After what has been not such a great year for many people, now 'tis the time to be jolly. But if you've already done your Christmas shopping, no doubt you'll have been bombarded with the standard seasonal muzak.
For this reason Christmas is a divisive thing. We're often subjected to the worst songs.
But there are some yuletide classics out there, and many interesting, lesser-known numbers you might enjoy, so Newshub has made a playlist with some outliers.
Here are 10 great picks.
10. Starting with one you're not likely to hear at the mall - The Pogues' bittersweet ballad 'Fairytale of New York' is a good one to rollick along to with your fruit mince pies and brandy.
9. Considered one of the greatest Christmas duets - and particularly poignant this year after the death of David Bowie - the star man joined original Christmas crooner Bing Crosby in 1977 for 'Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy'.
8. Whirimako Black's stunning interpretation of 'White Christmas' - in Te Reo with a reworded version of the northern hemisphere original - gives the song a new Pacific identity.
7. Another relatively local tune of the season is Australian singer Paul Kelly's heartbreaking and hilarious 'How to Make Gravy' - a story of a guy in prison, writing a letter to his brother and regretting that he'll be missing Christmas Day with the family.
6. There are so many choices for versions of probably the most popular Christmas carol, but here we are going with Brian Wilson's 'O Holy Night', because the former Beach Boy brings those wall-of-sound harmonies.
6. In 1979 country star Emmylou Harris made a Christmas album with a haunting a cappella rendition of 'The First Noel'.
5. Sharon Jones - another great singer to pass away this year - did a soulful holiday album full of Christmas crackers like 'Baby You Got Those Big Bulbs'. But here's 'Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects'.
4. Nat King Cole is the godfather of sentimental seasonal tunes. Here's a very early film of him singing 'The Christmas Song'.
3. Justin Bieber is pretty well known, but he's in the top 10 as he's proven to be an enthusiastic new crooner on the Christmas scene. His album Under the Mistletoehas many great covers and originals. Our favourite is his heavenly version of 'Silent Night'. It's just as good as the Boyz II Men interpretation.
2. A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector is not just a great Christmas album but one of the best records ever made. Here's Darlene Love with 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'.
1. Well done, you've made it through the list of lesser-known Christmas songs. There's been no Michael Buble, no Wham or Wings. But hopefully everybody's favourite - Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas' - will make up for that.