Yes, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” — Brenda Lee’s 1958 evergreen — finally made it to No. 1 this week.
Another little Yuletide ditty that you might have heard of — Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” — is right behind her at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
And those juggernaut chestnuts are followed by more familiar fruitcake fare: Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (No. 4), Wham!’s “Last Christmas” (No. 5), Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (No. 6) and Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (No. 10).
Still, there are plenty of reasons not to play the same old songs this holiday season. Here are 12 new tinsel tracks to rock around your tree this Christmas.
Cher featuring Stevie Wonder, “What Christmas Means to Me”
If you need any proof that Cher can do anything — even at 77 — look no further than how she makes merry magic happen with her legendary contemporary Wonder on this joyous remake of the holiday bop that the Motown icon first recorded on his 1967 album “Someday at Christmas.” Both septuagenarians bring a childlike spirit to this “Christmas” collaboration.
Luther Vandross, “At Christmas Time”
Eighteen years after his death, Vandross’ velvety voice is still very much missed — and hearing him again on this tender tune from his previously unreleased “Classic Christmas” EP is like a gift from the heavens.
Samara Joy, “The Christmas Song”
This young jazz singer won Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys for a reason. Hearing her supple, sultry vocals torch up this seasonal standard is enough to roast those chestnuts without any open fire.
Johnny Mathis, “Christmas Time Is Here”
At 88, Mathis is still the ultimate Christmas crooner — and he’s smoother than Charlie Brown ever was on the title track from his new holiday album.
Brandy, “Christmas Party for Two”
When it’s time to put the kids to sleep and let the grown folks play, then it’s quiet-storm season as the R&B chanteuse coos “I’ll be your present” on this sexy slow jam from “Christmas With Brandy.”
Keane, “Love Actually”
The brooding Brits originally wrote this tune for the classic Christmas movie of the same name. Finally recorded and released in honor of the film’s 20th anniversary, it’s guaranteed to make you swoon as much as Liam Neeson does when he miraculously meets Claudia Schiffer at the end.
The Lumineers, “Deck the Halls”
There isn’t much jolly about the “Hey Ho” group’s “ho ho ho”-less take on the traditional carol, but it unwraps the sadness of the season for those who are in no mood for boughs of holly.
Coco Jones, “8 Days of Christmas”
The former Disney Channel star and current actress on Peacock’s “Bel-Air” is making big music moves in 2023: Last month, she was nominated for five Grammys, including Best New Artist. And you know that the budding R&B diva must be feeling herself when she takes on Destiny’s Child’s 2001 jingle jam — in an Apple Music exclusive — and proves that she can be Beyoncé, Kelly Roland and Michelle Williams all by herself.
Bon Jovi, “Christmas Isn’t Christmas”
You can almost imagine Jon Bon Jovi having a little cry in his eggnog on this bittersweet original that is more misty than mistletoe.
Sabrina Carpenter, “Buy Me Presents”
Santa came early for the former Disney Channel divette — in the form of Taylor Swift inviting her to be the opening act on the recent South American swing of her Eras Tour. Still, Carpenter has some cheeky fun with the commercialism of the season of receiving, er, giving.
Norah Jones and Laufey, “Better Than Snow”
After her 2021 “I Dream of Christmas” album, the “Don’t Know Why” diva owed us no more holiday heat. But here she is again, her smoky delivery melting away any winter wonderland on this original with Icelandic singer Laufey from their “Christmas With You” collab.
Jason and Travis Kelce, “Fairytale of Philadelphia”
When Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce recruited his Kansas City Chiefs brother — and Taylor Swift boo — for a Philly take on “Fairytale of New York,” the Pogues’ 1987 holiday classic, it was silly frivolity at first. But after the death of the band’s frontman Shane MacGowan on Nov. 30, it feels like a sentimental reason to raise a glass of Christmas cheer to the Irish icon.