Every year, Jamaicans around the world come together to celebrate the joy of the season with music, food and dance. Unlike in the U.S. and elsewhere, the holidays season does not affect the music charts in Jamaica, but wherever you are in the world as a Jamaican or Caribbean native; taking a walk the streets, or on the malls you will feel the Christmas mood if you hear traditional spirituals to modern takes on classic carols by Jamaican artists.
Here are ten Jamaican reggae themed Christmas songs to put you in a festive mood this holiday season
1. “12 Days of Christmas” – This classic Christmas countdown song has been given a Jamaican twist by many artists over the years but, with an acoustic reggae beat and soulful vocals Busy Signal lends his image and nuances to a “Crime Free Christmas” rendition. The lyrics are catchy and fun, making it a great choice for any holiday gathering.
2. “Santa Clause Do You Ever Come To The Ghetto” – Written by Tommy Cowan nearly 30 years ago and originally sung by his now wife Carlene Davis this song is not tribute to the traditional white beard gift giver. “Santa Claus is not just the fat man, but in society – how we treat each other,” Cowan said in the Jamaica Gleaner. The song was covered in in 2016 by Chronixx in a production by guitarist Monty titled “Crime Free Christmas,” sponsored by Flow.
3. “Jingle Bells” – This popular one of the more popular songs associated Christmas in the Caribbean. Now with some steel drum band accompanying Don Carlos’ vocals it has become a festive choice for any holiday gathering.
4. “Mary Had a Baby” – This traditional spiritual is given a modern twist, with ska, reggae and soulful vocals. It’s a unique take on the classic carol that will be sure to please. Churches and homes across the predominately christian nation will be singing this one Christmas morning.
5. “Silent Night” – This traditional carol has been given a unique Jamaican interpretation, with a modern reggae beat and beautiful harmonies by Lloyd Brown.
6. “Christmas in Jamaica”
“Christmas in Jamaica” is the most charted song on this list, recorded by American R&B singer Toni Braxton for her first Christmas album, Snowflakes (2001). It was written by Braxton, her former husband Keri Lewis, Donnie Scantz, Craig Love, Dave Kelly, and Shaggy, with Braxton, Lewis, and Scantz serving as producers and Shaggy co-producing and providing featured vocals.
The song was released on December 8, 2001 by Arista Records as the second and final single from the album. It has an island-flavored sound and charted at number three on the US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, but did not chart elsewhere. The song was not accompanied by a music video. The song reached its peak position of number three on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart on January 5, 2002, and remained on the chart for a total of three weeks.
7. “Christmas JA”
Neville Willoughby, a veteran broadcaster and actor, sang “Christmas JA”. He was also one of the first Jamaicans to play a leading role in the annual pantomime. As a singer, he released two well-known singles, “Christmas in JA” and “I Love Jamaica”, which were included on Trojan’s compilation CDs “Reggae Christmas” and “Carnival”, respectively.
Willoughby was internationally known for his interviews with reggae icon Bob Marley in 1973 and 1978, just before Marley’s rise to fame and his “Peace concert” at the National Stadium which was immortalized in the Marley “Interviews” album
8. “Mek the Christmas Catch You in a Good Mood aka ‘Christmas Mood'”
This 1980s classic Christmas song was written by Mikey Bennett with Lead vocals by Orville “Bagga” Case. It was first released on Joe Gibbs Reggae Christmas album.
9. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” – This popular carol has been given a reggae makeover, with a deep bass line and soulful vocals by the legendary reggae singer Jacob Miller. Miller changes the lyrics to be “We “wish you a merry Christmas and a dancehall new year.”
10. “Warm Jamaica Christmas “
The 1997 single, “Warm Jamaica Christmas”, also features deejay Baby Cham. “I wanted to do an authentic Jamaican Christmas song… no sing over, with traditional melodies… a song that every youth could relate to.” Wonder told the Jamaica Observer.
Produced by Dave Kelly’s Madhouse Records, the single is on VP Records’ Christmas Album.
“It was recorded about ’96-’97. VP was doing a Christmas project and wanted our contribution. We wanted to give them something special,” he said.
The lyrics written by Kelly and Wonder goes in part “I wish for all mankind, a warm Jamaican Christmas time, Where there is no snow, where the good sensemina grows. I wish that we could find, true love at Christmas time.”
