The countdown to Christmas starts tomorrow as we enter December and this also means that it is officially OK for us to play our favourite Christmas tracks!High street shops might have been blasting out festive hits for some time now, but what are the best Christmas songs of all time?
Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John and Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir, must top many people’s lists. It was first released in 1971 as a protest song about the Vietnam War but has since become a standard track in the annual Christmas song repertoire.
Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney certainly promotes a slightly happier and festive feel. The fellow Beatle released the synthesiser-heavy track in 1979 and it is still a popular party tune to this day.
Last Christmas by Wham! also celebrates the party theme of Christmas. It has been sung by countless other artists, including the Crazy Frog and this year the cast of The Only Way Is Essex are vying for the number one spot.
All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey has also had its fair share of covers, but the original is by far the best. Mariah is in contention for this year’s Christmas number one again as she re-releases the track.
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee is one of the Christmas songbook classics, first recorded in 1958 and sits alongside some other great timeless festive hits like Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and Dean Martin’s Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!.
Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy, the duet by Bing Crosby and David Bowie, meanwhile, deserves an entry for being an unlikely casting that brings together classic Christmas tunes with pop Xmas hits.
Mary Xmas Everybody by Slade certainly brings everyone young and old together to scream at the top of their lungs, while Stay by East 17 might not officially by Christmas themed, but it’s made its way into our festive hearts.
Could this year see a Christmas number one contender become a timeless hit? Justin Bieber has released his song, Mistletoe, which will go up against the X Factor winner, as well as Joe McElderry and even the Wombles, with Wombling Merry Christmas.
Nirvana fans are also hoping that Smells Like Teen Spirit can make it to number one this Christmas to keep the X Factor winner off the top of the charts.