The 10 best Christmas songs… ever!

The 10 best Christmas songs

You may be sick of the Christmas music that’s dominating airwaves just now. But in case you’re not, here’s a countdown of the top 10 – decided by us!

By Ernie Richardson

There’s something uniquely pleasurable about Christmas music. It combines an overriding sense of good cheer with a rare ability to capture all that’s lovely about the season.

It combines an overriding sense of good cheer with a rare ability to capture all that’s lovely about the season.  

Of course, the fact it appears on the radio and in shops sometime around late October can be a bit jarring. There’s a high chance you’ll be sick of it by the time the big day finally comes around.

But let’s forget all that for a moment and focus on what we love about festive music-making. To get you in the spirit, here’s the Just Recruitment Christmas Songs Top 10. Why not see if you and your colleagues agree with our choices?

10. Must Be Santa by Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks

A classic call-and-respond structure makes this a favourite Christmas sing-along. Bob Dylan’s version brings welcome cool to proceedings, while Bryan Adams’s recent cover is pleasingly rocky. But for many, Tommy Steele’s 1960s release remains the benchmark. Horses for courses, we suppose.

9. Fairytale of New York by Jim Finer and Shane MacGowan

This song provoked some controversy among our choosers. Just Recruitment editor Tim Gibson claims to dislike it to such an extent that he’d cheerfully include it in a list of the “World’s Worst Christmas Songs”. But for many, it’s the finest festive tune ever written, with Shane MacGowan’s meandering brogue just enhancing the fun.

8. Last Christmas by Wham!

Given a boost in recent years thanks to the film of the same name, Last Christmas is a stalwart of music radio during the festive season. Made all the more poignant by George Michael’s untimely passing, it’s a worthy addition to our list.

7. All I want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

It’s hard to believe All I Want for Christmas Is You has only been around since 1994, so permanent a fixture has it become in Christmas playlists. Mariah Carey pretty much wrote it to order as a big seasonal hit to keep her record label happy. Backed up by a brilliant video, the song has more than delivered.

6. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree by Johnny Marks

Performed by Brenda Lee in 1958, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree feels as fresh today as it did back then. If ever a song deserved the moniker of “timeless classic”, this is it. And if you can’t find a video of Lee performing it, have some fun with this Mel Smith and Kim Wilde cover instead.

5. Blue Christmas by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson

Hauntingly beautiful with a country-and-western vibe, Blue Christmas is an Elvis classic that repays a listen at any time of the year. For extra enjoyment, check out his duet with Martina McBride – a refreshing change of gear from jingle bells and holly trees.

4. Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure

For anyone who grew up in the 1980s, Do They Know It’s Christmas? is the defining song not just of the season but of the whole era. Bob Geldof channelled his fury at the famine in Ethiopia to bring his rock-music chums together. The result is one of the most high-profile acts of charity ever seen, not to mention a crackingly good song.

3. The Christmas Song by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” Who doesn’t know the opening phrases from Nat King Cole’s classic Christmas favourite? Listening to The Christmas Song is like taking a swig from a cup of mulled wine: warming, comforting and profoundly festive. A must-have for any seasonal playlist.

2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane

First sung by Judy Garland in 1944 and made famous by Frank Sinatra, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is a jazzy little number that always hits the right notes. For all the strengths of the classic renditions, we reckon you can’t go far wrong by dusting off the Bublé to experience this song at its very best.

1. White Christmas by Irving Berlin

Choosing our Number One was always going to be tricky, so we’ve been led by the numbers. The Bing Crosby version of White Christmas is reported to have sold 50m copies – making it the best-selling song in the world, ever. Add in the 50m additional copies sold of versions by other artists (the little-known Garth Brooks cover has an oddly compelling homespun vibe) and you can’t deny that this is a Christmas hit like no other.

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
Have a very merry Christmas with these seven great British traditions
Five ways to make your car ready for winter

 

Published: 28 November 2024
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2024

Jobs currently available

Design Technician
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913668
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a well-established and successful business in Ipswich to recruit a Design Technician to join their long-standing team.

Working within the Technical department and reporting to the Design Technician Supervisor, this role offers an exciting and challenging opportunity to provide support to the business through the production of technical design drawings, checking and processing of technical documentation, and production of technical calculations within a specialised environment.

Duties include:

  • Produce, check and process incoming design drawing requests, technical documentation and technical calculations.
  • Liaise with clients and Area Technical Managers.
  • Deal with telephone and email enquiries.
  • General administration.
  • Keep up-to-date with Part L & Thermal Calculations.

Skills required:

  • A basic level of CAD experience is essential.
  • Good understanding of specification construction, survey reports and construction drawings.
  • The ability to read and understand architectural drawings is essential.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
CAD Technician/Order Processor
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £25,500 - £26,500 per annum
Location: Witham
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913665
About the role

Just Recruitment is supporting a well-regarded and long-standing business in Witham, looking to add a CAD Technician/ Order Processor to their team.

You will be responsible for processing daily drawings and have experience in reading dimensions from drawings with a keen eye for detail.

This role involves working in a customer service-oriented industry, and you will need to have a positive ‘can-do’ attitude. You will be assisting and helping the customer service team with general administrative duties when required — in addition, you will cover the Order Entry team with entering, vetting and checking when required.

Duties include:

  • Drawing a minimum of 60 bespoke drawings a day.
  • Maintaining customer service level standard with current and new customers.
  • Undertake any administrative functions within the office as allocated by your team leader.
  • Holiday cover for other administrative roles.
  • Responding to queries in a timely manner.
  • Vetting of customer drawings and orders.

Skills required:

  • Experience with Autocad.
  • Good understanding of Geometry.
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Confident with technical information (or confidence to learn).
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to build relationships quickly and effectively.
  • Self-motivated.
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Computer Literate (Excel/Word).

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Production Operative
Sector: Production and Stock Control
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913669
About the role

Just Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a well-regarded business on the outskirts of Colchester to recruit a Production Operative to their existing team.

Working within a busy manufacturing facility, you will be required to work with the wider team to ensure production and business targets are met and that clients receive the required products on time.

You will come from a manufacturing or production background — used to handling large, heavy products, although if you have no experience and have a great attitude, you will be considered.

Working days: Monday to Friday on a shift basis (6.00am to 2.30pm and 1.30pm to 10.00pm) — overtime is available as per business needs.

This employer believes in investment and training.

An uplift in the basic salary will be offered with every machine you are trained on once you have met the required standards.

Free parking is available on site.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Finance Assistant
Sector: Accountancy, Banking and Finance
Salary: £26,000 - £28,000 per annum
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913647
About the role

Just Recruitment is seeking a Finance Assistant for a company based outside Ipswich.

The Finance Assistant is responsible for assisting the Finance Manager with various administrative duties and assisting with the preparation of financial reports, as well as other duties related to the Finance department.

Duties include:

  • Taking ownership of monitoring the purchase ledger inbox.
  • Controlling incoming posts, scanning and distributing to the correct individual.
  • Processing invoices.
  • Dealing with supplier queries.
  • Raising self-bills and supplier statements.
  • Arranging supplier weekly and monthly payments to ensure timely settlement.
  • Answering incoming supplier calls efficiently, with a positive attitude.
  • Assist with the maintenance of key accounting software.

Requirements:

  • Strong mathematical skills.
  • Excellent communication skills for use internally and externally.
  • Dynamic problem-solving skills.
  • Good attention to detail.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • Familiarity with Xero is preferable.

Please note that due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Customer Service Administrator
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Salary: £25,500 - £26,500 per annum
Location: Witham
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913664
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a well-established and successful business in Witham to recruit a Customer Service Administrator to join their long-standing team.

You will be responsible for providing a high level of customer service to regular customers and internal customers such as production, accounts, transport and the sales team. Work to key KPI’s to ensure the highest levels of customer service are maintained and improved upon.

Duties include:

  • Vet customer orders ready for processing onto the system. This includes applying the correct delivery dates to suit the customer's requirements whilst ensuring it fits in with the production dates, capabilities and delivery areas.
  • Answering the telephone within 3 rings and having an enthusiastic attitude to deal with and resolve customers' queries or issues in a timely manner.
  • Proactively chase customers to resolve queries if they have not come back with a response. Ensure all verbal correspondence is confirmed in writing and the system is updated with correct information.
  • Support the end-of-month invoicing procedure, investigate and find any missing delivery notes.
  • Routinely speak to key accounts and regular customers to grow a productive working relationship with them. 

Key skills required:

  • Exceptional customer service skills — you must have a friendly and positive phone manner.
  • Energetic, self-driven and motivated.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Ability to continually multitask.
  • Ability to prioritise your time to plan and organise your day.
  • Ability to learn and absorb information.

Hour: Monday to  Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more