Taylor Swift performs on stage at the 2010 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Mazur AMA 2010/WireImage
Christmas music pretty much has a monopoly over the December song market, meaning songs that don’t necessarily scream “Fa la la la la” can be overlooked during the final month of the year.
But December is so much more than the holiday season, and there’s a treasure trove of music to prove it. There’s Sara Bareilles’ “December,” on which she sings about the all-too-familiar end-of-year loneliness many folks face as the new year approaches. On “Back to December,” Taylor Swift poetically wishes she could turn back time to the month she broke a certain someone’s heart, her own heart having defrosted too late from the winter cold. Side note: many of music’s biggest legends were born in December — including Bareilles and Swift as well as Jay-Z, all three of whom are featured on this list.
That’s not to say there’s any shame in the Christmas song game, though. The commercial holiday is rightfully a staple of the calendar year’s 12th month, which is why Xmas hits continue to dominate the December charts year after year. So in the good name of mistletoe, gingerbread and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Christmastime odes to December from the likes of Ariana Grande and the late George Michael are also included.
Whether you need a break from “All I Want For Christmas” or “Jingle Bell Rock,” or you’re just looking for something more subdued to celebrate the final month of the year in all its cold, contemplative glory, keep reading to see Billboard‘s top December song picks below:
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Sara Bareilles, “December”
Image Credit: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Year Released: 1975
Genre: Pop/rock
Dear December: “December, you’ve always been a problem child/ December, you run me down right restless and wild”Listen here.
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The Four Seasons, “December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Year Released: 2013
Genre: Disco
Dear December: “Late December back in sixty three/ What a very special time for me/ As I remember, what a night”Listen here.
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Taylor Swift, “Back to December”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Year Released: 2010
Genre: Country-pop
Dear December: “I’d go back to December, turn around and make it alright/ I’d go back to December, turn around and change my own mind”Listen here.
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Norah Jones, “December”
Image Credit: Robert Marquardt/Getty Images Year Released: 2009
Genre: Jazz pop
Dear December: “December, won’t you come/ Back with snow, even sun?/ Don’t say that it’s done”Listen here.
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Neck Deep, “December”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Year Released: 2015
Genre: Alternative
Dear December: “And that’s the last thing I remember/ It’s been a long, lonely December”Listen here.
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Merle Haggard, “If We Make It Through December”
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
George Michael, “December Song”
Image Credit: Jon Furniss/WireImage Year Released: 2009
Genre: Pop
Dear December: “Sweet December song/ The melody that saved me/ On those less than silent nights”Listen here.
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Jay-Z, “December 4th”
Image Credit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images Year Released: 2003
Genre: Rap
Dear December: “Shawn Carter was born December 4th…”Listen here.
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Ricky Montgomery, “This December”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Year Released: 2016
Genre: Pop/rock
Dear December: “Just another white elm growing at the end of town/ Well, this December, I’ll remember”Listen here.
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Collective Soul, “December”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Year Released: 1995
Genre: Alternative
Dear December: “December whispers of treachery/ December clouds are now covering me”Listen here.
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Ariana Grande, “December”
Image Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Year Released: 2015
Genre: Pop
Dear December: “When December comes, I bet you want to/ Wrap me all up and take me home with you”Listen here.
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Linkin Park, “My December”
Image Credit: Mick Hutson/Redferns Year Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Dear December: “This is my December/ These are my snow-covered dreams/ This is me pretending/ This is all I need”Listen here.