When we think of Christmas songs, we usually think of songs recorded many decades ago.  The most popular Christmas song ever is still Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”, recorded in 1941.  But not all of the songs we listen to during the holiday season have to be old.  Here are ten of the best songs recorded since 2000.  I’ve decided to include covers, because there are some beautiful covers I didn’t want to leave out.

#10. Brandon Walker – Chinese Food on Christmas

   Brandon Walker is a singer-songwriter from Baltimore, Maryland.  In 2007, his comedic Christmas song “Chinese Food on Christmas” became a viral hit.  The song humorously depicts what Jewish people do on Christmas.  Eating Chinese food on December 25th is actually a tradition that many Jews follow.

#9. Rob Thomas – A New York Christmas

   Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas released a Christmas single in 2003 – “A New York Christmas”  The song was Thomas’ first solo song, although he had previously sung “Smooth” with Carlos Santana.  Rob Thomas went on to release two solo albums, with both peaking in the top 3 on the Billboard 200 charts.

#8. Coldplay – Christmas Lights

   Coldplay released “Christmas Lights” in 2010, as a stand-alone Christmas single.  The song described a man who is alone on Christmas, but manages to find comfort in the beautiful Christmas lights shining in his city.  Despite not being a part of their album, Mylo Xyloto, the song was a success, charting throughout the world.

#7. The Killers – Don’t me Santa

   The Killers have a tradition of releasing a Christmas song every year with Product Red, a brand that raises money to help fight AIDS in Africa.  The band has released 7 Christmas songs in total, beginning their tradition in 2006.  Their best song, by far, is the hilarious “Don’t Shoot me Santa”, which features a very angry Santa Claus hunting down lead singer Brandon Flowers for his past sins.

#6. Michael Buble – Grown-Up Christmas List

   “Grown-Up Christmas List” was first recorded in 1990.  It was written by David Foster and Linda Thompson-Jenner, and sung by Natalie Cole.  The song was virtually unknown until Amy Grant covered it two years later, with her version becoming a big hit.  In 2003, Kelly Clarkson and Michael Buble both covered it, with both versions gaining lots of airplay.  My favorite version is Buble’s, it’s hard to compare to his outstanding voice.

#5. Pentatonix – Little Drummer Boy

   Pentatonix are an a capella group from Arlignton, Texas, who gained fame after winning the third season of NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011.  Earlier this month, the band’s version of “Little Drummer Boy” went viral, with the song premiering at number 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100, making it one of the highest-charting Christmas songs in Billboard’s history.

#4. Josh Groban – O Holy Night

   Adolphe Adam, a French composer and music critic, wrote “O Holy Night” in 1847.  The song was first performed by opera singer Emily Laurey later that year.  In 2002, operatic pop singer Josh Groban covered the song on his album Josh Groban in concert.  The single topped the US Adult Contemporary chart and helped Groban reach international fame.

#3. OneRepublic – Christmas Without You

   In 2011, OneRepublic released a Christmas single, “Christmas Without You”, written by lead singer, and notable songwriter, Ryan Tedder.  Tedder has written about a hundred songs that have gone on to become singles, including “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis, “Already Gone” by Kelly Clarkson, “Halo” by Beyonce, and “Rumour Has It” by Adele.  But one of his most beautiful songs is definitely his own band’s outstanding Christmas song.

#2. Casting Crowns – I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

   “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” was a poem written in 1863 by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  It was first set to music in 1872, by English organist John Baptiste Calkin.  The song has since been covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley, The Carpenters, Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, and Sarah McLachlan.  My favorite version is Christian band Casting Crown’s 2008 version, accompanied by a choir.

#1. Goo Goo Dolls – Better Days

  Although it may not be immediately recognizable as a Christmas song, “Better Days” is one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written.  Goo Goo Dolls originally wrote the song for a Target Christmas album, but decided to instead include the song on their album Let Love In, and release it as their first single, in September.  The song is about abandoning materialism and wanting the world to “begin again”, as it did when “the one poor Child who saved this world” was born.