Here are some of my favourite Christmas Songs - though I do like many more, including Christmas Carols.

Christmas is a time for nostalgia and I think the music that we remember from Christmas past immediately transports us back to happy times.


===1 - White Christmas===

First performed by Bing Crosby in 1941 and according to the Guiness Book of Records is the most selling single of all time.

I remember this song from my childhood and it always evokes the snowy Christmas we all imagine as being typical.
Dreaming of a White Christmas is a lovely thought when we are writing our Christmas cards, It has innocent lyrics that speak of an old-style Christmas we would all like to have.



===2 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas===

First performed by Judy Garland in 1944 but most famously sung by Frank Sinatra in the 1950s.

This too is one song I remember from my childhood. Apparently the words were altered to make it less morose but I love its sentimental feel. 'Through the years we all will be together if the Fates allow' - quite a sad little line - because as we get older we will nearly all have lost loved ones that can no longer be with us - so while this song can bring a tear to the eye - it is in a good sentimental way - which is how we often feel at Christmastime anyway when we remember loved ones.



===3 - Last Christmas===

This song was written by George Michael and was released by the group 'Wham' in 1984.

Not one really for a lot of pop songs but I really love this one and was surprised to see it was in fact 28 years old. I am not a big fan of Wham in general but I just love the tune of this record. So while the lyrics talk of a lost love the tune is nice and upbeat.
The video that goes with the song is snowy and alpine - recreating the Christmas mood. They do have lots of big 1980s hair - but that does not detract from the video. the music has a sort of jingly background and a sort of sleigh bell effect in places which makes it perfect for Christmas time.



===4 - Merry Xmas Everybody===

This Christmas song was released by the group 'Slade' in 1973. It became the Christmas Number 1 and stayed in the UK charts until the following February.

This takes me straight back to teenage Christmasses - when we found life so exciting and full of hope . This is now a fine Christmas classic - and will be heard everywhere and known by all. It has a limited set of lyrics but no-one minds that as the music is so catchy and lively you just feel all Christmassy and festive. It ends with Noddy Holder doing his famous 'Its Christmas!!'
Back in the 1970s this song did not have a fancy video as they do these days but it still was very popular and has remained so to this day.



===5 - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday===

Another Christmas song that was released for Christmas 1973 by the group 'Wizzard'
Written and produced by Roy Wood, the song remained in the UK charts for five weeks but was beaten to the Number 1 slot of Slade (see above).

This always brings back Christmas memories as it came out when I was a teenager. it is one of the regular Christmas classics now and is heard everywhere during the festive season. It is a joyful song and as soon as it starts it makes me feel like jumping up and dancing around the room! It is light-hearted and cheerful. After 'Let the bells ring out for Christmas' is a great instrumental section. Although now 39 year's old, and unlike the hundreds of other Christmas songs that have been released, this one has stood the test of time and together with the Slade song is one that will always get played in shops in the run up to Christmas and is known by youngsters as well as by those of us that wee round when it was released.



===6 - Wonderful Christmastime===

A Christmas song released in 1979 by Paul McCartney.

This is another jolly and lively Christmas melody with the video being set as a happy get-together is a family pub - just the sort of affair we would most like to go to with family and friends over Christmas. The song is festive and makes you feel lively and in need of a dance -and the addition of bells adds to the atmosphere. The synthesiser is also a nice lively touch.



===7 - Mistletoe and Wine===

"Mistletoe and Wine" was made famous by Cliff Richard. The song was originally for the musical 'Scraps' in 1976. Some of the words were changed for Cliff Richard making it slightly more religious. It was the best selling single of 1988.

This is a very seasonal song by Cliff Richard - and although it does mention 'Christian Rhymes' is not overly religious. It has a lovely snowy video with carol singers, an icicle covered log cabin and red jacketed soldiers, there is even a cheery snowman. This song has a nice upbeat tune and was sung almost annually by my sons in various school Christmas plays and concerts, so is always a little special for me.



===8 - Walking in the Air===

A song written by Howard Blake for the 1982 animated film of Raymond Briggs' 1978 children's book The Snowman. In the film the song was performed by choirboy Peter Auty. For the subsequent single release in 1985 the vocals were sung by Welsh chorister Aled Jones.

This is another song that everyone will know.
The short film 'The Snowman' is now a standard on TV around Christmas - and is just as enjoyable and festive now as when it first came out.
I have always loved the song but everyone always thinks it was Aled Jones who sang in the film, but he actually only released the single and it was Peter Auty who sang in the movie, not that I could tell the difference really.



===9 - Merry Christmas Everyone===

Sung by Shaking Stevens this song was originally to be released in 1984, but was postponed a year so it wouldn't clash with Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas'.
It was finally released in December of 1985 and became the Christmas number one.

This is another lively festive song that is great for parties and would have you up and dancing along - which is what we want at Christmas - something cheerful and lively. It is all about parties and having fun and would get anyone in the festive spirit.



===10 - When Love Is Gone===

The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 American musical fantasy-comedy film, and an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It featured Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Called either 'When Love is Gone' or 'The Love is Gone' this song is not exactly a Christmas song but is from the Muppet's Christmas Carol Movie so is in someways a seasonal offering.
I always loved this song in the video we had and while it is sad it always sent shivers down my spine.
In following years my son bought me the DVD so I could watch it again as we no longer had the video or a player - but I was horrified to find they had cut my favourite song out - so now the only place I can see it is on YouTube. Judging by the comments left I am not the only one who really liked this song.
It is sung by Ebenezer Scrooge's girlfriend Belle when the young Scrooge refuses to marry her yet again. They are dressed in Dickenian clothes and on a snowy bridge with a church in the background. It is very sad and moving - and also so true in places - that 'there comes a moment in your life, like a window,and you see your future there before you.......be careful or you may regret the choice you made someday'.'
It s such a shame for such an appropriate song to be chopped from the middle of the film - as the film ends with a song called 'When Love is Found' which was the mate of the now omitted song.
So if you do not know it have a look on YoutTube - it is very moving - well for me anyway. Here are the words:

'The Love is Gone

There was a time when I was sure
That you and I were truly one
That our future was forever
And would never come undone
And we came so close to being close
I know you cared for me
There's distance in your eyes tonight
So we're not meant to be

The love is gone, the love is gone
The sweetest dream that you have ever known
The love is gone, the love is gone
I wish you well, but I must leave you now, alone

There comes a moment in your life
Like a window, and you see
Your future there before you
And how perfect life can be
But adventure calls with unheard voices
Pulling you away
Be careful or you may regret
The choice you make someday

When love is gone, when love is gone
The sweetest dream that we have ever known
When love is gone, when love is gone
I wish you well, but I must leave you now, alone

It was almost love
It was almost always
It was like a fairy tale we'd live out, you and I
And yes, some dreams come true
And yes, some dreams fall through
And yes, the time has come for us to say goodbye

Yes, some dreams come true
And yes, some dreams fall through
And yes, the time has come for us to say goodbye.'



===Conclusion===

Apart from a few most of these songs are from the 70s, 80s and 90s - which says a lot about the enduring qualities of the older records and how we like them for being nostalgic. Personally I cannot recall any of the more recent Christmas number 1s.
At Christmas we all love a dose of nostalgia and what better way than listening to songs we have loved from years gone past.