Thanks for putting this together Dan. Great seeing some Christmas songs at least by the end, Gwen being my favourite of those listed.

Thanks for this Dan was an interesting read and some crackers to finish with Of Monsters and Men, Mariah and Gwen Stefanis excellent new Xmas track!

Finally listened to 'All Stuck Up' after forgetting to get around to it before - worth the wait tbh, iconic. Particularly enjoyed the 'Rabbit' part x

I'm pretty sure I've heard the Gwen Christmas song but like Bre don't remember anything about it. Not a good end from the looks of things. Hopefully whatever pops up at 100 next year on Christmas chart week is an improvement!

 

Thanks for putting this together. An interesting read.

2023: The Beatles - Now and Then

Peak position: #01

Weeks in chart: 08

Christmas Number One: Wham! - Last Christmas

 

Taking the title of Christmas Number One... Hundred! this year we have The Beatles with what is their first new release since the 90s and also confirmed to be their final ever. The song shot to #1 with a first-week sale that would have seen them take the #1 spot this week and have them tie with LadBaby for the record of five #1s at Christmas. However the label ended up prioritising using the song to hype the re-issues of their Red and Blue greatest hits albums in time to be potentially purchased as Christmas presents and to their credit those sold very well given the current climate and the CD/vinyl price point. Anyhow it was great to see the song do so well as another chapter of their legacy although it was never going to be a long-running hit so here it is at the bottom of the chart 7 weeks later (if anything it's impressive the song is still charting with the help of CD sales as its streaming fell off fast after week one).

Truly the achievement they were going for methinks x

8 weeks for it is really good going! Should go silver in the new year no problem. And oddly satisfying to see it land at #100. :)

Woulda had a few more top 40 weeks without the Xmas invasion!

2024: Dasha - Austin

Peak position: #05

Weeks in chart: 43

Christmas Number One: Wham! - Last Christmas

 

This year's bum end of the Christmas chart has its residence taken by country-pop singer Dasha. Her breakthrough track 'Austin' proved an unlikely smash early in the year being assisted by the genre being trendy, with it spending ages in the top 10. There seems to be no signs of her being able to grab a second hit at the moment but we'll see this time next year. It is quite appropriate we have her sit in this thread with her stage name sharing a resemblance with one of Santa's reindeer. Although the song is not really suited to the winter season and had spent too long in the chart anyway.

I don't recall that Brand New Heavies track but they released some really good stuff in the 90s... Back To Love, Close To You, Midnight At The Oasis, Sometimes, You Are The Universe. They're largely forgotten these days but those tracks are definitely worth checking out!

I saw them live in the last few years & they were awesome, great tracks to dance to.

Their Brother Sister album is a classic & the Greame Park mix of Back to love is a house classic.