Top 10 1980s Christmas Songs

For us old ass Generation X-ers, listening to Christmas songs of the 1980s brings us back to a time when we were the little kids of the world, spinning our records, playing with our G.I. Joes and Strawberry Shortcakes, our Glo-Worms and our Micro Machines, a time when we actually went outside and went sledding when it snowed outside, in our moonboots. Times have changed and so has music, but the Christmas music of the 80s will always have a place in our hearts.

Here is a compilation of my Top 10 favorite Christmas songs of the 1980s, but don’t take it too seriously. These are just the ones that bring back pieces of my childhood. So sit back, take a stroll down memory lane and tell me which ones you’d have on your Top 10 list.

10. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer – Elmo & Patsy 1984

I’ll admit, I wasn’t much of a fan of this one as a kid, even at 12-years old I found it to be a bit corny. Especially that line, “Now the gooooose is on the table…” that guy had an incredibly annoying voice. Besides, the radio stations practically played it around the clock from the end of November until Christmas night. These days I fondly remember my bitchy little prepubescent self refusing to give in and love this song like everyone else. Now I actually enjoy the song, but only once or twice a year. But that stands for most Christmas songs, doesn’t it?

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9. Christmas in Hollis – Run D.M.C. 1987

A Christmas rap song? There weren’t any until Kurtis Blow’s Christmas Rappin’ but that song opened doors for to the genre and the 1980s was chock full of Christmas rap songs. My favorite one from this era would have to be Run D.M.C.’s Christmas in Hollis. I was a HUGE fan of these guys in the mid to late 80s and was a devout listener of their albums, King of Rock and Raising Hell. So when this gem came along, my AquaNet hair and I were thrilled.

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8. Little Drummer Boy – Joan Jett 1981

Back in 1981 no one talked much about Joan Jett being a lesbian, but what they did talk about was how she could rock out like a man! With a cutting edge style and a raspy, take-control voice, Joan brought punk rock to Christmas – or the other way around.

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7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – The Pretenders 1987

With her thick, black eyeliner and her piercing eyes, Chrissie Hynde’s voice was a stark contrast to her appearance. She may have looked rough around the edges but when she sang a Christmas song, even the stiffs paid attention. 

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6. 12 Days of Christmas - Bob & Doug McKenzie 1981

So this one isn’t exactly musical gold or anything, but I’ll never forget the first time I heard it. It’s silly, it’s stupid and it’s juvenile, but Bob and Doug McKenzie, the Canadian brothers from the ”Great White North” on SCTV (Rick Moranis and  Dave Thomas) marked their place in 80s pop culture with their rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. “…and a beer, in a tree!”

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5. Santa Baby – Madonna 1987

Leave it to Madonna to seduce Santa with her cheeky little remake of Santa Baby. Sung in somewhat of a whiny voice, Madonna showed her Material Girl side with her version of the 1953 Earth Kitt song.

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4. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses 1981

Probably my favorite 80s Christmas song as a kid, The Waitresses struck gold with this “new wave” Christmas ditty. The song tells a story of a woman who wants to avoid the typical Christmas hubbub, and after forgetting cranberries for her Christmas dinner she runs into a guy she keeps bumping into all year but never has the time to really connect. Until that special Christmas night where they were both in the store buying cranberries, and from there it’s a “very happy ending.” A fun one to sing along to.

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3. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid 1984

Bob Geldolf was the mastermind of this project after learning about the famine in Ethiopia. He managed to round up Bono and Adam Clayton (U2),Duran Duran, Boy George and Culture Club, Spandau Ballet, Paul Young, George Michael, Kool and the Gang, Phil Collins, Sting, Jody Watley, Bananarama, Marilyn (Boy George’s one-time lover, he wasn’t exactly invited, he just showed up), David Bowie and many other prominent 80s musicians for the song, which was created to help raise awareness, and money, for Ethiopia. It’s still a touching, magical song that shows the power of what can happen when people come together.

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2. Last Christmas – Wham! 1984

So yeah, it has 80s synthesizers and all, but I don’t care what you say, WHAM! was the shiz back in 1984 and nothing could touch George Michael and his gorgeous voice. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a little WHAM! in your life.

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1. Peace on Earth/ Little Drummer Boy – David Bowie and Bing Crosby 1982

Absolutely a bizarre pairing, David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s duet stuns – still. Although it was recorded in 1977, it wasn’t released until 1982, making it eligible for our best 80s Christmas songs list. Bing Crosby died just five weeks after recording the classic. It’s soothing, it’s classy, and it’s the single best Christmas tune to come out of the 1980s.

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What 80s Christmas songs would make your Top 10?