It’s that time of year again… TSO is back!
Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be playing a double-header at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday, December 18th. First show is at 3pm, and the second is at 7:30pm.
Click HERE to get tickets and get into the hard rock holiday spirit!
Christmas Songs: 25 Classic Rock/Pop Tunes to Get into the Holiday Spirit
Now that it’s finally December, it’s time to fully embrace Christmas songs. (Sure, some may have started long ago, but many like to wait until Thanksgiving is in the rearview.)
There are a surprising number of Christmas songs recorded by some of music’s biggest icons. Many rockin’ holiday tunes tend to be covers, but many artists have tried to pen the next Christmas classic. If they don’t end up classics, they are often at least a lot of fun.
On one rare occasion, an original Christmas song inspired a theory that went viral. The song in question is the Paul McCarney hit “Wonderful Christmastime.” The theory started on X (formerly Twitter) via Canadian actor Ryan George, who wrote, “Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ is about friends practicing witchcraft but then someone walks in and they have to suddenly play it cool.”
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McCartney was asked about the theory in a special Q&A about the song on his official website in December 2022. Sir Paul said when asked if the theory was true, “Oh yeah. Well, thank goodness they found me out. This is completely true, and in actual fact, I am the head wizard of a Liverpool coven. [Paul laughs] Either that… or it’s complete nonsense. And you know it’s the latter!”
Macca is then asked, “This theory may have come from people mishearing the lyrics. Could you confirm if the lyric is ‘the moon is right’ or ‘the mood is right’?” He responds, “It’s ‘the mood’! This is the mood; I’ve gathered together the witches and wizards… I’ve got ‘the mood’, which is what we in wizardry call it [laughs]. The thing is about this stuff, it’s so easy to convince half the people in the world. You do have to be a little bit careful! “
McCartney added, “No, it’s ‘the mood’. And you know what, I’m thinking about Liverpool Christmas parties, that’s really all I’m doing with that song. ‘The mood is right, let’s raise a glass, the spirit’s up’ – you know, all the stuff you do at Christmas. Particularly with my old Liverpool family parties.”
To help fully get into the holiday spirit, consider adding these 25 songs to your Christmas playlist. Or you can try and see if Sir Paul has an opening in his coven.
25. Cheap Trick – “Christmas Christmas”
ShareLeave it to the pride of Rockford, Ill. to put out a super jaunty pop-rock tune to help energize the holiday season. "Christmas Christmas" is the title track from Cheap Trick's 2017 holiday album.
24. Cheech & Chong – “Santa Claus and His Old Lady”
ShareMore of a piece of spoken-word magic than a song, but it's just not Christmas without Cheech & Chong.
23. Doobie Brothers – “Jesus Is Just Alright”
ShareIf 'Die Hard' is a Christmas movie, then "Jesus Is Just Alright" is a Christmas song. Fun fact: Before the Doobies covered this gospel tune, it was covered by The Byrds in 1969.
22. Pretenders – “2000 Miles”
ShareDefinitely not a traditional Christmas song, but it sure is a beauty and a touching tribute from Chrissie Hynde to late Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott.
21. Bob Seger & The Last Heard – “Sock It to Me Santa”
ShareLong before The Silver Bullet Band and The Bob Seger System was Bob Seger & The Last Heard. "Sock It to Me Santa" was the band's second single, and it definitley was more than a little inspired by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. The James Brown sample from "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" was a fun touch.
20. Prince – “Another Lonely Christmas”
ShareThe b-side to "I Would Die 4 U," "Another Lonely Christmas" starts off sexy and then *plot twist* you find out Prince's lady is dead and died seven years ago on Christmas. Sure, it bit dark for a Christmas tune, but it's still Prince, and the track still slaps.
19. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – “Little Drummer Boy”
ShareJoan Jett will always be a badass, but it's also cool to hear tender moments from her like with this cover of "Little Drummer Boy."
18. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Christmas All Over Again”
ShareTom Petty wrote this catchy tune to be included on the 1992 compilation album 'A Very Special Christmas 2,' which raised money for the Special Olympics. The album moved over two million copies.
17. AC/DC – “Mistress for Christmas”
Share"Jingle bells, jingle bells/Jingle all the day/I just can't wait till christmas time/When I can grope you in the hay." Finally! A Christmas song about infidelity that isn't "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Thanks, AC/DC!
16. Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime”
ShareThis tune might be a controversial choice and always seems to divide folks, but try and listen to it and not smile. Go ahead, Grinch. We'll wait.
15. Wham! – “Last Christmas”
ShareIt's a perfect pop tune and yet another reminder of what a great voice George Michael had. A remarkable talent gone too soon and, tragically, on Christmas. Take a moment to revisit this gem if you haven't already.
14. Slade – “Merry Xmas Everybody”
ShareSlade is responsible for some of the biggest glam hits including "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," but they managed to save some of their glam magic for Christmas with this timeless track that never fails to perk up any holiday party.
13. Eagles – “Please Come Home for Christmas”
ShareDon Henley's voice is on full display on this beautiful cover which yielded a top 20 hit for the Eagles in 1978.
12. Adam Sandler – “The Chanukah Song”
ShareOkay, so this is technically a Christmas song list, but few would take issue with making an exception for this Adam Sandler song, which he performed on 'Saturday Night Live' in 1994. The track would even crack the Billboard Hot 100, which shouldn't be too shocking since Sandler brilliantly rhymed Carnegie Deli with Arthur Fonzerelli.
11. The Kinks – “Father Christmas”
ShareSure, this tune is a bit dark, but it's also exactly the type of Christmas song you'd expect Ray Davies to write. Let it serve as a reminder to give back so everyone can have a happy holiday season.
10. Bruce Springsteen – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”
Share"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" has been covered by countless artists, but there will always be something magical about this live cover from The Boss, probably because he's so magical live. Try not to get goosebumps when Clarence Clemons launches into his sax solo.
9. The Waitresses – “Christmas Wrapping”
ShareHappy New Wave Christmas! The Waitresses provide an adorable love story in this classic that's enough to make you think, "Who needs 'Love Actually'?!"
8. Elton John – “Step Into Christmas”
ShareOf course Elton John and Bernie Taupin's legendary partnership would yield a classic Christmas song! It would almost be shocking if it didn't after working together for over 50 years.
7. John Lennon & Yoko Ono – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
ShareNever forget: War is over if you want it.
6. Stevie Wonder – “What Christmas Means to Me”
ShareBelieve it or not, "What Christmas Means to Me" was never a proper single for Stevie Wonder, but that didn't stop this tune from becoming a holiday classic.
5. The Beach Boys – “Little Saint Nick”
ShareFun fact: "Little Saint Nick" was released in December 1963 as a stand-alone single before becoming the opening track on 1964's 'The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.' Whether the success of "Little Saint Nick" led to the release of an entire album is unknown, but it an undesputible fact is the timelessness of this song.
4. Chuck Berry – “Run Rudolph Run”
ShareThis Chuck Berry song is actually considered a sequel to Johnny Marks' "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." (The more you know, right?) Marks also as a songwriting credit on "Run Rudolph Run."
3. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24”
ShareIt's truly not Christmas without Trans-Siberian Orchestra. While the hard rock outfit has a number of popular tunes in their catalog, "Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24" is their most popular and their best.
2. Band Aid – “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
ShareWhen Bob Geldof recruited some of the biggest names in pop music from the U.K. and Ireland in 1984, all he really wanted to do was record a charity single to raise money and awareness for the devastating Ethiopian famine. He not only did that, but he also helped prove that music can, in fact, change the world and paved the way for other charity efforts from musicians.
1. Darlene Love – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Share"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" has been covered by many, but none of them have been able to capture the magic and emotion of Darlene Love. The track further secured its place in pop culture when Love would perform the song every year begining in 1986 on 'Late Night with David Letterman' and then 'Late Show with David Letterman.' The lone year Love didn't perform the song was in 2007 due to the then ongoing Writers' Strike.
