Christmas music is a pretty individual thing, with every family, couple and Christmas-lover naming something different as their favourite. While some love a traditional carol, others get excited at the sight of Noddy Holder screaming his Christmas catchphrase. But which song is Britain’s favourite, and why is it the best song of the lot?
Fairytale of New York
The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl topped the list of favourite festive tunes, as collected exclusively for Express.co.uk by PRS for Music, the licensing and collection society.
The song, released in 1987, never made it to Number One in the UK singles chart, but peaked at Number Two in 1987, behind T’Pau’s China in Your Hand, which held the top spot.
This was only until Pet Shop Boys usurped it to get the Christmas Number One for that year with Always on My Mind.
The song did make it to Number One in Ireland, however, and has returned to the UK and Irish charts for many years since.
Last Christmas
Wham!’s famous Christmas hit is another favourite, coming in Number 2 in the research by PRS for Music.
Despite being one of the most covered and played Christmas songs in the UK, and has even spawned a musical movie starring Emilia Clarke, it did not quite reach the top spot in the research, or even in the UK singles chart.
Its peak position was Number 2, which it held for 13 weeks behind Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Foreigner’s I Want to Know What Love Is, I Know Him so Well by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson, and You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive
Clearly fans could not get it quite over the line to hit the top spot.
Merry Xmas Everybody
This song, differently to the previous two, did make it to Number One, and became the Christmas Number One of 1973.
The song was written by Slade’s Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and has been one of the most successful Christmas songs in UK history, and was certified platinum in 1980.
Since downloading, it has re-entered the singles chart, and has sold 1.21million copies as of 2012.
White Christmas
The theme song of a classic Christmas movie, White Christmas is truly what everyone is dreaming of.
The song won an Oscar for its inclusion in Holiday Inn, but was then sung again in White Christmas, and is currently a world record holder.
White Christmas is, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the best selling single ever and has sold in excess of 50million copies worldwide, while versions not sung by Bing Crosby bring the song to almost double that figure in sales.
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
Wizzard’s attempt at a Christmas Number One sadly failed behind Slade’s efforts, however it remained in the chart at Number Four.
It was well remembered as it also used the choir of Stockland Green School to help with the backing vocals, with members of the choir even being invited on Top of the Pops to sing.
However, sadly a local London school was used instead, but the song has remained a huge success.
All I Want For Christmas Is You
Mariah Carey’s Christmas classic finally hit the top spot in the Billboard Hot 100 this year, on its 25th anniversary.
The song had a resurgence in people’s memories after it was used in the Christmas movie, Love Actually, after which it continued to enter the chart during the festive season.
While it has had its American top spot, the song has never made it to the UK Number One, finishing in sixth place this year.
