Music History Has Just Been Made As This Year’s Christmas Number 1 Is Revealed

Posted on 22/12/2023 by Boris Clair

Wham! have emerged victorious in the race for this year’s Christmas number one.

The pop duo’s festive hit Last Christmas was revealed to have topped the charts on Friday, almost 40 years after its release.

Last Christmas first debuted in 1984, and was initially held off the top spot by Band Aid’s charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?.

While it’s since topped the UK singles chart on several occasions in the streaming era – this marks the first time it’s landed the coveted number one spot at Christmas, which Andrew Ridgeley has said was always George Michael’s hope for the track.

“Last Christmas has finally ascended to the much-cherished and sought-after official Christmas number one, which was always the main goal,” he told the Official Charts Company on Friday.

“George would be beside himself [that] after all of these years, [we’ve] finally obtained Christmas number one. Yog said that he wrote Last Christmas with the intention of writing a Christmas number one. It’s mission accomplished!”

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This new feat makes Last Christmas the longest ever time between a song’s release and its ascent to the top of the Christmas charts, at 39 years.

“Christmas number one has been a long-held ambition for Yog and I,” Andrew added of his late bandmate. “And for the fans, too. It’ll mean a lot to Wham!’s legacy – it’s the crowning glory.

“Last Christmas was conceived as a Christmas number one. Lofty ambitions, but Yog set lofty ambitions for himself as a songwriter. Our fans will have a real sense of achievement and pride in the fact it’s become Christmas number one.”

Wham! had stiff competition from Eurovision favourite Sam Ryder in this week’s chart.

Sam Ryder performing at Camp Bestival earlier this year

Sam’s festive original You’re Christmas To Me – which is an Amazon exclusive, and marks his first release as an independent artist – landed the number two spot, matching the success of his breakthrough hit Space Man.

“Christmas number two, isn’t that bonkers?” he said. “When we wrote this song, in the blazing month of August, we didn’t even expect it to chart. But here we are, in a Mariah Carey and Wham! sandwich, and we’re the filling. I’m stoked!”

Addressing his fellow musicians, Sam added: “I hope this has given some vigour and some fire to upcoming grass roots and indie artists. You can do it – you’ve just got to set your heart ablaze and get out there.

“Believe, have faith. We always keep fighting. There’s always next week!”

He also revealed he still has a chart-topper in his sights, stating: “Let’s go for it again, let’s get that number one.”

Behind him at number three is Mariah Carey’s festive tune All I Want For Christmas Is You, while Noah Kahan has the week’s highest non-Christmas single with Stick Season at number four.

Completing the top five is Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John’s duet Merry Christmas, ahead of The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale Of New York, which was previously reported to be in contention for the top spot, at number six.

Eurovision Singer Sam Ryder Makes Triumphant Return To The UK After Success At The Contest

Posted on 16/05/2022 by Boris Clair

Singer-songwriter Sam Ryder has made a jubilant return to the UK after his huge success at Eurovision over the weekend.

Sam represented the UK at this year’s song contest in Turin with his self-penned song Space Man, which finished in second place on the night, also landing the most points of any at this year from the Eurovision juries.

With the contest now over for another year, the musician landed back in the UK on Sunday, where was given a triumphant reception.

After his second-place result, Sam was given a hero's welcome as he landed in the UK — After his second-place result, Sam was given a hero’s welcome as he landed in the UK

He was photographed arriving at Heathrow Airport sporting a pink bucket hat, in recognition of this year’s Eurovision winners, the Ukrainian act Kalush Orchestra, whose song Stefania bagged a hefty 631 points to Sam’s 466 on Saturday night.

Sam was also snapped meeting fans as he was met with balloons, flags and fans asking him for selfies.

Sam posing for a selfie at Heathrow Airport

Celebrating the result, Sam previously posted on Instagram: “Thank you all for blazing with love, positivity and kindness throughout this wild and euphoric experience. We completely felt your support and we so deeply appreciated it.

“Huge love to @kalush.official for bringing it home for glorious Ukraine!!! COULDN’T BE HAPPIER RIGHT NOW AND I CAN’T WAIT TO HUG MY GRANDAD!!”

In the lead-up to his performance in the final, Sam told HuffPost UK: “Wherever I come on the scoreboard. I’m flying home the next day and I’m going to have a curry with my mum, dad, grandad and nephew, and watch some telly. That’s going to happen no matter what.”

He also spoke of how he was more concerned about changing attitudes towards Eurovision in the UK than actually winning.

“If we can do well in that regard, and change a certain attitude and try and tear some of that self-perpetuating negativity down, even just a little bit, surely that is the biggest win?” he said. “That’s even more of a win than winning the contest.”

Well, Sam. To you we’d say: mission accomplished.

Ukraine Wins Eurovision As UK Finishes In Second Place

Posted on 15/05/2022 by Boris Clair

Ukraine has won the Eurovision Song Contest with folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra’s song Stefania.

The act have been the frontrunners since Putin’s invasion earlier this year, with organisers also banning Russia from competing.

Ukraine joined the contest in 2003 and its three wins make it one of the most successful of the newer competitor countries, having also triumphed in 2004 and 2016.

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The United Kingdom had led the vote for most of Saturday night’s results after Sam Ryder’s performance of Space Man came out on top of the jury vote.

However, the public overwhelmingly backed Ukraine, finishing with 631 points on the leaderboard, with the UK landing in second place with 466 points.

It was the UK’s best performance in the Song Content in more than 20 years, and proved to be a remarkable reversal of fortunes following last year’s dreaded nul points.

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Tag Archives: sam ryder

Music History Has Just Been Made As This Year’s Christmas Number 1 Is Revealed

Eurovision Singer Sam Ryder Makes Triumphant Return To The UK After Success At The Contest

Ukraine Wins Eurovision As UK Finishes In Second Place