Whether you love or hate the holiday season, here are the Christmas songs we all secretly love deep down inside - I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know, make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is youuuuu!
The holiday season has arrived, and we at Honeycombers Hong Kong are ready for the festivities. It’s time to order that wine delivery, pick up the Christmas tree and book in for the tastiest Christmas menus in Hong Kong. And for those who love Christmas – and for those who want absolutely nothing to do with it, we’ve compiled a list of the best Christmas songs and festive pop-songs that you love to hate and hate to love. fal-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.
The best Christmas songs you love to hate and hate to love
1. All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
This song had to be at the top of our list of best Christmas songs. Firstly it’s a Christmas classic, also because we think that everyone can agree that when it is played no one can resist singing along. Pop diva of the early 90s and 2000s – Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You is an iconic Christmas pop-song that has become forever ingrained in our public subconscious. It is inescapable every holiday season, and who can forget the singer playing in the snow with Santa and her Santa-inspired outfit?
Did you catch Mariah in Macau? If not we’ve compiled a list of the best Mariah Carey videos for your listening pleasure.
2. Last Christmas – Wham!
The 80s were a glorious time: big hair, big shoulder pads and neon-coloured leggings all around. Late Careless Whisper and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go singer, George Michael, before going solo created one of the most fabulous festive pop-songs with his then band Wham!. Last Christmas is a bitter-sweet Christmas song that speaks of lost loves and failed romances during the holiday season. The song reached gold and platinum around the world and as of December this year, has over 280 million views on Youtube.
3. Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
Santa Baby is a flirty festive Christmas song, which lists the requests of extravagant gifts by a young woman to Santa. Through the years there have been many cover versions from established pop-divas including Kylie Minogue, Ashanti and Gwen Stefani. We’ve listed the original by Eartha Kitt released in the 1950s which reached gold in the United States.
4. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
Released in the late 80s by The Pogues featuring singer songwriter Kirsty MacColl. Though the Irish folk-style ballad only reached number two on the UK Christmas charts, it is certified platinum in the UK, the song is also recognised as the most-played Christmas song in the 21st century and is regularly surveyed to be the greatest Christmas song in the UK. The most heart-wrenching song on our list, it speaks of young broken dreams and hearts and also highlights issues of drug addiction and homosexuality.
5. 8 Days of Christmas – Destiny’s Child
Before we had Beyoncé, we had Destiny’s Child – a three woman American group that (eventually) comprised of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. The girl group had renowned hits including Survivor and Say My Name, and were loved for their flamboyant outfits and dance moves the world over. This song is a remake of the classic Twelve Days of Christmas carol and has a contemporary R&B twist. It’s time to bring out the hair comb microphones and matching choreographed dance moves.
6. White Christmas – Michael Bublé featuring Shania Twain
King of Christmas covers and music for the holiday season, Michael Bublé, collaborated with Shania Twain in 2011 to cover Bing Crosby’s highest selling single, White Christmas which has total estimated sales of 100 million worldwide. The song is a tribute to dreams of an old-fashion Christmas filled with white snow. Bublé’s Christmas album reached gold, diamond and platinum all around the world.
7. Baby It’s Cold Outside – Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé
Christmas in Hong Kong does tend to get quite cold and sometimes the best thing to do is snuggle up with your loved ones on the couch. Baby It’s Cold Outside was originally sung and released in the 1950s by Dean Martin, and the duet has since been covered by a number of globally renowned celebrities. We’ve listed Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé’s warm and popular rendition of the iconic song which requests for their partner not to go home and instead to stay the night and continue their romantic evening.
8. Don’t Shoot Me Santa – The Killers
The iconic alternative rock band responsible for hits like Mr Brightside and Somebody Told Me – The Killers released Don’t Shoot Me Santa in 2007. It’s one of our personal favourite Christmas pop-rock songs and is perfect for those who aren’t the most festive of people during the holiday season. The song is a man’s request to a psychotic Santa Claus, pleading to the big red and white man not to kill him this Christmas for his past misdeeds. The Killers’ distinct and unique punk sound resonates even through the usual cheerful season, and we’re definitely going to be putting this one on repeat.
9. Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande
Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande is the latest Christmas track on our list, released in 2014, it has since accumulated over 133 million views on Youtube. The Christmas pop-song is another track that speaks of finding love during the holiday season – we guess the Christmas season does makes the heart sentimental. It’s time to put on your Christmas onesie, your animal hoodie, your ironic Christmas sweater and reindeer headband and sing-a-long.
