The race for the 2024 UK Christmas Number One is shaping up to be quite the spectacle, featuring holiday classics and new tunes vying for the top spot. With beloved artists like WHAM! and Tom Grennan battling it out, listeners are caught up in the fervor of the festive music scene.
The iconic WHAM! song, Last Christmas, leads the charge, having finally secured its chart-topping status last year after missing out on the number one spot for decades. The track, which originally peaked at number two behind Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? back in 1984, enjoyed its first Christmas number one just last year, giving it newfound momentum as we approach this festive season.
Spurred on by enthusiasm from fans and exciting promotional strategies, WHAM!’s presence is bolstered this year by the release of limited edition 40th anniversary vinyl singles. These collectible items, including one featuring a zoetrope vinyl, have proven popular and are contributing to the song’s early familiarity and momentum. It’s remarkable to think how Last Christmas has evolved; as noted by chart expert James Masterson, its long wait for recognition adds depth to its current chart success.
Taking aim at the festive crown seems to be Tom Grennan, who has made headlines not only for his new song, It Can’t Be Christmas, but also for his ambitious promotional gimmick—getting the phrase "Christmas no.1 2024 is..." tattooed on his leg. Sharing this bold move on social media, Grennan remarked, "I thought I’d make it interesting. I’m gonna let you lot decide what goes on my leg. It’s up to you. Stream it, buy the vinyl. We’ll see what happens. You lot, do not let this flop." This confident declaration mirrors the competitive spirit of this year's Christmas race.
Grennan’s It Can’t Be Christmas, created exclusively for Amazon Music, recently climbed its way up the charts, from number 25 to number 6, just two weeks back. Aiming to beat last year’s runner-up, Sam Ryder, who narrowly missed the top slot, Grennan is banking on the promotional muscle of Amazon, which has historically boosted artists’ holiday tracks by featuring them prominently to its customer base. With Amazon's previous successes, like Ellie Goulding's cover of Joni Mitchell's River, there’s every reason to believe Grennan's catchy tune could capture the public’s festive spirit.
When considering the competition, it’s impossible to overlook Mariah Carey and her evergreen hit, All I Want For Christmas Is You, which remains synonymous with the festive season. Despite its popularity, Carey has not yet topped the UK Christmas charts during the holiday week itself. Fresh off the successes of recent years, where the song returned to the Numero Uno position after years of just placing within the Top 40, it is poised to make waves again this year. According to the songstress, “It was the first Christmas song I ever wrote, and I was just thinking about all the things I really did want at Christmas.” Her warm, nostalgic lyrics will likely continue to resonate with collective holiday sentiments.
Alongside Grennan and Carey, the chart battle will also see fresh challengers like rising pop sensations, Gracie Abrams and the collaboration between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The latter couple's poignant track, Defying Gravity, has recently placed strongly, contributing to the diverse mix of festive music currently thrilling fans. With two artists representing different perspectives, it just goes to show how varied the annual Christmas avalanches can be.
Following the trends of past holiday seasons, the market wields tremendous influence when it will come to preferring physical sales and downloads over streaming. Martin Talbot, the CEO of the Official Chart Company, emphasized the importance of this detail when he stated, “The singles market is very much dominated by streaming these days. But the Christmas market is the one market where you can sell physical [copies]... That’s where WHAM! will do really well this year.” With such insights, it’s clear why the dynamics during this specific period might favor certain songs over being solely reliant on streams.
Fans following the exciting developments of this year’s Christmas Number One race will not be short on entertainment or surprises. With the potential for classic tracks like Last Christmas to be challenged by new entries—many of which are being heavily promoted—it speaks volumes to the resilient spirit of the music world, even during the holiday season. The fervent anticipation for the announcement of 2024’s Christmas Number One adds to this vibrant narrative, as listeners are buzzing with excitement.
So, if you’re intent on having your vote count, it's time to listen and share your favorites! The stakes are high with only days left, as sales and streams will be counted until the clock strikes midnight on December 19. A special countdown will air on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart with Jack Saunders, starting at 4 PM on December 20, where the top singles and albums will be finalized and reported.
This race isn’t just about the music; it’s about community, nostalgia, and celebrating this joyful season. Whether you find yourself rooting for the classics or the newcomers, one thing’s for sure—2024 has promising contenders ready to rock the charts!
