Western songs to listen to in winter: heart-touching winter songs

RiverJoni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell – River (Official Music Video)

Set to a beautiful piano melody, this signature song by Joni Mitchell vividly evokes the feeling of winter.

Against a Christmas backdrop, it poignantly sings of heartbreak and loneliness.

The melody that hints at “Jingle Bells” is striking, yet an undercurrent of yearning runs throughout.

Included on her 1971 masterpiece album Blue, it has become a popular song covered by many artists.

In 2021, it ranked 247th on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Best Songs.

It deeply resonates with anyone who has gone through a breakup and longs to escape the sorrow.

DJ Play a Christmas SongCher

Cher – DJ Play a Christmas Song (Official Lyric Video)

This is the lead track from Christmas, the first Christmas album Cher—often hailed as the Goddess of Pop—released in 2023.

The song deftly blends her signature dance-pop sound with a festive holiday spirit.

Its lyrics, which express a wish to escape the cold outside for a warm place and ask the DJ to play Christmas songs, capture a sense of liberation and togetherness on the club dance floor.

Released in October 2023, the track extended her chart record at age 77, making her the only solo artist with number-one hits in every decade from the 1960s to the 2020s.

With electronic beats that break from traditional Christmas song conventions and her powerful vocals resonating throughout, it’s perfect for livening up holiday parties and events.

yes, and?Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande – yes, and? (official music video)

Released in January 2024, “Yes, and?” is a track that emerged after about three years as the lead single from the album Eternal Sunshine.

Heavily influenced by Madonna’s “Vogue,” its ‘80s-style house sound is pleasing to the ear, delivering a danceable groove that also carries a profound message.

Powerfully asserting the importance of living true to yourself without being swayed by others’ criticism or judgments, this song is one that gives you a push forward—especially when winter’s chill starts to get you down.

A remix version featuring Mariah Carey was also released and debuted at No.

1 on the Billboard Global 200.

It’s highly recommended when you want to boost your self-esteem or lift your spirits.

The Christmas SongNat King Cole

Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)

“The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 by singer Mel Tormé and composer Bob Wells.

The version recorded by Nat King Cole, introduced here, is especially well known.

Although it sings of winter scenes and Christmas, the song was actually written in the height of summer.

Fed up with the heat, Bob Wells wondered if thinking about winter might help him feel cooler, and he jotted down cool, wintry words on manuscript paper to beat the heat.

Mel Tormé mistook those notes for lyrics to a new song and went on to complete the piece—reportedly in just 40 minutes.

It’s no exaggeration to say this masterpiece was born from a chain of happy accidents.

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YellowColdplay

Coldplay – Yellow (Official Video)

One of the signature songs by the British rock band Coldplay, released in 2000.

Included on their debut album Parachutes, this ballad expresses devoted feelings for a loved one, featuring a clear, transparent sound that perfectly suits the stillness of winter.

Its restrained drums and guitar tones, along with the emotive vocals, resonate deeply.

Recorded at a studio in Wales, the song reached number four on the UK charts and became a turning point that propelled the band to worldwide success.

It’s a track that gently accompanies those winter nights when you’re thinking of someone special.

WinterlongNeil Young

Winterlong (2017 Remaster)

This number by Neil Young is known as a song that makes the chill of winter feel comforting.

Although it was created in the 1970s, it remained unreleased and first saw the light of day when it was included in the 1977 collection Decade.

The song is marked by a gentle, warm melody characteristic of Neil Young and lyrics that resonate deeply.

It overlays lost love with the winter season, beautifully expressing longing and loneliness.

Young’s distinctive high tenor further enhances the song’s world.

It’s the kind of track you’ll want to listen to alone, quietly, in a warm room on a cold winter night.

A Winter’s TaleQueen

Queen – A Winter’s Tale (Official Video)

It’s a beautiful ballad depicting the stillness and magic of winter, included on the album Made in Heaven released in November 1995.

It was the last song Freddie Mercury completed during his lifetime, inspired by the scenes he saw while convalescing in Montreux, Switzerland.

With dreamlike winter imagery—red skies, swans, and smoking chimneys—the recurring question “Am I dreaming?” leaves a strong impression.

As Mercury’s posthumous work, it reached No.

6 on the UK charts in December 1995.

It’s a song perfect for a leisurely listen by the fireplace on a winter night.