29 Non-Traditional Holiday Songs That Won't Drive You Insane

Honestly one of the most underrated holiday songs. Even if you rate it, it’s still underrated.

Love’s “All Alone On Christmas” deserves a shout out, but it’s just edged out by this absolute icon.

Kacey Musgraves has some great holiday music, but this up-tempo bop is the best. There’s nothing super revelatory about it; it’s just pure FUN, and who doesn’t need that at the holidays?

What’s more festive than people being hurling insults at each other and begrudgingly spending time together? *Cough*

It is impossible to listen to this song and not be in a good mood.

A frankly ridiculous song, and I mean that in the best possible way.

This song is not without controversy, with a lot of pushback over offensive words used in the lyrics. But there’s no denying the huge impact the song has had on the holidays. In the UK, it even beats out Mariah Carey for the most-played modern Christmas tune.

This song speaks directly to the skeptical, secular millennial holiday spirit, while also delivering one hell of a love song to his own baby girl. He also evokes distinctly Australian imagery that is a stark contrast to traditional white Christmas vibes.

So much ’90s nostalgia. Remember Boyz II Men performing it on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Incredible

Released in response to the Vietnam War, “Someday at Christmas” is a wistful song about wanting peace, happiness and equality on Earth.

Pentatonix have so many excellent covers of classic holiday songs, but this original is lovely too.

No offence to “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, but this is the holiday song that is actually the most fun to sing along to.

Like every Crazy Ex-Girlfriend song, “California Christmastime” is both hilarious and catchy as hell.

Ariana brings her own flavor to the classic Christmas genre: asking Santa to solve all your romantic troubles.

Kanye West might not be the first artist you think of in association with Christmas, but this is an underrated addition to the non-traditional canon.

The holidays deserve some sexy songs too. And this is the sexiest.

Another sexy Christmas song, but this one is also kinda mopey. Because sad and horny is the vibe of the season.

There are a few significant covers of this song, but this is the most iconic of them all.

Written for Meet Me In St Louis (a fantastic movie), this song has transcended its origins to become a Christmas classic. But Judy Garland’s wistful take on it is still the definitive one.

With themes of yearning and loss, it captures the way the holiday season makes you miss people in a very particular way.

“How To Make Gravy” tells a cathartic story that captures the feeling of being separated from your family and missing Christmas altogether.

There have been many amazing covers of this heartwrenching song, but nothing beats Joni.

It’s a bop and if you deny it you’re just deluding yourself.

Not quite the greatest holiday song of all time (that title is reserved for another, which I’ll get to, don’t worry), but it’s up there.

Many have tried, but no one has ever done this song as well as Otis Redding.

A sweet little ditty that’s elevated by Sia’s soulful voice. Sia’s entire holiday album is wonderful.

There’s a lot of discourse around this song, but it’s damn catchy, and this performance by Kurt and Blaine on Glee is an utter delight.

John Legend’s holiday album is a wonderful mix of classics and original songs, but it’s this cover/duet with Stevie Wonder that is the ultimate gift.

THE QUEEN, UNDEFEATED, CAN NEVER BE TOPPED.