Best Holiday Pop Song (1980-2020)
Music is an essential component of any holiday celebration, and over the past few decades we have been gifted some incredible pop-holiday songs. But what IS the Best Holiday Pop Song (released since 1980)? Host Eric Rezsnyak and panelists Curtis Creekmore, Heather Maclean, and Kate Racculia get into the holiday spirit by debating the holliest, jolliest holiday songs of the past 40 years. Songs discussed: All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey; Baby It’s Cold Outside by John Legend and Kelly Clarkson; Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton; Christmas in Hollis by Run-D.M.C.; Last Christmas by Wham; Santa Baby by Madonna; Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Pointer Sisters; Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses; The Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler; My Only Wish This Year by Britney Spears; Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson; Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band Aid; Carol of the Bells by Pentatonix; Winter Wonderland by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga; and more.
Once you’ve finished Part 1, dig to the bottom of your stocking to find Part 2. Just kidding, you’ll also find it above. Listen to both parts to learn which holiday-pop song wins our bracket.
Want to play along at home? Find the listener bracket for this episode by clicking here. Download a copy, make your own choices, and see how you stack up against our panelists!
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Round 1 Match-Ups:
Match-Up 1: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey (1) vs. “Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You” by Billy Squier (8)
Match-Up 2: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by John Legend & Kelly Clarkson (4) vs. “Winter Wonderland” by Eurythmics (5)
Match-Up 3: “Hard Candy Christmas” by Dolly Parton (3) vs. “Christmas In Hollis” by Run D.M.C. (6)
Match-Up 4: “Where Are You Christmas?” by Faith Hill (2) vs. “White Christmas” by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (7)
Match-Up 5: “Last Christmas” by WHAM (1) vs. “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by Maroon 5 (8)
Match-Up 6: “Santa Baby” by Madonna (4) vs. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” by The Pointer Sisters (5)
Match-Up 7: “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses (3) vs. “We Need a Little Christmas” by “Glee” Cast (6)
Match-Up 8: “Chanukah Song” by Adam Sandler (2) vs. “My Only Wish (This Year)” by Britney Spears (7)
Match-Up 9: “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Whitney Houston (1) vs. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith (8)
Match-Up 10: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by U2 (4) vs. “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson (5)
Match-Up 11: “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid (3) vs. “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues (6)
Match-Up 12: “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Buble (2) vs. “Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii)” by KT Tunstall (7)
Match-Up 13: “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by NSYNC (1) vs. “Sleigh Ride” by TLC (8)
Match-Up 14: “Merry Christmas Baby” by Bruce Springsteen (4) vs. “Winter Wonderland” by Eurythmics (5)
Match-Up 15: “Carol of the Bells” by Pentatonix (3) vs. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by John Cougar Mellencamp (6)
Match-Up 16: “Dick In a Box” by Justin Timberlake & Andy Samberg (2) vs. “It’s Christmas All Over Again” by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (7)
If you want to listen to the Top 32 songs (plus some extra picks by our panel!), here’s a playlist.
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EPISODE CREDITS
Host: Eric Rezsnyak
Panel: Curtis Creekmore, Heather Maclean, Kate Racculia
Producer: Mike Rapin
Editor: Jeffery Perry