The stakes are high as the 2024 Christmas music chart race heats up, with the battle for the coveted Christmas Number One spot coming to life once again. For decades, the British have turned their attention to the Official Singles Chart as they speculate on which tune will take the top position during the festive season. This race typically sees novelty songs and tracks from talent shows grabbing attention. Yet, this year has felt slightly different, lacking the usual hype.
At the forefront of this year’s challenge is none other than the classic “Last Christmas” by Wham!, which has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s favorite holiday songs. Originally released back in 1984, it now sits alongside modern classics like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and others such as “Merry Christmas Everybody” and “Fairytale of New York.” For years, “Last Christmas” sold millions and streamed hundreds of millions yet never reached the top until, surprisingly, last year. Now, it’s made history for 2024 by becoming the first song to hold the Christmas Number One position for two consecutive years, fending off competition from heavyweights like Mariah Carey, Gracie Abrams, and Tom Grennan.
Tom Grennan, the Bedford-born singer-songwriter, came close with his original track “It Can’t Be Christmas,” which made waves during its opening sales week. Just last week, it debuted at number four on the charts. Positioned just shy of Wham!’s classic by less than 500 chart units, Grennan's track is seeing increasing momentum thanks to the release of its vinyl single on December 20th. The official Number 1 will be revealed on December 27, meaning “It Can’t Be Christmas” has to maintain its lead through the Christmas streaming frenzy.
The current music chart dynamics are fascinating. Yuletide staples dominate the midweek Top 5, with familiar names like Mariah Carey clocking at number three with “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” and Brenda Lee’s enduring favorite “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” at number five. Enhancing the Christmas cheer, Laufey’s “Christmas Magic” recently boosted its position to number four after fantastic exposure from her performance on The Graham Norton Show.
Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath The Tree,” which returned to the Official Singles Chart Top 10 for the first time since March 2015, is steadily climbing the ranks at number eight, showcasing its appeal as part of modern holiday playlists. Meanwhile, political protest track “Freezing This Christmas” by Sir Starmer and the Granny Harmers has dramatically ascended the charts, surging 22 places to number 13, marking it as the most downloaded track of the week.
The overall Christmas music experience has greatly evolved over the years. The Official Chart Company has recorded the most streamed Christmas songs, showcasing some of the definitive classics. According to Magic Radio, which released the Top 40 most streamed Christmas songs recently, Mariah Carey's signature tune leads the pack with 475 million streams. Coming up closely are Wham!’s “Last Christmas” at 457 million and The Pogues’ “Fairytale Of New York” at 316 million streams. Christmas songs, much like the festive season itself, are polarizing; people either love or loathe them, yet fall back on these musical staples without fail each holiday season.
Some of these classics always achieve the top spots. Completing the Top 5 of the most streamed tracks are “Merry Christmas Everyone” by Shakin’ Stevens at number four with 267 million streams and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” at number five with 258 million streams. It’s noteworthy to mention the rise of modern songs as well. Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” released back in 2011, ranked as the highest modern Christmas song, just shy of Brenda Lee with 257 million streams to its name.
Newer contenders like Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” are also notable, landing eighth among the most streamed Christmas tracks with 232 million streams. Other modern additions like Kelly Clarkson’s aforementioned “Underneath The Tree” (11th place,170 million streams), Leona Lewis’ “One More Sleep” (15th place, 170 million), and Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe” (19th place, 153 million) continue to show strength against the age-old classics. Streaming changes the game for traditional music, bringing Christmas spirit to the forefront of collective listening.
What remains clear is the powerful appeal of festive favorites during the holiday season. Each year, listeners turn to these classics, and they have become not just seasonal favorites, but enduring musical memories shared across generations. The race for the Christmas Number One is not just about music; it’s about tradition, nostalgia, and the shared enjoyment of the songs we play year after year.
With so much at stake this year, will Grennan’s modern take be able to surpass the iconic status of Wham! and other timeless tracks? Or will we see another year dominated by fond favorites? Only the listening public will decide as the musical battle continues heading toward the most awaited date of the year when the Christmas Number One is officially crowned.
