The old holiday standards are still popular, but they’re increasingly being handled by a new generation of performers, according to an ASCAP survey of the most-played holiday songs in the past five years.
Topping the list is the Eurythmics’ version of “Winter Wonderland,” written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, beating out Nat “King” Cole’s classic “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells.
The Pretenders’ lovely version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” comes in at No. 3, followed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s rocking “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” at No. 4 and Bing Crosby’s perennial favorite “White Christmas” at No. 5.
Only The Ronettes and Elvis Presley place more than one song on the survey. The Ronettes’ accomplish it with their upbeat, wall-of-sound versions of “Sleigh Ride” (No. 8) and “Frosty the Snowman” (No. 16), while Presley’s mixes it up with a dark ballad “Blue Christmas” (No. 18) and the peppy “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” (No. 21).
The most recent addition to the holiday canon is Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World),” which the all-star cast recorded in 1984 to raise money for those starving in an African famine, earning enough radio plays during the season to come in at No. 24.
This year, new holiday albums from Josh Groban, Amy Grant and Dave Koz will try to push their way onto the list, along with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” which was a surprise top-seller last year.