The Top Pop Christmas Music of 2020
Looking for the perfect Christmas playlist? Check out our roundup of the top pop Christmas music of 2020! From classics to modern hits, we’ve got you covered.
Christmas Pop Songs
It’s that time of year again! The time when we start thinking about what Christmas music we want to listen to. We all have our favourite Christmas songs, but what are the top pop Christmas songs of 2020? Let’s take a look at some of the best ones.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
One of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was released by Mariah Carey in 1994. It has since become a holiday classic, and is a staple on many radio stations during the Christmas season. The song is about a woman who is longing for her lover to be with her during the holidays. Carey’s own husband, Sony Music Entertainment CEO Tommy Mottola, was the inspiration for the song.
“Last Christmas” by Wham!
“Last Christmas” is a song by English pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with “Everything She Wants”. It was written and produced by George Michael, and has been covered by many artists since its original release. In the years since its release, the song has become one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time.
The song is about a young woman who is regretful about a previous relationship. On Christmas Eve, she reflects on what happened and hopes that her former lover will return to her. The song was one of the first modern pop Christmas songs and helped to popularize the genre.
covered by many artists since its original release.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a song written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in reaction to television reports of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. It was first recorded in a day on 25 November 1984 by Band Aid, a supergroup put together by Geldof, and was released the same day as a single. The single quicky became a global commercial success, raising over £8 million for relief efforts in Ethiopia. In 2014, the song was covered by a group of pop stars known as Band Aid 30, and released to raise money for the Ebola crisis in Western Africa. The original version of the song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 16 December 1984 and remained there for five weeks, becoming Christmas number one that year. In addition to raising money for charity, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” helped increase public awareness of the famine in Ethiopia and led to other altruistic actions, such as “Live Aid”.
“Merry Christmas, Darling” by The Carpenters
“Merry Christmas, Darling” by The Carpenters is a pop Christmas song that was released in 1970. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is considered one of the band’s signature songs.
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir
This song was originally written and performed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971 as a protest against the Vietnam War. The song became an instant classic and has been covered by many artists over the years, including Maroon 5, Celine Dion, and Christina Aguilera. This version by John & Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir is from the album “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” released in 1972.
Contemporary Pop Songs
It’s that time of year again! We all know that one of the best parts of Christmas is the music. There are so many classic Christmas songs that we all know and love, but what about the contemporary pop songs of 2020? This year has seen some great Christmas pop songs released, so let’s take a look at the best of the best.
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé
This popular Christmas tune was originally written in 1951 by Meredith Willson. The song was popularized by Perry Como and has since been recorded by many artists, including Michael Bublé, who released his own version in 2011. The lyrics tell the story of a boy who is excited for Christmas to arrived, and the song cleverly uses the word “Christmas” as both a noun and an adjective. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” is a fun and festive tune that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit!
“Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande
Released in 2014, “Santa Tell Me” is a contemporary pop song recorded by American singer Ariana Grande. The song was written by Grande, Ilya Salmanzadeh, and Savan Kotecha, and produced by Salmanzadeh and Peter Svensson. “Santa Tell Me” is a midtempo Christmas song with synthpop and R&B influences. The lyrics express Grande’s desire for a romantic partner on Christmas Eve.
The song was met with positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its festive theme and Grande’s vocal performance. Commercially, the single peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, it peaked within the top ten of several countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. An accompanying music video for “Santa Tell Me” was released on December 16, 2014; it features Grande in various wintery settings.
“Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber
“Mistletoe” is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released as the lead single from his second studio album, Under the Mistletoe, on October 17, 2011. The song was written and produced by Nasri, and Adam Messinger of The Messengers, with additional writing from Bieber. The song is a boy band-influenced pop song, that features synth percussion and Auto-Tune, while Lyrically it speaks of spending Christmas with a loved one.
Upon its release, “Mistletoe” received generally positive reviews from music critics. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 13 entering the chart at number two on the Hot Digital Songs chart with sales of 211,000 copies. In Canada it entered at number five on Nielsen SoundScan’s Holiday Digital Songs chart. Internationally it debuted inside the top ten in both Australia and New Zealand.
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love is a pop Christmas song originally performed by Darlene Love and produced by Phil Spector. It was released as a single in 1963 and peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, Pentatonix, and Kelly Clarkson.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith
Released in late 2020, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith is a beautiful pop ballad that has quickly become a holiday favorite. The lyrics are touching and nostalgic, and the melody is simply gorgeous. If you’re looking for a contemporary pop Christmas song that will make you feel all the feelings, this is the one for you.
