Sorry of course, no I left them out by mistake, I knew I'd forgotten something glaringly obvious.

 

I just meant a new release, so River counts but Band Aid 30 was last before that, so not that long ago at all.

 

Still for Ed/Elton to do so with an original composition/new song at least makes it the first in nearly 30 years, slightly more if you don't count Stay Another Day.

Agreed, it’s pretty impressive. In fact even before that I don’t think there was a great deal of number one Christmas songs, original composition or not.

Agreed, it’s pretty impressive. In fact even before that I don’t think there was a great deal of number one Christmas songs, original composition or not.

This being Buzzjack, I'm sure someone will read this and post a list of Christmas themed songs that have made number one. As you say, it can't be too long a list!

I entirely forgot about 'River' technically being a recent #1 for a new Christmas song release again despite posting about it a few weeks ago. :lol: But yeah, this is the first that isn't a cover during my lifetime unless you count some very tenuous cases like '2 Become 1'!

There never has been that many actual Christmas number ones throughout the history of the chart although loads got top 40!

Just from memory so probably loads of mistakes:

 

Dickie Valentine Christmas Alphabet 1955

Harry Belafonte Mary’s Boy Child 1957

Slade Merry Xmas Everybody 1973

Mud Lonely This Christmas 1974

Johnny Mathis When A Child Is Born 1976

Boney M Mary’s Boy Child 1978

John Lennon Happy Xmas (War is Over) 1980 (The REAL number one in 1980)

Band Aid Do They Know It’s Christmas 1984

Shakin Stevens Merry Christmas Everyone 1985

Cliff Richard Mistletoe and Wine 1988

Band Aid 2 Do They Know It’s Christmas 1989

Cliff Richard Saviours Day 1990

Band Aid 20 Do They Know It’s Christmas 2004

 

Course there was Christmas songs that got to number one not on Xmas week such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Ellie Goulding!

Edited December 10, 20214 yr by Christmasteve201

If you count Frankie Goes To Hollywood you have to count East 17 as well xx

If one includes 'The Power of Love' and 'Stay Another Day' how about 'Hallelujah' by Alexandra Burke? - religious, spiritual theme (well it's about sex but many wouldn't realise)

Edited December 10, 20214 yr by Smint

'Hallelujah' was only Christmas #2 though. Beaten by some X Factor thing that we don't speak of any more. xx

We're talking about Christmas themed songs i.e. songs to do with Christmas, so in this case no you can't include East 17 or FGTH or indeed 'Hallelujah' just because they happen to be associated with Christmas by virtue of time of release. And they don't have to have necessarily been number one on Christmas week either, we're just looking for Christmas themed songs that made number one in the UK on any week. Steve's list is a great start!

For #1 songs which have Christmas in the title, the most recent to be released as an original song was All I Want For Christmas Is You from 1994, and before that, Merry Christmas Everyone from 1985.

I've always counted East 17 as an exception because I've only ever known it as a Christmas radio staple and it is never relevant at any other time of year (which is not exactly true of FGTH or any other non-Christmas song Christmas songs, except Jona Lewie I guess although that at least mentions Christmas in the lyrics). But yeah objectively it isn't really a Christmas song.

even with the Xmas bells? why would a non-Xmas single had so many Xmas bells :) that kinda convinced me that Stay Another Day is a Xmas song :D

If you count Frankie Goes To Hollywood you have to count East 17 as well xx

 

Don’t start that debate again :lol:

even with the Xmas bells? why would a non-Xmas single had so many Xmas bells :) that kinda convinced me that Stay Another Day is a Xmas song :D

I'm pretty sure it wasn't written with the intention of being a Christmas song though. It was the third single to be released from the Steam album (which came out in October) and was in fact written about the suicide of Tony Mortimer's brother, hardly a cheery Christmas sentiment. I guess the label released it with one eye on the Christmas market, although I have no idea whether the bells were included specifically to make it sound Christmassy.

 

Also, according to Wikipedia:

In December 2017, YouGov carried out a poll asking the British public whether they agreed if "Stay Another Day" is a Christmas song. Just over one third, or 34% disagreed, while 29% agreed. This left a large proportion of 37% in the don't know category, which includes all of those who were unaware of the song.

 

So if we take out all those people who couldn't decide or weren't aware of the song, it's around a 54/46% split between people who disagree/agree respectively it's a Christmas song. Make of that what you will!

Edited December 10, 20214 yr by Mangø Hø Hø

‘Stay Another Day’ is a song about the guy in East 17s bro passing away def not an Xmas song. I look at it from the point of view that at the time of release it was probably grumbled about Mariah missing out as it was a Christmas song but as time went by it became a radio staple of the season!

 

When do you hear ‘The Power of Love’ by FGTH other than December @Bre?

The song I'm more surprised has been mentioned here is 'Heartbeat', I had no idea that was ever thought of as a Christmas song?

 

Also, oops at this being the Friday Chart Predictions thread, we seem to have digressed a little :kink:

‘Stay Another Day’ is a song about the guy in East 17s bro passing away def not an Xmas song. I look at it from the point of view that at the time of release it was probably grumbled about Mariah missing out as it was a Christmas song but as time went by it became a radio staple of the season!

 

When do you hear ‘The Power of Love’ by FGTH other than December @Bre?

The sleigh bells in Stay Another Day elevates it to Christmassy sounding despite the subject matter.

The song I'm more surprised has been mentioned here is 'Heartbeat', I had no idea that was ever thought of as a Christmas song?

 

Also, oops at this being the Friday Chart Predictions thread, we seem to have digressed a little :kink:

 

Sorry if I’ve missed the obvious but what song is ‘Heartbeat’?

The sleigh bells in Stay Another Day elevates it to Christmassy sounding despite the subject matter.

 

It’s similar situation with ‘2 Become 1’ by the Spice Girls which has similar increased radio airplay through December similar to ‘Stay Another Day’, what is it about that song?

Sorry if I’ve missed the obvious but what song is ‘Heartbeat’?

By Steps. Someone mentioned it on the previous page I think.