During the Christmas season, it’s common to see various Christmas songs making a comeback on the Billboard charts. People get into the festive spirit by streaming and downloading their favorite holiday tunes, leading to the re-entry of popular tracks like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Justin Bieber’s festive hits.
Alongside these modern classics, timeless songs such as “White Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “Last Christmas” also find their way back onto the charts. These songs have become beloved holiday anthems and have sold millions of copies.
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Thursday, December 14th
10. “Blue Christmas”/”Santa Claus is Back in Town” – Elvis Presley
In 1999, “Blue Christmas” by The King achieved a remarkable feat as it became the first Christmas song to attain Platinum status solely through physical sales.
9. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee
While there are varying reports on the exact number of copies sold, it is widely acknowledged that the Brenda Lee classic has achieved significant success. As of 2016, Billboard confirmed that the 1958 track has been downloaded at least one million times.
8. “Mary, Did You Know” – Pentatonix
In February 2018, Pentatonix’s captivating a capella rendition of the Christian song originally performed by Michael English received the prestigious Platinum certification.
7. “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)” – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
As of 2016, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s fusion of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Shchedryk,” also known as “The Carol of the Bells,” has been downloaded 1.3 million times.
6. “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” – Kristen Bell
One of the various Frozen songs that achieved Platinum status with 1.6 million downloads. It’s safe to assume that this number has continued to rise since the release of Frozen 2.
5. “Mistletoe” – Justin Bieber
One of only two songs officially rewarded Multi-Platinum status, “Mistletoe” has sold at least two million copies as of 2015.
4. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” – Band Aid
A lineup of renowned British ’80s music icons such as Boy George, George Michael, and Duran Duran joined forces to create a song that inspired U.S.A. For Africa’s “We Are the World.” According to the New York Times, this heartfelt collaboration sold an impressive 2.5 million copies in the United States.
3. “All I Want For Christmas is You” – Mariah Carey
Mariah’s iconic holiday song, which has achieved the prestigious Multi-Platinum status six times over, has sold a minimum of 6 million copies. Its global sales total of 16 million solidifies its position as the 12th highest-selling single in history.
2. “Silent Night” – Bing Crosby
If Mariah Carey holds the title of the queen of Christmas, then Bing Crosby can be considered its king, as he is responsible for two of the biggest holiday songs of all time. As early as 1978, it was reported that his rendition of the carol “Silent Night” had already sold 30 million copies.
1. “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby
According to the Guinness Book of Records, “White Christmas” has been recognized not only as the highest-selling Christmas song ever, but also as the top-selling single overall, with an estimated 50 million copies sold.