Every year before Christmas you will see people recommending a few Christmas songs. Well, here are mine... (At least some of them: I can not list all, and not all are available on Youtube anyway.)

I do listen to a rather wide range of music that not many people can completely tolerate, but maybe you find the one or other song that fits your preferences. Let us start with classics, because my music library does indeed contain Dean Martin singing "White Christmas" or this gem with Bing Crosby and a young David Bowie singing "Peace on Earth - The little Drummer Boy":

Since there is only a limited number of Christmas songs, it is only natural to have some songs in different versions, sung by different people. I really like Die Toten Hosen, and they produced a Christmas album once under the name "Die Roten Rosen". This is their "Little Drummer Boy":

Let us stay with this band for a moment. On that album they have a few classic songs that they modified "slightly", plus a few own creations, among them "Frohes Fest". If you do not understand German I really pity you at this moment, because you are missing amazing lyrics.

And a last one, another "modified" traditional song: "In dulci jubilo"...

For more of their songs, just search for "roten rosen christkind" on Youtube. They also made a version of "Merry Christmas everybody" that is even stronger than what Slade created, but I still like to present the original here:

From Glam Rock to Rock'n'Roll with Gary Glitter's "Another Rock'n'Roll Christmas":

Let us stay with Rock one more time, because right up with the previous two songs is this one: Wizzard with "I wish it could be Christmas everyday".

If you were shocked by Die Roten Rosen you may relax, it is getting even softer now with Shakin' Stevens (Oh, the 80s...) and "Merry Christmas everyone":

In case you wonder if I have Wham!'s "Last Christmas" in my collection: I do, but already for a while I have not been playing that song. But about on the same level is Elton John with "Step into Christmas".

Even softer but at least as famous: Chris Rea, "Driving home for Christmas":

I already mentioned that there are some songs of which I have different versions. Many people sang "Winter Wonderland", but the version I like best was made by Eurythmics.

Apologies if you prefer softer/lighter music, because we will now come along a few "heavier" songs. Many artists made a Christmas song or two, but among those I would listen to only two bands made whole Christmas albums.

I usually do not like Heavy Metal very much (often just heavy, without much power in either music or lyrics), but what Twisted Sister created with their Twisted Christmas album is amazing, and maybe you too can like some of their songs even though you may not like Heavy Metal. Let us start with "I'll be home for Christmas":

You may know the "Twelve Days of Christmas", but did you know the "Heavy Metal Christmas"?

Another classic, this time with the original lyrics: "The Christmas Song".

And a last one, a song that is also popular with Punk Rock bands: "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus".

Did I just say "Punk Rock"? I think I did. While I really like Christmas, I also like Zebrahead's "I hate Christmas". (aka "Deck the Halls") I did this one with students once, because you just have to sing along with the refrain:

While perhaps not considered pure Punk, the Pogues still have some Punk background, but rely on traditional Irish instruments. This is their "Fairytale of New York":

MXPX is probably not the only band who noticed that "Christmas only comes once a Year":

You may have noticed that all songs listed so far are either in English or German. Considering that this site runs four UI languages, you probably ask yourself if I listen to any Chinese or Japanese Christmas songs. Well, I do not have any Chinese Christmas songs, but there are a few by Matsutoya Yumi, my favourite Japanese singer. Here is "Wasurekaketa anata he no merry Christmas":

After Punk and Heavy Metal this music may probably shock a few, but I already stated that I am listening to a rather wide range of music, and Matsutoya Yumi has not only good music but also very nice lyrics. While not strictly about Christmas, I really do love her "Happy New Year" more than any of her Christmas songs.

Unfortunately she does not make many music videos (traditionally only one per album for promotion), so most Youtube videos are slideshows or concert videos.

Well, that was it. Of course there is more Christmas music in my library, but as I said in the beginning, there has to be an end. Besides, I can not find videos for all songs that I would like to recommend, but if you found one or two that you like but had not known before then this article has fulfilled its purpose.

Merry Christmas...