Tis the season! It is officially the Holiday season, which means endless Christmas shopping while the festive music blasts through the store and every radio station plays those great Christmas hits while you try and defrost in the car! We ranked some of the most popular songs of the season from worst to best based on our own opinions. (Also, credits to Jasmine Zheng for her amazing photoshopping skills)
15. ‘O Tannenbaum
When this song was originally recommended to review, I couldn’t conjure to mind the lyrics or melody. After some researching, I learned that it is supposedly in A Charlie Brown Christmas… I have no recollection of this song, but ok. I suppose it is a classic, but I did not really enjoy the song while listening to it.
14. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
This is definitely a unique Christmas song. I like the way it is sung and the whole rhyming of the gifts listed. The childlike nature of the song is a great addition to the Christmas song playlist.
13. Blue Christmas
This song makes me want to sleep, but also stay up. The extended blues and slow beat of the song entrap me in the song and the Christmas season. I really like the different approach to a Christmas song that this provides and I appreciate the uniqueness of it.
12. Baby It’s Cold Outside
This song never fails to remind me of a sweet 1950’s romance movie. Alexa said “If you read into it, the song becomes a bit creepy.” I don’t really see how and think that it deserves to higher on this ranking, but alas.
11. Santa Baby
Talk about seduction. I mean transforming jolly old Santa Claus into a sugar daddy is an interesting take on the whole Christmas process. I think the song is great, if not a bit creepy at times.
10. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
I neither like nor dislike this song. It, like the other songs in this list, is a classic, however, I don’t think that there is anything super special about it. My personal favorite version of this song would have to be from Jackson 5. It is a fun, disco style of this song.
9. Frosty the Snowman
We didn’t really have much to say about this Christmas classic, so we’ll just summarize it in a quote from fellow Raptor Holly Manning. “I love Frosty. I think it’s a classic.”
8. Mistletoe
Such a great song. It is pretty obvious how this has become a classic. From the catchy tune to the swagger defined by Bieber, one can really appreciate the Christmas song. This is a hit from Justin Bieber’s absolute masterpiece of a Christmas album that we definitely recommend people take the time and listen to.
7. Feliz Navidad
A little Spanish influence is great during the season and the mix of both Spanish and English in the song is a great way to combine the two cultures and make a catchy song.
6. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
I actually really enjoy listening to this energetic Christmas song. It has a happy message of spreading the Christmas spirit. Definitely a must listen!
5. Jingle Bell Rock
Whenever I hear this song, or even just the name, my brain jumps straight to the movie Mean Girls. I don’t even really associate this song with Christmas anymore. It’s definitely a more upbeat and ‘boppy’ song to listen to this season.
4. All I Want for Christmas is You
A Christmas classic that never fails to get stuck in your head. There is a reason that Mariah Carrey’s song is constantly at number 1 around this season. One could even say that, through this song, she “defrosts” people into a joyous, festive mood. “It’s timeeee” for the holiday season, with this beautiful song kicking it off.
3. Last Christmas
I actually really like this song. It is different from the other songs of this season, carrying a sadder message through the lyrics, yet it is still catchy. In addition, I get very strong ‘Hallmark movie’ energy from this song.
2. White Christmas
The song is a perfect song to roll during the ending or credits of a Christmas movie. It is a great song for the Holidays and reminds me of those sit down dinners with family while it is snowing outside.
1. Drummer Boy (Justin Bieber Version)
This song is by far the least annoying Christmas song to ever exist. I love how the song goes through a journey of various sounds, from rap to a semi-traditional Christmas sound. Personally, I love the onomatopoeia of “Rum-pa-pum-pum, rum-pa-pum-pum” and I sometimes find myself just randomly singing this part of the song.
The creativity of this song is so inspiring that it creates such a beautiful feeling in me. In fact one student at AMHS believes that this is a “Fire song by one of the most talented artists of our generation.” – Harrison Crites
One of the defining parts of this song is the passion for charity. In the song it states that “It’s about time for you to give to charity” and “Give a can to a drive, let’s change the globe.” If Bieber is telling you to give, then maybe you should go out and donate.
If you want to listen to the above songs, then check out Alexa’s Christmas playlist linked below. Disclaimer: she did not put all of the songs listed in the review on this playlist (it could still be a work in progress 🤷♀️).
Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5HtVesaxJAXu2G3dMIQXgd?si=b_WtVQXUQz6Pmt9VRvw_MA
