“Nutcrackerz” – Dizzee Rascal feat. Giggs

There’s nothing Christmasy about the lyrics of this one. Two UK rap legends team up on a street anthem and reminisce about their London-based come-ups. The sample, however? It’s The Nutcracker, Act 2, No 1: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. So, it counts! It’s a good one to spin during the last few work weeks ahead of the holidays, before the Christmas classics take over.

– Sam

“In a Sentimental Mood” – Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

“In a Sentimental Mood” by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane feels like a holiday song not because it’s explicitly festive, but because it carries a calm and familiar warmth. The gentle piano notes create a quiet I associate with a cold snowy evening. The smooth, tender, saxophone creates a warmth that is reminiscent of being by a fire with loved ones. It feels seasonal not through celebration, but through mood.

-Alex

“Happy Holidays, You Bastard” – Blink-182

Warning, don’t put this one on at the family holiday party! Blink 182’s festive profanity filled tune is a blistering 42 seconds of typically crude humour from the pop punk legends. A true holiday classic for the 90s kids that can recite every lyric… much to the dismay of their parents

– Ryan

“New Years Day” – Taylor Swift

New Year’s Eve is all glitter, champagne, and counting down the final minutes of the year, yet somehow there still aren’t many songs for it, which is why “New Year’s Day” by Taylor Swift is my go-to holiday song (year-round, might I add). I love how real this song feels after a New Year’s Eve party: glitter on the floors, girls carrying their shoes through the lobby, candle wax and Polaroids scattered across the hardwood. Instead of celebrating the chaos of the night before, it focuses on the person who stays with you to clean up the next day. It’s cozy, comforting, and absolutely deserves a spot on everyone’s holiday playlist.

-Katherine

“Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call” – Bleachers

This is the rare holiday track that leans into melancholy without losing the shimmer of synth-pop; but you can expect nothing less from Jack Antonoff at this point. Officially released last year after years of live teasers, the song describes the familiar pull of wanting to reach out to someone you shouldn’t as soon as the holiday season creeps up. It’s relatable, quietly devastating and a satisfying antidote to the syrupy stuff blasting in every grocery aisle this time of year. “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call” is my automatic December 1st play, but it’s also earned year-round real estate on my sad-girl playlist.

-Leila

“River” – Joni Mitchell

This song truly tugs at the heartstrings, and there’s just something about the colder weather that naturally pulls me into a softer, emo mood. “River” by Joni Mitchell fits that feeling so perfectly, the bittersweet nostalgia, the quiet yearning, the way it captures winter loneliness without ever losing its beauty. It’s a holiday classic in my eyes, one I find myself returning to every year when the season settles in.

-Sophie

“Linus and Lucy” – A Charlie Brown Christmas Original Soundtrack

The song “Linus and Lucy” from A Charlie Brown Christmas Original Soundtrack always reminds me of the holiday season. I had a Snoopy decoration that played this song as a kid, so this song always reminds me of Christmas time. Although it is fully instrumental, it is very catchy and recognizable and I love how the Peanuts characters show off their dance moves to this song!

-Alexa