We know when we hear Christmas music that the season has arrived, the Christmas season. They are the tunes we crank up while hosting our parties, sing along to while shopping, or listening to on the couch enjoying some hot chocolate. Though this year may change some of the normal activities we do to celebrate Christmas, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy Christmas songs while working from home, celebrating Christmas at home, or singing along to your microphone steering wheel.
Besides reminding us of Christmas pasts, songs can also speak to us in ways we never thought possible, even in reminding us about the God who loves us and the Savior who we commemorate every December. Here are 20 contemporary Christmas songs that will make you smile and remember that the spirit of Christmas can be felt year-round. (The list is not in order of favorites or as a top-20 list.)
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1. Mary, Did You Know?
Written by the Gaither Vocal Band’s Mark Lowry, the song moving describes through a series of questions what Mary knew of the son she birthed and what He would eventually become as Savior and Son of God. Mark Lowry recalls writing the popular song after a conversation with his mom, talking about how Mary would know more than anyone what Jesus would be doing and what He represented. The great Dolly Parton gives a beautiful rendition on her 2020 Christmas album.
2. My Grown-Up Christmas List
This song, composed by David Foster with lyrics from Linda Thompson-Jenner, was originally recorded by Natalie Cole but gained popularity when recorded by Amy Grant for her Christmas album in the 90s and then made popular again by Kelly Clarkson for an American Idol Christmas album. The song revolves around an adult having a “grown-up Christmas list,” which instead of wanting toys under the tree would instead ask for peace, an end to violence, and for everyone to love one another. It is something to think about this year during a difficult time for all.
3. Believe
The title song from the beloved Christmas classic, The Polar Express, is another great hit from Josh Groban from his 2007 Noel album. He recorded the song for the 2004 film, which describes a child’s wonder that visualizes Christmas to all of us and how as we get older, the joys of Christmas change. But, as Josh reminds us, dreams can still be achieved and Christmas reminds us of who we are and what we have been blessed with if we just believe.
4. Don’t Save it All for Christmas Day
This power ballad by Celine Dion, who also co-wrote it, was part of her first English-language Christmas album back in 1998. The song shares with listeners the importance of not sharing the goodwill spirit just on Christmas Day but with others all year long. As Celine states, “So don’t save it all for Christmas Day, find a way to give a little love every day.”
5. Emmanuel
“Emmanuel” celebrates the birth of Christ, complete with a children’s choir, synthesized orchestra, and the soaring lyrics of Christian musicians Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. Not only does this song remind us of who Jesus became as our Savior years after His miraculous birth, but it also gives us a short Bible lesson through the book of Isaiah.
6. The Christmas Shoes
A Christmas song that either makes you smile or cry all the way through, “The Christmas Shoes” reminds us that sometimes we need to look around at what others are going through instead of just ourselves (especially this year). A poor boy tries to pay for shoes for his mother, who is dying, so she can wear them while meeting Jesus and comes from a news story given to Newsong’s Eddie Carswell, who wrote the song from the story.
7. Where Are You, Christmas?
Many can’t hear this song and not think of a loveable green man named The Grinch, but this titled song by singer Faith Hill reminds us that though life can take us down a notch, the spirit and love Christmas brings us can help anyone and is always there. Mariah Carey, who co-wrote the song, was originally supposed to sing it.
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8. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
This Christmas classic has been sung by many notable artists, but it’s something about the jazzy rendition by singer Michael Bublé that brings you back to the days of Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. His 2011 album has several other classics to enjoy as you sink into your couch with some hot cocoa.
9. Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)
This Amy Grant-driven song is in similar fashion to “Mary, Did You Know?” and shines a light on Jesus’s mother Mary and what it was like to know she would be giving birth and raising the Son of God. Amy Grant was actually pregnant during the recording of this song for her 1992 Christmas album, which she says inspired her recording of the song.
10. This Is Christmas
The Christian band Kutless released this single as part of their 2011 Christmas album, sharing about how Christmas is the reason for the season and how we can forget that reason with the hustle and bustle of life. The album also has Kutless’s unique takes on “Breath of Heaven” and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”
11. Ring the Bells
Christian artist Travis Cottrell, with a duet partner of fellow Christian artist Natalie Grant, sings this uplifting song from his 2008, first-ever Christmas album. The song captures the excitement on Christmas morning when we celebrate Jesus’s birth and how amazing that blessing from God is to all of us.
12. All I Want for Christmas is You
For some, it’s not truly Christmas until this 1994 song from Mariah Carey is blaring on their car speakers. Twenty-six years after its release, it is still the most popular Christmas song and celebrates what people want most for Christmas. It’s not gifts or delicious dinners but that one special person in their lives enjoying the festivities with them.
13. You Make Me Feel Like Christmas
How do you not find this duet between music lovebirds Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani playing in your head all December long? Part of Gwen Stefani’s 2017 Christmas album, the song describes how Christmas becomes new and alive when you are with someone who makes you content and happy with who you are, “like a present sent from God” as Stefani sings.
14. Carol of the Bells
The acapella group Pentatonix sings a stirring arrangement of this Christmas song staple from 2012, giving their signature harmonies and beatboxing to what we all love of “Carol of the Bells.” In all honesty, this group’s amazing vocal abilities transform any Christmas favorite into a completely different song, but “Carol of the Bells” seems to encourage the rousing feelings of Christmas the most.
15. Hope Was Born This Night
Christian band Sidewalk Prophets’ rousing song about what Jesus’s birth meant for all of us is shown through this song from their 2013 “Merry Christmas to You” Christmas album. The band recounts the wonder all must have felt the night of Jesus’s birth and reminds us that through Jesus, hope was born and remains in our lives.
16. Somewhere In Your Silent Night
This moving song from the Christian band Casting Crowns “It’s Finally Christmas” 2017 Christmas album is a song that is most meaningful for all of us in the year 2020. The song connects to the struggles and hidden pain people may feel this year, and especially during Christmas, and to remember that Jesus is near to comfort you in your sadness and bring you hope.
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17. O Holy Night
Josh Groban makes another appearance on this list with his cover of “O Holy Night” from his 2007 Noel album. As he begins singing the song acapella, his soaring vocals take us to that holy night when Jesus was born and how such an experience would bring anyone to his or her knees in thankfulness.
18. Like It’s Christmas
Co-written by OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, the Jonas Brothers Christmas song comes complete with hand-clapping, upbeat melodies, and those signature Jonas Brothers harmonies. Just as with previous songs, when you are with the one you love (or even with friends, family, or your heavenly Father), the joy of Christmas can be felt every single day.
19. The First Noel
Almost everyone has probably covered this beloved Christmas song, but Carrie Underwood’s vocals and simple guitar strumming brings elegance to the song and encourages you to hear the song for what it is telling you.
20. Little Drummer Boy
A Christmas classic with a new spin is that of For King and Country’s “Little Drummer Boy” as part of their 2020 Christmas album “A Drummer Boy Christmas.” Known for their moving songs and timely use of drums, this song will get your heart pumping as you imagine playing your “drum” for the King of kings and Lord of lords.
This list of treasured Christmas tunes is probably what everyone wants to hear as we bring this challenging year to a close, with some songs that we will always cherish and new versions we are starting to love. The power of music, especially to heal hearts, is something near and dear to God, as you can find several instances of many praising and singing hymns to the glory of the Lord in the Bible. This Christmas, take the time to sing these meaningful songs but do so in celebration of a baby boy born in a manger in Bethlehem.