A couple of years ago, when a Dallas restaurant banned Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” from playing on its jukebox until December 1, Carey fans were in an uproar. In all fairness, the songstress and her label have earned more than $1.8 million since 1994 for that one song.

In 2022, the master recording of Carey’s version of her song (co-written with Walter Afanasieff) generated nearly 51,000 track downloads, 229.7 million on-demand audio streams, 123.5 million video on-demand streams and 29.1 million programmed streams. Whether that one Texas restaurant wants to hear it or not, clearly a whole host of people are including her in their winter songs playlist.

But what other songs should make it onto the winter songs playlist that don’t always get the credit they’re due? Check out these eight.

“Sleigh Ride” by Tamar Braxton

The whole Winter Loversland Christmas album has a peculiar way of making you want to pop, lock and drop it to Christmas songs you’ve heard for decades. While it’s fun to hear “Silent Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” it’s something about the drums and horns in the background and all the “ching ting tingaling” going on that makes you want to blast this in your car.

“I Am the Grinch” by Tyler, the Creator (featuring Fletcher Jones)

This is probably the only time you will make “the ugly face” while listening to a Christmas song, but Tyler, the Creator, made the Grinch even cooler than he already is. The opening instrumental is worth one of those Mary J./Method Man head nods. Then, make sure to do a little shoulder roll when the beat switches up to “25, 25, 25.”

“You’re a Mean One” by Tyler, the Creator

Like bobbing your head along to Jay-Z’s “Annie,” you’re not quite sure why you’re blasting such a miserable song. Somehow, this is another Tyler, the Creator winter song that just works. And that’s even when he’s telling you, “I wouldn’t touch you with a 39 and a half foot pole.”

“Merry Christmas To Your Face” by Jordin Sparks

The song is cute enough when you think of eating cookies and cider. But she added a little extra umph to the chorus with, “I want to wish you Merry Christmas to your face.” And when she hits a high note, all you can do is say, “Hey now.”

“Merry Christmas Baby” by Otis Redding

You don’t even need to buy yourself a diamond ring to feel like you’re in paradise for this one. The bells and the horns in the background are worth a two-step on their own, but it’s Otis Redding’s singing that adds extra sauce to an already bluesy, funky Christmas song. And you can keep playing this one until the new year starts because he’s wishing his listeners a happy one.

“Good To Be Bad” by Pentatonix

No matter how much mumble rap, gangsta rap, conscious rap or singsongy rap songs come out, there’s something extra special about hip-hop enthusiasts who can still beatbox. And Pentatonix always makes listeners want to pull out cardboard boxes, boomboxes and one of those brooms with the clear string like Turbo. Pentatonix has a collection of beatboxing songs, but this one will make you proud of all your misbehaving on top of celebrating the Golden Age of Hip-Hop.

“Try a Little Tenderness” by Chris Brown

Technically, this is not a Christmas song. It’s Odis Redding’s song. But this one has an extra feel-good energy because, if you’ve seen the movie, you immediately picture Idris Elba’s and Columbus Short’s faces when they found out they didn’t have to rescue their brother from embarrassment onstage. Whoever was able to free up the schedule of Elba, Short, Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo, Regina King, Laz Alonso, Lauren London and Mekhi Phifer so they could all be in the same Christmas movie together deserves the MVP award every winter. The whole This Christmas soundtrack is full of winter songs we know and love, but this was one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. It could also double for a good winter date night movie.

“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by The Jackson 5

Depending on whether you come from a mandatory R&B soul household or not, this might be one of those songs that’s always played at Christmas. If it’s not and your childhood missed out on Little Michael Jackson, fix that immediately. And if you’re Mrs. Claus, you know what to do in your household too.

Of course, there are plenty of Christmas albums and remakes of winter songs we all know and sing along to while strolling around in shopping malls or outdoor winter fests. We hear them blasting from loudspeakers to boutiques. But if you’re one of those winter song lovers who always listens to the same holiday tunes, branch out and see who else is out there. You may find another song to listen to that’ll make shoveling snow and long checkout lines fly by much faster.

Winter

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