Holiday Songs You Haven't Heard on the Radio

It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year! As usual, I kicked off my holiday season with hot chocolate, Serendipity, and a trip to Snowport. But everyone knows that the most iconic part of the holidays is the music. 

For the Scrooges out there, holiday music is annoying, incessant, and predictable. A handful of unavoidable songs that follow you in the car and at the mall. And though I’m Christmas’ number one fan, I can understand the exasperation. After all, most radio stations tend to put the same ten holiday songs on a loop. Much of it is decades old. Why is that, when there is so much other holiday music out there? Good music, too; music that deserves recognition. All kinds of artists put time and energy into Christmas albums and Christmas singles, but few are successful at breaking into December’s top hits. So, for those sick and tired of All I Want for Christmas is You, here is a list of holiday albums that you probably haven’t heard on the radio:

Sabrina Carpenter's fruitcake

While this Christmas EP isn’t necessarily underground, it is underrated. Pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s fruitcake includes six songs that are both naughty and nice, ranging from holiday cheer to holiday blues. Though most of the songs are rather upbeat, most of the lyrics detail the true feelings of jealousy, irritation, and longing that come out during the holiday season. The last song is a cover of the popular White Christmas, which she puts her own personal musical spin on. fruitcake definitely feels young and relatable, a stark contrast to the outdated songs of Christmas past. 

Phoebe Bridgers’ So Much Wine

So Much Wine is for those who are sad on Christmas. Like fruitcake, So Much Wine consists of six songs, but unlike fruitcake, all of the songs on So Much Wine are covers. However, most of the original songs Bridgers covers are not widely known, at least among Gen Z. Even while singing covers, Bridgers’ sound is distinct in its slow-moving serenity. So Much Wine is for long car rides and cozy late nights. 

Laufey’s A Very Laufey Holiday!

With a voice smoother than Michael Bublé’s, Laufey introduces her jazzy take on holiday music with three Christmas covers. A Very Laufey Holiday! feels like watching snow fall, and represents the beautiful, romantic aspect of Christmas without becoming too Hallmark. A chorus of children accompany Laufey towards the end of The Christmas Waltz, as if to bring about the sense of community and togetherness that Christmas is all about. 

Taylor Swift’s The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection

Everyone knows Taylor’s iconic Christmas Tree Farm, but her 2008 country Christmas album is rarely talked about. 4/6 of the songs are covers, but the other two are originals that are so authentically 2000s Taylor. If you’re a country fan, or just a Taylor fan like myself, this one is for you. 

And a list of holiday songs!:

One More Sleep by Leona Lewis  

This Christmas pop song always puts me in a good mood. Complete with bells, riffs, and an extremely catchy chorus, this song definitely does not get enough credit!

December by Norah Jones

While this song doesn’t specifically mention any holidays, it is about December. A kind of sadder, heavier song with beautiful instrumentals and lyrics, December is for studying at the library and Gilmore Girls fans. 

Good To Be Home by John Mark Nelson

The song opens with guitar and lyrics about how good it is to return home during Christmas break. It reminds me of a deeper-sounding Noah Kahan. 

Christmastime by The Smashing Pumpkins

Fans of The Smashing Pumpkins will recognize their “alt-rock” sound. This song mixes that with the familiar sounds of Christmas.

For more underrated Christmas songs, I would recommend research on both Google and Spotify. There are so many Christmas songs out there that deserve more love and attention. Happy holidays and happy listening!