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Song of the Winter the Year You Were Born

Song of the Winter the Year You Were Born

The official start to winter may be Dec. 21, but people have already gotten used to shorter days and bitter cold nights.

Winter is a time for cozying up in a blanket and being warmed by a roaring fire and perhaps a hot toddy. It can be a challenging time, and music plays a big role in thwarting the seasonal blues.

To determine the song of the winter the year you were born, 24/7 Tempo reviewed songs released during December, January, and February of every year between 1958 and 2021. The song with the highest Billboard Hot 100 weekly ranking was chosen as the song of winter, with the total number of weeks on the Billboard chart used to break ties.

You might be surprised to see no holiday songs on the list. And most songs of the winter on this list don’t even reference the season. Even one of pop music’s most famous songs dreading the colder weather, “California Dreamin’,” was not the most popular song in 1965’s winter season, the year of its release. (These are the most covered songs in music history.)

Mariah Carey, whose “All I Want for Christmas” single first came out in 1994 and has charted on Billboard several times since, has three songs on the list — “Emotions” (1992), “Dreamlover” (1994), and “We Belong Together” (2006). 

Other artists who scored multiple winter song hits, either as solo artists or accompanied by other performers, are Boyz II Men, Fergie, Nelly, and Diana Ross. (Find out which of these musicians are also among the artists with the most No. 1 hits.)

Many of these songs had staying power beyond the winter season – 17 of them were on the Billboard chart for 40 weeks or longer.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

1958: Rock-in Robin by Bobby Day
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 21

Source: The associated student body, Fairfax High School / Wikimedia Commons

1959: To Know Him, Is To Love Him by The Teddy Bears
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 23

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1960: Mack The Knife by Bobby Darin
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 26

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1961: Stay by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs (tie)
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 18

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1961: Save The Last Dance For Me by The Drifters (tie)
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 18

Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

1962: The Twist by Chubby Checker
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 33

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1963: He’s A Rebel by The Crystals
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 18

Source: Courtesy of Amazon

1964: I’m Leaving It Up To You by Dale & Grace (tie)
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 15

Source: David Redfern / Getty Images

1964: Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison And The Candy Men (tie)
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 15

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1965: Mr. Lonely by Bobby Vinton
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 15

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1966: Poor Side Of Town by Johnny Rivers (tie)
> Released: Dec. 3
> Weeks on chart: 15

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1966: Last Train To Clarksville by The Monkees (tie)
> Released: Dec. 3
> Weeks on chart: 15

Source: Jim Gray / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

1967: To Sir With Love by Lulu
> Released: Dec. 2
> Weeks on chart: 17

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

1968: Incense And Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock
> Released: Dec. 2
> Weeks on chart: 16

Source: Central Press / Hulton Royals Collection via Getty Images

1969: Sugar, Sugar by The Archies
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 22

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1970: Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head by B.J. Thomas
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 18

Source: Victor Blackman / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

1971: Maggie May/Reason To Believe by Rod Stewart
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 21

Source: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

1972: Brand New Key by Melanie
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 18

Source: Tony Russell / Redferns via Getty Images

1973: I Am Woman by Helen Reddy
> Released: Dec. 2
> Weeks on chart: 22

Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

1974: The Most Beautiful Girl by Charlie Rich
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 22

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1975: Cat’s In The Cradle by Harry Chapin (tie)
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 19

Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

1975: Laughter In The Rain by Neil Sedaka (1975) (tie)
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 19

Source: Courtesy of Amazon

1976: A Fifth Of Beethoven by Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 28

Source: Courtesy of Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. via Facebook

1977: You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. (tie)
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 25

Source: Annehrick7 / Wikimedia Commons

1977: Disco Duck (Part I) by Rick Dees & His Cast Of Idiots (tie)
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 25

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1978: You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone
> Released: Dec. 3
> Weeks on chart: 25

Source: Courtesy of Amazon

1979: Hot Child In The City by Nick Gilder
> Released: Dec. 2
> Weeks on chart: 31

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1980: Please Don’t Go by KC And The Sunshine Band
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 26

Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

1981: Another One Bites The Dust by Queen (tie)
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 29

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1981: Upside Down by Diana Ross (tie)
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 29

Source: Motown Records / Wikimedia Commons

1982: Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 27

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1983: Who Can It Be Now? by Men At Work
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 27

Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

1984: Total Eclipse Of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler
> Released: Dec. 3
> Weeks on chart: 29

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1985: Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) by Billy Ocean (tie)
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 26

Source: Mike Lawn / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

1985: I Just Called To Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder (tie)
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 26

Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

1986: Take On Me by a-ha
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 27

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1987: You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 24

Source: Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images

1988: Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 28

Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

1989: Red Red Wine by UB40
> Released: Jan. 28
> Weeks on chart: 40

Source: Megproc84 / Wikimedia Commons

1990: (Can’t Live Without Your) Love And Affection by Nelson
> Released: Jan. 1
> Weeks on chart: 26

Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

1991: Close To You by Maxi Priest
> Released: Jan. 1
> Weeks on chart: 30

Source: alan-light / Flickr

1992: When A Man Loves A Woman by Michael Bolton (tie)
> Released: Jan. 7
> Weeks on chart: 20

Source: Alexandra Lee / Wikimedia Commons

1992: Set Adrift On Memory Bliss by P.M. Dawn (tie)
> Released: Jan. 7
> Weeks on chart: 20

Source: Cindy Ord / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

1992: Cream by Prince And The N.P.G. (tie)
> Released: Jan. 7
> Weeks on chart: 20

Source: Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images

1992: Emotions by Mariah Carey (tie)
> Released: Jan. 7
> Weeks on chart: 20

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1993: End Of The Road (From “Boomerang”) by Boyz II Men
> Released: Jan. 5
> Weeks on chart: 32

Source: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com

1994: Dreamlover by Mariah Carey
> Released: Jan. 4
> Weeks on chart: 29

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1995: I’ll Make Love To You by Boyz II Men
> Released: Jan. 3
> Weeks on chart: 29

Source: evarinaldiphotography / Flickr

1996: Kiss From A Rose by Seal
> Released: Jan. 2
> Weeks on chart: 36

Source: Rodrigo Varela / Getty Images

1997: Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) by Los Del Rio
> Released: Jan. 2
> Weeks on chart: 60

Source: Courtesy of Ogden School District

1998: I’ll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy & Faith Evans Featuring 112
> Released: Jan. 6
> Weeks on chart: 33

1999: Too Close by Next
> Released: Feb. 14
> Weeks on chart: 53

Source: Scott Gries / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2000: Unpretty by TLC
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 32

Source: Vince Bucci / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2001: With Arms Wide Open by Creed
> Released: Dec. 2
> Weeks on chart: 42

Source: Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2002: Fallin’ by Alicia Keys
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 34

Source: Robert Mora / Getty Images

2003: Dilemma by Nelly Featuring Kelly Rowland
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 29

Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

2004: Shake Ya Tailfeather by Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 30

Source: Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images

2005: Goodies by Ciara Featuring Petey Pablo
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 36

Source: Daniel Barry / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2006: We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
> Released: Dec. 3
> Weeks on chart: 43

Source: Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2007: Hey There Delilah by Plain White T’s
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 35

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images

2008: Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 43

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2009: Viva La Vida by Coldplay
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 41

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2010: I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 36

Source: Jim Dyson / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2011: Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars (tie)
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 30

Source: Neil Lupin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2011: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry (tie)
> Released: Dec. 4
> Weeks on chart: 30

Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2012: Rolling In The Deep by Adele
> Released: Dec. 25
> Weeks on chart: 58

Source: Jason Merritt / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2013: Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye Featuring Kimbra
> Released: Jan. 21
> Weeks on chart: 58

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2014: All Of Me by John Legend
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 59

Source: Larry Busacca / Getty Images

2015: Uptown Funk! by Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars
> Released: Dec. 6
> Weeks on chart: 55

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2016: See You Again by Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth
> Released: Dec. 5
> Weeks on chart: 49

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

2017: Cheap Thrills by Sia Featuring Sean Paul
> Released: Dec. 3
> Weeks on chart: 52

Source: Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2018: Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran
> Released: Jan. 28
> Weeks on chart: 58

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2019: I Like It by Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
> Released: Dec. 1
> Weeks on chart: 45

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2020: Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
> Released: Dec. 7
> Weeks on chart: 47

Source: Rich Fury / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2021: Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
> Released: Dec. 14
> Weeks on chart: 63

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