A Christmas playlist of holiday favorites

Lauren Rose—
Gift wrap | illustration by

2021 North State Christmas List on Spotify

Now that December is upon us, many in the land of the longleaf pine will be focused on North Carolina’s other storied tree — the Fraser fir. As we decorate those Christmas trees, drive to work, or navigate various trips to visit family and friends, Christmas tunes fill the air. If you are ready to make your Christmas playlist full of holiday favorites, Billboard and Nielsen Music have released a list of the top 10 most downloaded songs of all time:

10. “Last Christmas” by Wham! (1984)

9. “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms (1957)

8. “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano (1970)

7. “Where Are You Christmas?” by Faith Hill (2000)

6. “Christmas Canon” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1998)

5. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee (1958)

4. “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber (2011)

3. “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1996)

2. “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” by Kristen Bell, Agatha Lee Monn & Katie Lopez (2013)

1. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey (1994)

While it wasn’t listed, N.C. band Far Too Jones has an original down-home Christmas tune titled “Christmas Time” that even includes a reference to Crabtree Mall in Raleigh for those looking to expand your list with a North Carolina twist.