Christmas is a time for joy and celebration, so why not add some energy to your holiday playlist with some festive dance music? Whether you need something to keep everyone moving or want to appreciate an exquisite ballad, this collection of modern Christmas songs will help get everyone in the spirit!
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Every year, a select few Christmas songs compete for supremacy. Mariah Carey’s iconic anthem ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ is usually the clear winner, but other contenders occasionally make it into the top three.
One such song is Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”, originally released in 1958 but not a big success until after Lee’s 1960 mega-hit ‘I’m Sorry’ and eventually becoming his highest selling record ever by 2008.
This infectious Christmas rockabilly tune continues to be beloved today and has been covered by many famous artists. It also appears in numerous films such as Home Alone and Jingle All The Way, plus soundtracks for Cheaper by the Dozen, Reindeer Games, Enemy of the State and The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Johnny Marks wrote the iconic Christmas song ‘Run, Rudolph, Run’ (Chuck Berry), ‘A Holly Jolly Christmas’ and ‘I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day’. A remarkable songwriter himself, Johnny also earned a Bronze Star for his bravery while serving with the 26th Special Service Company during World War II.
Lee recorded this song when she was 13 years old and it has become a timeless classic, regularly played on radio stations around the globe. It has also been covered by some of today’s hottest young pop stars such as Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Alabama.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
With so much Christmas music available, it can be easy to get stuck in a holiday rut. That is why having an array of different songs that lift your spirits throughout the season is so important. Dance music is perfect for this as it incorporates various genres into one song.
Are you searching for the perfect dance music song to add to your holiday playlist this season? Here are some of the best:
1. “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” is the most beloved Christmas song in America, first recorded by The Quinto Sisters in 1964 and a beloved favorite ever since.
This song is ideal for children and can serve as a great reminder of kindness during the holidays. Plus, its fascinating history adds an extra layer of enjoyment.
2. This song by Charlie Brown in 1960 is a little melancholic but still enjoyable to sing.
While it may be a sad song, it remains popular and joyful during Christmastime.
The song tells the tale of a boy who is lonely and desolate. However, his friend knows that they will soon be together again and it helps her feel better knowing that her beloved will return to her soon enough.
Sleigh Rides
Sleigh rides are a timeless Christmas tradition, and this song perfectly encapsulates the festive feeling of being together with your loved ones. It doesn’t mention Santa Claus or anything else associated with the season; rather, it simply talks about taking a sleigh ride and enjoying the snowfall with your buddies.
It’s the ideal choice for a holiday choir concert and it’s packed with delightful moments that encourage your students to express themselves creatively through vocals. This light classical piece has movements that feel like episodes, and when those rising horns enter it’s like an energetic marching band bursting into your heart with holiday cheer!
On a Christmas day, there’s nothing quite like taking a sleigh ride with Ella Fitzgerald. Her holiday choral captures that feeling perfectly; it sounds so smooth and light that it almost feels like you are sitting inside with her singing your heart out.
This performance features a variety of percussion instruments to give the illusion of a sleigh ride and horses, such as temple blocks which sound like whips, sleigh bells that shake to imitate horse bells, and even a trumpet at the end which sounds like horses galloping along! There’s also an intriguing bit at the beginning where they sing part of a chorus in unison.
Last Christmas
No doubt, dance music is one of the most enjoyable genres to listen to year-round. With artists like Backstreet Boys, Alicia Keys and Sia all releasing full-length Christmas albums this year, it’s no surprise that we are now seeing a new wave of songs reaching the top of the charts during Xmastime.
Modern Christmas songs may be fresh and exciting, but some of the most iconic Christmas classics have stood the test of time. It’s easy to understand why; their timeless quality has an almost mystical effect on us; making them feel more genuine and special each year.
Christmas songs can be so beloved that they will continue to be played at parties for years to come – particularly the classic holiday classics.
George Michael’s Last Christmas is one such classic that has been covered countless times throughout the years, particularly since 1984 when it debuted alongside Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?. It quickly went to number one on the charts that year and remains popular to this day.
Barry Manilow filed a plagiarism lawsuit, alleging the melody and chord sequence of Last Christmas were too similar to his 1978 hit Can’t Smile Without You. Nevertheless, Michael’s song remains popular; it has sold 3.7 million copies and is now the best-selling single that never made the top of the UK charts. This year in memory of George Michael’s passing, an online fan campaign has been launched in an attempt to bring this beloved festive classic back into the charts.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
No matter if you’re looking to have some fun with friends or take your children on a dance-along tour of the mall, there are plenty of Christmas songs that will get everyone in the holiday spirit. But not every song works for everyone – some are better suited to certain audiences than others.
There’s one song, however, that appeals to a wide range of musical tastes: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. This classic tune has been recorded by numerous crooners from Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra to Burl Ives.
John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie composed “Christmas Song,” which premiered on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934 and quickly gained notoriety as an iconic holiday classic.
Though not originally from Covington, the song has a strong Cincinnati connection. Lyricist James “Haven” Gillespie was born there and lived at a home on Montgomery Street when he penned the lyrics.
The story behind the song is remarkable: Written during the Great Depression by a man without formal music training, it became an enormous success, selling 25,000 copies daily – leading to millions in earnings for Gillespie from performing it.
King Julien famously covered the song as “Santa Claus Is Coming To Madagascar”, changing its refrain from “So be good for goodness sake” to “bad for you.” Additionally, other movies have featured it – Rankin/Bass Claymation special Merry Madagascar includes it as part of its closing credits sequence.
The Ronettes
The Ronettes enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, scoring several hits in both America and the UK. Influenced by artists such as Frankie Lymon, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and Rosemary Clooney, they had been performing at local hops and charity shows since their teens.
In the early 1960s, The Ronettes embarked on a U.K. tour where they met and became close friends with The Beatles as well as Phil Spector and his band.
They signed a contract with Spector in 1963 and recorded 28 songs with him over three years. Though these recordings were hugely successful, none of the money from sales ever made it to The Ronettes.
In 1987, they filed a lawsuit against Spector for unpaid royalties and licensing fees. Furthermore, it was alleged that Spector had prevented them from being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ten years later, the case finally came to trial in New York in June 2000. Unfortunately for Spector, her lawsuit was ultimately unsuccessful.
The Ronettes recently won a judgment against Spector for unpaid royalties and past earnings earned from their original recordings. According to them, Spector breached his 1963 contract by using their songs in movies, television shows, advertising, compilation albums, and reissues without payment. They sought $10 million in damages from Spector and Philles Records Inc.