Entertainment Movies Holiday Movies 35 Modern Christmas Songs That'll Make Your Holiday Playlist Extra Festive From Wham!'s "Last Christmas" to Taylor Swift's "Christmas Tree Farm," these songs will add some pop, rock and rap to your holiday playlist By Andrea Wurzburger Andrea Wurzburger Andrea Wurzburger is a former features writer at PEOPLE. She left PEOPLE in 2022. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 4, 2023 05:54PM EST A Christmas album is practically a rite of passage for singer-songwriters. Many mainstream artists tap into the holiday spirit, departing from their typical music offerings to gift fans festive songs and covers each year. After all, no musician wants to be put on the naughty list and receive coal in their stocking! Over the years, the sonic landscape of the season has changed, ushering in tracks from unorthodox genres like pop, hip-hop and punk rock while still honoring past classics, such as Meredith Wilson's 1951 hit "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." While Lil Nas X's rap-infused "Holiday" and Blink-182's jingle rock jam "Not Another Christmas" are sure to spice up any holiday bash, no song signals Santa (and winter) is coming than Mariah Carey's timeless hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Ahead, in no particular order*, modern Christmas songs — not including covers — that deserve a spot on your seasonal playlist. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey *Except for this song because Carey's (a.k.a. the Queen of Christmas) 1994 masterpiece will always hold the No. 1 spot. If there's one thing needed for the holiday season, it's the superstar's voice on loop. "Bring Me Love" by John Legend John Legend could sing the phone book, and we'd listen, but his voice is particularly perfect for Christmas songs — and this cut from his 2018 A Legendary Christmas album is proof. "Christmas Tree Farm" by Taylor Swift This song, which memorializes Taylor Swift's time growing up on a Christmas tree farm, is fresh, fun, Christmas-pop perfection — complete with an adorable music video featuring footage filmed by her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, during the holidays. "Cozy Little Christmas" by Katy Perry Katy Perry channels Marilyn Monroe in the music video for her 2019 Christmas tune, dancing in a glass of eggnog and getting a massage from Rudolph. "Like It's Christmas" by Jonas Brothers What can we say? We're "suckers" for anything sung by Kevin, Joe and Nick. "Not Another Christmas Song" by Blink-182 Not quite as jovial as your typical Christmas song, but it's still technically about the holidays and has the word "Christmas" in the title. Plus, it's quintessential Blink-182, which will bring you tons of joy and cheer if you need a dose of nostalgia. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid Originally written and recorded in 1984 to raise awareness and funds for a famine in Ethiopia, the song brought together talent like Bono, Phil Collins and Boy George and quickly became a classic. "Santa's Coming for Us" by Sia It's hard to resist bopping around to Sia's 2017 album, Everyday Is Christmas. This song is definitely the frontrunner of the tracklist (and not just because husband-and-wife acting duo Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are the stars of its music video). "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by *NSYNC Very few boy band Christmas songs match the catchiness of *NSYNC's "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays." "Christmas Time" by Backstreet Boys However, the Backstreet Boys certainly threw their names into the ring with their 2000 ballad "Christmas Time." "My Only Wish (This Year)" by Britney Spears What a time it was for Christmas bops in the early 2000s! Santa, can you hear me? I want Britney Spears on repeat all season long, please! "Last Christmas" by Wham! This song launched 1,000 covers, but nothing beats the 1984 original by Wham! "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber Justin Bieber will undoubtedly be under the mistletoe with his wife, Hailey Bieber, on Christmas, but that doesn't mean you can't pretend he's singing this song to you, specifically. "Christmas All Over Again" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers In the words of Tom Petty, "Christmas is a rockin' time" — and it deserves a rockin' song. "Underneath the Tree" by Kelly Clarkson Kelly Clarkson's 2013 holiday song is "all we need underneath the tree." "Ribbons and Bows" by Kacey Musgraves Kacey Musgraves doesn't need ribbons and bows to cure her woes; she just needs your love! "What Christmas Means to Me" by Stevie Wonder There's a reason Stevie Wonder's 1967 Christmas tune is considered a classic. "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses This 1981 song would impress everyone at Christmas karaoke. Is that a thing? Can we make it a thing? Get memorizing! "Everybody Knows the Claus" by Hanson Don't sleep on this Hanson song. It's like the band's famous "MMMBop" but in Christmas form. "8 Days of Christmas" by Destiny's Child Destiny's Child put their own spin on the classic "12 Days of Christmas" but decided to shorten it and ask for more than just a partridge in a pear tree, opting for sunglasses, "quality T-I-M-E," oh, and a Mercedes. "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC It's Christmas, and they've got the spirit! Christmas in Hollis, Queens, actually sounds pretty amazing. "Christmas Tree" by Lady Gaga It's so like Lady Gaga to record a naughty Christmas song. Though you've got to admit: It's incredibly catchy. "Mistletoe" by Ginuwine Leave it to Ginuwine, the creator of "Pony," to make a sexy Christmas song. "This Gift" by 98 Degrees Yep, another Christmas that's clearly about getting it on in honor of the holiday! Do you think Nick Lachey still sings it to his wife, Vanessa Lachey, on Christmas? "Santa Tell Me" by Ariana Grande No list would be complete without Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me," which has become a seasonal staple since its 2014 release. "Little Things" by ABBA ABBA's resurgence might've been the greatest gift of all in 2021, but the Swedish Europop group had a "little" present to deliver for the holidays. "I Believe in Santa" by Meghan Trainor Meghan Trainor isn't just "all about that bass." She's also all about spreading that Christmas cheer! "Merry Christmas" by Ed Sheeran and Elton John This delightful Ed Sheeran and Elton John 2021 duet will warm up any Christmas party. "Santa, Can't You Hear Me" by Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande Speaking of duets, what could be better than this one from two of music's most celebrated powerhouse vocalists? "Holiday" by Lil Nas X In the 2020 music video for his pop-rap holiday single, Lil Nas X puts away the red coat and shows us his interpretation of an avant-garde Santa Claus — one who has robotic reindeer! "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Camila Cabello Dim the lights, and thank Camila Cabello for soundtracking your slow dance with your sweetheart this Christmas. "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Need another mistletoe song? Turn up Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton's darling 2017 duet to spread a little extra love on Yuletide. "Santa Baby" by Alicia Keys We bet Kris Kringle is just as much a fan of Alicia Keys' seductive, bluesy rendition of the 1953 Christmas classic — popularized by Eartha Kitt — as we are. "So Much Wine" by Phoebe Bridgers Phoebe Bridgers' soothing voice on this mellow Handsome Family 2000 cover would go perfectly with a cup of hot cocoa — or a glass of wine!