10 Christmas carols to get you in the Christmas spirit

Whether you want to swing around the tree, cozy up under the mistletoe or relax by the fire sipping spiked eggnog, Christmas just doesn’t ring all the way without a sleigh soundtrack for the season.

From Nat King Cole and Bruce Springsteen to Brenda Lee and a certain Queen of Christmas – Mariah Carey – these 10 Christmas tunes never fail to turn up the Christmas spirit.

Nat King Cole, “The Christmas Song”

If you want to anoint a song like the Christmas carol, you better be able to bring all the holiday feels. And whether or not you’ve ever burned a chestnut in your life—really, who has? – this is the final version of the definitive Christmas carol.

Donny Hathaway, “This Christmas”

When it comes to hanging under the mistletoe, nothing beats the old-school R&B romance of Hathaway’s 1970 classic. And while it’s been covered by everyone from Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin to Christina Aguilera and Chris Brown — there sang it for the same name in 2007 – the original still burns stronger.

Wham!, “Last Christmas”

40 years ago, George Michael – well on his way to leaving Wham! for solo superstar – gave us his heart with this Christmas gift that still stands as one of the last original Christmas classics. It even inspired a 2019 film named after it. But the song took on a sad feel as Michael had his “last Christmas” when he died on the festive season in 2016.

Bruce Springsteen, “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”

From the moment the boss commands, “You better watch out, you better not cry,” about the impending arrival of Saint Nick, it’s enough to make kids of all ages want to be good, for God’s sake. Honorable mention to the Jackson 5’s version for a more youthful and soulful spin on the seasonal standard.

Brenda Lee, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

It only took 65 years to spin around the evergreen, but Lee’s 1958 Christmas Chestnut finally reached No.1 in 2023. It gave the 80-year-old legend just the third Christmas single ever to jingle all the way to the top, after Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” in 1958 and of course Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 2019. Now it is some rockin’ for the ages.

Joni Mitchell, “River”

Although not technically a Christmas carol if you really want to fool around, this beauty from Mitchell’s classic “Blue” album is set during the holiday season and is the very essence of angels. And when those echoes of “Jingle Bells” sound, it makes us want to skate away on that river every single time.

Prince, “Another Lonely Christmas”

One of the brilliant B-sides that Prince used to give us at the peak of his powers, this guitar-laden Christmas confessional is more melancholy than cheerful. But it captures the heartbreak that many feel during the season. And hey, any excuse to play Prince is a good one.

Vince Guaraldi Trio, “Christmas Time Is Here”

The jazzy, ivory-tickling vibes of this dreamy ditty from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” never quite hit the right notes for “Christmastime by the fireside.” Special shout-out to the children’s choir from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael, California.

Whitney Houston, “Joy to the World”

Houston takes it all the way to church with the Georgia Mass Choir on a fair rendering of this bop to the heaven from 1996’s “The Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack. In all her evangelical glory, the greatest voice makes you feel the Holy Spirit as well as the holiday.

Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

Because the Queen of Christmas will not be denied, dahling. Thirty years, 16 weeks at no. 1 and nearly 2 billion Spotify streams later, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.