yay proper classics amongst the Reality TV dross, Crazy and Kylie, with bonus goodie from Leona. Would be nice if they were actual million sellers, not including streaming, by now I guess, or may one day be with trickle downloads or vinyl Record Day issues and the like. I can dream...

Genuinely looking forward to the top 6, as I’ve completely forgotten what the songs are.

06.DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS?- Band Aid 20 (1,127,300)

 

YEAR: 2004

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 11

 

Right we aren’t going to mention Dizzee’s rap!  Recorded to mark the 20^th anniversary of the original Band Aid there was a whole heap of publicity when this was announced and it resulted in pretty much all the bookies not taking any bets on who would be the festive chart topper.  They proved to be wise as the song sold a million during its 4 weeks at No 1 and easily became the biggest seller of 2004 so it did the job in terms of sales and raising revenue.  Little fun fact- this was the first Christmas No 1 not released in the week of the Christmas chart since 1995.

05. HALLELUJAH- Alexander Burke (1,172,495)

 

YEAR: 2008

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 12

 

Another Christmas and another X Factor coronation single, but in some ways the chart race of Christmas 2008 had many portents for the following year RATM Vs Joe McElderry.  When the winning single was revealed to be a cover of the 1984 Leonard Cohen track it prompted multiple facebook campaigns to suggest that buying alternative versions would register a good protest and so it was that not only was Burke’s version No 1 but Jeff Buckley’s cover stood at No 2 and even Chen’s original crept into the top 40.  It was the first time that competing versions of the same track were top 2 was way back in 1957 but it showed the power of a well-orchestrated campaign- note made for 1 year later!  Nothing would stop Burke in 2008 with a mighty 576k copies sold to become the year’s festive No 1.

1 hour ago, Gezza said:

06.DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS?- Band Aid 20 (1,127,300)

 

Little fun fact- this was the first Christmas No 1 not released in the week of the Christmas chart since 1995.

Neither Bob The Builder (in 2000) nor Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman (in 2001) were released in the Christmas chart week.

5 minutes ago, paulgilb said:

Neither Bob The Builder (in 2000) nor Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman (in 2001) were released in the Christmas chart week.

Quite right- I think what i meant (which is clealry not what i wrote) is that it hit No 1 and remained there to be the festive chart topper for the longest time before the big day itself.