The Christmas songs that deserve more attention than they get

Virgin Radio

9 Dec 2021, 14:45

Credit: Getty / The Sun

There are some Christmas tunes which you will hear approximately a billion times over the holiday period. But while we can’t deny that familiar festive favourites by the likes of Mariah, Slade, Wham and The Pogues are all bangers, there are some Christmas singles that just don’t get the attention they deserve.

So, if you’ve already had your fill of the Christmas tunes that are everywhere, you might want to check out some of these lesser-played offerings instead.

Prince - Another Lonely Christmas

This one was hidden away as the B-side to his single I Would Die 4 U, which was the fourth song to be released from his epic Purple Rain album.

It’s a measure of the man’s genius that it would certainly be an A-side for many artists.

The Killers - Christmas In L.A. ft. Dawes

This song marked the eighth consecutive year that the band released a Christmas single, and all proceeds went to AIDS charities. The song was written by Brandon Flowers and Mark Stoermer of The Killers, and Taylor Goldsmith from Dawes.

The video features the familiar face of actor Owen Wilson portraying a struggling actor in Los Angeles at Christmastime.

Pet Shop Boys - It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas

The duo had a Christmas number one in 1987 with the not particularly festive Always On My Mind, and they also released a Christmas EP in 2009 featuring this belter.

The song was originally a fan club exclusive in the 90s, before getting a wider release as part of the EP, which was simply titled Christmas.

Sugababes - New Year

They’ve had more line-ups than you’ve had Christmas dinners, but this Christmas song came from the OG trio.

Confusingly titled New Year, the song is actually about the experience of breaking up on Christmas Day. It reached number twelve, and stayed in the charts for nine weeks.

Sufjan Stevens - That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!

The acclaimed indie artist released an entire album of festive songs, which was actually a box set of five separate EPs of Christmas-related songs and carols. On it was this brilliantly downbeat song.

“Silent night, nothing feels right,” he sings. Merry Christmas!

Beverley Knight - A Christmas Wish

The incredible artist, who is a favourite at Chris Evans’ own CarFest, dropped this Chistmas cracker fairly recently, in 2020.

The song featured in the romcom The Loss Adjuster which starred Luke Goss, Martin Kemp, Kym Marsh and Joan Collins!

George Michael - December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)

We all know Last Christmas like the back of our hands, and we all play Whamageddon, but George Michael’s December Song is lesser known, even though it hit the Top 20 hit when it was released back in 2009.

According to the Official UK Charts website, he had the Spice Girls in mind to sing it when he wrote it, but chose to keep it for himself.

Kate Winslet - What If

Yes, you read that right. In 2001, much-loved actor Kate Winslet recorded a song for Christmas Carol: The Movie. Whilst you may not remember it, the song actually made it to number six in the charts, beaten to the Christmas top spot by another actor, Nicole Kidman, who duetted with Robbie Williams on Somethin' Stupid.

We had no idea that Kate had such a nice singing voice!