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Posted by: BillyH Dec 8 2020, 10:01 PM

Looking at the most popular Christmas songs on the various music platforms this week, it's a fairly different list to what you'd expect back in the 1990s or earlier - some songs have become far more popular than they were in the past, and others (with one extreme example) have dropped a lot in popularity. Here's a few I've noticed:

Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You really was one of the lesser-known festive songs in the late 1990s/early 2000s, it got a lot of airplay in its first year and then was played less for a while in comparison to more established hits. The turning points seem to be both the film Love Actually in 2003, and the advent of downloads a few years later when it was finally able to rechart again without needing a CD re-release. Tell anyone twenty years ago it would be by far the number 1 song every Christmas and few would have believed you!

On the other side, ask anyone twenty years ago what is the number 1 Christmas song, and many would say Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody. This really was the king of festive releases for ages, it was constantly re-issued throughout the 1970s to 1990s and very much felt like the most famous festive track of the modern pop era. It's still definitely well-known, but it's slipped a lot in popularity in the last decade or so and many others now chart higher and are played more. Maybe it's immense airplay for 30 years after release started putting people off by the time the download/streaming eras arrived, paving the way for other songs (most notably Mariah) to gain more popularity.

And on the extreme side, Gary Glitter - Another Rock and Roll Christmas was unescapable from release in 1984 right up to some point around the turn of the millennium when it stopped receiving airplay completely due to some rather horrific revelations involving the singer. It didn't disappear overnight - the cast of Blue Peter sung it in a festive special in 2001 (a few years after Glitter's career ended, which somewhat surprised me at the time) and I've heard it in recent years in the form of cover versions, but the original hasn't been part of many Christmas playlists for two decades or more now.

Any others that come to mind?

Posted by: dancemberlexa Dec 8 2020, 10:06 PM

not so fun fact: we had that Gary Glitter song on the christmas playlist until about 2010 as it was from a 90s compilation, cos my parents didn’t realise it was Gary Glitter and I didn’t know who he was. it was an okay song but have no desire to listen to it ever again.

to answer the thread first think i think of is the Greg Lake song sadly seems to have lost a lot of popularity and doesn’t chart anymore.

Posted by: Jester Dec 8 2020, 10:07 PM

Those 3 songs all spring to my mind when I saw this topic, so I agree with them all.

It’s good to see Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree doing really well over the last 2/3 years - cumulative Home Alone effect?

Posted by: dancemberlexa Dec 8 2020, 10:10 PM

as for songs gaining popularity over recent years: Feliz Navidad, I’d never heard of it until about five years ago and now it seems rather popular, thanks to Americanised Spotify playlists helped it along. Jingle Bell Rock too.

Posted by: zenon Dec 8 2020, 10:18 PM

Elton John - Step Into Christmas seems to have got more popular over the last decade at least. Can't recall hearing the song before the mid-2000s.

Posted by: Maestro Dec 8 2020, 10:29 PM

Fairytale of New York seems to be losing popularity, mainly due to its low playlist position on Spotify. I suspect it’s actually more popular (at least in the UK) than some of the songs above it on the Spotify chart but doesn’t get the streams as it’s further down the playlist. Same applies to Merry Xmas Everybody.

On the other hand songs like Jingle Bell Rock, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Underneath the Tree are experiencing the opposite effect.

Posted by: Rob S Claus Dec 8 2020, 10:51 PM

As mentioned Brenda Lee, Elton John and now Kelly have all started to pick up over the last 3 or so years specifically. I'd also include Shaky as well as there was period where he never went top 40 with the usual lot from 2009-2014 and started building back up popularity again thanks to streaming. Same goes for Buble (unfortunately).

Sadly as has been mentioned Wizzard have started to slide in popularity and definitely Slade have as well considering how popular that was a decade ago!

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 8 2020, 10:55 PM

This is definitely down to the Spotify worldwide focused playlists for me. Andy Williams, Bobby Helms and Brenda Lee are all huge US staples and regularly climb the chart there behind Mariah and initially ahead of Wham. Also the Home Alone film def helped Brenda Lee and Bobby Helms. Also a decent video which is modern helps the video plays so for example ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree’ got that from the Mel & Kim release in 1987 and indoubedly boosted its plays - this is detrimental to the likes of Greg Lake which has a video but it’s pretty damn poor and of its time so probably gets less play than colourful videos!

Anyway I find the world wide Spotify playlists are equaled out by Amazon and Apple which fatter more for uk staples!

Posted by: scratchy23 Dec 8 2020, 10:58 PM

Feel like Underneath The Tree is growing in popularity year by year. I saw a tweet the other day that said UTT will be the AIWFCIY of the 2030s. I don’t know if it’ll ever be THAT popular but I can see it being seen as an absolute Christmas classic in years to come.

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 8 2020, 11:00 PM

I made this last year precisely to show which songs were gaining/losing popularity over the years. The second column in blue is the one we're more interested in - it basically shows the ranking of the song compared to all the other Christmas songs in the chart, for the last 10 years (2010-2019).

So we can clearly see that Step Into Christmas has been steadily gaining popularity and Merry Xmas Everybody has been dropping in popularity for whatever reason.

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You---------------------------22 | 11 | 20 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2--------------2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2
Wham! - Last Christmas---------------------------------------------------53 | 26 | 34 | 36 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3--------------6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3
The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York------------------17 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 4--------------3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4
Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone-------------------------------68 | 42 | 46 | 54 | 38 | 26 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 6--------------9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?----------------------------------54 | 34 | 37 | 57 | 56 | 38 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 7--------------7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 6
Wizzard - I Wish It Would Be Christmas Everyday--------------------------46 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 35 | 27 | 23 | 15 | 12 | 10--------------4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9
Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody---------------------------------------------50 | 33 | 35 | 49 | 55 | 55 | 30 | 16 | 17 | 19--------------5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15
Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas-----------------------------------67 | 36 | 36 | 53 | 43 | 29 | 26 | 14 | 11 | 24--------------8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 18
John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)------------------------84 | 78 | 81 | 88 | 94 | 69 | 49 | 21 | 18 | 28--------------10 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 25 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 21
Coldplay - Christmas Lights----------------------------------------------13 | 65 | 96 | - | 93 | 75 | 48 | 31 | 47 | 29--------------1 | 13 | 17 | - | 24 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 32 | 22
Elton John - Step Into Christmas------------------------------------------ | 64 | 75 | - | 84 | 58 | 37 | 11 | 10 | 8--------------- | 12 | 13 | - | 20 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 7
Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree---------------------------- | 62 | 54 | 63 | 63 | 60 | 31 | 9 | 16 | 18--------------- | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 14
Justin Bieber - Mistletoe------------------------------------------------- | 21 | - | - | - | - | 93 | 41 | 28 | 27--------------- | 3 | - | - | - | - | 35 | 24 | 20 | 20
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime---------------------------------- | 72 | 96 | - | - | 68 | 40 | 26 | 20 | 37--------------- | 15 | 18 | - | - | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 29
Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!---------------------- | 70 | 69 | - | 83 | - | 94 | 91 | 54 | 39--------------- | 14 | 12 | - | 19 | - | 37 | 39 | 36 | 30
East 17 - Stay Another Day------------------------------------------------ | 81 | 79 | 68 | 72 | 81 | 67 | 76 | 36 | 35--------------- | 18 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 24 | 33 | 24 | 28
Bing Crosby - White Christmas--------------------------------------------- | 92 | - | - | 75 | - | 47 | 22 | 31 | 31--------------- | 20 | - | - | 16 | - | 15 | 15 | 23 | 24
Michael Buble - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas--------------- | 77 | 77 | 81 | 49 | 41 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 11--------------- | 16 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 10
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry--------------------------------------------- | 86 | - | - | - | 82 | 58 | 61 | 85 | 56--------------- | 19 | - | - | - | 18 | 19 | 25 | 50 | 38
Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby------------------------------------------------ | 100 | 99 | - | - | 95 | 72 | 38 | 53 | 74--------------- | 23 | 19 | - | - | 22 | 28 | 22 | 35 | 50
Michael Buble - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town----------------------------- | 100 | - | - | 87 | - | 98 | - | 82 | 77--------------- | 22 | - | - | 22 | - | 41 | - | 48 | 51
Michael Buble - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)------------------------- | 47 | - | - | 95 | - | - | - | - | ---------------- | 10 | - | - | 26 | - | - | - | - | -
Michael Buble - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-------------------- | 99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ---------------- | 21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love----------------------------- | - | 42 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ---------------- | - | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | -
Rod Stewart - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas---------------------- | - | 51 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ---------------- | - | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | -
Leona Lewis - One More Sleep---------------------------------------------- | - | - | 3 | 80 | 83 | 70 | 19 | 8 | 15--------------- | | | 1 | 18 | 19 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 12
Kelly Clarkson - Underneath The Tree-------------------------------------- | - | - | 30 | - | - | 66 | 32 | 37 | 21--------------- | - | - | 4 | - | - | 23 | 20 | 25 | 16
Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of Year---------------------- | - | - | 90 | 61 | 61 | 24 | 17 | 29 | 25--------------- | - | - | 15 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 19
The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride------------------------------------------------ | - | - | 98 | 89 | - | 68 | 80 | 58 | 34--------------- | - | - | 17 | 23 | - | 25 | 35 | 38 | 27
The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)------------------- | - | - | 97 | - | - | 96 | 69 | 42 | 42--------------- | - | - | 16 | - | - | 39 | 31 | 29 | 31
Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me--------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | 68 | - | 90 | 28 | 13 | 13--------------- | - | - | - | 14 | - | 34 | 17 | 11 | 11
Michael Buble - Holly Jolly Christmas------------------------------------- | - | - | - | 96 | - | 100 | 34 | 44 | 32--------------- | - | - | - | 27 | - | 42 | 21 | 30 | 25
Sam Smith - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas------------------------ | - | - | - | 65 | - | - | 93 | 79 | 67--------------- | - | - | - | 13 | - | - | 40 | 47 | 42
Boney M - Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord------------------------------------- | - | - | - | 79 | 74 | 50 | 29 | 26 | 47--------------- | - | - | - | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 33
Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas--------------------------------- | - | - | - | 86 | - | 79 | - | 59 | ---------------- | - | - | - | 21 | - | 33 | - | 39 | -
Band Aid 30 - Do They Know It's Christmas?-------------------------------- | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | ---------------- | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | -
Mud - Lonely This Christmas----------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | 93 | 65 | 67 | 38 | 69--------------- | - | - | - | - | 20 | 22 | 29 | 26 | 44
The Pretenders - 2000 Miles----------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | 94 | 62 | 64 | 65 | 61--------------- | - | - | - | - | 21 | 20 | 27 | 42 | 39
Matt Terry - When Christmas Comes Around---------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 90 | - | ---------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 38 | - | -
Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby-------------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 63 | 68 | 73 | 55--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 21 | 30 | 44 | 37
Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock-------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 71 | 63 | 41 | 30--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 27 | 26 | 28 | 23
Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)-------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 74 | 77 | 22 | 33--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 29 | 34 | 16 | 26
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song---------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 77 | 66 | 56 | 51--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 31 | 28 | 37 | 34
Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad-------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 78 | 86 | 77 | 54--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 32 | 36 | 46 | 36
Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas-------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 75 | 75 | 63 | 68--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 30 | 32 | 41 | 43
Frank Sinatra - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!-------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 93 | - | 74 | 65--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | - | 45 | 41
Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 95 | - | 48 | 72--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 38 | - | 33 | 48
The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping--------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 96 | 87 | 46 | 71--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | 40 | 37 | 31 | 46
Sia - Santa's Coming For Us----------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 39 | 24 | 17--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 18 | 13
Gwen Stefani feat. Blake Shelton - You Make It Feel Like Christmas-------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 98 | 71 | 82--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 42 | 43 | 54
John Williams - Carol Of The Bells---------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 97 | - | 98--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 41 | - | 60
Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 99 | 30 | 46--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 43 | 22 | 32
Katy Perry - Cozy Little Christmas---------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 22--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 17 | 17
Idina Menzel feat. Michael Buble - Baby It's Cold Outside----------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 39 | ---------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 27 | -
Cliff Richard - Mistletoe And Wine---------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 51 | 81--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | 53
Perry Como - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas------------------ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 89 | 63--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 51 | 40
Gwen Stefani - White Christmas-------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 62 | ---------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 40 | -
Brett Eldredge & Meghan Trainor - Baby It's Cold Outside------------------ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 84 | ---------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 49 | -
Tony Bennett - Winter Wonderland------------------------------------------ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 96 | ---------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 53 | -
Glee Cast - White Christmas----------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 98 | ---------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 54 | -
Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100 | 93--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 55 | 58
Ellie Goulding - River---------------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1
John Legend - Happy Christmas (War Is Over)------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8
Jonas Brothers - Like It's Christmas-------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 53--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 35
Jessie J - Man With The Bag----------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 70--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 45
Taylor Swift - Christmas Tree Farm---------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 71--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 47
Liam Payne - All I Want (For Christmas)----------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 73--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 49
Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love--------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 80--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 52
Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run--------------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 94 | 83--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 52 | 55
Queen - Thank God It's Christmas------------------------------------------ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 86--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 56
Little Mix - One I've Been Missing---------------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 92--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 57
Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling------------------------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 94--------------- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 59

I'll update the list after Christmas to include 2020.

Posted by: Tafty Dec 8 2020, 11:07 PM

I wish The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) would be a staple. I am genuinely surprised that it's so forgotten about nowadays as I remember it being EVERYWHERE at the time of release and it wasn't too far away from when downloads would start impacting the charts. A forgotten gem.

EDIT: Maybe not so "forgotten" but it doesn't get the attention it deserves!

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 8 2020, 11:13 PM

It always makes the top 100 and is already there this year possibly challenging for a top 40 re-entry. It was everywhere the year of release as they were literally the biggest band in Britain at the time following ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ being released previous to it. Basically the same as Slade when they smashed in at number one in 1973!

I wonder if the guitar based songs struggle for the same reason as their modern contemporaries do on streaming? Maybe that type of music truely is dead

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 8 2020, 11:26 PM

Completely agree, wish it was played more. Definitely one of the best Christmas songs made!

I also wish 'Christmas Wrapping' was more of a staple, that's such a fun Christmas bop.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 8 2020, 11:39 PM

Strangely this Christmas so far I have randomly heard Joni Mitchell River more than any other Xmas 😮

Posted by: paulgilb Dec 8 2020, 11:48 PM

I used to Mel Smith & Kim Wilde's version of Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree regularly in the early 2000s but don't seem to hear it now.

Chris Rea's Driving Home For Christmas is another one that has largely increased in popularity over the years - it didn't reach the top 40 when first released (it reached #53 as part of The Christmas EP).

Posted by: gooddelta Dec 8 2020, 11:50 PM

I remember first becoming aware of All I Want For Christmas Is You in 2000 when I saw it on TOTP2. I certainly don't recall hearing it on the radio in 1998 and 1999 which is when I started following the charts, and as Billy says, I don't think it really picked up proper steam outside its first year of release until it featured in Love Actually.

It's been interesting to see Wham! move solidly into second place above The Pogues in recent years and Band Aid and Shaky climbing above Wizzard and Slade (at least Wizzard have maintained a position in or around the top 10). Not sure what happened to Chris Rea last year but he seems to be back on track this year!

Posted by: gooddelta Dec 8 2020, 11:56 PM

I suppose another good barometer of this is to look at what was on the older Christmas compilations compared to the current ones. I have one called I Love Christmas from 2003 that opened with John & Yoko, so that really must have dived in popularity in the last 20 years.

Elton's song was Disc 1 track 4 so it must have been quite popular on radio even back then, even though it feels like it's come more to prominence in tthe last few years.

Another that seemed particularly popular on the radio when I was younger was Bing Crosby/David Bowie's Little Drummer Boy, which is still floating about but the original doesn't even seem to be available to stream!

Posted by: 777666jason Dec 8 2020, 11:59 PM

I know it was meant as a joke when it was released because it was taking piss out of Christmas songs in general but

Geraldine McQueen- once upon a Christmas song ,

Suprised it's done nothing since release year

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 9 2020, 12:03 AM

John Lennon one is still one of the most popular ones - this year will probably see a rise in its airplay too given its 40 years this week since he was killed.

It’s an interesting point to note about original versions of Bing/Bowie not being available. As time goes on will newer versions take over the originals?

Posted by: zenon Dec 9 2020, 12:22 AM

It's still all over the Christmas music channels.

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 9 2020, 12:28 AM

It's really remarkable that The Pogues have resisted losing even more ground than they have given the enormous disadvantage they are at from Spotify's playlist decisions. I wouldn't be surprised if it does gradually start fading more and falling behind a few more of the mid-upper tier Christmas songs in the next few years, but I feel like if it got the same level of playlist support that those next few songs get it'd likely still be on the same level as Mariah and Wham!

'Last Christmas' seems to have jumped up noticeably in popularity since George Michael's death. It's easy to forget how close it is to Mariah considering they never seem to be able to quite overtake her.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 9 2020, 12:35 AM

I agree about the Pogues, it’s different to all the other Xmas songs which helps. I mean it’s still easily top 10 this week beside all it’s disadvantages

Posted by: TomJ1991 Dec 9 2020, 12:39 AM

I listened to this version recently, I don't think it has aged well. I am surprise to see that it is still the highest charting version of the song, but I expect Justin to pass it this year.

Just listened to Gary Glitter's song...I didn't realise this was by him. It's a great Christmas song. I wonder if anyone has covered it...

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 9 2020, 12:42 AM

Justin’s version will only be ahead this year and will hopefully disappear to the hell it popped out of after that. Like John Legends version of War Is Over from last year. Brenda Lee will forever be the best version!

Posted by: zenon Dec 9 2020, 12:53 AM

Darlene Love - All Alone At Christmas the theme tune to Home Alone 2 seems to be more popular than ever despite not charting well.

Posted by: Liam.k. Dec 9 2020, 06:43 AM

It is a great shame how Slade and Wizzard have dropped in popularity. I remember as a kid them being the Christmas songs, singing them at Christmas school plays and generally just being the songs that people flocked to and represented the spirit of Christmas. The only explanation I can think of is they’re seen as dated, like the singing style and the quality of recording, which becomes more apparent when placed among streaming playlists. I reckon they’re still popular with those who remember when they were the biggest Christmas songs, but that’s just not enough to compete with the streaming generation.

Posted by: Nick Jonas Dec 9 2020, 07:25 AM

One of my favourites!

Posted by: CHRIS-TMAS Dec 9 2020, 07:29 AM

From Wiki: The song was covered by former heavy metal band Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno for the album Rockin' Good Xmas.

Posted by: CHRIS-TMAS Dec 9 2020, 07:32 AM

It's rumoured on Twitter that if Mariah does it this year there may be a campaign to get Wham to No.1 next year with vinyl and CD singles and lots of promotion too.

Posted by: tgl92 Dec 9 2020, 08:33 AM

I don’t hate Matt Terry’s winners single “when Christmas comes around”

Posted by: Popchartfreak Dec 9 2020, 08:40 AM

Streaming playlists is 100% behind what is "popular" in the charts. Feliz Navidad had not a single radio play in the UK in my entire life until Xmas streaming playlists came along. If you want a truer reflection of what is popular the sales charts are a better indicator and they don't vary much year on year - what's more incredible is that people are still buying them! Surely anyone that wants them already has them, but no! Every year they still sell downloads and compilation albums.

Leona Lewis is one that sells consistently well but is less-streamed. That can't be due to lack of popularity amongst younger streamers (it's obviously going to be more popular as it's more recent), so it must be down to Playlist choices. Elton John's surge in popularity goes against the Xmas 1973 classics slow decline - at no point was it ever regarded as anything more than a decent sub-standard Elton John hit. It got radio plays each christmas but it was never anything but an also-ran.

Look on itunes, and the majority of tracks selling feature on Now 100 Xmas Classics. That seems to have become the definitive statement on Xmas songs popularity in the UK?

Posted by: 777666jason Dec 9 2020, 08:45 AM

Speaking of itunes always baffles me how bubles album gets so high every year, i thought you could only buy an album once, so are thousands a year still only just discovering it/ seeing it on itunes

Posted by: Juranamo Dec 9 2020, 08:52 AM

Oops. Forgot to add my comment ������

I think this is a very good point. Being from '73, the recordings do sound particularly rough ('Step Into Christmas' - released the same year - sounds much slicker, to my ears) and will likely feel out of place in a playlist!

By the late 80s, in particular, recording quality had increased immensely... By the time 'All I Want for Christmas' was released, we really weren't far off what we have now...

Posted by: gavindeejay Dec 9 2020, 08:55 AM

The Rolf Harris reference doesn’t help the case with this song nowadays unfortunately. Shame as I do think it’s the best version of RATCT

Posted by: gooddelta Dec 9 2020, 09:11 AM

That also appears to have been taken off streaming sites this year, I was certainly playing it as recently as last Christmas on Spotify.

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 9 2020, 09:39 AM

Good job I downloaded 'Once Upon A Christmas Time' years ago then, at least I can still get to play it this Christmas... take that, streaming!

Posted by: Scr00ge Dec 9 2020, 10:23 AM

A lot of those older xmas songs like Merry Xmas Everybody are showing their age now without the nostalgia factor to anchor them. A band in period costumes with a choir of poorly miming children is a bit less charming and more awkward in 2020 than in 1990 when it was a recent throwback.

Posted by: FestiveOdyssey Dec 9 2020, 10:40 AM

I'm sure it's more of the playlist positioning making a difference than the sound: Jingle Bell Rock, Sleigh Ride etc sound just as dated

(Not that that's a bad thing )

Posted by: Liam.k. Dec 9 2020, 11:36 AM

'Jingle Bell Rock' sounds quite clear to my ears, plus it's definitely gained relevancy with younger audiences thanks to the enduring popularity of Home Alone and Mean Girls, as well as that parody.

Posted by: Tafty Dec 9 2020, 11:43 AM

Me neither! It's a lovely little Winter ballad.

Posted by: Road Salt Mixer Dec 9 2020, 11:48 AM

Yeah I agree, I also wish 2000 Miles by The Pretenders made the top 40 every Christmas.

Posted by: TomJ1991 Dec 9 2020, 01:44 PM

Boney M - Mary's Boy Child
Harry Belafonte - Mary's Boy Child

Both sold over 1 million copies in the UK, and the former was at one point the top selling Christmas song in the UK.

Posted by: zenon Dec 9 2020, 01:57 PM

I agree alongside Stop The Calvary by Jona Lewie.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 9 2020, 08:31 PM

Is ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ or ‘Mull of Kintyre’ the biggest seller of the 70s?

Posted by: gooddelta Dec 9 2020, 11:59 PM

From 2008 when it charted to the early to mid 10s, Warm This Winter by Gabriella Cilmi had a lot of airplay. Haven’t heard it anywhere for a few years now and not seen it on any playlists.

Edit: Just seen that apparently Heart still play it! But it’s certainly not widely played.

Posted by: Rob S Claus Dec 10 2020, 12:08 AM

'Warm This Winter' is severely underrated

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 10 2020, 12:28 AM

Yeh it’s not but it’s radio airplay is good round Xmas week (top 50 usually) and heard it twice on radio 2 this week.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 10 2020, 12:28 AM

Yeh it’s not but it’s radio airplay is good round Xmas week (top 50 usually) and heard it twice on radio 2 this week.

It is of course a cover!

Posted by: dandy* Dec 10 2020, 12:36 AM

Wasn’t 2003 the year that the Pop Idol finalists did a cover of the John & Yoko track? I’d imagine that’s why it would suddenly be track 1 material that year.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 10 2020, 01:05 AM

Yeh they reached number 5 that year which was a shock as everyone thought they’d be no1 easily!

Posted by: gooddelta Dec 10 2020, 09:39 AM

It was, although I'm not sure if the compilers would have known about that at the time that the album came out, I can't remember how far in advance that cover was announced.

I forgot Cliff had a Christmas song out that year too, Santa's List, which went top five and is on the album - that has never been heard since! Same with his 2006 effort 21st Century Christmas, which was at least curiously covered by Saint Etienne a few years later

Posted by: gooddelta Dec 10 2020, 09:56 AM

This was one of the 1999 Christmas albums:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Album-Various-Artists/dp/B00002MHM8/ref=pd_sbs_15_5/259-6464882-9444909?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00002MHM8&pd_rd_r=2fc8d679-ec4a-4e43-8f90-473d8e0dc04e&pd_rd_w=YNCQB&pd_rd_wg=kWgfR&pf_rd_p=2304238d-df78-4b25-a9a0-b27dc7bd722e&pf_rd_r=MNB6VCVP9B1TNKVTFAK7&psc=1&refRID=MNB6VCVP9B1TNKVTFAK7

An interesting one as lots of the standards are on here but covered by acts popular in the preceding years (Whigfield, Hanson, Vanessa Williams). And Gary Glitter is here, so obviously hadn't been blacklisted by the compilers yet at this point for whatever reason. Also curious is Bon Jovi as Disc 1 Track 1, which is still on the music channels a bit I think, but doesn't do much in the charts.

Posted by: Robbie Dec 10 2020, 09:57 PM

I don't know if it has been mentioned but 'Driving Home For Christmas' by Chris Rea has become more successful in the streaming era than it ever managed when released as a physical single back in 1988 (#53) or when charting as a download (#33 in 2007 seems to have been its peak). I'm assuming its success is down to it being featured on a number of Christmas playlists. It's an awful song which is more Dire Rea than Chris Rea! As soon as I hear that piano intro I have to switch off... It does seem to have become more of a staple Christmas song on radio. I don't recall it getting played quite so often back in 1988 or in the decade or two after that to the same extent it has been played over the past decade. At some point in the next two weeks the track will become what the OCC now term a millionaire (a track that has a million combined sales from a combination of both paid for sales and streaming sales). It should be on about 960k - 970k by tomorrow (Friday).

Posted by: Alohomara Dec 10 2020, 10:21 PM

One flaw this compilation has is that it includes the rankings based on the OCC official charts irrespective of whether the songs were on ACR or not. If you want to accurately gauge the trends in popularity, the blue column should be the ranking among Christmas songs based on total units moved. For example AIWFCIY was the most popular Xmas song last year not River.

Posted by: M4ngo Ho Ho Dec 10 2020, 10:28 PM

Yeah that's a very fair point actually, but I don't think I have the time to go back and revisit it. It was only meant to give a general idea of the trends of the different Christmas songs over the last few years so I think it still does that even if it's not 100% accurate due to ACR.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 Dec 10 2020, 10:30 PM

According to this article by JM it was announced ‘weeks in advance’!

https://chart-watch.uk/archives/2003/week-ending-december-27th-2003