As I begin Day 2 of my insanely long countdown of my favorite modern Christmas songs, I am reminded that there are only 10 more shopping days until the big day. Yes, I know that all this gift-giving is NOT the true purpose of Christmas. As a Christian living in the USA in the twenty-first century, I am more than a little cynical about what I believe are the beliefs of what I call American Christianity. I promise not to make this a quasi-religo-political essay, but I do enjoy the secular side of what Christmas has become. I love the lights, decorations, ugly sweaters, corny pop songs, etc. And I do know the reason for the season. I simply refuse to use my beliefs to discriminate against others or to economically hold others down. I’m a Matthew 25: 31-46 type of guy. But, once again, I digress.
It is during the holiday season that I wish I were living in the UK instead of the USA. For 45 years, I have found the British obsession with the number 1 song of the season absolutely fascinating. All kinds of crazy songs have held the number 1 position over the years. Winners of the X Factor television competition show have taken the coveted top spot in recent years, which caused a whole protest one year in order to make Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” number 1. And, of course, it happened. That’s why the film Love Actually rings so true, as one of the subplots of film covers this holiday competition in hysterical fashion.
So, these happen to be some reasons why I love Christmas music so much. If you want to better understand this addiction, watch the terrific documentary called Jingle Bell Rocks, which can be found on Amazon Prime. It was released in 2013 and has some surprising characters who share this same passion.
For now, Lest finish off the first 100 songs in this countdown.
350. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – “Christmas Time in Tinseltown (Again)” (1995)
349. Mannheim Steamroller – “Away in the Manager” (2001)
348. New Kids on the Block – “Funky, Funky Xmas” (1989)
347. Bahamas – “Christmas Must Be Tonight” (2012)
346. B.B. King – “Christmas Celebration” (2001)
345. John Lee Hooker – “Blues for Christmas” (1961)
344. Kanye West – “Christmas in Harlem” (2010)
343. Buster Poindexter & His Banshees of Blue – “Zat You Santa Claus?” (2015)
342. LCD Soundsystem – “Christmas Will Break Your Heart” (2015)
341. The Beach Boys – “The Man with All the Toys” (1964)
340. The dB’s – “Christmas Time” (1986)
339. Destiny’s Child – “8 Days of Christmas” (2001)
338. Rise Against – “Making Christmas” (2006)
337. Bob Dylan – “Must Be Santa” (2009)
336. Carrie Underwood – “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (2007)
335. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “Christmas Cannon” (1998)
334. Tom Waits – “A Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis” (1978)
333. Nick Jonas feat. Shania Twain – “Say All You Want for Christmas” (2017)
332. Mud – “Lonely This Christmas” (1974)
331. Jackson 5 – “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (1970)
330. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – “Santa Baby” (2017)
329. Kelly Clarkson – “Christmas Isn’t Canceled (Just You)” (2021)
328. Celine Dion – “Don’t Save It All for Christmas” (1998)
327. My Morning Jacket – “Xmas Time Is Here Again” (2000)
326. The Whispers – “Happy Holidays to You” (1979)
325. Cheap Trick – “Merry Christmas Darlings” (2017)
324. Bobby Darin – “Christmas Auld Lang Syne” (1960)
323. Etta James – “White Christmas” (1998)
322. Ray Charles & Betty Carter – “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (1962)
321. Miles Davis – “Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)” (1962)
320. Barry Manilow & Exposé – “Jingle Bells” (1990)
319. Jose Feliciano – “Feliz Navidad” (1970)
318. MercyMe – “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (2005)
317. Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Christmas Time Again” (2000)
316. Dido – “Christmas Day” (1999)
315. The Chipmunks – “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” (1958)
314. The Orioles – “(It’s Gonna Be A) Lonely Christmas” (1948)
313. Pearl Jam – “Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time)” (2005)
312. Justin Bieber – “Mistletoe” (2011)
311. Booker T & the MG’s – “Jingle Bells” (1966)
310. The Ventures – “Sleigh Ride” (1965)
309. *NSYNC – “Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas” (1998)
308. Roy Orbison – “Pretty Paper” (1963)
307. Simple Plan – “Christmas Every Day” (2016)
306. The O’Jays – “Christmas Ain’t Christmas New Year’s Ain’t New Year’s Without the One You Love” (1969)
305. Thurl Ravenscroft – “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (1966)
304. Hootie & the Blowfish – “The Christmas Song” (1997)
303. twenty one pilots – “Christmas Saves the Year” (2020)
302. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)” (1995)
301. Nick Lowe – “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” (2015)
If My Records Could Talk 