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Enrique Iglesias and Maria Becerra unite atop Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart as “Así Es La Vida” advances from No. 2 to lead the Dec. 9-dated ranking. The move brings back Iglesias to the lead after a nine-year break, for his eighth champ. Becerra captures her second No. 1.
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“Así Es La Vida” leads Tropical Airplay with a 14% improvement in audience impressions, to 4.8 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 30, according to Luminate.
The song was released Sept. 28 via Sony Music Latin and lands at No. 1 on Tropical Airplay in its ninth week. It unseats Chayanne’s “Bailando Bachata” from the penthouse after 15 weeks in charge, the third-most this decade and the longest-leading song in 2023.
“Así Es La Vida” propels Iglesias back to the top spot after “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona, hit No. 1 in 2014. With over nine years to take over Tropical Airplay, it becomes the third-longest gap between No. 1s. Chayanne holds the second-longest span with a 15-year break between “Amor Inmortal” (2008) and “Bailando Bachata” (August 5-dated list). Jennifer Lopez continues to lead with the longest-break between champs — both Marc Anthony collaborations — with a 17-year wait between “No Me Ames” (1999) and “Olvídame y Pega La Vuelta” (2016).
Thanks to the new champ, Iglesias collects his eighth No. 1 on Tropical Airplay. Here’s his collection:
Peak, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1May 31, 2003, “Para Que La Vida,” oneJune 2, 2007, “Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song),” oneDec. 19, 2009, “Gracias A Ti,” with Wisin & Yandel, oneSept. 11, 2010, “Cuando Me Enamoro,” featuring Juan Luis Guerra, sixDec. 31, 2011, “Ayer,” oneMarch 22, 2014, “El Perdedor,” featuring Marco Antonio Solis, oneJuly 5, 2014, “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente De Zona, fourDec. 9, 2023, “Así Es La Vida,” with Maria Becerra
For Becerra, the new achievement gives her a second No. 1 on the tropical ranking. The Argentinian earned her No. 1 in her first chart visit through another bachata, “Te Espero,” with Prince Royce, in May 2022.
Beyond its Tropical Airplay coronation, “Vida” makes progress on the overall Latin Airplay tally, pushing 24-17.
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A short 65 years after its 1958 release, Brenda Lee‘s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” finally hits the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 this week.
The Christmas classic, which rose to No. 2 each of the last four holiday seasons but was previously unable to unseat Mariah Carey’s beloved “All I Want for Christmas is You,” gets all the way to the Hot 100’s apex on the chart dated Dec. 9 — making Lee’s third career No. 1, after “I’m Sorry” and “I Want to Be Wanted” both reached pole position in 1960. It comes after a major promotional push from both Lee and her UMG Nashville label, including a new music video, a new holiday EP, and a whole lot of new Lee TikToks, all timed to the song’s 65th birthday celebration this year.
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What was it that finally got the song over the top? And is the No. 1 spot now Lee’s to lose? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.
1. After 65 years — and four years of finishing in the runner-up spot on the Hot 100 to “All I Want for Christmas Is You” every December — Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” finally claims the No. 1 spot this week. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the historical long-delayed triumph of “Rockin’” topping the Hot 100 in 2023?
Katie Atkinson: I’ll go with a 5, only because it was the most likely non-Mariah Christmas song to get to No. 1 next so it felt inevitable. But I also wouldn’t have been surprised if Mariah had just never ceded the top spot every December from here for years to come. But I love that this opens up the possibility of a revolving door of holidays hits that shift places in and out of the top spots every year. Justice for Bobby Helms!
Kyle Denis: 7. This is fun! It’s cool to see that “All I Want for Christmas Is You” really did a break a glass ceiling for the Hot 100 performance of holiday tracks in the streaming era.
Jason Lipshutz: A 10. As astonishing as it was when Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” finally reached No. 1 a few years ago, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” surpassing that season-defining juggernaut — even for one week — is even more shocking to me. I would have expected a newer Christmas song to become the next non-Mariah holiday single to top the Hot 100; instead, we have Brenda Lee’s 65-year-old standard getting over the hump. This is as improbable as chart feats get.
Taylor Mims: I would rate it a 7. December on the charts has become a lot more interesting since the Hot 100 rules changed to allow holiday music on the main popular chart. The holidays tend to be a slow time for the music industry, but with Mariah Carey and now Brenda Lee vying for those top spots, there’s certainly more to discuss. Carey has really made a holiday meal out of her Christmas song success, but to see a track like Lee’s standard reach the pinnacle is fun to watch and gives everyone an underdog to root for this year.
Andrew Unterberger: At least a 9. Four years ago I would have assumed the race between “All I Want” and “Rockin” would prove essentially asymptotic, with Lee’s song always getting closer but never actually catching Carey’s. Last year was the first year it seemed like there was even a real chance that “Rockin’” would eventually capture the top spot — and I still would’ve assumed it was several years away at the nearest. This year… I’m still having a little trouble believing it, to be honest. Kudos to Lee and UMG for achieving the near-impossible.
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2. Many factors went into this chart race — but most of all, do you think “Rockin’” finally getting past “All I Want” was more a matter of public sentimentality, promotion from Lee and her label, or just good timing?
Katie Atkinson: I’m going to go with timing here. There were some steps taken this year – like Lee releasing her first music video for the song in early November – but I think it really came down to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” being the most popular song in that first full Christmas week this year. Yes, Mariah has the recent track record, but Brenda Lee has a 30-year head start on Christmas nostalgia. There’s also the possibility of fa-la-la-fatigue (sorry) for “All I Want for Christmas.” I have no doubt it will go back to No. 1 at some point, but it’s nice to give Brenda her moment.
Kyle Denis: I think it’s a combination of good timing and promotion from Lee and her label. In terms of timing, we aren’t in the midst of an incredibly dominant weekslong run atop the Hot 100, so reaching the summit proved a bit more feasible. Between a new music video, her active TikTok presence, and a promo run that has included collaborations with Kelly Clarkson and Dolly Parton as well as upcoming live performances, Lee and her team were clearly gunning for that No. 1 – and they got it.
Jason Lipshutz: I think the extra promotion from Lee pushed “Rockin’” to No. 1 this year, after years of running a competitive race but coming up short against “All I Want.” The song has always been a major holiday hit, but this year’s not-so-subtle campaign — including a long-overdue official music video and TikTok appearances from Lee — boosted “Rockin’” just enough to give it a shot at No. 1. Public sentimentality and timing was on its side, but without that promo push, I doubt we’re talking about it finally reaching the top spot.
Taylor Mims: “Rockin’” hitting the top spot seems primarily the work of really good promotion from Lee and her label. That’s not to say it isn’t a great song: It’s fantastic and has absolutely stood the test of time and millions have been and will be playing the song all month. But Lee and her team made a concerted effort to push this song over the threshold on this anniversary and with a star who is incredibly endearing. They got public sentimentality on their side, which is saying a lot considering how crowded the month is with holidays, shopping and general end-of-the-year stress. It shows that people are still interested in these personal profiles and good storytelling.
Andrew Unterberger: The promotion is probably the biggest factor, turning the race into something even non-obsessive Hot 100 watchers were aware of and making Lee’s hunt for the No. 1 one of the feel-good stories of the chart year. But you also can’t count out good old-fashioned playlisting, as Lee’s older holiday classic is privy to some coveted lean-back-listening territory that Carey’s modern standard is still deemed too new for. At this time of year, when a lot of folks are just reaching for the nearest, most-familiar and most-comforting set of Christmas songs available, that advantage is not to be overlooked.
3. Now that “Rockin’” has overtaken “All I Want” for one week, do you see it staying on top indefinitely, trading back and forth with “All I Want” week-to-week, or giving the top spot back up to “All I Want” and resuming its runner-up position?
Katie Atkinson: I see the two songs trading spots — and maybe even allowing for some other holiday favorites to slip in to No. 1 as well. I don’t think there would be anything that embodies the holiday season more than gifting a revolving door of legendary artists an unprecedented chart-topper decades into their careers or even after they’ve passed. Let’s shake it up!
Kyle Denis: I’m inclined to think it will probably concede the top spot to “All I Want” for a few weeks, but the points will be close. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a third holiday song sneak a week in at No. 1.
Jason Lipshutz: Hard to say exactly — I’m still shocked that Brenda surpassed Mariah for a single week this year — but my guess would be that “All I Want” resumes its status as the biggest Christmas song on the charts and “Rockin’” dips back to No. 2. I respect Mariah Carey’s classic single as a culture-dominating holiday behemoth too much to entertain notions of “All I Want” staying in the runner-up spot, at least for the foreseeable future. While I’m very happy that Brenda Lee finally made it to No. 1, I suspect that this will be a one-week flare-up, and Mariah ascends to the top spot next week.
Taylor Mims: That all depends on how much work Lee and her team plan on putting in to this endeavor. “Rockin’” is officially a No. 1 Hot 100 hit, and I am not sure what a few more weeks at the top spot will mean for the track. I think it would take a lot more resources to keep pushing ahead of Carey and her well-oiled “Queen of Christmas” machine. As the month progresses, I also think it will be harder and harder to sustain attention on the subject and folks will go back to playing generic holiday music playlists. Without a PR push, I think it will go back to a close runner up position and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Andrew Unterberger: It seems like “Rockin’” might still have the advantage for this upcoming chart week, and with all this attention and momentum fully behind her, it seems possible that Lee might be able to hang on for the rest of the holiday season — though I certainly wouldn’t count out “All I Want” reclaiming the throne for a week or two. The bigger question will be who starts on top next year, and if it’ll be Carey’s time to turn up the anniversary-celebrating volume; next year will be the 30th birthday of “All I Want,” after all.
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4. With “All I Want” finally proving deposable, do you think more artists and/or their labels will be getting actively involved in trying to power their holiday staples up the charts? If so, is there anything they can learn from the success of “Rockin’”?
Katie Atkinson: Absolutely, but it’s pretty hard to take lessons from the decades of legacy “Rockin’” brings to the table. I mean, in addition to everyone growing up with the song, whether purposely or passively, it also has major moments in holiday movies like Home Alone, so you’re going to get your Brenda fix somewhere in the season whether you’re trying or not. But I think just providing a glimmer of hope that it’s possible to (temporarily) dethrone the reigning Queen means other artists, veterans and rookies alike, should shoot their shot.
Kyle Denis: I think we’ll absolutely see more artists trying to fashion chart contenders outs of their holiday originals. From the success of “Rockin,’” artists should take note of the effectiveness of relentless promotion that’s strategically spaced out to maximize chart timing. In the tracking week that ultimately culminated in the “Rockin’” reaching No. 1, Lee provided “part two” of an exclusive BTS music video set tour with appearances from Trish Yearwood and Tanya Tucker, stopped by the Bobby Bones show and visited Talk Shop Live. And this all happened about four weeks after she debuted the track’s official music video, which featured a 78-year-old Lee lip-syncing to her 13-year-old voice! Content is king!
Jason Lipshutz: No — if “Rockin’” hitting No. 1 decades after its release demonstrates anything, it’s that the holiday-song market is darn near impossible to game, especially when it comes to new singles trying to make a dent in the stronghold of the long-running classics. “All I Want” may be perceived as slightly more fallible now than it was last week, but it’s not like a recent holiday song upended its chart run; “Rockin’” is a beloved, generations-spanning single, and those are impossible to replicate within the music industry.
Taylor Mims: Artists and labels will absolutely be coming for Carey’s throne. Lee and her team had a great plan, took their time executing it and triumphed (please, everyone go watch the beautiful video of Lee finding out “Rockin’” hit No. 1). There is now a blueprint for challenging Carey for that No. 1 spot over the holiday season and I think she has a lot of adversaries ahead. Do I think they will all succeed? No. Do I think the public will get tired of holiday chart competitions? Yes. But when something succeeds as well as Lee’s campaign did, there will be copycats.
Andrew Unterberger: In all honesty, I think there’s only one song that has anywhere near the juice to properly challenge either of these songs anytime soon: Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” which is another undeniable classic that also seems to grow in public esteem every year (particularly after frontman George Michael’s death during the 2016 holiday season). If the duo’s Sony label label wanted to follow the “Rockin’” blueprint and do a big promotional push in time for a major anniversary — the song’s 40th anniversary is next year, though they might be better off waiting for the 10th anniversary of Michael’s passing in 2026 — I think the door is at least slightly ajar.
5. Ignoring all chart-related concerns: on another scale from 1-10, how much would you say “Rockin’” still rocks 65 years after its release?
Katie Atkinson: It’s a 10 for me. It’s just so cute and fun, and I’ve somehow never gotten sick of it. I still can’t believe a 13-year-old sang this stone-cold classic.
Kyle Denis: 6. It’s aight.
Jason Lipshutz: An 8. It’s not my favorite Christmas song, as is not as enthralling as “All I Want,” but I always enjoy hearing it on a holiday playlist, on the radio or within a too-crowded shopping mall, and get immediately transported back to the holiday listening sessions of my childhood. You could even say that when I hear it, I get a sentimental feeling.
Taylor Mims: That’s an easy 10. “Rockin’” is one of the most upbeat and cheerful Christmas standards and it is impossible to get out of your head after you’ve heard it once. It is the potato chip of holiday music — you can’t listen to it just once. It’s got guitar, a raspy voice, a touch of brass and a whole lot of heart. Every year we start hearing it earlier and earlier (pre-Thanksgiving now) and it warms the spirits in the cold months. Undoubtedly, “Rockin’” has another 65 years in it.
Andrew Unterberger: A 7. It’s not quite in the top tier to me, but I never really mind hearing it — which, after 65 years of annual overplay (37 of which I’ve been alive for), is still fairly impressive.
As Brenda Lee’s classic holiday hit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” hits No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated Dec. 9), Johnny Marks and Owen Bradley, the late songwriter and producer behind the song, respectively, each achieve their first-ever No. 1 on Billboard’s charts.
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Marks wrote “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958 for a then-13-year-old Lee. He previously penned other holiday favorites, including Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” released in 1949. After “Rockin’,” he wrote Burl Ives’ 1964 classics “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Silver and Gold.” Marks is also credited as a co-writer on Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” due to his trademark on the Rudolph character.
“He was such a gentle soul,” Lee recalled to Billboard of the late songwriter Dec. 4, upon learning of her new Hot 100 coronation. “He was Jewish and didn’t even believe in Christmas, and all that would come out of him was Christmas music. He told me he was laying on the beach in New York and I guess he took a nap or something and when he woke up, he saw the pine trees were kind of swaying. I said, ‘You got pine trees on the beach in New York?’ He said, ‘Yeah, and I thought the pine trees are rocking, and he went home and came up with ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.’”
Marks died in 1985 at age 75. Last week, he returned to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters chart for a 20th week on top. He’s led the chart annually since the ranking launched in 2019, as holiday hits return to the Hot 100 each season.
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“Rockin’ ” producer Owen Bradley also scores his first No. 1 on the Hot 100. He also produced Bobby Helms’ 1957 classic “Jingle Bell Rock.”
In addition to his work on those holiday perennials, the Tennessee native and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee is also considered one of the architects of the “Nashville sound,” the style of country music that incorporates pop elements with soft strings and smooth tempos. He helped establish the subgenre through his production work on hits by Patsy Cline, including “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces” and “Walkin’ After Midnight,” as well as songs by Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty and Kitty Wells. He started his career working at legendary Nashville radio station WSM-AM and later rose to become vice president of the Decca record label’s Nashville division.
Bradley died in 1998 at age 82. Similar to Marks, Bradley has topped the Hot 100 Producers chart every year since Billboard launched the rankings in 2019. He leads the latest list for a 13th total week.
Taylor Swift spends a record-extending 88th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated Dec. 9), thanks to 10 albums on the Billboard 200 – including a landmark five in the top 10 – as well as six songs on the Billboard Hot 100. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) leads Swift’s titles on the […]
Farruko achieves his 13th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as his latest single, “Pasajero,” rises 3-1 on the Dec. 9-dated list. “Pasajero,” which translates to “Passenger,” climbs to No. 1 after a 7% boost in audience impressions, to 9.41 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 30, according to Luminate. […]
After only two days of tracking, Taylor Swift’s “You’re Losing Me (From the Vault)” debuts at No. 46 on the latest Dec. 9-dated Billboard Hot 100. The song tallied 8.7 million U.S. streams and 19,000 downloads sold in its first two days. The sales sum helps the song debut at No. 1 on the Digital […]
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” reclaims the crown on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Dec. 9). The song dashes from No. 3 to No. 1 on the former and 8-1 on the latter.
‘Tis the season for other holiday hits in the charts’ top 10, as well, led by Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” which leaps 9-2 on the Global 200 and returns to the Global Excl. U.S. top 10 (15-3). Plus, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (17-4), Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (24-6) and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (35-8) all make sleigh rides back to the Global 200’s top 10.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.
Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
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Carey’s ‘Christmas’ Back Atop Global 200
Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” tops the Global 200 with 73.4 million streams (up 51%) and 6,000 sold (up 46%) worldwide Nov. 24-30. The song, originally released in 1994, has now spent 14 weeks at No. 1, following four weeks in both the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons and five frames over last year’s holidays. Only Harry Styles’ “As It Was” has led longer: 15 weeks in 2022.
Wham!’s “Last Christmas” charges 9-2 on the Global 200 with 62.1 million streams (up 51%) and 4,000 sold (up 64%) worldwide. The song, from 1984, spends a seventh total week at its highpoint.
Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me” retreats to No. 3 from its No. 2 Global 200 best and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” bounds 17-4 with 48.6 million streams (up 69%) and 3,000 sold (up 44%) worldwide. The 1958 chestnut reached No. 2 last holiday season.
Rounding out the Global 200’s top five, Tate McRae’s “Greedy” drops to No. 5 following two weeks at No. 1.
Two other carols again decorate the Global 200’s top 10: Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (24-6) and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (35-8). The former, from 1957, drew 42.2 million streams (up 62%) worldwide in the tracking week, while the latter, released in 2014, logged 35.6 million (up 57%). The songs have hit Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, on the chart.
Carey Also No. 1 on Global Excl. U.S.
Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” concurrently revisits the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. apex, with 44.1 million streams (up 53%) and 3,000 sold (up 56%) worldwide Nov. 24-30. The song adds a ninth week at No. 1, following one week in the 2020 holiday season, three the next year and four last season.
Tate McRae’s “Greedy” descends to No. 2 a week after it hit No. 1 on Global Excl. U.S.; Wham!’s No. 2-peaking “Last Christmas” flies 15-3 (38.1 million streams, up 55%); Jung Kook’s “Seven,” featuring Latto, falls 2-4, following nine weeks at No. 1 beginning in July; and Iñigo Quintero’s “Si No Estás” slips 4-5, following two weeks on top in November.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Dec. 9, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Dec. 5). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” rises 4-2 on the Hot 100, with across-the-board gains in streams (32.4 million, up 47%), airplay (21.5 million, up 38%) and sales (4,000, up 39%); it’s the chart’s second-greatest gainer in both streaming and airplay and earns the top Sales Gainer nod. With its 2019 coronation, Carey claimed her 19th Hot 100 No. 1, extending her mark for the most among soloists and moving to within one of The Beatles’ overall record 20. The single also reigns as the No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs retrospective.
Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me” dips to No. 3 on the Hot 100, a week after it became his third No. 1. It claims the chart’s top Airplay Gainer award (29.9 million, up 44%), while also increasing in streams (25.1 million, up 6%). It concurrently tops the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, which use the same methodology as the Hot 100, for a third week each.
Next up among holiday songs on the Hot 100, Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” from 1957, gallops 12-4, one spot way from its best rank, with 27.6 million streams (up 55%) and 19.9 million in airplay audience (up 36%); Wham!’s “Last Christmas” jingles 13-5, led by 26.9 million streams (up 52%); and Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” dashes 16-6 (26.2 million, up 61%). The latter two tracks, from 1984 and 1964, respectively, have both hit No. 4 highs to date.
Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” falls 2-7 on the Hot 100, following four nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 beginning in October.
Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” descends 3-8 on the Hot 100, after it led for three nonconsecutive weeks beginning in September – and becomes her first No. 1 on Radio Songs (65.8 million, down 1%).
SZA’s “Snooze” remains tucked in the Hot 100’s top 10, slipping 5-9, after reaching No. 2, as it leads the multi-metric Hot R&B Songs chart for an 18th week.
Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” originally released in 1963, leaps 28-10, with 20 million in radio reach (up 26%). The late singer now sports a record span of 64 years and two months from his first week in the top 10 with “Lonely Street” in October 1959 through his latest frame. (Excluding holiday fare, The Beatles broke the record for the longest top 10 span last month: 59 years, nine months and three weeks, from “I Want To Hold Your Hand” in 1964 to the debut of their newly-released single “Now and Then.”)
Jack Harlow is loving life at the summit of the U.K. singles chart as “Lovin On Me” (via Atlantic) enters its third week at No. 1.
The Louisville rapper’s latest hit snares its biggest seven-day volume yet with 55,000 combined units, the Official Charts Company reports.
Meanwhile, Noah Kahan enjoys a new career high with “Stick Season” (Republic Records), up 4-2, while Casso, Raye and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) completes the podium, down 2-3.
Christmas isn’t yet here, but you wouldn’t know it by studying the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Dec. 1.
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All told, 16 festive tracks place in the top 40 this week, the OCC reports, including two top 10s. Wham’s enduring ‘80s classic “Last Christmas” (Epic) leads the charge, up 14-5, ahead of Mariah Carey’s All “I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia), up 16-6.
Following the death Thursday (Nov. 30) of the Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, aged 65, “Fairytale of New York” (Rhino) featuring Kirsty MacColl reenters the top 40 at No. 18. Now, with LadBaby official out of the race for the coveted U.K. Christmas No. 1, chart anoraks will keep a close eye on the ascent of the Pogues’ masterpiece.
Martin Talbot, CEO of the Official Charts, tips the song as a “genuine contender” for the Christmas crown.
“As usual, it was already heading back into the Official Singles Chart Top 40 this week and, while it is currently too early to give an indication of the scale of the streaming surge, we would very much expect it to rise back into the Top 20 over the coming days, perhaps even higher,” comments Martin Talbot, Chief Executive Officer, Official Charts. “It is a genuine contender for this year’s Christmas No. 1 – a chart position which this classic has never previously reached. What a fitting tribute to Shane that would be.”
“Fairytale of New York” has a U.K. chart best of No. 2, missing out when it was beaten to the Christmas No. 1 in 1987 by Pet Shop Boys’ “Always on My Mind.”
Further down the tally is Brenda Lee’s “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” (No. 14 via MCA), Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (No. 16 via Reprise), Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s former chart-topper Merry Christmas (No. 17 via Atlantic/EMI) and other seasonal favorites.
Take That are crowned on the U.K. albums chart with This Life (EMI), which flexes its way to year-best sales for a British act.
The runaway leader at the midweek stage, This Life bows at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, Dec. 1, with 116,000 chart sales from its first seven days. That eclipses the 95,000 first-week combined sales for Lewis Capaldi’s sophomore effort Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, until now the biggest-volume for a British artist album in 2023.
With their latest studio effort, the veteran pop group – now the trio of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald – snags a ninth leader.
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Previously, the record-busting group led the weekly tally with Everything Changes (1993), Nobody Else (1995), Greatest Hits (1996), Beautiful World (2006), The Circus (2008), Progress (2010), III (2014) and Odyssey (2018).
The lads will support the album in 2024 with an extensive tour of the U.K. and Europe.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) holds at No. 2, while the Rolling Stones’ former leader Hackney Diamonds (Polydor) lifts 4-3.
Not far behind is Michael Bublé’s Christmas (Reprise), which, like clockwork, makes its journey up the chart. Christmas improves 16-4, for its first stint in the top 5 this year, the OCC reportS.
The late, great Tina Turner, lands a posthumous top 40 appearance with Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Rhino), new at No. 16. It’s the legendary U.S. singer’s 16th top tier appearance in the U.K. The “Simply The Best” singer died in May of this year, aged 84.
Finally, Australia’s princess of pop Kylie Minogue returns to the top 40 with Kylie (BMG), the album that ignited her pop career. Kylie blasts to No. 30, thanks to a reissue to celebrate its 35th anniversary, including a neon pink version on wax. The set, which led the chart back in 1988, is the best-seller on vinyl during the latest cycle.