Christmas Songs Take Over the UK Charts
Guess what? Christmas songs are crashing into the UK Top 40 earlier than ever before! It’s not even mid-November, and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” have swooped in at No 37 and No 40. Talk about jumping the gun! Last year, it took until the third week of November for a jingle to show up, and it was Mariah’s festive hit. Now, these songs are likely sticking around until the end of the year and maybe even into 2024.
Timeless Classics
These songs are like the gifts that keep on giving. “Last Christmas,” a classic since its 1984 release, has been popping back into the charts since 2008, finally nabbing the top spot in January 2021. Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” born in 1994, made a similar comeback in 2008 and secured its first No 1 in December 2020.
Chart Domination
What’s wild is that these two hits are the only Christmas songs in the Top 100 this week. But wait till Christmas comes knocking; they’ll pretty much rule the charts.
Deck the Charts
Last year, Christmas tunes made up 29 of the UK Top 40 hits during the festive season. Classics like Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” were there, joined by newer favorites from Michael Bublé, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, and Justin Bieber.
Christmas Chart Wars
Surprisingly, neither “Last Christmas” nor “All I Want for Christmas Is You” snagged the actual Christmas No 1. That spot has been hogged lately by LadBaby, a YouTube sensation, with his charity singles for the Trussell Trust. His fifth hit, “Food Aid,” set a record, beating even the Beatles. No word on his plans for a sixth win this year.
Legal Jingle Bells
The festive spirit might dim a bit for Mariah Carey this year. She’s facing a lawsuit claiming she copied another song with a similar title and theme. Songwriter Andy Stone’s lawyers argue that Carey’s song is way too close to Stone’s 1989 track. Mariah’s staying mum on the lawsuit while still riding the song’s wave. She’s launching new Christmas goodies and gearing up for a US Christmas tour starting on November 15.
Holiday Beat Goes On
Despite the legal tangle, Mariah’s not missing a beat. She’s embracing the season with new merchandise and a festive tour. Looks like Christmas is coming in early for music lovers in the UK!