One of the most exciting things about moving to a country we’ve never lived in before is discovering all the new traditions and customs of a place! It feels eye-opening to experience a holiday that we already celebrate and to learn how another community embraces it. We’ve learned so much about Christmas in England already. Listening to British Christmas music stations added a fun dimension to the Christmas experience for us.
We love exploring the local radio stations, you can find Lil Fox and Hedgehog’s favorite station here. During Christmas time though, we’re usually listening to all the holiday channels. Along the way, we discovered new songs to add to our annual playlist. We still hear some universal classics like Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas abroad. Here are some new-to-us (so you won’t see Wham! “Last Christmas” on here), popular British Christmas songs we enjoy listening to. Have you heard of any of them?
Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord
Discovering this song felt awesome! As a child, my family listened to the soundtrack of Caribbean Christmas by Kokomo Jo. It gave me flashbacks. LOVE that CD! Not a British band, but a German one, Boney M did a cover of the 1956 Mary’s Boy Child by Harry Belafonte. Nonetheless, it’s still one of many popular British Christmas songs. The two songs have totally different vibes, check them out!
Jona Lewie – Stop the Cavalry
This is Hedgehog’s favorite Christmas song! She freaks out when it comes on the radio. Jona, another English singer-songwriter, wrote this as an anti-war song in the eighties. Jona never meant it to be a Christmas song. However, it ultimately gained traction towards the Christmas genre due to references to Christmas in the lyrics.
Gabriella Cilmi – Warm this Winter
This song gives us some Meghan Trainor vibes and awakens my sometimes dormant high school, girlie pop-loving self. Maybe I’ll sing and dance in front of the mirror as Lil Fox does to Hilary Duff’s “Wonderful Christmastime” when comes up on my iPod Christmas playlist. I’ll leave you the pleasure of looking up that song to listen to. Anyways, back on track! We can’t help but love this upbeat song. Gabriella is an Australian singer-songwriter but has popularity in the UK. She did this as an adapted version of Connie Fisher’s “I’m going to be warm this winter.” Do you like one better? We like them both and can understand how it’s one of many popular British Christmas songs.
Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone
We had the pleasure of hearing this song for the first time as the elves did a choreographed dance when we took Hedgehog to the Audley End Railway. It might be a little too peppy for every audience, but we are fans! Shakin Stevens, a Welsh artist, recorded this popular song in the eighties.
East 17 – Stay Another Day
East 17 is a British boy band and came out in 1994, around the era of boy band popularity (think Nsync, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, O-Town, LFO). The song has a sadder context. It is about the suicide of one of the singer’s brothers. Despite this, we think it sounds beautiful and serves as a touching reminder to appreciate time with one another.
Leona Lewis – One More Sleep
Leona is another British singer-songwriter. I’ve actually had this song and some of her other Christmas songs on my iPod (yeah, I still have an iPod, one of the originals, as a matter of fact). I have not heard her Christmas songs on popular mainstream US stations. Correct me if I’m wrong! However, you might recognize her for her Bleeding Love hit from 2007.
Mike Oldfield – In Dulci Jubilo
This carol has lyrics about rejoicing. Different sources believe a German mystic wrote it in the early 14th century. It makes us feel like we should be at some Christmas market or some good old fashion pub celebrating the holidays and dancing while drinking ale! That is probably why it seems to be one of the popular British Christmas songs.
Chris Rea – Driving home for Christmas
English singer-songwriter Chris Rea came into inspiration to create the lyrics to this song while…driving home for Christmas! It’s a nice easy listening song to help bring you back to childhood driving over the river and through the woods to see family and loved ones.
Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody
What’s a Christmas playlist without a rock song? And no, it’s not Jingle Bell Rock. You get a little closer if you pictured the Love Actually rock star singing “Christmas is All Around Us.” Slade, a British rock band, created this song in the seventies. It’s a nice song to insert halfway into your traditional, predictable Christmas playlist to keep you on your toes.
