Jingle beats and Pacific treats: Our Top 10 Christmas tunes

Summer is officially underway. This year's calendar has something for everyone - from sports, art, music, faith, and food to families and friends enjoying a fun day out and creating lasting memories.

As regular listeners of Radio 531pi's flagship news show, Pacific Mornings, know, 2024 has been a hectic year of prickly politics, economic uncertainty, social discontent, and historic firsts.

So, with two weeks to go until Santa wobbles into our homes, Pacific Mornings is spreading festive cheer by publishing the ultimate Christmas playlist.

The Christmas Coalition of host William Terite, producer Levi Matautia-Morgan, and executive producer Samson Samasoni has curated a playlist of tunes that will be remembered as the soundtrack of the season.

So, let’s kick off the countdown.

10. Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around

It's a sentimental pick, perfect for those moments when the Christmas karaoke gets emotional. A reminder that while the Auckland council was trying to assure everyone that love was all around, many residents continued to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating floods. Warm, heartfelt, and deserving of a spot in our festive celebrations.

9. Luther Vandross – My Favourite Things

Luther’s jazzy take on this classic is perfect for anyone reflecting on their own favourite things. While it might be considered a controversial choice given it’s not traditional Christmas fare, you won’t need a protest to know that Luther deserves to be on any playlist. And what’s a Pacific Christmas without The Sound of Music being played several times during the holiday season?

8. Justin Bieber – Mistletoe

Mistletoe sets the scene for a dreamy Christmas, complete with twinkling lights, warm koko, and the hope that nobody brings up Donald Trump at the dinner table. Sweet, romantic, and blissfully free of any awkward family Secret Santa mishaps.

7. The Pogues – Fairytale of New York

This gritty ballad is perfect for anyone navigating Boxing Day sales. It’s a love song with a dash of drama - think coalition government leaders jostling to take credit for all the ‘successful’ government initiatives. But amidst the chaos, there’s hope, like when we check that Lotto Powerball gift to see if we’ve become overnight millionaires.

6. Andy Williams – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This Andy Williams classic embodies holiday cheer. It feels like the joy of unwrapping presents, a perfectly cooked ham, and the miracle of cousins arguing over who will clear up - leaving the oldies to talk about their medications and have that much-needed post-lunch nana nap.

5. Josh Tatofi – Who Would Imagine a King

Josh Tatofi’s soulful rendition feels like a warm hug from grandma after church. Tatofi’s tender vocals remind us that Christmas isn’t just about the presents; it’s about presence – of love, faith, and thinking about whether there’s enough taro and pisupo to go around. (You can click on this link to watch the whole song on YouTube)

4. Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? It's more like sausages sizzling in Māngere or Cannons Creek. Nat King Cole’s velvety classic is a reminder of the good old days when you didn’t need a mortgage to catch a flight to Niue. You get lost in Cole’s magical voice, almost to the point of not worrying about who’s wearing gang insignia outside the shopping mall.

3. Michael Bublé – White Christmas

Given that the COP29 conference in Azerbaijan did nothing to reduce the damaging impact of climate change, a white Christmas is what we could eventually end up with in Aotearoa. In the meantime, it’s the perfect song to sip your kava or mulled wine, depending on your vibe.

2. Wham! – Last Christmas

Wham’s bittersweet tune reminds us that last Christmas, we were still getting used to the idea of the unlikely coalition leadership of Luxon, Peters, and Seymour running the country. They signed the deal on 28 November 2023 and have held it together this long. But as George Michael reminds us, it could all come undone and be taken away the very next day.

1. Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You

It was exactly 30 years ago that Mariah Carey launched this festive classic on the world. And now we don't know whether Christmas celebrations have started until we hear it on the airwaves. All I Want for Christmas Is You mirrors our Pacific wish lists: love, laughter, and maybe an upgrade to the car. This anthem of longing fits perfectly for the Sāmoans, who will now have a chance to become New Zealand citizens after Teanau Tuiono’s bill became legislation. All they wanted was what was always rightfully theirs.

From the production team at Pacific Mornings and our colleagues in the newsroom who make it all happen, we hope you enjoy this playlist.

As you gather with loved ones this Christmas, may these songs bring joy, laughter, and a reminder of the strength and beauty of our Pacific communities.