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The best and worst Christmas songs ever written

The festive bops and the festive flops...

Dean Hadcock Dean Hadcock - 24th December 2024

We can all agree, in terms of Christmas music, it has its bops and it has its flops.

Some songs do an incredible job of capturing that warm fuzzy feeling that Christmas can give you… others feel like they were purposely made just to drive you crazy.

And whether you’re into violins and jingling bells or pure festive pop, we’ve all got opinions about Christmas music.

So let’s take a look at five of the all-time best Christmas songs and five of the absolute worst.

We know people will go to war in the name of their favourite Crimbo song, so before you start a crusade against us because your favourite is on the worst list, let me remind you this list is completely subjective… but we all know it’s right.

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The worst Christmas songs ever written

Sia's Christmas song is one of the worst ever written
  1. Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande

Not hate towards Ariana – she’s an honorary Manc after all – but Santa Tell Me is a massive flop. Nothing screams ‘I’m in a department store at Christmas time’ more than this song and I pray for any retail worker who has to hear this more than once on their wintery shifts.

2. Everyday Is Christmas – SIA (The Whole Album)

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You’re getting a whole 13-song album for this one. SIA did not need to make a full Christmas album but she did and it’s basically all the same song. Everything about it is bad, even down to the album art. There’s something about SIA’s voice that just doesn’t lend itself to festive music. Sorry SIA.

3. It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas

It’s not the singer, it’s the song. It doesn’t matter who is singing this one, it’s going on the worst list. When it’s the start of November why does every commercial company decide this is the perfect song to shove on every Christmas ad ever? And how does something with such cheerful lyrics manage to sound so glum?! It’s like a Winnie the Pooh Christmas song.

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4. Underneath The Tree – Kelly Clarkson 

This one makes me feel like I’m in a silly little 00s British Christmas romcom and I absolutely hate it. How did she fall from Since U Been Gone to this utter trash? I’m not mad, Kelly, I’m just disappointed.

5. Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano

For a three-minute-long song, it does not need to repeat Feliz Navidad 21 times. There are literally only four different unique sentences in this one and they’re repeated over and over again. We get it Jose, you wanna wish me a Merry Christmas. Can you do it a bit more quietly, I’ve got a Bailey’s hangover.

The best Christmas songs ever written

  1. White Christmas – The Drifters

Nothing lends itself more to Christmas than some classic doo-wop, that’s why White Christmas by The Drifters and only The Drifters is the best version of this festive classic. As soon as the band’s deep harmony kicks in at the start it fills the room with that Christmassy feeling. 

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2. Step Into Christmas – Elton John

No era was better for Christmas music than the 70s and Elton John’s Step Into Christmas is its peak. Whether you’re putting up the tree, present shopping, having a festive boogie or eating your Christmas dinner, this song fits the vibe perfectly.

3. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses

We don’t think American new wave band The Waitresses knew the scale of what they were making when they were recording this anti-Christmas song. It instantly became a cult classic. Trust us, sit down and listen to the bass in this one, it’s so funky and usually by the time the sax comes into it we’re already up dancing. 

4. Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney

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As soon as this song starts with those synthy keys you know you’re in for a good’n, I mean who else is more equipped to write a jolly ol’ Christmas song than an ex-Beatle? It just feels like the epitome of Christmas.

5. Christmas Rappin’ – Kurtis Blow

By the time this song came out in 1979, rap was a relatively new genre on the scene. So for Kurtis Blow, the first commercially successful rapper, to release Christmas Rappin’ as his first song is insane but what a hit it was. Not your generic Christmas song but it’s something different and you can’t deny, that beat is infectious.

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Featured image: Youtube

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The Strokes at Co-op Live, Manchester – actually very hard to explain

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Strokes at Co-op Live in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

Manchester has waited a long, long time for this – The Strokes back on stage in our city.

I’ve been a fan of the band for as long as I can remember, but have never managed to catch them live, partly because they’ve left it TWENTY YEARS between shows here.

But back they are, with an enormous gig at the Co-op Live on their Reality Awaits tour.

The Strokes are known as one of the most solid indie bands of the 2000s, going triple platinum with their debut album Is This It and releasing massive anthems like Last Nite, Reptilia, and Someday.

They’re also known as a bit of an unpredictable live act – some will say they’re one of the best on the circuit, others will say they’re disappointing, and it really can depend on the night.

What they’re not known for is their audience interaction, so when frontman Julian Casablancas tries to have a bit of a chat with the audience, we all sort of stare blankly back at him. He’s speaking to us? What do we do?

“Wow, tough crowd,” he says, which is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone describe a Manchester audience as tough.

Then he turns back to drummer Fabrizio Moretti and says: “This is f*cking hideous, let’s play some songs.”

The setlist seems to get a shake-up every couple of shows, which is a nice surprise for us – and apparently also Julian, who regularly pops over to ask his bandmates what’s up next.

It doesn’t really matter that he’s not done his homework, because the second that drum kicks in, along with the impeccable guitar work of Valensi, Fraiture and Hammond Jr., he snaps into action.

It’s impressive that their songs still have such singalong quality when Casablancas enunciates like a man with a dislocated jaw. For certain songs he’s so incoherent that if you weren’t a fan you’d walk in this room and wonder what the f*ck was going on.

But then, that’s sort of why us The Strokes fans love them so much. There’s a calamitous beauty to the work they put out and it’s so fun to belt out some words, even if they’re not the right ones.

I was hoping that seeing it live would sell that divisive new album, Reality Awaits, to me, but it didn’t. It’s too autotuney, too languid, and too often the victim of everyone’s toilet breaks.

Their earlier tracks still land best in a live setting, especially Reptilia, an absolute juggernaut in their back catalogue.

Rollercoaster set and tricky crowd interactions aside, we all had a great time – I’m just not sure I could say the same about Julian Casablancas.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Sam Fender describes his own ticket prices as ‘b*llocks’ and demands change for fans

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Sam Fender describes his own ticket prices as 'b*llocks' and demands change for fans

Sam Fender has kicked off about ticket prices for his own tour, ahead of his huge stadium summer next year.

The Geordie star announced his Proper Massive stadium tour last week, which will visit some of the UK’s biggest venues including The O2 in London, Etihad Stadium in Manchester, and St James’ Park in his home city of Newcastle.

But after ticket prices for the tour were announced, Sam Fender surprised us all by joining in with a moan about how expensive they were.

He described the ticketing strategy for his tour as ‘b*llocks’ and said he was ‘not happy’ with ticket prices.

And proving just how much sway an artist can have on ticket prices, Sam Fender then demanded that things be redone.

Sam first appeared in the comments on Gavin Davis’ Instagram account, which frequently shares tour leaks and ticket prices.

There, he wrote: “I’m not happy with these prices, they’re getting changed. It got inflated well more than I’d had in mind, it should only be inflated in relation to the cost of putting the show on.

“The standing will not be split as well, I had no idea about it. I have no idea how this was normalised in gigs.

“It’s bollocks and it won’t be happening on this tour.”

Then later, on his own Instagram stories, Sam Fender posted: “I’ve managed to get Front Standing tickets removed from the UK stadium tour. Whoever buys a standing ticket gets as much chance as anyone to be at the front.

“No more £120 standing tickets either.

“Costs are astronomical compared to two years ago, I can’t control the venue and ticketing fees, that’s a sad reality of today’s industry.

“This is gonna be the biggest and best show we’ve ever put on. Can’t wait to see everyone on the road next summer!”

The ticket prices for the Proper Massive tour are now confirmed by Sam Fender himself as being £85 for GA standing, and £55/£75/£95 for seats.

You can get tickets when they go on sale HERE.

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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