Every Song In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

The MCU just got a brand-new playlist thanks to the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Featuring multiple tracks filled with cheer as Mantis and Drax attempt to restore Star-Lord's Christmas spirit, the new soundtrack is all kinds of fun while also having songs written specifically for the new holiday special, one of the first MCU projects ever pitched for Disney+. Despite Mantis and Drax's missteps such as their abduction of actor Kevin Bacon, the new soundtrack provides the perfect background as the Guardians celebrate the holidays as a big cosmic family.

As with the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, music plays a key role in the overall theme and tone of the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Director (and new DCU head) James Gunn even collaborated with the Old 97's to write a new song while also recording a new version of "Here It Is Christmastime" with Kevin Bacon providing lead vocals. As such, the new playlist was clearly put together with all the intention and passion of the first two chapters.

Here's every song in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, in order:

“Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues with Kristy MacColl
“I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime is Here)" by The Old 97’s
“Dead by XMas” by Hanoi Rocks
“Christmas Treat” by Julian Casablancas
“Is This Christmas?” by The Wombats
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
“Just Like Christmas” by LOW
“I Want An Alien for Christmas” by Fountains of Wayne
“Mrs. Claus” by Little Jackie
“Christmastime” by The Smashing Pumpkins
“Here It Is Christmastime” by Kevin Bacon and The Old 97’s

When Exactly Every Song Plays In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special

“Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues with Kristy MacColl - This song plays during the opening animated sequence of the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Kraglin recounts young Peter Quill's attempts to recreate Christmas on board Yondu's ship, only for the Ravager captain to destroy his tree and trash the wrapped gifts in a very Scrooge-like manner.

“I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime is Here)" by The Old 97’s - Written specifically for the holiday special, the Old 97's are actually in the story as an alien band playing human instruments. The catchy new song is about everything they know about Christmas on Earth. However, it hilariously gets more inaccurate with each new verse, seeing as how they learned about the holiday from Rocket, who learned from Cosmo the Spacedog, who learned from Kraglin, who in turn learned from Peter Quill.

“Dead by XMas” by Hanoi Rocks - This song briefly plays in Kevin Bacon's car after Mantis and Drax decide they'll be abducting the famous actor. In their minds, Bacon will be the perfect Christmas gift for Peter Quill, who idolized him as a kid.

“Christmas Treat” by Julian Casablancas - Originally written and performed by Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz for SNL, "Christmas Treat" plays while Mantis and Drax fly to Earth aboard The Bowie, the Guardians' newest ship named after the artist and pop culture icon, continuing the trend following The Benatar and The Milano.

“Is This Christmas?” by The Wombats - Landing behind the Hollywood sign in LA, Mantis and Drax quickly find themselves on Hollywood Boulevard. Mistaken for costumed characters that often frequent the Walk of Fame, Mantis and Drax take pictures while also causing some light mayhem

“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses - Drax and Mantis' search takes them to a bar where they let loose and have some drinks as "Christmas Wrapping" plays in the background.

“Just Like Christmas” by LOW - Sitting on the curb drunk and unsure of their next move, "Just Like Christmas" is playing right before Mantis is offered a map of the stars' homes. Some of the more notable faces on the map include Margot Robbie and John Cena, both of whom Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special movie director James Gunn worked with on DC's The Suicide Squad and the Peacemaker spin-off series.

“I Want An Alien for Christmas” by Fountains of Wayne - Finally finding Kevin Bacon, Drax and Mantis chase the actor throughout his house. As such, "I Want an Alien for Christmas" is definitely one of the special's most fitting tracks, especially given Bacon's terror in response to two literal aliens coming after him who won't take no for an answer.

“Mrs. Claus” by Little Jackie - "Mrs. Claus" plays during Mantis and Drax's return journey to Knowhere. Not only do they have Kevin Bacon with them, but they've also filled the ship with tons of Christmas decorations.

“Christmastime” by The Smashing Pumpkins - The Guardians Of The Galaxy movie sees Knowhere getting covered in Christmas lights and decorations to surprise Peter, Star-Lord discovering his friends' efforts to restore his holiday spirit is a truly heartwarming scene, made all the better with "Christmastime".

“Here It Is Christmastime” by Kevin Bacon and The Old 97’s - Performed by the alien versions of the Old 97's, Kevin Bacon joins them on stage to help provide a wonderful Knowhere Christmas. While it took some convincing from Kraglin, Bacon came to realize just how much he meant to Peter Quill, agreeing to help make the Christmas celebrations more than memorable despite his abduction.

“Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues with Kristy MacColl - "Fairytale of New York" plays once more at the end of the holiday special with a second animated flashback, revealing another Yondu cameo as he decides to take Peter's gift out of the trash, keeping it and giving Star-Lord gifts of his own.

Where To Listen To The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special Soundtrack

Pom Klementieff as Mantis in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

The playlist for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special can be found online, and the original score by John Murphy is featured on the album The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Original Soundtrack). Stream them on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, and Amazon.

Next: Every MCU Question & Mystery Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Can Answer