Christmas Songs: The Annual Takeover
Christmas songs have officially begun their audacious rise in the music charts, proving once again that the holiday spirit starts earlier than my impulse to eat all the Quality Street on display. Spotify, in all its streaming glory, revealed this little nugget of festive joy on Sunday. Yes, it’s November 10, and already the jingle bells are louder than the shopkeepers grumbling about Christmas shopping starting way too soon!
It’s hilarious how television channels and platforms have rushed to release their saccharine Christmas TV movies before we’ve even had time to properly dispose of our Halloween decorations. I mean, I can barely finish scraping the pumpkin guts off my doorstep before someone’s shoving a Santa hat in my face. And let’s not forget the Queen of Christmas herself—Mariah Carey—who kicked off the holiday season right on November 1. Talk about early! If you think we’ve got enough turkey left over from Thanksgiving, there’s probably an entire Christmas ham waiting in the wings, too.
Stream the Jingle Bells!
Now, it’s not just Mariah bringing the festive tunes back into our lives. According to Spotify Daily Data, a couple of legendary songs are climbing up the charts like sugar-fueled kids on Christmas morning. Rockin’ around the Christmas tree by Brenda Lee has sashayed into the overall ranking at an impressive 159th place with a whopping 1.35 million plays. And how about Last Christmas from Wham!? That’s made a stunning leap of 51 places, crash-landing at 60th place with 1.92 million streams. Talk about a festive resurgence! It’s like nostalgia wrapped in tinsel and sprinkled with a bit of glittery hope.
Crazy Comeback!
Then we’ve got the crown jewel of Christmas tracks, All I Want for Christmas Is You, which turns 30 this year. It’s now comfortably nestled in the top 50, taking 48th place with 2.13 million streams. A “crazy comeback” indeed; last week it was languishing at 104th. That’s the musical equivalent of a phoenix rising from the ashes… or perhaps just the result of a few well-placed Instagram ads.
Surprisingly, last year was a groundbreaking one for these tracks. Brenda Lee’s song, that delightful slice of 1958 nostalgia, actually topped the US Billboard chart for the first time, dethroning none other than our beloved Mariah. If that’s not a Christmas miracle, I don’t know what is. Meanwhile, every pop star from Justin Bieber to Meghan Trainor has attempted to cover it—because nothing screams “I’m lit” more than adding another version of a classic to your Spotify playlist.
Oh, and let’s not forget George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s Last Christmas, which finally received its “official Christmas song” badge in the UK last year. Honestly, this song should have been crowned Christmas royalty ages ago. Everyone knows it, loves it, and inevitably ends up humming it while standing in line for last-minute shopping.
The Big Apple Lights Up!
In the big, bright heart of New York, the Christmas spirit is creeping in faster than my relatives after I mention holiday dinner. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is already in position, ready to be dressed up like a showgirl for her big moment on December 4. Let’s hope it doesn’t steal all the thunder from Mariah Carey’s tour—there’s enough attention to go around, right?
In conclusion, as we race head-first into this festive frenzy, let’s embrace the joy, the cringe, and yes, those catchy jingles. Because if there’s one thing we all look forward to more than a new year’s resolution we’ll break by February, it’s the sweet sound of Christmas hits filling the air. So grab your eggnog, put on those festive sweaters, and let the holiday tunes invade your life… before they drive you utterly mad!
This Sunday, Spotify unveiled that the beloved Christmas songs are once again climbing the music charts as we approach the festive season.
It’s November 10, and the air is already thick with Christmas cheer. Television channels and streaming platforms have jumped the gun, releasing their holiday-themed movies before we’ve even had a chance to enjoy Halloween. Adding to the excitement, Mariah Carey kicked off the holiday season on November 1 with the much-anticipated launch of her “Christmas time” tour, which is captivating audiences across the United States.
Crazy comeback
Not only is Mariah Carey, the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas, eagerly anticipating the holiday festivities, but she also continues to dominate the charts. According to Spotify Daily Data, the iconic festive favorite Rockin’ around the Christmas tree by Brenda Lee has made a significant impact, entering Spotify’s overall rankings at 159th place with an impressive 1.35 million plays. Meanwhile, the beloved tune Last Christmas by Wham! has surged up the list, climbing an impressive 51 spots to seize the 60th position, racking up 1.92 million streams.
Mariah Carey’s iconic hit All I Want for Christmas Is You celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and has made a remarkable leap into the top 50, landing at 48th place with 2.13 million streams—a stunning turnaround considering it was only 104th last week.
Brenda Lee’s cherished classic, which made waves last year by securing the top spot on the US Billboard chart for the first time since its 1958 release—dethroning Mariah Carey in the process—continues to resonate with audiences. The song has been covered by a host of popular artists, including Justin Bieber, Camila Cabello, and Meghan Trainor, all of whom have put their unique spin on this Christmas staple.
Interestingly, Last Christmas, the timeless 1984 hit by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, only received its official designation as a “Christmas song” in the UK last year, marking a new chapter in its storied legacy.
In New York, the festive spirit is palpable as well; the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which will be adorned and illuminated on December 4, is already in position, eagerly awaiting its traditional decorations.
**Interview with Holiday Music Expert, Sam Reynolds**
**Editor:** Thanks for joining us today, Sam! With the rise of Christmas songs in the charts so early in the season, what do you think is driving this trend?
**Sam Reynolds:** Thanks for having me! It’s fascinating, isn’t it? The holiday season seems to start earlier every year. This year, for instance, we’re seeing tracks like Brenda Lee’s *Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree* and Wham!’s *Last Christmas* rising dramatically in the Spotify rankings even before Thanksgiving. I think it reflects a combination of nostalgia and the comforting power of holiday music during what can be a stressful time.
**Editor:** Mariah Carey has officially kicked off the season and her tour. How important is her presence to the holiday music scene?
**Sam Reynolds:** Absolutely vital! Mariah Carey is, without a doubt, the Queen of Christmas. Her song *All I Want for Christmas Is You*, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, is a cultural phenomenon and a staple of the season. The fact that it jumped back into the top 50 shows just how much people look forward to her music. It’s like the unofficial anthem of Christmas—as soon as you hear it, you know the holidays have begun.
**Editor:** Speaking of comebacks, last year was quite a milestone for some classic tracks. Can you tell us more about that?
**Sam Reynolds:** Yes! It was quite the Christmas miracle when Brenda Lee’s classic hit topped the US Billboard chart for the first time last year, knocking Mariah off her perch. That’s no small feat! It just goes to show that the enduring appeal of these songs continues to resonate with new generations. Meanwhile, *Last Christmas* finally received its official Christmas song badge in the UK, a recognition that fans feel was long overdue.
**Editor:** With all these nostalgic tracks climbing the charts, how do newer artists fit into the holiday music landscape?
**Sam Reynolds:** Great question! In recent years, we’ve seen pop artists like Justin Bieber and Meghan Trainor cover these classics. It’s like a festive rite of passage for contemporary artists. While some purists may frown upon it, it keeps the songs alive and relevant. There’s also plenty of original holiday music being released, so it’s exciting to see both classic and new songs coexisting on playlists.
**Editor:** And as we gear up for the holidays, what should we expect to see happening in festive performances and events?
**Sam Reynolds:** Well, in New York, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting is a must-see event that always draws huge crowds. With the excitement around Mariah’s tour, the public can expect a vibrant mix of live performances and family-friendly holiday events. It’s all about basking in the holiday spirit and embracing the joy that music can bring—just remember to pace yourself with the eggnog!
**Editor:** Fantastic insights, Sam! It seems like we’re all ready to embrace this holiday music invasion.
**Sam Reynolds:** For sure! Bring on the jingle bells!
