So it’s just about Christmas time, the vast majority of CW Beat readers have already booked it for more exotic locales, and there’s not so much going on this weekend. The biggest thing on this week is the final Trash A Go-Go of the year at Yuyintang, featuring Beijing rock-a-billy outfit Rolling Bowling, and aside from that, well, you’re S.O.L. for rock, save this guy. While it’s a banner year for “full lengths” in Shanghai, Christmas is always about the singles, so with that in mind, The Beat takes a look at some of the greatest Christmas singles in history . . . Mele Kalikimaka!

The Beach Boys “Little Saint Nick” (1963) Borrowing its rhythm from another Beach Boys single, “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Little Saint Nick” basically set the standard for Christmas in the Southern California sun. Later covered by She & Him, Hanson, Sugar Ray and the 1910 Fruitgum Company, “Little Saint Nick” is vintage Beach Boys, before they went off into the more mature and alternative Pet Sounds era.

Jose Feliciano “Feliz Navidad” (1970) Blind, Puerto Rican singer songwriter Jose Feliciano wrote the most famous Spanish-language Christmas song of all time. Combining simple, bi-lingual lyrics and a catchy melody, “Feliz Navidad” is a crowd favorite any time it comes on over the p.a.

John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” (1971) A bit of a morbid take on Christmas, with a true message of peace and love, “Happy Xmas” comes out of John Lennon’s post-Beatles, Vietnam War era where he was kicking smack with Yoko and trying to save the world, while being hounded by the CIA and INS simultaneously.

Kinks “Father Christmas” (1977) Definitely the most punk rock track on the list, “Father Christmas” is the Kinks most well known holiday tune, a bratty call for cash and money. “Give all the toys, to the little rich boys . . . “

Paul McCartney “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979) A bit of a joke, “Wonderful Christmastime,” is Paul McCartney’s stab at a holiday single, featuring a very distinct synthesizer ruff, played on a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. Later covered by De La Soul, Barenaked Ladies and Hillary Duff, “Wonderful Christmastime,” is said to earn McCartney an additional 400k annually in royalties; not bad for a song he considers to be gag.

David Bowie & Bing Crosby “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” (1982) Recorded in September 1977 for a television Christmas special, “Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy” was one of those attempts to marry a contemporary rock star (Bowie) with a more traditional icon (Crosby). With Crosby dying just a month after the recording, record execs shelved the release until some 5 years later.

Wham! “Last Christmas” (1984) One of the most famous Christmas pop singles in history, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” actually only made it to number two on the charts when it was released in 1984. Later covered by greats like Crazy Frog (2006), “Last Christmas” can still be heard annually in around the world.

Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984) The A-side of the far superior “Feed the World,” “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was written by Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and Midge Ure of Ultravox fame. Featuring a cast that included Boy George, George Michael, Simon LeBon, Sting and Bono, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was the eventual winner in the race to number one on 1984’s Christmas chart, slightly edging the aforementioned “Last Christmas.”

Mariah Carey “All I want for Christmas is you” (1994) The mother-load of all-time Christmas pop songs, Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you,” not only dominated the airwaves in 1994, but it’s an annual staple on American radio. Currently being revamped as a duet between Carey and Justin Bieber, “All I want for Chirstmas is you,” may just be the most catchy Christmas song ever, save the 12 days of Christmas, and that’s only because of those 8 naughty maids of milking.