It’s time to go out with the old and in with the new! Christmas songs have been around for a long time, but they have been constantly evolving and changing. Traditional singers of Christmas songs like Judy Garland and Bill Irving will still be remembered and appreciated, but the new singers on the scene are what people today most enjoy. While many older songs still continue to be included in the top Christmas songs played every year, history is in the making as more and more new pop songs are included on this list as well.

Leading The Crowd

Pop stars have always done renditions of their favorite holiday songs—The Beach Boys, The Beatles, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, and Dolly Parton are all remembered for their takes on some classic Christmas songs. However, most recently, the pop star most remembered for her contribution to the list of top Christmas songs in Mariah Carey.

In 1994, Mariah Carey co-wrote and sang All I Want For Christmas Is You. The song is about a woman who only has one wish for Christmas—to be with her lover. The song was an instant hit and made the list of top ten Christmas songs in many countries. The song is still played every holiday season.

A Different Direction

Another popular top Christmas song that was an instant hit—though not because of its bubble-gum charm—was The Christmas Shoes. This song was originally released in 2000, and it was sung by the band NewSong. The song is about a young boy who wants to buy his dying mother a pair of shoes, but cannot afford them. The cashier does the boy a favor and gives him the money.

The song caused listeners everywhere to break down and sob, but it nevertheless made the top of the Adult Contemporary chart within three weeks of being released. A book based on the story told in the song was published a year later, and this novella was placed on the New York Times best seller list two years in a row. Soon afterwards, a made for TV movie starring Rob Lowe and Kimberley Williams was released.

A New Generation Of Music

The classic Christmas songs are great and continue to be enjoyed year after year. However, the great thing about Christmas is that every year serves as a new chance for artists to make their mark on holiday history. Each year, we will be sure to see a mixture of old and new songs making the list of top Christmas songs.