Top 10 Christmas Songs

1. “THE CHRISTMAS SONG (CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE)” BY NAT KING COLE
Originally recorded in 1946 by Cole, and re-recorded in 1953 and 1961 can be heard every Christmas season. It's the 1961 version that you will hear and is by far the most famous of the recordings. This song has been covered and re-recorded by a multitude of artists, but none will ever match Cole.

2. “BLUE CHRISTMAS” BY ELVIS PRESLEY
Originally recorded by country singer Ernest Tubb, the most famous version of this song is recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957 in his own unique rock n' roll style. Absolutely one of the greatest Christmas songs period… no matter who covers it.

3. “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
No Christmas song list could even get started without a touch of Bing, heck he could have a top 10 all to himself, but his version, originally recorded in 1942 stands the test of time. This song topped the U.S. charts on three separate occasions, 1942, 1945 and 1946, the only song in history to do so.

4. “ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE” BY BRENDA LEE
Recorded in 1958 this song didn't gain steam until the 1960s, and even hit number five on the charts in 1984. Today it's still a cool pop-rockabilly Christmas song that receives a great deal of airplay, and has been covered by the likes of Alvin and the Chipmunks and Miley Cyrus. Still, no one does it like Brenda.

5. “HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS BY BURL IVES”
You probably know this acclaimed folk music singer as Sam the Snowman (the narrator) from the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer kids Christmas show. Originally recorded by the Quinto Sisters, Burl has taken it and made it his own, and his rendition is by far the most famous and the one you're most likely to hear on the radio this holiday season.

6. “RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER” BY GENE AUTRY
The singing cowboy put his voice to this song in 1949, and it went on to sell two million copies and is noted as the second best selling Christmas song ever behind Bing Crosby's “White Christmas.” Interestingly, this song is the third written by Johnny Marks that has made the list, the others were the previous two.

7.“IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS” BY JOHNNY MATHIS
Originally a hit by Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters in 1951, Mathis put his spin on it in 1986, and it's this version that was included in the movie Home Alone 2: Lost in New York that has re-popularized the song. You can't go wrong with either version though, but you're more likely to hear Mathis' version on the radio.

8. “FELIZ NAVIDAD” BY JOSÉ FELICIANO
Written and released by Felicano in 1970 this has probably become his most famous recording. It has been covered by many artists and is now a traditional part of the musical landscape in the U.S, Canada and Latin America around Christmas time.

9. “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU” BY MARIAH CAREY
OK, this one is for you kids who wouldn't know the difference between Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or Al Martino. It was this or Band Aid's “Do They Know It's Christmas?” Which I never quite got as a Christmas song. Anyways, Carey recorded this in 1994 and it is by far Carey's biggest selling single of alltime. Notice it was recorded when she was far more classy and a lot less skanky.

10. “SANTA BABY” BY EARTHA KITT
This tongue in cheek song was first recorded in 1953, and redone in 1963 with a more upbeat sound (later covered by Madonna). The sultry siren Kitt's 1953 version (also known for playing Catwoman in 1960's Batman television series) is by far my most favourite rendition. Remade a million times over the years, I'll give props to Kylie Minogue's 2007 version for her own sultry siren look.

Finally, in compiling this list I wanted to avoid repeat artists or songs originally made famous by artists on this list. Still I'm left kicking myself for leaving tunes like I saw “Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Jimmy Boyd, “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “Merry Christmas Darling” by Carpenters, “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms and “Snoopy's Christmas” by The Royal Guardsman off this list. Anyway, enjoy the Yuletide tunes.