Christmas Miracle or Music Mayhem? The Battle for Number One Heats Up

The festive season is in full swing and with it the annual debate about who will claim the coveted Christmas number one title in the charts. This year, the competition is fiercer than ever with some big names throwing their hats into the ring. The likes of Wicked stars, the irrepressible Wham!, heartthrob Tom Grennan, and the undisputed Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, are among those in the running for the top spot.

Wham!, made up of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, had some of the most iconic music of the 80s, with unforgettable hits like Careless Whisper and Last Christmas. Even though it has been a staple of Christmas playlists for decades, their evergreen hit Last Christmas is still proving popular, having reached the number one spot as recently as 2020 and consistently featuring in the top 100 over Christmas. With their enduring legacy, it would be no surprise if they reached the coveted number one slot once again, especially given their ongoing influence over pop music.

Meanwhile, the original cast recording of hit musical Wicked recently experienced a resurgence in popularity, having had multiple charting albums since its original release in 2003. This has given a new audience the chance to fall in love with hits like Defying Gravity and For Good, though the show-stopping anthems might face stiffer competition as some may deem them not Christmassy enough.

British musician Tom Grennan has made a name for himself with energetic live performances and powerfully emotive vocals on chart-topping hits like Little Bit of Love and Where My Heart Lies. Despite the fact his music isn't traditionally Christmas-themed, Grennan brought his UK charm across to a European audience in time for the release of his second EP which debuted at number two, where his style might have secured him a spot among numerous Christmas playlists across the UK. As such, his entry to the coveted number one Christmas slot seems well-founded.

Last but by no means least is Mariah Carey, famous for her impressive vocal range and chart-busting smash hits including Vision of Love, We Belong Together and her iconic holiday tune All I Want For Christmas Is You. Carey might face the same problem that Wham! do in their bid for the coveted Christmas number one, as it is hard to shift from the spot without fresh music. With new, popular music from competing artists being released this season, this festive classic may run into challenges reaching number one this year.