We’ve done a straw poll in the office, and have come up with these top ten Christmas songs, as being the best to move house with.
1. Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea
I’m driving home for Christmas
Oh, I can’t wait to see those faces
I’m driving home for Christmas, yea
Well I’m moving down that line…
Originally written as a “b-side” (yes it was on vinyl!) in 1986, it didn’t hit the charts until 1988 when it peaked at number 53. Despite never being a number 1, it’s featured in many Top Ten singles charts ever since – and is a firm favourite of ours.
2. I wish it could be Christmas Every Day – Wizzard
Well I wish it could be Christmas every day
When the kids start singing and the band begins to play
Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
Recorded by this British glam rock back, it was first released in December 1973 but only reached Number 4 in the singles chart!
3. Santa Baby – Kylie Minogue
Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that’s not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
This sassy Christmas song was originally released by Ertha Kitt in 1953! We love the Kylie version of this tongue-in-cheek song about a Christmas list, but it’s also been covered by Madonna, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Gwen Stefani.
4. Last Christmas – Wham!
Last Christmas I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
A classic festive song from Wham! it spend 5 weeks at Number 2 in the British singles charts when it was released in 1984. Only beaten off the top spot by Band Aid’s “Do they know it Christmas”, Bob Geldolf’s and Midge Ure’s world-famous song that raised money and awareness for the crisis in Ethiopia.
5. All I want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey
I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own…
Release in October 1994, this global phenomenon topped the charts in twenty-six countries including Australia, Canada, France and Germany, and has quite rightly given Mariah Carey the honorary title of “Queen of Christmas”.
6. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day
Featuring the vocals of Kirsty MacColl, this much-loved Christmas classic was released in November 1987, but never made it to Number 1.
7. Happy Christmas (War is Over) – John Lennon
So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A protest song against the Vietnam War, this was the 7th single released by John Lennon outside of the Beatles. It reached Number 4 in the UK charts in 1972.
8. Baby it’s Cold Outside – Tom Jones & Carys Matthews
I really can’t stay
Baby, it’s cold outside
I’ve got to go away
Baby, it’s cold outside
This evening has been
Hoping that you’d drop in
So, very nice
I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice
Written by Frank Loesser in 1944 and featuring in the 1949 film, Neptunes’ Daughter – we love this fun version by Tom Jones and Carys Matthews.
9. Do they know it’s Christmas – Band Aid
It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time…
This infamous charity song to raise money for the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia was written by Bob Geldolf and Midge Ure. It was amazingly recorded in one day in 1984 by a “super group” of artists, including George Michael, Boy George, Paul Young, Simon Le Bon, Phil Collins, David Bowie, Paul McCartney and many more. It stayed at Number 1 for 5 weeks and raised over 3.5 million in sales.
10. Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade
So here it is Merry Xmas
Everybody’s having fun
Look to the future now
Its only just begun
Written by lead singer, Noddy Holder, this Christmas classic stayed at Number for 5 weeks after its release in 1973 – it’s definitely one to turn up and play as you unpack all those boxes in your new home!
If you are moving house then put these tunes on your Xmas playlist – it’s sure to help make the packing or unpacking an easier task.
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