In December, for many of us, there are two big countdowns. One - of course - being the countdown to Christmas Day itself; the other being for the day the Christmas number one is announced. In 2023, the UK Top 40 music chart feels relatively unimportant; yet there remains an inexplicable magic surrounding the idea of topping it at Christmas time.
When the UK singles chart first began, in 1952, it did not resemble the charts we know today. The chart was formed through the process of a writer from a popular music magazine calling up 20 retailers, asking them for a list of their best-selling songs. In those early years, simplicity reigned. The first ever Christmas number one - and indeed, the first ever UK number one - was Here in My Heart by Al Martino. The first festive chart-topper that actually mentioned Christmas didn’t come until 1955. Dickie Valentine’s Christmas Alphabet - a song you’ve likely never heard before - may well have begun the tradition of families gathering around the radio, eagerly awaiting the Christmas Day chart reveal.
These early festive chart toppers share one unfortunate trait - they’ve not stood the test of time. You’ll likely know the song Mary’s Boy Child; but you almost certainly associate it with Boney M. The original, sung by Harry Belafonte, topped the Christmas chart in 1957, yet has been forgotten by most. Even Sir Cliff Richard’s first Christmas number one, I Love You, released in 1960, has been lost to its distinctively dated style.
We all know that the 60s were a revolutionary period for music, and society as a whole. It was also a decade where Beatlemania collided with holiday cheer, as the iconic band picked up no fewer than four Christmas number ones. It’s interesting to note that not one Christmas chart-topper in the 60s mentioned or was stylised around Christmas or religion - a definite nod towards the younger generation at that time, who had been introduced to the idea of disposable income for perhaps the first time.
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It wasn’t until 1973 when we saw the first classic and still popular Christmas hit, in Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade; which beat another iconic Christmas track, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday to the festive top spot. Glam rock and disco brought a different flavour to the festive charts during the gloomy 70s, creating iconic anthems capturing the flamboyance and exuberance of the era. The 70s also saw the only two songs to hit the trophy spot twice, Boney M’s release of Mary’s Boy Child (1978) brought a fresh take on the original classic, whilst in 1975 Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody made its first appearance.
The 1980s was a decade where world news was prominent. Satellite broadcasting was established, and easier world-wide travel bought news closer to home. The Charles and Diana love story was unfolding, the Falklands war, Chernobyl and the explosion of the Challenge space shuttle filled our airwaves whilst the Berlin wall fell. The 80s ushered in a mix of pop and charity-driven hits. Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? in 1984 and 1989 left an indelible mark on the festive charts and began a trend that embraced the spirit of giving.
As we stepped into the 1990s, power ballads and unlikely contenders took centre stage. From East 17's Stay Another Day in 1994, adorned with jingling bells and wintry scenes in the music video, to Mr Blobby's eccentric chart-topper in 1993, the Christmas number 1 became a stage for both heartfelt ballads and quirky novelties. As the 2000s dawned, a new era for the Christmas chart emerged. Reality show winners dominated, much to the frustration of many music lovers. But this in itself led to an historic moment, when a social media campaign propelled Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name to the Christmas number one ahead of X Factor winner Joe McElderry. This broke the monotony of predictable chart-toppers, while also proving the enduring power of collective action.
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In the present day, the Christmas chart continues to evolve; with the inclusion of streaming services in the chart giving old favourites a new lease of life. However, in recent years, the festive charts have become a reflection not only of our musical tastes, but the impact of the social media influencer; with LadBaby earning five consecutive Christmas number ones from 2018 to 2022. That trend will finally be broken this year, with the sausage roll-themed charity fundraisers opting not to release a new song. It may lead to a first Christmas number one for Wham!, or perhaps The Pogues following the sad death of frontman Shane McGowan. Regardless of how our musical tastes and attitudes have shifted, the Christmas number one remains a symbol for celebration – and perhaps also a reflection of the collective public feeling.
Dr Stephen Langston is Senior Lecturer in Performance at the University of the West of Scotland
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