The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) identified the most requested and most played Christmas songs of 2006 and listed them here: http://www.ascap.com/press/2006/112706_xmassongs.html
Out of curiosity, I performed some research on and analysis of the songs to determine their content. The goal was to determine if Christ is really the focus of Christmas and the songs that are most often sung as part of the celebration.
Here are the ASCAP most popular Christmas songs:
1) The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat “King” Cole
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/the-christmas-song-lyrics.htm
2) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas-lyrics.htm
3) Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/winter-wonderland-lyrics.htm
4) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-lyrics.htm
5) White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/white-christmas-lyrics.htm
6) Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Andy Williams
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/let-it-snow-lyrics.htm
7) Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Bobby Helms
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/jingle-bell-rock-lyrics.htm
8 ) Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/little-drummer-boy-lyrics.htm
9) Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/sleigh-ride-lyrics.htm
10) Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-lyrics.htm
11) It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
Performed by: Andy Williams
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/it’s-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year-lyrics.htm
12) I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Vanessa Williams
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/i’ll-be-home-for-christmas-lyrics.htm
13) Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Kenny G
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/silver-bells-lyrics.htm
14) Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/rocking-around-the-christmas-tree-lyrics.htm
15) Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/feliz-navidad-lyrics.htm
16) Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/blue-christmas-lyrics.htm
17) Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Ronettes
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/frosty-the-snowman-lyrics.htm
18) A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/holly-jolly-christmas-lyrics.htm
19) It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/it’s-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas-lyrics.htm
20) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/i-saw-mommy-kissing-santa-claus-lyrics.htm
21) Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Elvis Presley
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/here-comes-santa-claus-lyrics.htm
22) Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: John Tesh and the Christmas Symphony Orchestra
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/carol-of-the-bells-lyrics.htm
23) Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/do-they-know-it’s-christmas-lyrics.htm
24) (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: The Carpenters
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/home-for-the-holidays-lyrics.htm
25) Santa Baby
Written by: Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
Performed by: Madonna
Lyrics: http://allchristmaslyrics.com/santa-baby-lyrics.htm
Analysis of the songs’ content
1) The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 1 (kids focused on materialism)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 2 (Jack Frost, Santa)
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (Yule)
falsehood: 1 (flying reindeer)
2) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 1 (the Fates)
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (Yule)
3) Winter Wonderland
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0.5 (bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
4) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 1 (focus is toys)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 1 (Santa)
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (Christmas tree)
5) White Christmas
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0.5 (children listen for sleigh bells… on Santa’s sleigh?)
pagan celebrations/activities: 0.5 (bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
6) Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0.5 (kissing between apparently unmarried individuals)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0
7) Jingle Bell Rock
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0.5 (bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
8 ) Little Drummer Boy
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0.5 (indirect reference to “the king”)
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0
9) Sleigh Ride
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0.5 (bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
10) Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 2 (Rudolph, Santa)
pagan celebrations: 0
11) It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations: 1 (scary stories told around winter solstice)
12) I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations: 2 (use of mistletoe, presents on a tree)
13) Silver Bells
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 1 (shopping for treasures instead of treasure in heaven)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations: 0.5 (bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
14) Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 1 (shopping/treasures)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations: 2 (mistletoe, decking the halls with boughs of holly)
15) Feliz Navidad
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0
16) Blue Christmas
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (Christmas tree)
17) Frosty The Snowman
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 1 (Frosty)
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (magic)
18) A Holly Jolly Christmas
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0.5 (mistletoe kissing usually associated with unmarried individuals)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (mistletoe)
19) It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 1 (kids’ focus on toys)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 1.5 (holly, bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
20) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0.5 (suggested immorality: mommy kissing someone other than daddy)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 2 (Santa, Santa’s reindeer)
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (mistletoe)
21) Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 1 (do good because then you will get stuff)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 1 (Santa)
pagan celebrations/activities: 0.5 (bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
22) Carol Of The Bells
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0.5 (bells were used to scare away evil spirits)
23) Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 1
materialism or immorality: 1 (thank God others are doomed instead of you?)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0
24) (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 0
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 0
pagan celebrations/activities: 0
25) Santa Baby
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 0
materialism or immorality: 7 instances of materialism, 1 instance of immorality (suggesting unmarried kissing is OK), 1- the tone of the singer is sexually suggestive
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 1 (Santa)
pagan celebrations/activities: 1 (Christmas tree)
falsehood: 1 (Santa coming down chimneys)
Net result out of the 25 most popular Christmas songs:
Mentions of-
Jesus/God/Nativity: 1.5 (6%)
materialism or immorality: 18 (72%)
pagan/mythical/fictional beings: 11.5 (46%)
pagan celebrations/activities: 17.5 (70%)
falsehood: 2 (8%)
You tell me… what does this say? Post your feedback and let everyone know.
Tags: Christmas, content, fiction, God, immorality, Jesus, keep Christ in Christmas, materialism, myths, pagan, songs, Yeshua
Great info dude!!
Shalom! I found this list most interesting and not at all surprising as there are more people celebrating Christmas in the magical, whimsical, jolly kind of tradition than there are those whose focus truly is “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” solemnity. In fact, though our family tried to sanctify Christmas by reading the story of the birth of Yeshua, decorating the tree with crosses and stars of David, and listening to Christ-honoring Christmas hymns (O Come, O Come Immanuel, Joy to the World, O Come Let Us Adore Him, etc), we found it impossible to completely remove pagan tradition from Christmas and still celebrate it. It is futile. Not only that, but Yeshua wasn’t born at Christmastime, though the birth of the sun-gods certainly is December 25th. And Yeshua commanded us to remember His death, not His birth. In fact celebrating birthdays is an entirely pagan/heathen practice. Well, it’s all very interesting. We ought to find out what pleases the Lord and do it, no matter the cost.