December is right around the corner, and there’s been no shortage of cheery Christmas music playing on the radio, specifically the local station 93.9. From timeless songs to modern covers and even new originals, Christmas lovers have room in their hearts for both.

The original classics still play on the radio, but there are multiple versions in circulation. For instance, the original recording of “Last Christmas” by Wham! is still wildly popular today, but other versions, such as the cover by the “Glee” cast are as well. Additionally, there’s a wide variety of changes that can happen. A prime example would be the versions of carols done by the acapella group Pentatonix. From traditional Christian pieces such as “Mary Did You Know?” to secular works like “Winter Wonderland”, their covers are often unique, which is most likely due to the lack of instruments and the addition of multiple voices. Although the songs covered may have the same lyrics, artists often try to put their own spin on it, and make their own version of the classic.

Not only do popular artists today make their own versions of Christmas classics, but they also create their original music. Examples include Taylor Swift’s “Christmas Tree Farm”, Michael Buble’s “Cold December Night”, and most recently, Gwen Stefani’s “Here This Christmas.” While these originals are less well known, there has been a steady increase in their popularity. However, these rising hits may be just as-if not, more- popular than the songs everybody knows currently.

The jolly tunes that are abundant throughout the holidays are a diverse mix of classic music people grew up with, and new hits by today’s most popular artists. However, no matter how old or how recent the song may be, the idea of Christmas music remains the same: spreading some holiday cheer during a wonderful time of the year.