Mariah Carey ruddy loves reminding us that she sang one of the best known Christmas pop songs of all time. Just in case her original version of 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' wasn’t played enough around this time of year as it was, she also decided to pop up wearing a really quite short Santa’s outfit alongside then 17 year-old Justin Bieber in re-do of the song last year.

So we were pretty firmly on Carey watch this year, just waiting to see when she’d pop up to offer yet another ‘fresh’ update on her ubiquitous track. And it happened with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots in tow. In fairness, the chat show host sort of asked for it; he was going to perform a version of the song anyway with rappers The Roots in tow on toy instruments. Trust Carey to want to get in on the act though; sure enough, after the slow intro, there she was in a red dress, admittedly still hitting the notes and taking center stage as the rest of them played amiably behind her. Reports that she’d rushed off soon after the show because her senses had picked up a family in the Tulsa region about to get going on their own karaoke version of the song in their living room remain unsubstantiated.

Check out Carey join Fallon and The Roots below; then scroll down to see our own festive top 5.

Here's our picks from Christmas Songs you should have on the iPod this Christmas.

5. Bo Selecta - Proper Crimbo (2003)

Bit out of leftfield this one perhaps, Leigh Francis did used to make us giggle back in the day, not least with the hilarious intro to this festive song, and an ensuring star turn by Francis' in his element as Craig David impressario. 

4. The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) (2003)

Was 2003 really a golden years for Christmas singles? Or are we just desperately trying not to pick all of the usual suspects? Hard to tell really, but if you're going to do a Christmas song you might as well make it as over the top possible - and there are fewer more up to the job of doing so than ridiculous pomp rockers The Darkness.

3. Wham! - Last Christmas (1984)

One of the Contact staff is a closet George Michael fan, as such there isn't a Christmas song list that goes under his nose without first being checked that this hasn't been missed off. 

2. The Pogues Featuring Kirsty Maccoll - Fairytale Of New York (1987)

To be honest, we're starting to get a bit tired of Shano Mac and Kirsty's warring duet being posited as the best Christmas song for anyone with any real taste. That's why we've shunted it down to number two, even though at the time of typing we've not decided what number one's going to be (it does remain A Tune though). 

1. Peter Auty / Aled Jones - Walking In The Air (1982 / 1985)

Yes, yes, we've been told enough times by smug eggheads that the song for the 1982 film The Snowman was sang by someone else and that Jones only sang the 1985 UK top five charting single version. That's why we've stuck both their names in here so they can each get an equal share of the spoils for this almighty epic which we're really glad we remembered as otherwise we were going to have to put Cliff Richard at number one. And no one would've wanted that. 

And one terrible one...

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth

Are you seriously trying to tell us, David, that you don't recognise Bing Crosby, one of the most famous crooners in popular music historty!? Really!? Are you sure!? To be fair to him, once they get singing we barely recognise Bing either. Truly the worst work of either's vast back catalogues.