7th December 2011
If all goes to plan, this afternoon I’m putting up my Christmas tree.
BUT – an operation such as this requires the right sound track.
I’ve had the same Christmas CD for about ten years now and frankly I’m a bit bored of Slade and Shakin’ Stevens. I know this is a controversial statement – but there, I’ve said it now.
So, I’ve been having a look back at previous Christmas number ones to see if I can find something a bit different and come up with my top five.
But before I cut to the chase, I have a few little facts for you. Did you know .......
The Beatles top the chart when it comes to the most Christmas number ones with:
‘I want to hold your hand’ in 1963, ‘I feel fine’ in 1964, ‘Day tripper’ in 1965 and ‘Hello Goodbye’ 1967.
Of course Paul McCartney had another bite of the cherry in 1977 with Wings and 'Mull of Kintyre' which as far as I can remember stayed at number one for the rest of the year!
In the ‘90’s, Christmas bought itself a Union Jack dress and a pair of platforms and exhaled a big dose of ‘Girl Power’. Three Christmas number ones – thank you The Spice Girls for:
‘2 become 1’ in 1996, ‘Too Much’ in 1997 and ‘Goodbye’ in 1998.
It sounds like one of my previous relationships from around that time.
Band Aid have changed their line up more times than the Sugababes, but it didn’t stop them charting at number one in Christmas 1984, 1989 and 2004 with ‘Do they Know it’s Christmas?’ It’s just a guess – but I think they probably do!
While people across the Commonwealth sit down at 3 o’clock every Christmas to watch the Queen’s speech (not to be confused with ‘The King’s Speech – though I’d be quite happy to swap HRH for Colin Firth), she isn’t the only Queen to have ruled at Christmas. In 1975 and again in 1991, rock God’s Queen topped the chart with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and Beelzebub in his sideboard!
The crown for ‘same song, different artist’ goes to ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ which reached number one with Boney M in 1978 and Harry Belafonte in 1957.
Are you impressed? I’ve been doing some very in depth research.
While at one point in the late ‘80’s if felt like Cliff Richard was Christmas number one every year – he actually only managed it twice (I say only – it’s twice more than I’ve managed), with ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ in 1988 and ‘Saviours Day’ in 1990 - though he did manage a cheeky number one in 1960 with ‘The Shadows’ and ‘I Love You’.
And I love you too Cliff, so I guess we can bump you up to three.
We’ve had some corkingly bad novelty number one’s over the years. Who could forget (though I’m sure we’d all love to), Mr Blobby with ‘Mr Blobby ‘Blobby, Blobby’ in 1993, Renee & Renato with ‘Save Your Love’ in 1982, St Winifred’s School Choir with ‘There’s no one quite like Grandma’ in 1980, Bennie Hill with ‘Ernie (fastest milkman in the west) in 1971 and Bob the Builder with ‘Can we fix it?’ in 2000. Sadly this wasn’t followed by Barak Obama with ‘Yes we can’ in 2011. Oooooh political!
However the ‘ridiculous name’ award goes to neither Mr Blobby nor Bob the Builder, but Conrad Twitty who was top of the pops Christmas 1958 with ‘It’s only make believe’. But unfortunately it wasn’t – that really was his name.
Sadly the ‘noughties’ and I suspect the ‘teenies’ have become very predictable, being dominated by reality show winners – mainly The X Factor.
In 2002 we had Girls Aloud with ‘The Sound of the Underground’. In 2005 Shayne Ward, 2006 Leona Lewis, 2007 Leon Jackson, 2008 Alexandra Burke and 2010 Matt Cardle. Only poor little Joe McElderry has failed to make it to Christmas number one, pipped at the post by Rage Against the Machine and ‘Killing in the name’ – the nations anti X Factor 2009 protest vote.
I suspect this year’s will be ‘Little Mix’ singing ‘Hip hopping around the Christmas Tree’.
So enough of this preamble - I’ve scoured the list of Christmas number ones and here are my favorite Top 5.
5. Michael Andrews starring Gary Jules - ‘Mad World’. Christmas 2003 (because it’s so haunting).
4. Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman – ‘Something Stupid’. Christmas 2001 (for the sexual chemistry).
3. Rolf Harris – ‘Two Little Boys’. Christmas 1969 (the year I was born).
2. Danny Williams – ‘Moon River’. Christmas 1961 (last dance at our wedding).
1. Dickie Valentine – ‘Christmas Alphabet’. Christmas 1955 (a good old fashioned Christmas song).
Whatever your favorite Christmas tune – bang it on the CD player (wow, sorry, I’m a bit old – try again) ipod, crack open the sherry, swing your baubles and get it up (the tree that is)!
