The soundtrack to A Christmas Story Christmas manages to be both seasonally appropriate and fun, effectively bringing the charm of the original movie into the 1970s with its era-appropriate songs. Set in 1973, A Christmas Story Christmas catches up with a now-adult Ralphie Parker, who is under pressure to deliver the perfect holiday for his family after the tragic death of The Old Man. Though the movie is aided by its returning cast members, the songs of the 2022 A Christmas Story sequel help update the franchise while capturing the energy of what is so beloved about the 1983 original.
The follow-up, which was released on HBO Max, is able to seamlessly transition A Christmas Story into a new time period thanks to its music. Predictably, the soundtrack of A Christmas Story Christmas includes a plethora of Christmas carols, ranging from traditional tracks to familiar holiday songs by popular artists of the time like the Jackson 5. The movie even includes a few non-Christmas songs to help establish its 1970s setting. Here's a guide to every song on the soundtrack to A Christmas Story Christmas and where it plays in the sequel.
Here is every song in A Christmas Story Christmas, in order:
- “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
- “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” by the Jackson 5
- “We Three Kings”
- “The Happiest Christmas Tree” by Nat King Cole
- “O Come All Ye Faithful” by Frank Sinatra
- “Jingle Bells”
- “I Got The Feeling” by The Endeavors
- “Snowman, Snowman” by The Jaynetts
- “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” by Andy Williams
- “Deck The Halls”
- “On The Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314” performed by The Hungarian State Orchestra
- “Machine Gun” by The Commodores
- “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” by Eddy Arnold
- “Old Fashioned Christmas” by Jack Huddle
- “Turkey In The Straw”
- “Silent Night”
- “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
- “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” by Frank Sinatra
- “Auld Lang Syne”
When Each Song Plays In A Christmas Story Christmas
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” - An instrumental of this classic holiday song plays during the title sequence of HBO Max's A Christmas Story Christmas. Another version of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” featuring vocals can be heard early in the movie in the background of Ralphie’s fantasy about the perfect Christmas. The instrumental version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" can be heard again at the end of the movie as Ralphie reads his story to his family.
“Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town” by the Jackson 5 - The Jackson 5’s cover of “Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town” plays during establishing shots of the city as Ralphie goes to meet with a publisher about his manuscript. It also is heard as the cast of characters in A Christmas Story Christmas enjoys their Christmas meal.
“The Happiest Christmas Tree” by Nat King Cole - This song plays as the Parker family drives back to Ralphie’s hometown of Hohman, Indiana, for Christmas.
“O Come All Ye Faithful” by Frank Sinatra - Frank Sinatra’s version of this traditional Christmas song plays in the background as Ralphie tends to the fire while his mother inquires about his novel.
“Jingle Bells” - The classic Christmas carol is used multiple times in A Christmas Story Christmas. It first appears when Ralphie is walking to Flick’s Tavern to revisit his old friends. Later, the Parkers mirror the original movie when they sing “Jingle Bells” in the car.
“I Got the Feeling” by The Endeavors - One of the few non-Christmas related tracks in A Christmas Story Christmas, this Endeavors song plays in Flick’s Tavern while Schwartz is playing shuffleboard.
“We Three Kings” - In the Christmas Story sequel, the dreaded Christmas carolers sing the traditional Christmas tune to Mrs. Parker as Ralphie, Sandy, Mark, and Julie sneak out of the house.
“Snowman, Snowman” by The Jaynetts - “Snowman, Snowman” plays as the Parker family goes to get a Christmas tree in A Christmas Story Christmas.
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams - Andy Williams’s version of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” plays while the Parker family decorates their Christmas tree in A Christmas Story Christmas.
“Deck the Halls” - An Indian-inspired instrumental version of “Deck The Halls” plays after Ralphie lies on the phone to his younger brother, Randy, about his mother’s health to convince him to come home for Christmas.
“On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314” performed by The Hungarian State Orchestra - “On The Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314” underscores Ralphie’s A Christmas Story Christmas narration about Sandy’s obsession with figure skating — in spite of her lack of athletic ability.
“Machine Gun” by The Commodores - “Machine Gun” plays during the snowball fight between the four members of Ralphie’s family after they leave Higbees.
“Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” by Eddy Arnold - This Eddy Arnold song plays while the Parkers are at the hospital after Julie hurts her eye.
“An Old Fashioned Christmas” by Jack Huddle - This song plays right before Mark and Julie get their revenge on the neighborhood bullies.
“Turkey In The Straw” - “Turkey In The Straw” plays as Mark and Julie laugh at the bullies after getting their revenge.
“Silent Night” - This classic Christmas song plays in the background as Mrs. Parker and Ralphie sit by the Christmas tree talking about The Old Man from A Christmas Story.
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee - Brenda Lee’s Christmas classic plays as the Parker family opens their presents from The Old Man on Christmas morning.
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Frank Sinatra - “O Little Town of Bethlehem” plays while Ralphie and Sandy discuss the future of his writing career.
“Auld Lang Syne” - This traditional song plays in the background as Ralphie’s family gathers to hear him read his story.
Why The Christmas Story Sequel Has More Songs Than The Original
Both A Christmas Story and its 2022 sequel utilize music to set the mood for its holiday setting. But A Christmas Story Christmas has far more songs than the original movie, including non-Christmas songs, which is rare for great Christmas movies. Since the sequel is set in 1973, more than 30 years after the original A Christmas Story, there are far more classic tracks to include, Christmas and non-Christmas alike.
Using more songs in A Christmas Story Christmas also reflects the changes since the first movie, as music is now one of the most prominent parts of pop culture, whereas radio dramas were the primary entertainment in the time of A Christmas Story. While the inclusion of more songs helps update the sequel from the 1940s to the 1970s, A Christmas Story Christmas still holds onto the spirit that made the original so charming.