Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you are all doing well and staying safe out there! So, it’s been awhile. How long, you ask? Well, since July 2022, when I was bursting with excitement over the newfound success of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God).” Before that, just two blog posts in 2021.
Before I continue with this (return) blog post, I want to thank everyone who’s been reading my blog (which started in early 2016) and continue to enjoy it and comment about it, and continue to subscribe to it! I’m forever grateful.
With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror, Christmas 2023 is already here…at least in the form of holiday music.
For decades, pop singles charts in other parts of the world have celebrated the holiday season with an annual offering of old and new Xmas classics. And, in Britain, at least, they’ve always made a big deal out of what would be the coveted “Christmas No. 1!”
Over here in the U.S., from at least the late 70s until a few years ago, it was very hard for a Christmas song to even chart on the BILLBOARD Hot 100. The Eagles’ “Please Come Home For Christmas” reached No. 18, and the 1984 charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid (the biggest-selling U.K. single during the entire 1980s, and still the second-biggest of all time in the U.K.) made a big debut inside the Top 40, but by then, it was already January, and the highest it could go was No. 13, despite selling 2.5 million copies here in America and going Gold, because, at that point, no radio stations were playing it.
Well, thanks in large part to streaming services and digital song sales, a few years ago, BILLBOARD updated its Hot 100 rules to include Christmas songs every year, if they got enough sales, airplay and streaming to warrant an appearance. It’s been interesting.
You have holiday classics more than or close to 60 years old by Burl Ives (“A Holly Jolly Christmas” from 1964), Brenda Lee (“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” from 1958) and Bobby Helms (“Jingle Bell Rock” from 1957) hanging around the Top 5 every Xmas since the Hot 100 update, and it’s cool.
Even Wham!’s “Last Christmas” (which was never officially released as a single here in America) has found its way to the upper echelon of the BILLBOARD Hot 100, and with every year, climbs higher and higher, and in the last chart week of 2022, has since given Wham! their first Top 5 hit since “I’m Your Man” reached No. 3 in February 1986.
And, leading the way during the holiday season every year since the update, Mariah Carey’s HUGELY POPULAR “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” from her 1994 multi-platinum holiday album, MERRY CHRISTMAS (which has sold 15 million copies worldwide). “All I Want For Christmas Is You” was not allowed to chart in 1994, per BILLBOARD Hot 100 rules at the time, since it wasn’t officially released as a physical single.
Now, I will easily admit that, while Mariah certainly has talent and then some, I have never really been a fan of Mariah Carey, and certainly not a fan of “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” But, when BILLBOARD updated its Hot 100 rule to include holiday music, as a singles chart nerd, when “All I Want For Christmas Is You” went to No. 1 in 2019 (after waiting 25 years), the various records (no pun intended) it set were impressive.
To briefly borrow from Joni Mitchell’s “River” (from 1971), we’re coming on Christmas 2023, after ruling the BILLBOARD Hot 100 for 12 non-consecutive weeks spanning four holiday seasons, can we PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let another song, a new (older) song be the Christmas No. 1 here in America?
With that said, and kind of inspired by Kate Bush’s monumental, unparalleled and triumphant return to the Hot 100 over the summer of 2022 with her brilliant 1985 classic, the aforementioned “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” what if we delved deep into the 80s for other Xmas classics to be the new (older) Christmas No. 1!
Thanks to its Season 4 inclusion in STRANGER THINGS, “Running Up That Hill” (the BILLBOARD No. 5 Song of Summer in 2022; No. 23 for all of 2022!) surprised everyone (yours truly included) by reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100, spending 15 consecutive weeks in the Top 10, and 20 new weeks on the Hot 100 (for a total of 40 weeks, when adding the 20 weeks it spent on the Hot 100 in 1985).
We could take a page from Kate Bush’s amazing chart run in the Summer of 2022 and do the same with a holiday gem from the 80s and beyond! I know these are all long shots (…or are they?…), but it’s fun to think about. So, let’s go!
KATE BUSH — DECEMBER WILL BE MAGIC AGAIN (1979).
Kate Bush performed a song on her 1979 Christmas holiday special called “December Will Be Magic Again.” That version was never released as a single. Another version a year later WAS released, and reached the U.K. Top 30. But, it’s the original 1979 version I would love to see released and maybe even do well, especially after the comeback Kate had in 2022.
JOHN & YOKO AND THE PLASTIC ONO BAND — HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) (1971).
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 43 years since the tragic death of John Lennon. But, John’s music has endured, and, surprisingly, the 1971 song never reached the Top 40 on the BILLBOARD Hot 100, until 2022, where it reached No. 38 on the Hot 100.
Following John’s death in 1980, several of his songs re-charted in the U.K. and other parts of the globe. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” reached a new U.K. peak in 1981 at No. 2 — right behind “Imagine” at No. 1. I could totally see “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” re-enter the upper reaches of the Hot 100 every holiday season!
THE WAITRESSES — CHRISTMAS WRAPPING (1981).
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses (from the 1981 EP, I COULD RULE THE WORLD IF I COULD ONLY GET THE PARTS) is a song that started many of the holiday shows Maryhope and I did on STUCK IN THE 80s. Honestly, it’s so much fun, I don’t know why it’s not on the Hot 100 every Christmas already!
THE RAMONES — MERRY CHRISTMAS (I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT TONIGHT) (UK REMIX; 1987).
The Ramones have actually hit the BILLBOARD Hot 100 three times, and all from the 1977 album, ROCKET TO RUSSIA: “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” reached No. 81, “Rockaway Beach” (their highest-charting single) went to No. 66, and their cover of the 1958 Bobby Freeman classic, “Do You Wanna Dance?” stopped at No. 86.
In 1987, they released the song, “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight),” and a U.K. remix of which became a holiday staple on STUCK IN THE 80s for a long time. Wouldn’t you like to see The Ramones back on the chart and in the Top 40 for the first time? Or the Top 10? Or even No. 1? I know I would!
CHRIS REA — DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (1986).
Englishman Chris Rea has had so much success in his U.K. homeland, but very little success here in America. He reached No. 12 on the Hot 100 in 1978 with “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” and despite having five other Hot 100 hits between 1978 and 1989, Chris Rea is criminally regarded as a one-hit wonder here in America.
First released in 1986, “Driving Home For Christmas” was widely available in 1988, found on the Chris Rea compilation, NEW LIGHT THROUGH OLD WINDOWS. In 1988, “Driving Home For Christmas” stopped at No. 53 on the U.K. singles chart, and reached a new peak of No. 10 in 2021!, and over the years, has reached the Top 10 in at least 10 other countries. It’s time for some American chart love during this holiday season!
Up until a few years ago, I had actually forgotten about this holiday treasure, but since then, it’s been part of my holiday go-to playlist. And, I love it more and more each year. If you have never heard this gem before, in a word, I call it “lovely.” You will too! Check it out!
DAVID BOWIE & BING CROSBY — PEACE ON EARTH/LITTLE DRUMMER BOY (1977 / 1982).
When I saw this performed on BING CROSBY’S MERRIE OLDE CHRISTMAS on television during the 1977 holiday season, I thought it was so magical, and it will be a part of me for all time.
Since I wasn’t really following music back in 1977 (I know, hard to believe now), David Bowie was not on my radar (also very hard to believe). But, for a long time now, “Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy” has been my favorite Xmas song ever. There’s just something so special about it.
This song was one of the last songs Bing Crosby recorded before he passed away in October 1977 at the age of 74. It reached No. 3 in the U.K. and Ireland, and No. 6 in Norway. I will love this song for all time, and I’m kinda surprised it hasn’t reached the Hot 100 ever. Maybe this year?
THE HIVES & CYNDI LAUPER — A CHRISTMAS DUEL (2008).
Cyndi Lauper has put out so many holiday songs over the years that are worthy of Hot 100 representation EVERY holiday season, like 1992’s “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” with Frank Sinatra, 1993’s “Feels Like Christmas” and the always fun “Christmas Conga,” from Cyndi’s wonderful 1998 holiday album, MERRY CHRISTMAS…HAVE A NICE LIFE. But, it’s Cyndi’s memorable 2008 duet with the Swedish band The Hives, “A Christmas Duel,” that has topped my Cyndi Xmas list for the past 15 years.
One of the many things I love about Cyndi Lauper is that she will perform with pretty much everyone, no-holds-barred. And on “A Christmas Duel,” you have this amazing 60s Motown-type, girl-group sound replete with lyrics that are, well, I’ll just say, non-traditional. It’s brilliant, it’s fun, it’s bold, it’s got swears and managed to reach No. 4 in The Hives’ homeland of Sweden. Pretty fucking impressive. And, yes, a big honkin’ longshot of making the Hot 100 here in America ever. But it’s a nice thought.
THE POGUES featuring KIRSTY MacCOLL — FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK (1987).
I had already started working on this blog post when today, Thursday, November 30, 2023, I learned of the very sad passing of The Pogues’ singer and principal songwriter, Shane MacGowan, who had passed away at the age of 65. Of Shane MacGowan’s passing, Irish president Michael Higgins said:
“[Shane’s] words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history … The genius of Shane’s contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams — of so many worlds, and particularly those of love, of the emigrant experience and of facing the challenges of that experience with authenticity and courage, and of living and seeing the sides of life that so many turn away from.”
If there is any one holiday song that I have come to love more and more every year, it’s this one. “Fairytale Of New York” by The Pogues and the late, great Kirsty MacColl has become one of my all-time favorite holiday songs.
“Fairytale Of New York” originally reached No. 2 in 1987, and has returned to the Top 20 on the U.K. singles chart every year since 2005. It is THE most-played Christmas song in the U.K. of the 21st century, and as of the week ending today, November 30, 2023, “Fairytale Of New York” has amassed a total of 113 non-consecutive weeks on the U.K. Top 75 singles chart, good for sixth-best of all time. There are many in the U.K. and beyond that are calling for “Fairytale Of New York” to be this year’s Christmas No. 1 in the U.K., myself included.
Though the song has gone five-times Platinum in the U.K., “Fairytale Of New York” and its holiday message of nostalgia, alcoholism, addiction and lost love has never quite resonated here in America, which is disappointing and sad, though with Shane’s passing today, “Fairytale” is now No. 11 (as of this writing) and moving up on the iTunes chart here in America. That makes me smile!
In the U.K., the most-popular Xmas song ever is “Fairytale Of New York,” while here in America it’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Let’s go to change that!
LAST CHRISTMAS — WHAM! (1984)
So, if “Fairytale Of New York” isn’t an option for a new (older) Christmas No. 1 in the U.S. of A., how about one of the songs that has the best chance of unseating Mariah Carey at the top this Xmas — “Last Christmas” by Wham!
Why would it be cool to have “Last Christmas” be the Christmas No. 1 here in America this year? Well, besides replacing Mariah Carey at No. 1, “Last Christmas” is already No. 13 and moving up on the latest BILLBOARD Hot 100 (dated December 2, 2023). “Last Christmas,” which has risen steadily in the past few years, reached a new peak in 2022 at No. 4.
The late, great George Michael (who passed away on Christmas Day 2016) was just inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2023. I think that a 39-year-old holiday pop song reaching the top all these years later is a testament to George Michael’s work, with Wham! and solo.
The day after Halloween 2023, Mariah Carey released a video basically saying it’s almost Christmas and time to play her song and make it No. 1 again. Ugh. How fucking annoying. Some say it’s not Xmas until Mariah Carey says it is (and the day after Halloween no less)?! I don’t think so. But it’s another reason to hope that “Last Christmas” rules the top of the Hot 100 chart this Xmas. AND, it’s an 80s Xmas song! Of course I want it to be No. 1!
So, let’s go to make it this year’s new (older) Christmas No. 1 song in America! “Last Christmas,” the 2023 Christmas No. 1 in America, and “Fairytale Of New York” as the 2023 Christmas No. 1 in the U.K.! And no Mariah Carey!! That would be a Happy Christmas for this chart nerd indeed and beyond!
Thank you, so much, my partner, Maryhope, for inspiring me to write and get back to doing something I love, and for everything you do, and everything you are!
And thank you Shane, for your words and your music, Christmas will definitely be missing a light and then some this year…
FOREVER YOUNG 