December 22nd 2024.
As the Christmas season approaches, we are once again faced with the difficult task of choosing our favorite holiday songs. With so many beloved classics to choose from, it's no surprise that there is always a heated debate over which ones reign supreme.
From traditional carols to catchy pop hits to lesser-known alternative tracks, the genre of Christmas music spans a wide range. And this year, we saw a new contender in the form of Tom Grennan's latest release, battling it out for the top spot on the charts against the 40-year-old Wham!'s timeless hit, "Last Christmas." In the end, it was Wham! who took the number one spot, but even Christmas icons like Wizzard's Roy Wood have their own personal favorites, with Wood himself praising Mariah Carey's 90s hit, "All I Want For Christmas."
But it's not just the established artists who are inspired by the festive season. Rising star Calum Scott revealed that he drew inspiration from Sam Ryder's success with a new Christmas song last year, showing that Christmas music is constantly evolving and paving the way for future generations of artists.
With all this evolution, it's natural to wonder which decade has produced the best Christmas songs. For the past two years, Wham! has claimed the top spot on the charts, but the 70s saw a huge surge in Christmas music, with hits like Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" and Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" dominating the airwaves. In fact, these two songs were locked in a chart battle in 1973, with Slade ultimately coming out on top and sparking a beloved British tradition.
The 70s also saw other iconic Christmas songs from artists like Mud, Elton John, The Jackson 5, Boney M, The Temptations, and even Elvis Presley. It was a decade of momentum and by the end of it, there was a huge boom in new Christmas songs, setting the stage for the following decade.
According to a survey conducted by music licensing company PPL PRS, 75% of Brits believe that the 80s produced the best Christmas music. This era was defined by iconic artists like Band Aid, Wham, Shakin' Stevens, Cliff Richard, and The Pogues, whose songs have become timeless classics. And even today, Do They Know It's Christmas, originally released by Band Aid in the 80s, continues to be re-released every few years.
The 90s came in at a close second, with hits from East 17, Spice Girls, and Mariah Carey's iconic "All I Want for Christmas is You." However, there was a significant drop in Christmas releases after the turn of the century, as artists slowed down their holiday releases.
But as the 2010s rolled around, we saw a shift once again, with artists like Kelly Clarkson and Justin Bieber releasing their own festive tracks. And of course, we can't forget Michael Buble, who has solidified himself as a certified Christmas crooner with multiple holiday songs to his name.
And while we may hold a special place in our hearts for the music of the past, there are always new songs that have the potential to become future classics. Who knows, maybe in 2060, we'll be singing along to Tom Grennan's "It Can't Be Christmas" with the same nostalgia and joy that we now feel for the songs of the 80s.
The love for Christmas music knows no bounds, and it's clear that the genre will continue to evolve and inspire future generations of artists. So as we enter this holiday season, let's embrace the old and the new and enjoy the magic of Christmas music, no matter the decade.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
