Holiday Hit List – Best Songs To Rock The Season
The Holiday Season is for enjoying those around us and/or remembering those who are not. The songs below capture the spectrum of holiday emotions.
The Darkness – Mistletoe And Wine
“The Darkness reimagined Richie Clifton’s timeless classic and add a few sprinkles of shoegaze and drone,” stated the band’s Justin Hawkins.
Mistletoe And Wine
The Darkness
Chuck Berry – Run Rudolph Run
Recorded in 1958 Chuck Berry released this iconic song. Though it has been covered by numerous performers this is the definitive version.
Run Rudolf Run
Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick
The track, based on “Little Deuce Coupe” with different lyrics, actually had a longer life span than the original.
Little Saint Nick
John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
In 1971, John and Yoko recorded “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” with the Harlem Community Choir, which was both a holiday song and protest against the Vietnam War.
Happy X-Mas
Elton John – Step Into Christmas
Written by Elton and Bernie Taupin, it was released as a stand-alone single in November, ’73.
Step Into Christmas
Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
It was the Ramones last song on their ‘89 album, “Brain Drain” and was covered by Cheap Trick in 2017.
Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight”
The Darkness – Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)
Released in ’03, the song was eventually included in the “Christmas Edition” of the band’s debut album, “Permission To Land.”
Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)
Taylor Momsen
The Pretty Reckless: Where Are You Christmas
The Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen created a reimagined version of “Where Are You Christmas.”
She first performed the song in the ’00 film “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” taking a ballad and turning it into a Rock anthem.
This marks the first time Momsen has revisited the song since “The Grinch” release.
Where Are You Christmas
Mark Mendoza & Marla Alder: I’m Your Christmas Present
A collaboration between Twisted Sister bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza and singer Marla Adler, who has been an active keyboard/vocalist/bandleader.
Mark Mendoza & Marla Adler
The Eagles – Please Come Home For Christmas
Charlie Brown (the singer not the Peanuts character) wrote and released the song in ’60. The Eagles covered the tune 18 years later (with “Funky New Year” on the B-side).
Please Come Home For Christmas
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Christmas All Over Again
The band penned this song for “A Very Special Christmas” TV special in ‘00.
Christmas All Over The World
U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Originally released in ’63 by Darlene Love, who called it “the greatest Christmas song of all time,” U2’s version was recorded during a sound check in Glasgow, on the band’s ‘87 “Joshua Tree” Tour.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Recorded during a Long Island gig in December 1975, it was released as the B-Side to “My Hometown” in ‘85 and it soon became a holiday classic.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Bon Jovi – Christmas Isn’t Christmas
“(It) is a song that I wrote about family,” explained frontman Jon Bon Jovi. “The sentiment that Christmas really isn’t Christmas without YOU which can bring up a lot of memories for people.”
Christmas Isn’t Christmas
Buckcherry – Tell ‘Em It’s Christmas
Like everything Buckcherry, we hope it puts a smile on your face, Merry Christmas,” wrote the band in a statement.
Tell ‘Em It’s Christmas
Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
The one-time-only supergroup to aid famine relief in Ethiopia was comprised of U2’s Bono (pictured), Phil Collins, Boy George and Sting, among many others. The song became a massive hit leading to Live Aid the following year (‘85).
Do They Know It’s Christmas
