Top Christmas Songs of 2025

ONE MORE SLEEP UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Stream these singles (and more) here (Spotify Playlist)

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2024 here

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2023 here

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2022 here

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2021 here

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2020 here

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2019 here

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2018 here
Read about my top Christmas singles of 2017 here
Read about my top Christmas singles of 2016 here
Read about my top Christmas singles of 2015 here
Read about my top Christmas singles of 2014 here
Read about my top Christmas singles of 2013 here

This is the 13th (!) year that I have fastidiously catalogued all the new Christmas albums, EPs and singles that have caught my attention; providing me with seasonal new sounds to add to my ever growing playlist of holiday classics. While I clearly adore all the Christmas music I write about, I've picked some that have resonated with me just that little bit more this Yuletide. I've put them in order of favourites but that is like choosing between my favourite Finding Mr Christmas (Robbie) - and, quite honestly, given another frame of mind the number twenty song could easily be the number two tune. I have picked out a few favourites, however, so do read on and let me know your thoughts...

The Nice List (20-13):

• Jordin Sparks ~ Secret Santa: This year, Jordin is singing about her Secret Santa (which also features in the charming Roku Holiday movie, Merry Little Mystery). It is a perky original number that peps along at a pace as zippy as any sleigh ride, with galloping percussion and sassy horn blasts that add a frisson of regal excitement to the ebullient lyrics.
• Matt Dusk ~ Last Christmas:  Matt has produced a dazzling swing version of the Wham classic, Last Christmas. It is a lovely, slowed down version where you get the sense Matt is savouring every word of singing such an indelible festive standard. Elegant yet elegiac piano dances like the lights sparkling on the tree, whilst subtle strings shimmer in like the first snow of winter.
• La Voix ~ The Magic of Christmas: This has a certain je ne sais quoi to it that makes it super charming. Whether it be the effusive, finger clicking instrumental, those radiant backing vocals or the jingling bells that make you want to sashay your way to under the mistletoe, it all coalesces to craft a lush backdrop. 
• Matt Goss ~ Come Home: This is a song of love, longing and regret, but all wrapped in a hopeful plea that love, actually can heal even the most broken of hearts at the most wonderful time of the year. Co-written with Helen Jane Long, there's tangible emotion in Matt's expressive vocal bringing this relatable narrative to life. 
• Picture This ~ It's Christmas Time: Ace new song performed with a stark candour of the oft-forgot rigours of life that still exist at this time of year, but explores them through the lens of how the holidays can (if you just let them) make everything just that little bit better. Ryan's a compelling raconteur, his infectious enthusiasm for the festivities being utterly contagious. 
• Roland Gift ~ Everybody Knows It's Christmas: Everybody Knows It's Christmas (and if you didn't before, you'll feel merry and bright and full of seasonal cheer when you've heard this bobby dazzler). With an intro that has a hymn like feel, thanks to the church organ chords, this soon blossoms into an invigorating soulful romp.
• Gwen Stefani ~ Shake The Snow Globe: This new song sees Gwen once again advocating for the rights and recognition of the people who make Santa so great. Much like on Cheers For The Elves, Ms Stefani provides a lyrical celebration of Mrs Claus and her role in making the magic happen on Christmas Eve. Hot To Go meets Christmas Wrapping!
• Ben Barnes ~ Wrapped Up In You: Ben sings with genuine soul, his plaintive vocal conjuring up images of crackling fireplaces and glimmering tree lights - all while surrounded by a lavish score of percussion, piano and pulsing brass that is as sophisticated as it is satisfying. I think you'll find that love, actually, is all around at Christmas.
• Wiktoria ~ Let's Make Christmas Last Forever: As always, Wiktoria just exudes warmth and charm from first word to last note. Chiming piano chords and a perky percussion coalesce to make you feel like you are skipping through a winter wonderland; meanwhile, She sings of her lover out shopping for gifts but she's eager to get them back to hers to celebrate in a more romantic way!

Mrs Claus' Seasonal Songlist:

• Ingrid Michaelson ~ Song For A Winter's Night: There's no denying Ingrid knows how to keep Christmas well! Adding to her lexicon of enchanting Yuletide songs comes this year through a charming cover of the Gordon Lightfoot classic, Song For A Winter's Night. It is lilting acoustic version, with a guitar that feels warm and cosy, yet reflective and nostalgic at the same time.
• Alexis Strum ~ I Won't Be Lonely (This Christmas): This is a rather compelling tale of how Christmas is marketed as a time for lovers and therefore exacerbates every single emotion you might have about being on your own at the most wonderful time of the year. It is drenched is a peppy guitar, glockenspiel and sleigh bells to give it that Santa approved vibe!
• The Assist ~ Divorced for Christmas: This juxtaposes jaunty piano, peppy percussion and vibrant melodies,and balances them against the brutal honesty of the lyrics. Lead singer Mickey does an excellent job at conveying the follies of the festivities, whilst adding the female perspective through the delightful addition of Rhianna Keane makes sure this isn't a one-sided story
• Michael Damian ~ Reach Out To Me This Christmas: This is a reindeer hoof stomper of a song and has an earworm of a chorus as addictive as the sweetest candy cane. Now with added jingles and bells, it still has an inescapable hook that was created by Michael himself (alongside his talented siblings Larry and Tom Weir), with appropriate holiday lyrics peppered throughout. 
• Dennis Van Aarssen ~A Song Of Christmas: It's a charming mid-tempo groove that reminds me of the rousing finale the old variety show TV specials would have in their special festive episode. His big band conjures up another dazzling score that zips along like an exhilarating sleigh ride. Dennis sings with such sincerity of the sentiments that you can't help but fall hard.
• George Perris & Mario Frangoulis ~ Merry Merry Ho: This is a Christmas buddy song, the likes of which you heard in White Christmas and Holiday Inn. The two lads clearly understand what makes a Christmas song great - it is wonderfully sung and produced. Merry Merry Ho will now and forever be a standard holiday greeting wherever and whenever you want to make spirits bright. Just fabulous!
• Mateo Oxley ~ This Christmas: Mateo's 2025 song is a winsome cover of the 2019 Oh Wonder song, an achingly beautiful duet between piano and vocal. There's a delicate fragility to the keyboard accompaniment which matches the themes of the lyrical narrative; that the holidays can be tough for many people because they aren't with loved ones. In that sense, Mateo's sensitive performance makes you believe you are less alone.
• The Divine Comedy ~ All The Pretty Lights: Neil tells a tale of Christmas lights and sparkling magic through the eyes of a child, tinged with the bittersweet reflection of the passages of time (and how they make you more cynical and resigned to the vagueries of life). The music is a lush, layered landscape of shimmering percussion and Salvation Army Christmas band-esque brass that gives this both a timely and timeless aura. 
• Dan + Shay ~ Long Live Christmas: A vibrant, rousing celebration of all that is holly and jolly about the most wonderful time of the year. Invigorating fiddle, toe tapping grooves and harmonised hooks that delight from head to mistletoe make this a feel good festive fave from start to finish. There are some really rapid fire lyrical bon-mots and name checks that make your spirits bright from now until January.

The top 3 - Santa's Sleigh List

• 3 ~ Daniel Powter, Celebrate the Holidays: Celebrate the Holidays is like festive cheer all wrapped up in three minutes of vibrant, sing-along fun that can't help but make your spirits merry and bright. With jingling bells, a kick-up-your-heels percussive riff, blasts of sexy sax and a keyboard jam jauntily playing along, it all coalesces to craft a big finger-click, sing-along vibe for Daniel to live his best life to. And he really does sound like he's having the most joyful and triumphant time.
• 2 ~ Tasha Layton, Christmas All Year Long: Tasha sings with an exuberant charm of how smitten she is with the festive period - putting into words with wit and eloquence what I try to explain to my friends all the live long day. While there are numerous quotable moments from the detailed lyrics, I think my favourite is when she opines that she likes Jesus' birthday better than her own! And I particularly appreciate the French chanson musical moments that give the song a little festive twirl.
• 1 ~ Kylie Minogue, XMAS: The marketing genius of Kylie means that this capped off an incredible few years with the UK Christmas number one. What a joyful and triumphant bauble of a bop it is. With a deliriously percussive groove as thrilling and glorious as the first fall of snow, relatable and sing-along lyrics, and a chorus as convivial as your favourite office party, you'll be singing and hand-clapping to X-M-A-S well into New Years. Break out your best Kylie-approved dance moves and let the season be a little merrier and a lot brighter. It's sweeter than a Starbucks seasonal coffee and just as satisfying. X-M-A-S is here!