[2026] A roundup of recommended Christmas songs for bands to cover

Please Come Home for ChristmasJohnny Winter

Johnny Winter – Please come home for christmas

A bluesman nicknamed the “Million Dollar Guitarist,” Johnny Winter sings this Christmas song.

His fiery shouts and passionately charged guitar solos are well worth copying at least once for any band musician.

The track is included on his 1992 album Hey, Where’s Your Brother?.

Merry Xmas EverybodySlade

Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody – Official Video

This song opens with a guitar riff that screams Christmas and Noddy Holder’s distinctive vocals.

Just hearing it might put even those not interested in Christmas in a cheerful mood.

Released in December 1973 as Slade’s fifth single, it became the band’s biggest hit.

It’s a Christmas number brimming with a happy vibe, marked by an upbeat rhythm and a pleasant melody, but if you look closely at the lyrics, you’ll see they reflect the harsh social climate of the time.

You can really feel the rising emotion—especially in the final section, which seems perfect for a rousing sing-along with the audience when played by a band!

Silent NightThe Dickies

Silent Night by the Dickies

This is a cover of Silent Night by the American punk band The Dickies.

While the original is a song about a holy, beautiful night, in their hands it transforms into a riotous, ultra-fast punk sound.

Even so, it’s a track that showcases their signature style—almost a symbol of bright, upbeat punk rock—and it’s sure to make Christmas wildly, punkishly exciting.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Christmas, Baby Please Come HomeU2

U2 – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) (Official Music Video)

This is a song included on the 1987 Christmas compilation album “A Very Special Christmas.” The original was sung by Darlene Love in 1963, and Mariah Carey has also covered it.

The instrumentation isn’t very dense, and the performance difficulty isn’t very high, so I think it’s a suitable Christmas song for a band to cover.

Sorrow like snowHamada Shogo

Sadness Like Snow (ON THE ROAD 2011 “The Last Weekend”)

Don’t you think it’s cool to sing mellow Japanese ballads from the ’80s? The song I want to introduce is “Sadness Is Like Snow.” It was released by Shogo Hamada in 1981 and is also known as a TV drama theme song.

It’s a heartbreaking breakup song, so try singing it with real emotion.

Also, even though it’s a ballad, it’s a track where the audience can join in with call-and-response, making it perfect for live performances! I’d also recommend it as a song where you can show off a guitar solo.

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yamamoto

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Devil’s Merry ChristmasSeikima II

Seikima-II Devilish Merry Christmas

A song by the metal band Seikima-II, whose striking looks and high-level musicianship give them a one-of-a-kind presence.

It opens with a piano and acoustic guitar arpeggio that feels far too ominous for something called a Christmas song, then shifts straight into an intense arrangement—immediately setting it apart from typical holiday tunes.

The melodic sense of metal’s classical stylings combined with catchy hooks may even evoke a sense of grandeur.

With its thick, full-band sound, it’s also a joy to play live, so why not try covering it for the Christmas season?

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Hoshino Takashi

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presentHagiwara Kenichi

Kenichi Hagiwara “Present” LIVE at Theatre Cocoon

A Christmas song by Kenichi Hagiwara, who was both an outlaw-style actor and a rock singer.

To be honest, it’s a pretty heartrending number, but if you cover it with sincerity, it might move people.

This classic, which calls to mind the roles he played on TV and in films, is included on his 1988 album “Shining With You.”