The 10 Worst Christmas Songs You Secretly Love to Hate!

Christmas music: it’s either a festive joy or a jingle-filled nightmare. 

Be honest. How many times have you heard Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas” and rolled your eyes…. Then found yourself jamming out and singing along to it?! We’re all guilty of it!

There are plenty of Christmas songs out there that people just love to hate. Sometimes it’s not even the songs themselves that people hate, instead it’s the artist who is covering the original song that ruins it for everyone!

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The Top 10 Christmas Songs We Love To Hate:

USA TODAY compiled a list of the worst offenders, and while it’s highly subjective, we’re here to unwrap the “gifts” nobody asked for. Let’s see if you agree with the list:

10. NSYNC – “I Never Knew the Meaning of Christmas”

According to NSYNC, Christmas isn’t about family, gifts, or tradition—it’s about finding a girlfriend. Nothing screams holiday spirit like belting out, “Girl, you made me finally see!”

9. Neil Diamond – “Cherry Cherry Christmas”

Take Neil Diamond’s biggest hits, mix in holiday cheer, and voilà—this marketing experiment was born. It’s a hard pass for anyone who isn’t a die-hard fan.

8. The Killers – “Don’t Shoot Me Santa”

This bizarre “conversation” between Santa and Brandon Flowers escalates into a chaotic desert showdown. Satire? Maybe. Cringe-worthy? Definitely.

7. The Pussycat Dolls – “Santa Baby”

Eartha Kitt did it best, Madonna made it quirky, but the Dolls’ rendition? It’s more karaoke fail than sultry classic.

6. Lou Monte – “Dominick the Donkey”

An Italian Christmas donkey “la-la-la”s its way through this clunky, Brooklyn-made earworm.

5. New Kids on the Block – “Funky Funky Xmas”

The boy band raps awkwardly over a beat that’s about as funky as stale fruitcake.

4. Jessica & Ashlee Simpson – “The Little Drummer Boy”

Their syrupy vocals and misplaced horns turned this classic into a hot mess.

3. NewSong – “The Christmas Shoes”

We get it, it’s emotional—but did anyone ask for a depressing ballad about dying moms and shoes?

2. Elmo & Patsy – “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”

Dark humor and bad singing combine for a novelty song that overstayed its welcome.

1. Alvin & the Chipmunks – “The Chipmunk Song”

If nails on a chalkboard had a holiday remix, it would sound like this.

Love them or hate them, these songs are here to stay—kind of like fruitcake. 

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