Matthew Elmslie

Chances are decent you’ve seen this xkcd cartoon by now. It is certainly true that the Christmas music of that period, say ’40s through ’60s, has stuck with us pretty good. I’ve hit a few of those songs on this list so far–“Let it Snow…”, “Blue Christmas,” etc. To me, though, the ones I’ve touched on don’t seem to be of their era the way, say, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is.

But here’s one that does. It’s from the musical Mame, apparently, from the mid-’60s, but I mostly know the Muppets version of it, which won me over mostly for the way they lean on the lyric, “from that evergreen bough”. It feels like exactly the same kind of Christmas song as “Holly Jolly Christmas”.

Pick out your own favourite version, though. I think Andy Williams covered it too. (Probably inevitable, really.) Hang some tinsel for the act of your choice performing “We Need a Little Christmas.”

#25: Sleigh Ride
#24: Huron Carol
#23: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!/Count Your Blessings/We Wish You a Merry Christmas
#22: The Twelve Days of Christmas
#21: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
#20: Fuck Christmas
#19: Jingle Bell Rock
#18: What’s This? & Making Christmas
#17: Oi! To the World
#16: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
#15: Blue Christmas
#14: Christmas in Hollis