town
Guns N Roses: White Christmas
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve
Weezer: Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Lady Gaga: Christmas Tree
Train: Shake Up Christmas
Julian Casablancas: I Wish It Was Christmas Today
Kanye: Christmas in Harlem
Scott Weiland: O Holy Night
Patti Smith: We Three Kings
She and Him: The Christmas Waltz
(Editor adds: Bright Eyes: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas)
And what are my personal favorite Christmas songs? Without any question, The Waitresses, Christmas Wrapping and The Pogues, Fairytale of New York.
