Top five Christmas tunes

I don’t care what you think, I love Christmas music. Of course these kind of tunes should only be played in December but now we’re there let’s make the most of it! Most of my critical faculties take a hike at this time of year: sentiment overwhelms me, and even 70’s glam-rock doesn’t seem like such a bad idea after all. Having said that, Mariah Carey still grates and the less said about the Cheeky Girl’s Have a Cheeky Christmas the better. I won’t even link it, it’s that bad.

All the choices are obvious but that’s kind of the point: Christmas music isn’t supposed to be subversive, it’s meant to make you smile. Honourable mentions to Slade, Mud, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis and St Etienne, but here are my top five non-carol Christmas songs.

Little Drummer Boy, David Bowie and Bing Crosbie
Best moment: Everything Bing says or does


I wish it could be Christmas every day, Wizzard
Best moment: The lunatic bashing the keyboard


Walking in the air, Peter Audy/Aled Jones
Best moment: the start, because it makes me feel like I'm five again


Christmas Time (Don't let the bells end), The Darkness
Best moment: “Come on kids!”


Fairytale of New York, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
Best moment: “Happy Christmas you arse, I’ll pray God it’s our last.” (I’m not agreeing with the sentiment, it’s just the truest moment in a wonderfully honest song)