TOP 10 CHRISTMAS SONGS THAT NEED TO BE RETIRED

Awethu Khumalo

@awe2s_righttoe

 

With fewer than 30 days until Christmas, holiday classics are once again making their way onto playlists, from overplayed favourites to tracks with… questionable lyrics. Music has the power to inspire, uplift, and bring people together. Yet it also possesses the uncanny ability to irritate, frustrate, and linger in the listener’s memory for years.

 

While countless online lists recommend the “best” holiday songs, this feature highlights those that arguably deserve a well-earned retirement.

 

1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” — Mariah Carey

 

Played from the first of November, this song has become a retail staple and the unofficial herald of the festive season. While Carey reportedly earns $2.5 to $3 million annually from the track, its presence suggests it might benefit from a brief hiatus.

 

2. “Santa Tell Me” — Ariana Grande

 

Unlike traditional holiday songs, which often feature rich orchestration, like strings, choirs, and bells, this track relies on contemporary pop production and R&B-inspired vocals. While undeniably catchy, it feels more like a seasonal single than a festive classic.

 

3. “Last Christmas” — Wham!

 

A breakup ballad masquerading as a Christmas tune, this song’s repetitive structure and limited lyrical progression make it feel stagnant. Its enduring popularity is more a product of nostalgia than compositional ingenuity.

 

4. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” — Michael Bublé

 

With imagery rooted in mid-20th-century Christmas traditions, the song may feel outdated for modern listeners. Its measured pace and minimal dynamic variation can render it monotonous compared to contemporary arrangements.

 

5. Sia — Everyday Is Christmas (Album)

 

While certain tracks, such as “Snowman,” shine, the album overall lacks the warmth and nostalgia typically associated with holiday music. Sia’s distinctive vocal style, while effective in pop music, does not fully translate to festive storytelling.

 

6. “Santa Baby” — Eartha Kitt

 

Though Kitt delivers an iconic rendition, the exaggerated flirtiness and drawn-out vocals can feel overextended, straddling the line between charming and excessive.

 

7. “Jingle Bell Rock” — Bobby Helms

 

Overexposure has stripped this classic of its freshness. Its association with predictable holiday montages or viral pop culture moments has transformed it from festive favorite to background noise.

 

8. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” — Michael Bublé

 

The song’s conventional sound, shared across many holiday standards, has made it a corporate playlist staple. A temporary break might allow listeners to appreciate it anew.

 

9. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” — Jackson 5

 

The iconic warning “He sees you when you’re sleeping” can feel less festive and more unsettling, portraying Santa as an omnipresent monitor rather than a cheerful holiday figure.

 

10. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” — Jackson 5

 

In this narrative, Santa’s visit blurs the line between jolly gift-giver and home invader, and raises questions about the song’s appropriateness for young audiences.

 

 

These ten tracks, among others, demonstrate how overexposure, outdated imagery, or unusual concepts can transform once-beloved songs into sources of mild frustration. Yet, despite these quirks, they remain an important part of the season’s soundtrack.

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt