Each year music teachers, students, and just about everyone faces the challenge of developing their party playlist of holiday music. You want to include songs that are familiar to listeners, but at the same time avoid stagnation and boredom. And while that might seem like an impossible task, you can actually choose holiday music for parties that will both surprise and delight your guests. You simply need to apply a few basic guidelines.
These tips will help you plan your party music for the holidays, and the additional list of selections can help you get the ball rolling when choosing your own picks.
Planning Guide
You’ll want to include holiday music that embraces the spirit of the season, namely, peace and joy. And since everyone has their own personal preferences, it’s wise to outline a variety of subjects and genres.
- Choose a variety of rhythms. A good party playlist will include a combination of upbeat and relaxing tunes.
- Consider music that embraces all the cultures represented at your gathering.
- A mixture of secular and religious songs strikes a great balance for the festivities.
- Search for new holiday music to enliven your party. It’s always great to present new classics along with old favorites.
Party List Music Ideas
This list of song ideas follows the guidelines listed above. It also includes some of the top requested holiday tunes from last year (according to Billboard), as well as some brand new music, just released.
“Let It Snow” by Dean Martin. Nothing creates that indescribable holiday spirit like hearing Dean Martin croon this classic holiday tune.
“Happy Holidays” by Andy Williams. This song is great for a variety of holiday gatherings. Its joyous melody and memorable lyrics always bring a smile.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra. Another famous music staple for holidays, this song is a must to include in your party playlist.
“Here Comes Santa Claus (right down Santa Claus lane)” by Elvis Presley. Fun for all ages, the King of Rock and Roll delivers this tune with his one-of-a-kind vocals.
“Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney. Upbeat and wonderfully familiar, this is great addition to your holiday party playlist.
“Mary Did You Know” by Pentatonix. With timelessly beautiful lyrics, this masterful acapella rendition is truly lovely and is a wonderful song to include in your selections.
“Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah!” This traditional (and lively) Chanukah song makes you want to clap your hands.
“Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth” by David Bowie and Bing Crosby. This classic holiday duet that aired in 1977 remains a favorite year after year because of its harmony.
“Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel” by Barlow Girl. There’s a reason that this song has been re-recorded for years and has been sung for centuries. It is simply beautiful.
“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Tchaikovsky. Nothing says “holidays” like this classic ballet, and this song in particular is one of the most recognizable. It’s perfect for any holiday gathering.
“Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues & Kirsty McColl. The unorthodox beauty of this holiday tune makes it another great song to add to your party playlist.
“Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande. This rather new holiday song makes it easy to liven up your party with a flirty, fun addition to the playlist.
“Man With The Bag” by Jessie J. This jazzy tune makes you want to tap your toes and get up and dance. It’s a clincher for your holiday party.
Finding the Sheet Music
If you want to play these holiday classics, for most of the songs listed above, you can download the sheet music for your specific group of musicians or instrument at MusicNotes.com. And even without the vocals, these timeless holiday tunes instantly create a sense of nostalgia and joy for your audience. If you don’t find the song you’re looking for at a music download site, you can search Amazon or Sheet Music Plus for specific titles.
Getting ready for the holidays doesn’t have to be a hectic rush. By picking out holiday music for parties beforehand, you’ll be free to tackle all of the other things you need to do to prepare for a relaxing break.
Share this article
