Find the Perfect Holiday Song

I am, without question, a full-fledged Christmas enthusiast. I adore the sparkle, the pageantry, the holiday movies, and every cherished tradition that comes with the season. There’s something magical about unpacking the decorations, baking trays of cookies that mysteriously disappear too quickly, and revisiting those classic holiday recipes that make the kitchen smell like pure nostalgia. And don’t even get me started on holiday music. I love it.

In my home, the festive soundtrack officially begins the day after Remembrance Day, and every holiday movie on my list is watched at least once (sometimes twice, for research purposes, of course). Holiday movies make me smile, everyone wears impeccable coats, the snow never melts, and Bing Crosby’s voice feels like a cozy blanket.  Christmas morning always begins with the Carols from King’s College playing  in the background while I prepare breakfast. It’s tradition, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Since many singers find themselves performing at family gatherings and holiday events, I’ve put together a curated list of some of the most delightful songs to sing, drawn from beloved holiday films, timeless musicals, and classic jazz standards. Think of it as your go-to guide for spreading a little extra Christmas cheer, one note at a time.

Come join me for a lesson and I will help you get ready for your holiday solo.

Holiday Songs from Vintage Hollywood Holiday Movies

(Golden Age: 1930s–1960s Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Irving Berlin, MGM era)

1. White Christmas – Holiday Inn (1942) / White Christmas (1954)

2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

3. Silver Bells – The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)

4. Happy Holiday – Holiday Inn (1942)

5. Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) – White Christmas (1954)

6. Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Neptune’s Daughter (1949)

7. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945, film use)

8. The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing – White Christmas (1954)

9. Let’s Start the New Year Right – Holiday Inn (1942)

10. Suzy Snowflake – (Popular 1951 short film song, Rosemary Clooney)

11. Christmas in Killarney – White Christmas (1954)

12. The Secret of Christmas – Say One for Me (1959)

13. It Happened in Sun Valley – Sun Valley Serenade (1941)

14. O Holy Night – A Christmas Carol (1951 version)

15. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – On the Avenue (1937; often used in Christmas films)

16. Tinsel and Turkey – Holiday Inn cut number

17. Silent Night – Featured in multiple early MGM holiday scenes

Holiday Songs from Modern Holiday Movies

(1970s–present, animation, comedies, and modern classics)

1. Believe – The Polar Express (2004)

2. Somewhere in My Memory – Home Alone (1990)

3. When Christmas Comes to Town – The Polar Express (2004)

4. Spirit of the Season – The Polar Express (2004)

5. Where Are You Christmas? – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

6. You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch – How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966/2000)

7. A Place Called Home – A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004)

8. Thankful Heart – The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

9. One More Sleep ‘til Christmas – The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

10. It Feels Like Christmas – The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

11. As Long as There’s Christmas – Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)

12. Making Christmas – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

13. What’s This? – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

14. Kidnap the Sandy Claws – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

15. Peppermint Winter – Owl City (Holiday Special, 2010)

16. Do You Want to Build a Snowman? – Frozen (2013; )

17. Let It Go – Frozen (2013)

18. Ring in the Season – Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

19. When We’re Together – Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

20. Love Is an Open Door – Frozen (2013) – fun duet for holiday showcases

21. He Needs Me - Mrs Santa Claus -1996

Holiday Songs from Classic Musicals

(Broadway’s Golden Age: 1940s–1960s )

1. We Need a Little Christmas – Mame (1966)

2. My Favorite Things – The Sound of Music (1959)

3. Pine Cones and Holly Berries – Here’s Love (1963)

4. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Here’s Love (1963)

5. Be a Santa – Subways Are for Sleeping (1961)

6. The Twelve Days to Christmas – She Loves Me (1963)

7. December the 25th – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (stage version)

8. I’ll Capture Your Heart – Holiday Inn (stage version)

9. A Christmas Carol (Finale) – Scrooge (1970, stage and film crossover)

10. Bless Us All – Scrooge (1970)

11. Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year – Promises, Promises (holiday revues)

12. The Bells of Christmas – Here’s Love (1963)

13. I Don’t Remember Christmas – Starting Here, Starting Now (1977)

14. Christmas Eve – She Loves Me (setting around Christmas Eve)

15. The Lord’s Bright Blessing – Mame (reprise)

16. Make Someone Happy – Do Re Mi (used frequently in holiday revues)

17. Till the End of the Season – She Loves Me

18. Count Your Blessings ( White Christmas) 

Holiday Songs from Modern Musicals

(1980s–present pop/Broadway crossover and new holiday shows)

1. Hard Candy Christmas – The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)

2. Sparklejollytwinklejingley – Elf: The Musical (2010)

3. Nobody Cares About Santa – Elf: The Musical (2010)

4. There Is a Santa Claus – Elf: The Musical (2010)

5. Surabaya-Santa – Songs for a New World (1995, Jason Robert Brown)

6. Christmas Bells – Rent (1996)

7. Light of the World – Godspell (revival versions)

8. Christmas Lullaby – Songs for a New World (1995)

9. Still, Still, Still – Home for the Holidays: The Musical (2017)

10. Green Christmas – Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical (2020 stage version)

11. You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Reprise) – The Grinch Musical

12. Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher – Billy Elliot: The Musical (2005)

13. Underneath the Tree – The Grinch Live! (NBC special)

14. Ring in the Season – Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

15. When We’re Together – Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

16. One More Sleep ‘til Christmas – The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

17. Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year – Catch Me If You Can (holiday revues)

18. Something About December – Kelly Clarkson Holiday Special / Musical Collabs

19. If I Could Fly – Holiday Inn (revival crossover)

Holiday Songs from the Jazz Tradition (Classic & Modern)

Classic Jazz Holiday Standards:

1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Nat King Cole

2. Winter Wonderland – Ella Fitzgerald

3. Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt

4. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Frank Sinatra / Dean Martin

5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland / Ella Fitzgerald

6. Sleigh Ride – Ella Fitzgerald

7. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Billie Holiday

8. Cool Yule – Louis Armstrong

9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry

10. White Christmas – Bing Crosby

11. Jingle Bells – Ella Fitzgerald / Count Basie

12. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? – Ella Fitzgerald

13. Christmas Time Is Here – Vince Guaraldi Trio

14. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Bing Crosby

15. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley

16. Merry Christmas Baby – Charles Brown / Etta James

17. Frosty the Snowman – Nat King Cole Trio

18. Silver Bells – Diana Krall

19. The Man with the Bag – Kay Starr

20. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Frank Sinatra (swing version)

Modern / Contemporary Jazz Holiday Songs:

1. Grown-Up Christmas List – Natalie Cole / Amy Grant

2. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey (jazz arrangements abound)

3. River – Joni Mitchell

4. Please Come Home for Christmas – Eagles / Charles Brown

5. This Christmas – Donny Hathaway

6. Snowfall – Tony Bennett

7. That’s What I Want for Christmas – Nancy Wilson

8. Christmas Time Is Here – Diana Krall

9. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Michael Bublé

10. Cold December Night – Michael Bublé

11. Winter Wonderland – Norah Jones

12. My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year) – Regina Spektor

13. What Christmas Means to Me – Stevie Wonder

14. The Christmas Waltz – Harry Connick Jr.

15. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Michael Bublé

16. Underneath the Tree – Kelly Clarkson (big band version works well)

17. Someday at Christmas – Stevie Wonder

18. Christmas Dreaming – Frank Sinatra

19. When My Heart Finds Christmas – Harry Connick Jr.

20. The Merriest – June Christy