If there’s a Christmas movie I keep coming back to more than any other, it’s Love Actually. It’s an interesting movie, in that it’s such a weird mix of strengths and flaws that overall it’s only average but at its best it’s magnificent. (Which means that it’s pretty bad at its worst: it gets mean with the fat jokes, too many of its love stories are similarly shaped from a social-status point of view, some parts don’t go with the other parts, no gay characters when you’d think that this’d be the perfect movie to have some…) Anyway, discover it for yourself if you’re so inclined, but one of the best scenes for me is at the Christmas pageant when Olivia Olson sings, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”.

And she nails it. She sings it more than Mariah Carey did. Some will speak up for the Pipettes cover, and that’s fine, but I’ll take this one. I can’t even listen to the thing without tearing up.

(Incidentally, the movie soundtrack contains a second worthwhile Christmas song you’re not going to come across anywhere else: Bill Nighy, as “Billy Mack”, turning the old Troggs (and Wet Wet Wet) song “Love Is All Around” into “Christmas Is All Around”.)

Sit back, strap yourself in, and prepare yourself for Olivia Olson’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You“.

#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
#13: We Need a Little Christmas
#12: Marshmallow World
#11: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
#10: Step Into Christmas
#9: Jingle Bells
#8: Christmas Comes But Once a Year (Christmas in Carrick)
#7: Christmas Wrapping
#6: Silver Bells
#5: O Holy Night
#4: Carol of the Bells