You gained’t imagine what WHAM! simply did for Christmas – it’s a record-breaking victory!
Shut-up of classic vinyl document cowl single with well-known Wham Final Christmas music in adorned fir tree (give attention to cowl proper of heart.)
Credit score: Shutterstock, Ralf Liebhold
Did somebody say WHAM!? You wager your saucy boots they did.
Everybody’s favorite Christmas music to hum in a high-pitched voice when nobody’s wanting is again – and this time, it’s again with a vengeance! WHAM! are prime of the pops once more, claiming Christmas #1 for the second yr in a row, simply in time for the music’s fortieth anniversary.
It’s Christmas, and WHAM! have pulled off the final word festive feat. Their iconic hit Final Christmas has not solely bagged the 2024 Christmas Quantity 1, but it surely’s additionally made chart historical past by turning into the first-ever monitor to win the title two years operating.
In a yr the place vacation tunes had been preventing tooth and nail for the crown, Final Christmas has stood tall, dominating each streaming and bodily gross sales. With 12.6 million streams and the best-selling bodily single of the week – because of a variety of gorgeous fortieth anniversary vinyls and restricted version CDs – it was clear the nation’s love for George Michael’s Christmas basic wasn’t fading.
Final Christmas: A legendary tune from a legendary duo
Andrew Ridgeley, half of WHAM!, celebrated the second with real delight. Chatting with Official Charts, he mirrored on the lengthy journey of Final Christmas to the highest spot, noting that it took 37 years to succeed in #1 and 39 years to clinch the coveted Christmas #1. He added that George Michael would have been delighted by the music’s enduring reputation, which has now turn into as iconic to Christmas as festive treats like mince pies, turkey, and pigs in blankets.
And he’s not fallacious. Final Christmas is now undeniably Britain’s favorite Christmas music, after making a unprecedented 39-year journey to assert the highest spot in 2023. The music, which was as soon as thwarted by Do They Know It’s Christmas? in 1984, has lastly discovered its place within the vacation corridor of fame.
WHAM! now be a part of an elite group of artists with a number of Christmas Quantity 1s. Alongside legends like Queen, Cliff Richard, and The Beatles, they’ve cemented their place in festive chart folklore.
Wham! steal the thunder of oh so shut Tom Grennan
Whereas Final Christmas claimed the crown, there have been some shut contenders. Gracie Abrams’ That’s So True made a last-minute surge, holding robust at Quantity 2, whereas Mariah Carey’s 30-year-old All I Need For Christmas Is You settled for Quantity 3.
However the true festive drama got here from Tom Grennan, who, after going all-in with a daring Christmas #1 tattoo, got here heartbreakingly shut. His new monitor, It Can’t Be Christmas, noticed a private finest at Quantity 4. Effectively,
Christmas 2024: A chart filled with surprises together with the controversial ‘Freezing this Christmas’
The remainder of the festive chart was filled with surprises, as Apt by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars rounded out the highest 5, whereas new faces like Lola Younger made waves together with her first-ever Prime 10 single, Messy, at Quantity 7.
There was additionally a robust presence from 2024’s chart dominator Sabrina Carpenter, who noticed her monitor A Nonsense Christmas climb into the Prime 20, little doubt because of the excitement surrounding her Netflix particular.
Elsewhere, there was extra vacation cheer from basic tracks, with Do They Know It’s Christmas? at Quantity 12 and Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everybody at Quantity 14.
And in a twist you gained’t need to miss – Freezing This Christmas by Sir Starmer & Granny Harmer made a dramatic look within the Prime 40. This protest monitor, which has been making waves because of a grassroots marketing campaign and fashionable YouTube video, clinched the best-seller title for the week, topping the Official Obtain Chart.
With Final Christmas making historical past and a bunch of contemporary tracks lighting up the charts, Britain’s love for Christmas music is alive and kicking. And with WHAM! persevering with to dominate, it appears we’ll be listening to that festive basic for years to return. So, increase your glass, it’s one other WHAM! Christmas victory.
Merry Christmas to all – and right here’s to bringing again Prime of the Pops!
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