Top 10 Best 80s Christmas Songs That Aren't "Last Christmas"
If you turn on the radio right now, there is a 90% chance you will hear George Michael whispering, "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart..."
Don't get me wrong. Wham! wrote the definitive 80s holiday anthem. It has the synths, the heartbreak, and the big hair.
But the 1980s was arguably the "Golden Era" of original Christmas music. It was the decade where artists stopped just covering "Silent Night" and started writing weird, funky, synthesizer-heavy originals.
As a musician who lived and recorded through that decade, I have a deep love for the specific sound of 80s holiday pop. So, excluding the obvious "Last Christmas," here is my definitive ranking of the Top 10 80s Christmas songs.
10. The Waitresses - "Christmas Wrapping" (1981)
This is New Wave at its finest. The bassline is impossible not to dance to, and the "talk-singing" style is purely 80s.
The Producer's Note: Listen to the bass guitar. It’s playing a funk line that is actually quite difficult to play. It drives the entire song while the horns stab in and out. It captures the frantic energy of holiday shopping better than any other song.
9. Queen - "Thank God It's Christmas" (1984)
Freddie Mercury could sing the phone book and make it sound epic. This song doesn't get enough love, but it has that massive, stadium-rock production that only Queen could pull off.
The Producer's Note: The vocal layering in the chorus is massive. They didn't just record one voice; they recorded Freddie dozens of times to create a "choir of one."
8. Run-D.M.C. - "Christmas in Hollis" (1987)
The 80s was the decade Hip Hop took over. This track samples soul records, has a killer beat, and tells a genuine story about Christmas in Queens.
The Producer's Note: This was one of the first times a rap song sampled a traditional Christmas song ("Jingle Bells") and turned it into a funk beat. It proved rap could be festive without being a joke.
7. The Pretenders - "2000 Miles" (1983)
A masterpiece of atmosphere. The shimmering electric guitars sound like falling snow. It’s a song about separation, which is a huge theme in 80s music.
The Producer's Note: The guitar tone here is famous. It uses a "Chorus" effect pedal, which makes the guitar sound watery and wide. It’s the signature sound of 1983.
6. Bruce Springsteen - "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1985)
Technically recorded earlier, but the single dominated the mid-80s. It captures the raw, live energy of the era.
The Producer's Note: This is the only "Live" track on the list. You can hear the band smiling. The piano glissando (slide) right before the sax solo is pure rock and roll joy.
5. Paul McCartney - "Wonderful Christmastime" (1979/1980)
People love to hate this song, but as a producer, I defend it. It is pure synthesizer joy. It sounds like a video game.
The Producer's Note: That "boing" sound you hear? That is a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, one of the most famous synthesizers of the era. Paul McCartney played everything himself. It represents the moment the world embraced electronic music for the holidays.
4. Hall & Oates - "Jingle Bell Rock" (1983)
I mentioned this in my previous playlist, but it deserves a spot here. They took a rockabilly classic and gave it the Philly Soul treatment.
The Producer's Note: The guitar solo is "Rockabilly," but the backing track is synth-pop. It’s a weird mix that shouldn't work, but it does. Plus, the music video is a time capsule of 80s fashion.
3. The Pogues - "Fairytale of New York" (1987)
The anti-Christmas song. It’s gritty, messy, and brutally honest. It reminds us that not everyone is having a "holly jolly" time.
The Producer's Note: The contrast between the rough male vocal (Shane MacGowan) and the sweet female vocal (Kirsty MacColl) creates a tension that makes the lyrics hit harder. It’s a mini-opera.
2. Band Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (1984)
The song that changed the world. Phil Collins on drums, Sting on vocals, Bono belting the high notes. It defined the "Charity Single" era.
The Producer's Note: The drums are huge. They used a technique called "Gated Reverb" (the Phil Collins sound) to make the drums sound explosive but short. It’s the definitive drum sound of the decade.
1. Kevin I. feat. Lance Jyo & Rachel Gonzales - "Christmas In Our Hearts" (2025)
Okay, I’m cheating. This song came out in 2025.
But...
If you listen to the production, you’ll hear where my heart lies. When we went into the studio, we wanted to capture the spirit of this list. We wanted the warmth of The Pretenders, the harmony of a charity single, and the optimism of the 80s.
It’s my tribute to the decade that taught me how to sing and write music. If you miss the sound of the songs on this list, I think you’ll feel right at home with this one.
The Science of the Sound: Why 80s Christmas Hits Different
Why do these songs sound so distinct? It comes down to the gear.
In the 80s, two inventions changed music: the Yamaha DX7 Synthesizer (which gave us those bell-like electric piano sounds) and Gated Reverb (the big, explosive drum sound you hear on Phil Collins tracks).
Unlike the orchestral 50s or the acoustic 70s, the 80s wasn't afraid to be artificial. The bells were digital. The drums were electric. And somehow, that "fake" sound created a feeling of magic and futurism that we still chase today.
The MTV Effect
We can't talk about these songs without mentioning the videos. The 80s was the first time we saw Christmas music 24/7 on MTV.
Wham! in the snowy cabin.
Run-D.M.C. with the giant gold chains.
Hall & Oates with the neon lights.
The visuals became just as important as the audio.
What’s Your #1?
Did I miss your favorite? Add "Christmas In Our Hearts" to your 80s playlist and let me know how it fits in with the classics.