Christmas is rapidly approaching and, in my eyes, it’s never too early to get into the festive spirit. In previous years however, I’ve struggled to keep the rock lover inside me happy over the holiday season.
That all changes today though as we countdown the Top 10 Christmas rock songs! This list promises to be stacked with some of the gods of rock but will your favourite song feature? Let’s find out.
10. Please Come Home for Christmas – Jon Bon Jovi
Starting the list off strong with the blues inspired soft rock ballad about the need to spend the holidays with your loved ones. Originally recorded in 1962 by Charles Brown, this song has been covered by almost everyone since. Ranging from Willie Nelson to George Ezra, even the Eagles released their own version in the late 70’s.
Don’t fear, I can hear your questions ringing a-loud like the bells of Santa’s sleigh. If so many greats recorded their own takes on this classic, why did we choose Jon Bon Jovi’s 1994 version? Well, it’s quite simple; Bon Jovi are my favourite band and I’m the one writing this list. Oh, and it was certified Silver in the UK, an accolade that is yet to be replicated by any other rendition.
9. Thank God It’s Christmas – Queen
I told you this list was absolutely stacked. Queen come in at number nine with their 1984 song Thank God It’s Christmas. Penned by Brian May & Roger Taylor, this song didn’t actually reach the top twenty in the UK Singles Chart. That hasn’t stopped it from becoming a Christmas classic though.
It has since amassed over 200 million Spotify listens and features on the third iteration of Queen’s Greatest Hits album. It’s exactly what you’d want from a Freddie Mercury led festive tune. Lyrically, it expresses the necessity of Christmas as an end of year celebration and musically it’s a power ballad filled with all your favourite Christmas tropes.
8. Step into Christmas – Elton John
From one iconic rock act of the 70’s to another. This time, Elton John puts his pop rock spin on Christmas in a high energy piano and sleigh bell laden attack on the senses. Whilst that might not sound like a good thing, it most certainly is. The relentless bells, acoustic guitar riff and bass drum beats really put a spring in your step.
Much like every other song on this list, it has become a timeless classic since its 1973 release and still reaches the UK Charts every year come December.
7. Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney
Everyone’s favourite former Beatle uses a lot more synth in this 1979 hit than a regular casual listener would imagine at first, but who am I to question Liverpool’s best export?
It’s a very simple song that’s just about how good Christmas is, there’s no over complicated verses, nobody rocks up half way through to scream in your face. That’s not to say those things are bad, you’ll soon learn that the opposite is true, but it’s nice to take a break from those things sometimes.
6. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard
This absolute classic channels the child inside all of us that just wishes Christmas never ended. And rightfully so, that’s exactly what most people want at this time of year. Christmas is ultimately an escape from the year long rat race and Wizzard captured that feeling perfectly in 1973.
You don’t want to think about tomorrow. You just want to spend time with your loved ones, whip out the air-saxophone and enjoy yourself. So do it! Open another tab and pull it up on your music platform of choice, you’ll have a wonderful time.
5. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
This song was released 65 years ago, but everybody still knows it. You’re humming it right now and that’s all I really need to say when it comes to its placement on this list. Like most of the songs on this list you can smell the pine and turkey as soon as you hear this song.
It’s so difficult for artists nowadays to write a good Christmas song because of songs like this. The old school rock and roll riff mixed with the classic sleigh bells and backing choir is the perfect combo for a timeless hit.
4. Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade
It isn’t Christmas time until you’ve heard Noddy Holder’s iconic scream. That alone is enough to put it in the top ten. This song is about everybody’s favourite parts of Christmas. The moments everyone’s experienced and the good times we all look back upon as we grow up.
Everyone knows the lyrics and we’ve all tried our best to imitate the aforementioned scream. This song was released in 1973, along with two previous mentions from this list. And it’s actually the reason Wizzard and Elton John didn’t reach the fabled Christmas No.1 spot.
That’s right, Slade beat two of the most iconic Christmas songs of all time with this one. It’s no surprise this song is still used in every single Christmas special you see on TV.
Honourable Mentions
Before I start on the top three I’d first like to mention some of the songs that were close but just missed out on a top 10 spot. Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry, X-M@s by Corey Taylor, White Christmas by Slow hands himself, Eric Clapton, The Little Drummer Boy by Christopher Lee and of course, My Chemical Romance’s cover of Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You. Now let’s get back to the list!
3. Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – The Darkness
I’ve actually already written about this song as part of our Top 10 Best The Darkness Songs list. But it’s so good I’m happy to do it again. Personally, I think this is probably the last great Christmas song ever recorded.
The Darkness’s brand of heavy glam metal was seemingly the only avenue not previously explored by festive chart-topping hopefuls. Or maybe it was purely the childish innuendos that we all secretly wanted from our Christmas songs.
Whichever it was, these foul mouthed East Anglians certainly delivered and in doing so earned themselves a spot on every Christmas playlist from here to eternity. They even released a limited-edition beer based around this song a few years ago. I can’t imagine many others on this list have done that.
2. Happy Xmas (War Is over) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Yet another song on this list released in what will forever more be known as “The Christmas Decade”, this 1971 single by John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono. Of course, with it being a John Lennon track it doubles as a protest song against the Vietnam War but it has since become a staple of Christmases around the world.
After the success of his single “Imagine” Lennon said he “realised he had to put his political messages across with a little honey.” I guess a Christmas song is the best honey you can find in the music industry. In turn he also beat out his former Beatles compatriots to the number two spot on this list, which I’m sure he’d be very proud of.
1. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
What did you expect, it literally has Christmas and rock in the title. It had to be number one. Sure, Brenda Lee also went 3x platinum in the UK and sold nearly 2 million units. It has over 1.5 Billion Spotify streams, nearly 65 million YouTube views and charted in 31 different countries. But mainly it’s because of the name.
Taken from her 1964 Christmas album Merry Christmas From Brenda Lee, along with eleven other festive classics. This quickly became her magnum opus thanks to its infectious beat and sing-along lyrics.
Top 10 Christmas Rock Songs – Final Thoughts
With the list complete that only leaves me with the wonderful job of wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! If you enjoyed this look at the best Christmas rock songs, then be sure to check out some of our other top 10’s.