The best Christmas songs as rated... by us

From those chords at the start of Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody to the televised Carols From Kings on Christmas Eve there's a song or music which can't help put you in the festive mood.

We asked the team here, and at our sister papers across Iliffe Media, to tell us about their favourite Christmas song and secured responses across genres and eras, with more than a few inspired by festive films.

Do you have a favourite track to get you into the Christmas spirit; the one you put on when putting up the decorations, wrapping presents or even peeling potatoes for the Christmas lunch? Are you singing in harmony with our choices? Tell us in the comments below.

Lucy Carter, trainee reporter, Lynn News

With Christmas songs, most of the same songs come out every single year. My favourite Christmas song has got to be "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade. Not only is it upbeat and an all time classic, but for me it holds a lot of nostalgia.

I first remember singing it in our Christmas concert in primary school, our class worked on it for weeks before to impress our parents in the crowd. It brings back the memory of bringing home a well loved piece of paper containing the lyrics to that song and eagerly rehearsing in front of my mum and dad.

Matthew Taylor, trainee reporter, Grantham Journal

I have a weird obsession with A Spaceman Came Travelling by Chris de Burgh.

Although it is probably not the most traditional Christmas song, there is something about it that I love, but just can't put my finger on.

Maybe the reason that I like it is that it goes against the standard happy and jolly tones of so many Christmas classics, which I enjoy as well, obviously.

I must also admit my soft spot for East 17's Stay Another Day. In the video, they look so cosy in their white coats.

Marie Bond, editor, Grantham Journal

Too many great hits to choose from! Although I do like to sing/screech at the top of my voice to the radio at this time of year and there's one song that's perfect for this - Mariah Carey's All I want For Christmas Is You.

There surely can't be a single person on this planet who can resist bopping along to this classic.

I must admit I've been a little grumpy throughout 2022 when a certain travel TV ad came on. The beauty of Christmas songs is they transport you into the festive state of mind so hearing Andy Williams' 'It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year', another favourite, play during a heatwave felt wrong!

Kat Wakefield, reporter, Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press

Christmas songs as a whole are probably my favourite element of the festive period, so this is a really difficult question. However, I will always have a very soft spot for Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) by The Darkness.

Wonderfully bonkers and reminiscent of other Christmas hits by Slade and Wizzard, this song has everything you really need to get into the festive spirit, including angelic carol-singing children. It makes my heart happy.

And it just so happens to be by my favourite band of all time too.

Maddy Baillie, senior reporter, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Bourne Local and Rutland Times

While some say Fairytale of New York isn't particularly festive - this song screams Christmas to me.

Despite not having bells jingling in the background or chuckles of a Santa, for some reason it just puts me in the festive mood.

It's a good one to sing along to in the car or belt out at a Christmas Eve party and it is always the first festive song I put on each year without fail.

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Duncan Browne, senior reporter, Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press

The greatest festive song has to be All Alone On Christmas by Darlene Love from the Home Alone 2: Lost In New York.

Performed by Darlene Love almost 30 years after her first festive classic Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) it's a sleighbell-accompanied feel-good cracker that never gets boring.

It's not one of the overplayed Christmas songs, but a really nice fun one.

Lauren Abbott, senior reporter, Iliffe Media

I think you only need to hear about the first three seconds of Somewhere In My Memory by John Williams to be reminded that it's most famous for its role in the Home Alone soundtrack.

As one of my most favourite Christmas films - and possibly still one of the best there's ever been - this song takes me back to my own childhood and sitting down to watch Macaulay Culkin pull stunts at home that as kids, we could only dream of getting away with!

Nicola Irwin, digital news editor, Midlands

I'll add to those musical choices inspired by Home Alone by putting the classic Carol Of The Bells as the star on my tree of songs. I find it almost impossible to sing along with so you're just left listening to the music with a hum and occasional ding dong or merry, merry. If you can make out the lyrics which include "throw cares away" they seem a smart choice for this time of year when it should be about relaxing, board games, and friends and family.

Do you have a festive favourite? Let us know in the comments below.