Top 12 best Christmas pop songs

"Mistletoe," Justin Bieber
Bieber's modern-day missive about kissing under the mistletoe certainly harks back to carols of days gone by, but he updates the narrative using his own fly-boy language, referring to his girl as his "shawty." Awww! 

"All I Want for Christmas Is You," Mariah Carey
Perhaps the most ubiquitous pop song of the last 20 years, Carey's iconic single may have been remained by Bieber, but it will forever be associated with Carey, her skimpy Santa suit and her desire to be reunited with her boy. 

"Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays," *NSYNC
Spunky and funky, *NSYNC's 1998 track is all about getting together with your friends and family and wishing them "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" — a fitting sentiment for folks of all persuasions. 

"My Only Wish (This Year)," Britney Spears
Like Carey before her, Britney uses her sugary sweet, incredibly innocent ode to the holidays to pine away for the one thing she hopes Santa can get her: her one true love. 

"Last Christmas," Wham!
George Michael had one message for that ex-special someone: This year, to save him from tears, he'll give his heart to someone special. After it was released, the song immediately became a Christmas staple with radio and local malls playing it endlessly through the season. 

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid
while many Christmas songs focus on chestnuts roasting on an open fire, 1984's A-list-filled charity single reminded the world that not everyone has chestnuts or an open fire. 
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
This song had already been recorded and re-recorded, but when Springsteen put his Jersey sass on the Christmas classic, it became the type of jovial, rocked-out tune cool enough to top the lists of his fans. 

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," U2
Darlene Love may have recorded the track in 1963, but Bono and his boys put their own spin on the song when they released it in 1987. It's all about wanting your baby to come home to you on Christmas. And, really, who doesn't want that? 


 
"Baby, It's Cold Outside," Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson
In a world where these two are still together, it would actually be a cute idea to have this real-life couple sing about wanting to stay warm with one another on a chilly winter night. 

"Don't Shoot Me Santa," The Killers
Every Christmas playlist needs a kooky take on the holidays, and the Las Vegas band's spin on pleading with Santa to cut them a break is a bit country, a bit rock and roll, and all fun. See also: Blink-182's "I Won't Be Home for Christmas." 

"I'll be Home for Christmas," Michael Bublé
BublĂ©'s Christmas album has been sitting at the top of the charts for weeks, and this particularly stirring Christmas ballad is all about making sure you're with the people you love for the holidays. 

"Santa Baby," Madonna
Cooing and gushing about what she wants from her Santa Baby for Christmas is an incredibly decadent idea full of incredibly lavish gift ideas. Pretend like there's no recession, blast this one and imagine a world where cars and jewels are totally affordable Christmas gifts.