This Romantic Jazz Playlist Is The Perfect Accompaniment To Your Next Date Night

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey

It’s tiIiiime! This song is literally everywhere during Christmas. Its catchiness is unavoidable, but I know you love it all the same. Mariah’s most popular Christmas song has *got* to be on repeat as you embrace all things red and green this winter.

"Last Christmas" – Wham!

Another undeniable Christmas classic, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is a mainstay in my personal Christmas playlist. It’s equal parts cheery and nostalgic. It’s 80s vibes all the way. I even added Remi Wolf’s more recent cover of “Last Christmas” to our Christmas playlist for added vibes, because this track is one I can just listen to over and over again.

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – Andy Williams

This song reminds me of New York City during the holiday season – not that I’ve experienced it for myself, but Andy Williams’ deep, soothing voice brings forth those elegant feelings I associate with Christmas movies that depict NYC, like Elf and Home Alone 2. It’s energetic and highly illustrative, and a must-listen every year.

"Blue Christmas" – Elvis Presley 

Thanks to thePriscilla movie, the Elvis hype is way up in 2023. Work in his pouty “Blue Christmas” into your holiday song rotation this year to embrace the 50s aesthetic while you’re decorating the tree! Even if you’re not missing someone special this Christmas, the woeful lyrics are going to make you yearn.

"O Tannenbaum" – Vince Guaraldi Trio

This jazzy, Peanuts-approved instrumental track begs to be played as you’re sipping hot chocolate by the fire this Christmas. It provides a nice moment of calm no matter when you’re listening to it, which we all know is definitely needed amongst all the holiday hubbub.

"White Winter Hymnal" – Fleet Foxes

Though not explicitly a Christmas song, “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes is a winter playlist staple. Its folky instrumental work and vocals really channel the coziness we all associate with Christmas season. The consistent harmonies and tambourine beats will certainly put you in a calm, spirited mood this year if this track isn’t already on your radar.

"Auld Land Syne" – Guy Lombardo

Typically played at the end of the year to ring in the New Year, the original rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” done by Guy Lombardo plays through silky-smooth brass and woodwind arrangements that everyone will confide in this Christmas season. This is another very calming track, so play it when you’re moving at a slower pace.

"Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)" – Bing Crosby

This island-inspired Christmas song is the epitome of jolly. The driving guitar and drums back Bing Crosby’s classic voice to create an energetic song option this season.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Judy Garland

This Judy Garland number is a classic! Her very lyrical, emotional way of delivering the spirited lyrics transport you to mid-century Christmas, when the track first appeared in Meet Me in St. Louis.

"Christmas Wrapping" – Spice Girls

It wouldn’t be a B+C playlist without a little 90s throwback! In this song, the Spice Girls cover the classic Christmas song that was originally sung by early-80s band, The Waitresses. It has that fun Y2K twist to get you groovin’!

Listen To Our Christmas Playlist Here!

1. "Happier Than Ever" by Billie Eilish

Kelly’s astounding talent for belting with impeccable control really shines in this emotional Billie Eilish cover. The way she sings it upholds the integrity of the original song, but this version still feels very Kelly Clarkson! We just love “Happier Than Ever” and anything Billie Eilish writes, so this Kellyoke earns the top spot!

2. "Used To Be Young" by Miley Cyrus

Kelly presents yet another woman pop icon crossover in this Miley Cyrus cover. Both performers have such powerful voices on their own, we’d love to see them duet over basically any track.

3. "A Mi Manera" by Frank Sinatra

The youngest mariachi singer in the world, 9 year-old Mateo Lopez, stole the entire show (and our hearts) with this Kellyoke cover of a Spanish Sinatra song. A sweet serenade will get us every single time, and the fact that this performance was totally seamless in terms of the duo’s perfect pitch and harmonization lands it in the top three!

4. "Frasier" Theme Song

Who better to sing the Frasier theme song other than Dr. Frasier himself?! Actor Kelsey Grammer joining Kelly on this Kellyoke number is just perfection. Plus, we appreciate that her backing band gets their moment to shine throughout the solo section. Now we’re craving tossed salads and scrambled eggs…

5. "Vogue" by Madonna

Kelly’s monochromatic suit get-up is everything in this Kellyoke performance, and it really amps up the 90s Madonna vibes. This song just makes us wanna get up and bust a move! Kelly’s strong voice carries this track with such clarity – we’re always blown away by her talent.

6. "Heaven" by Niall Horan

Don’t tell anyone… but we’re lowkey still in our One Direction phase… which is why Kelly’s cover of Niall Horan’s “Heaven” sits among our top 10 Kellyoke performances. This carefree love anthem is always super uplifting when we listen to it. Kelly is totally flexing her impressive vocal range in this number, and we are here for it. In fact, Kelly reveals that Niall gave her a sneak peek of the song when they were working on The Voice together. Okayyy, bestie status!

7. "All the Man That I Need" by Whitney Houston

No one could ever measure up to Whitney in our opinion, but Kelly’s style of singing this song is totally entrancing. Her vocal capabilities are undeniable, and the key change in this performance is just mind-blowing, y’all. The runs! The belting! It’s all beautiful!

8. "Desperado" by Eagles

No matter the song selection, you can count on Kelly’s Kellyoke to honor the original song without deviating from it too far. Her tender rendition of “Desperado” is super soulful and makes us want to shed a tear or two. Or three. Or a lot. We’re emotional, okay?!

9. "Jaded" by Miley Cyrus

Another Miley cover lands in the top ten Kellyoke performances, and we’re not sorry! We love that Kelly loves Miley, too. Although her covers of Miley’s newer songs like “Jaded” are amazing, the nostalgia cravings in us make us want to hear Kelly cover earlier tracks like “Party in the U.S.A.” or even “The Climb.”

10. "Pride (In the Name Of Love)" by U2

This Kellyoke only further proves her rightful place as the first and best American Idol. This U2 song is very challenging in terms of vocal range, but Kelly executes it flawlessly! Her band’s accompaniment is also super tight and cohesive, making for a satisfying performance.

11. "Daylight" by David Kushner

This Kellyoke performance put David Kushner’s music on our radar, and for that, we're forever thankful to Kelly. We’re so mesmerized at how she can pull off the passionate vocals of this track with such ease. No matter what she’s singing, you can expect something exceptional from Miss Clarkson.

12. "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles

Kelly will always rock a power ballad! This track by The Bangles has been covered over and over again, but this careful cover that Kelly executes stands out from the rest for her control and emotional delivery.

13. "Don't Let Go (Love)" by En Vogue

We’re living for this Kellyoke, mostly because of the background singers. Let’s go, girls! The two singers supporting Kelly in this performance are a perfect match for her vocal style and amplify the excellence of the melody.

14. "Missing You" by John Waite

Kelly makes singing look so easy! Her voice has the perfect growl in this super 80s John Waite cover, her outfit is to die for, and she is absolutely glowing! We love!

15. "Riptide" by Vance Joy

It’s already hard enough not to sing along to “Riptide,” but Kelly makes it even harder in this Kellyoke selection. Though her take differs quite a bit from the original in terms of vocal execution and volume, it still honors Vance Joy’s track seamlessly.

16. "I Get a Kick Out of You" by Frank Sinatra

Someone please give this woman a jazz residency, because we could listen to Kelly sing Sinatra all day long. This Kellyoke starts out slow and sultry, then turns up-tempo and delightfully playful. Her voice is like velvet, we swear.

17. "Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole

We hadn’t heard this track until Kelly covered it, but we’re so glad she did, because now we know the magic of Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy.” Her Kellyoke cover feels super cinematic, too. Talk about ending things on a high note!

18. "My Love Mine All Mine" by Mitski

This Mitski song is still on repeat for us. We adore the power her vocals bring to the originally more mellow arrangement. Her band is killing it, too!

19. "Never Too Much" by Luther Vandross

Moving to a groovier track, Kellyoke just proves how versatile of an artist Kelly is. This Luther Vandross song is driven by a rhythmic guitar, and with Kelly’s voice on top of that, we're totally in a trance.

20. "Location" by Khalid

Kelly took us way back in time to a 2017 classic with this Khalid cover on Kellyoke. We appreciate the unique path this rendition takes, leaning more R&B with the soulful, smooth keys and bass guitar. She killed it!

1. Full Coverage Foundation

There was a time where wearing full-coverage foundation was all the rage. From drugstore to high-end brands, it seems like they were consistently shoved in consumers’ faces to help us achieve a ‘full beat’ without sitting in a makeup artist’s chair. Also, those of us with dark spots or hyperpigmentation may have relied on them when we were in the thick of our skincare woes.

But these days, wearing too much foundation isn’t as popular as natural and skincare makeup are prioritized. If anything, more people are interested in wearing light-to-medium coverage foundation, skin tints, or tinted moisturizers.

2. Too Much Concealer

It wasn’t until I watched this video by makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes that I realized some of us have been too heavy-handed with our concealers. There’s no reason we should be slapping products under the thinnest parts of our face, but we didn’t know any better!

Now that you know you can still get the desired effect with a minimal amount of concealer, don’t revert back to painting your under eyes!

3. 'Baking' Your Setting Powder

Before you throw away your setting powders, step away from your makeup drawer and have a sit-down chat with me. There isn’t anything wrong with applying them to your face to help ‘set’ your foundation and concealer. However, spending over 10 minutes ‘baking’ your powder (AKA letting it sit untouched) doesn’t work for everyone.

It can lead to creased makeup which can derail your look, plus it’s a pain to correct when you’re halfway through your routine!

4. Overlining Lips

I love a good lip liner, especially if it mirrors my favorite ‘90s makeup look. But, there’s such a thing as overdoing it. The key to lining your lips is following the natural flow of them. Going out of your way to draw above and under your lips’ lines comes off as comical and exaggerated. If anything, use a lip plumping gloss to help your lips look fuller.

5. Overtweezing Your Eyebrows

I don’t even have the words for this outdated makeup look besides wanting to say “no” 20 times in a row. But, I’ll bite and say why this shouldn’t be on your 2025 beauty moodboard.

Some people naturally have thinner eyebrows which is A-okay! However, purposely tweezing your eyebrows to smithereens is cringey. If you truly want to wear this look, here’s what you can do instead of tweezing:

• Create a faux bleached look by applying a skin tone colored setting powder all over your brows.
• Once they’ve ‘disappeared,’ take an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner to draw a thin line over them.

I’m…wondering what the ramifications of telling you how to do this will be, but only use go for this look if it’s a part of a themed party…like Halloween.

6. Exaggerated Highlighter On Cheeks

The shimmery look is in since it’s winter, but please don’t make it look like you dipped your cheeks into a vat of glitter. You can lightly dust highlighter onto your cheeks for a more natural glow that flows with the rest of your look. Otherwise you’ll look like a walking disco ball which could be the opposite of what you were going for.

7. Heavy Contour Or Bronzer

I know the ‘sculpted’ look is popular, but too much contour or bronzer can overpower the rest of your makeup and face. While it’s not impossible to fix if you do it by mistake, using the wrong shade of contour or bronzer may still peep through no matter how much you try to buff it out.

When in doubt, be gentle with your contour or bronzer application!

8. Incredibly Matte Makeup

Matte makeup that didn’t budge was the ‘It Girl’ look for oily and combination skin girls! We thought it was the answer to our skin’s incessant need to hydrate our faces instead of actually using skincare products that focused on combatting that issue (psst…Vitamin C serums help!).

But now’s the time to break up with this look for good for one reason: dewy skin looks healthier.