Christmas Music
Christmas music has evolved dramatically over centuries, shifting from ancient religious hymns to modern secular pop anthems, yet its core purpose remains to capture the festive spirit of the winter season. The earliest forms of this music were Christian carols, tracing back to 4th-century Rome, but they truly took off in the Middle Ages when figures like St. Francis of Assisi encouraged singing songs in the local language, rather than Latin, allowing the common people to celebrate the Nativity. These songs were initially lively, communal folk tunes associated with circle dances and feasts, and many of the beloved carols we know today, like "The First Noel" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," were popularized during a revival in the Victorian Era of the 19th century, which romanticized and standardized many Christmas traditions.
The most significant evolution came in the mid-20th century with the rise of secular holiday hits, primarily in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. This era saw songwriters shift focus from the religious narrative to themes of nostalgia, winter wonder, and family togetherness, perfectly captured by enduring classics like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song." These songs, with their sophisticated jazz and "crooner" arrangements, solidified the distinct, warm, and sentimental sound that defines the modern Christmas music canon. Today, new pop standards like Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and Wham!'s "Last Christmas" compete with the classics, but the genre's enduring popularity lies in its ability to evoke powerful positive memories, providing a comforting and familiar soundtrack that breaks through the noise of the rest of the year.
That exploration of the shift from traditional carols to contemporary pop only scratches the surface of Christmas music culture. In the UK, no tradition is more closely followed—or debated—than the annual Christmas Number One, the single topping the chart on Christmas Day. This coveted spot has been held by everyone from The Beatles and Queen to charity supergroups, reality TV winners, and even novelty acts like Bob the Builder. The history of this chart battle perfectly illustrates the changing trends in British pop music, especially since 1952, when the tradition truly began to take hold.
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Don’t Stop Me Eatin’ - LadBaby - (2020)
Sideman - Number 1 for 1 weeks from 2020-12-25 to 2020-12-31
The third consecutive festive win for LadBaby, this time a parody of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." It made them the **only act besides The Beatles and The Spice Girls to achieve a run of three**, cementing their status as the new kings of the Christmas chart for charity.
I Love Sausage Rolls - LadBaby - (2019)
Sideman - Number 1 for 1 weeks from 2019-12-20 to 2019-12-26
LadBaby's second consecutive Christmas Number One, a parody of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." Its success tied them with The Beatles and the Spice Girls for back-to-back festive chart-toppers, with all proceeds going to the Trussell Trust. This victory was secured through massive download sales.
We Built This City - Ladbaby - (2018)
FrtyFve - Number 1 for 3 weeks from 2018-12-14 to 2019-01-03
The first of the novelty charity hits by YouTuber Mark Hoyle and his wife, a parody of the Starship song with lyrics changed to be about "sausage rolls." Its overwhelming success for the **Trussell Trust food banks** marked the start of a record-breaking festive run and a new era of novelty-meets-charity singles.
Perfect - Ed Sheeran - (2017)
Atlantic - Number 1 for 6 weeks from 2017-12-15 to 2018-01-11
A romantic acoustic ballad, Sheeran's song secured the Christmas Number One for a mainstream artist for the first time in years. A remix with Beyoncé later boosted its sales, ensuring a decisive victory for the UK's biggest male artist. The track spent a total of 14 weeks at Number One in total, making it one of the decade's most dominant singles.
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Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard - (1988)
EMI - Number 1 for 4 weeks from 1988-12-11 to 1989-01-07
Cliff Richard returned to the festive top spot with this sentimental, explicitly Christmas-themed ballad. Its traditional feel and gentle religious references cemented Richard's status as a UK institution and marked the start of a late-career festive renaissance for the veteran singer. The song spent four weeks at the top, proving the enduring appeal of traditional UK pop stars.
A Bridge Over You - Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir - (2015)
NHS Choir - Number 1 for 1 weeks from 2015-12-25 to 2015-12-31
This charity single, a mash-up of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Coldplay's "Fix You," was a huge public favourite. A strong social media campaign secured its victory over Justin Bieber, demonstrating public support for the National Health Service and spending one week at Number One.
Something I Need - Ben Haenow - (2014)
Syco - Number 1 for 1 weeks from 2014-12-21 to 2014-12-27
The *X Factor* winner's single, a cover of the OneRepublic track, took the Christmas crown. This marked the **final time a winner from the show would achieve the coveted Christmas Number One spot**, with the track spending three weeks at Number One.
Skyscraper - Sam Bailey - (2013)
Syco - Number 1 for 1 weeks from 2013-12-22 to 2013-12-28
The *X Factor* winner's single, a cover of Demi Lovato's ballad, secured the Christmas Number One for the reality show once more. By this point, the festive chart was frequently dominated by charity singles and TV tie-ins, making a traditional pop single win relatively rare. It spent three weeks at Number One.
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He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother - The Justice Collective - (2012)
Metropolis - Number 1 for 1 weeks from 2012-12-23 to 2012-12-29
A charity single featuring a supergroup of artists including Sir Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams, released to raise money for the legal costs of the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Its success was a powerful, cause-driven statement by the UK public and marked the end of the run of *X Factor* winners securing the Christmas spot.
Wherever You Are - Military Wives with Gareth Malone - (2011)
Decca - Number 1 for 2 weeks from 2011-12-18 to 2011-12-31
A beautiful, choral charity single featuring a choir of military wives and choirmaster Gareth Malone. The emotional, patriotic theme and charitable cause made it a massive success, breaking the *X Factor* tradition once again and connecting with the public on a deep, social level. It spent two weeks at Number One.
When We Collide - Matt Cardle - (2010)
Syco - Number 1 for 2 weeks from 2010-12-19 to 2011-01-01
The *X Factor* winner's single returned the TV show to the top spot after the previous year's upset. It was a cover of Biffy Clyro's rock track "Many of Horror" with a slightly different title, and its success was seen as the reality show machine reasserting its power. It spent three weeks at Number One.
Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine - (2009)
Epic - Number 1 for 1 weeks from 2009-12-20 to 2009-12-26
Following a huge grassroots social media campaign to challenge *The X Factor*'s chart dominance, this 1992 anti-establishment rap-metal song achieved an **historic victory** over the year's *X Factor* winner, Joe McElderry. It was a major moment for fan-led campaigns and demonstrated the changing nature of music consumption via digital sales.
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