As much as I adore the songs on my alternative Christmas song playlist, I do love the classic Christmas songs, so what unites both my emo side and my festive side? A list of rock covers of classic Christmas songs, of course! Here are 12 alternative covers of popular Christmas songs to rock along to this holiday season.

Grab yourself a gingerbread latte, and get cosy as your get the holidays started with this alternative Christmas playlist.

12 Best Rock Covers Of Classic Christmas Songs

1. Green Day – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Green Day are the father of so many rock bands so they had to earn a spot on this rock covers of alternative Christmas songs list! But you might be thinking, Green Day covered a Christmas song!? I stumbled across a very rough cover of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and I wish they had recorded a real version because it actually suits Billie Joe’s voice!

2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer – Amasic

This pop-punk Christmas song cover is something I only discovered when I was researching more songs for this playlist, so I wasn’t familiar with Amasic, but if you like All Time Low then I promise you’ll love these guys!

3. O Holy Night – Weezer

This rock Christmas song cover started off mellow and very… un-Weezer-y but they quickly put their own spin on it and it’s great!

I was supposed to see Weezer this year at the Hella Mega tour with Fall Out Boy and Green Day but 2020 had other plans.

4. Jimmy Eat World – Last Christmas

Jimmy Eat World’s cover of Last Christmas is a perfect way to stay emo while enjoying the holidays. This cover is fairly mellow and laid back but still has the edge that we all know and love.

5. REM – Deck The Halls

REM really make their rock cover of Deck The Halls their own. The song was apart of the Winter Wonderland album and features the riff we’re sick of hearing every single Christmas with…a unique take on the vocals. No fa la la la la’s here!

6. Paul McCartney – This Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)

Paul McCartney was already a big figure when it comes to classic Christmas songs. Wonderful Christmastime is one of my favourite Christmas songs, and best of all, it was in the Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer movie!

His cover isn’t exactly a rock cover of a Christmas song, but the man is a legend, so he deserves a spot regardless.

7. David Bowie & Bing Crosby – Little Drummer Boy (Peace On Earth)

Fun fact: I actually detested Little Drummer Boy before I heard David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s rendition. Maybe my primary school just did an awful version of it. I only heard it for the first time on Christmas 2015 and fell in love… guess what happened in January…

But, their voices work so well together.

The song actually starts at 1:47 if you want to skip the intro.

8. Panic! At The Disco – White Christmas

I’m honestly surprised that Brendon Urie hasn’t recorded a whole Christmas album because his voice is perfect for it. That said, Christmas records are kind of unheard of in the rock world.

PATD!s cover of this classic Christmas song is short and sweet, and perfect for an emo Christmas.

9. Halestorm – Mistress For Christmas

Halestorm are big on covers so it’s no surprise that they took on a rock cover of a Christmas song… except it was ACDC’s Mistress for Christmas so it’s a rockin’ Christmas.

Lzzy proved once again that she’s one of the best, if not the best, rock/metal female vocalists.

10. Fall Out Boy – What’s This?

As if The Nightmare Before Christmas wasn’t already one of the many emo icons, they made a cover album which led Fall Out Boy to cover this Christmas/Halloween songs!

FOB made it fun, pop, punk, and still feel whimsical and Christmasy. Patrick easily could have voiced Jack Skellington.

11. I Don’t Know How But They Found Me – Merry Christmas, Everybody

IDKHOW have a lot of Christmas songs, but only one is a cover. This rock cover of Merry Christmas, Everybody suits Dallon’s voice perfectly, and I love the 80s home video vibe they have going on.

They made a whole Christmas EP which is the best thing to get through the holidays.

12. My Chemical Romance – All I Want For Christmas Is You

What I personally think is the best rock cover of a classic Christmas song is MCR’s rendition of All I Want For Christmas. They brought the rage I loved about Revenge era MCR, but still managed to keep the song fun.

MCR have been all I want for Christmas for a very long time now, so thank you Santa (or Satan?) for bringing them back.

What do you think of these alternative and rock covers of Christmas songs? What’s your favourite?