Will Wham! Claim the UK Christmas Number 1 Single for 2024?
Will Wham! Claim the UK Christmas Number 1 Single for 2024?
As the holiday season kicks into full gear, the annual race for the UK’s coveted Christmas Number 1 single is heating up. After finally achieving this accolade in 2023 with their iconic hit “Last Christmas,” Wham! has their sights set on defending their title. But with stiff competition from both newcomers and holiday classics, it will be a battle to the finish line.
Contenders Emerge for Festive Chart Supremacy
A diverse array of artists has stepped up to vie for the most important chart battle of the year. Pop idols, country crooners, charity singles, and even K-pop stars are looking to spread some musical holiday cheer.
As Chief Executive of Official Charts Martin Talbot stated, the field looks wide open and unpredictable. The Christmas Number 1 will be revealed on December 20th on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart show. Until then, let’s examine some of the top contenders aiming for this year’s yuletide chart glory.
The Girls: Pop Princesses and Rising Stars
With female pop stars dominating the charts in 2024, the odds seem favorable for a solo female artist to snag the Christmas top spot for the first time in over a decade. Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, and Chappell Roan are all coming off chart-topping years, while Kelly Clarkson and Perrie are releasing new holiday singles. Even K-pop phenom ROSÉ is in contention with summer jam “APT” gaining traction.
New Releases Look to Make Their Mark
A slew of new tunes dropped this December could ride holiday momentum straight to Number 1. KSI hopes to improve upon last year’s 3rd place finish with new collab “Thick of It” featuring Trippie Redd. Other hot new releases vying for the top include Sam Fender’s “People Watching,” Tate McRae’s “2 Hands,” and Teddy Swims’ enduring hit “The Door.” With a Top 5 debut album, could Linkin Park generate rock-fueled Christmas magic with “The Emptiness Machine”?
Charity Singles Pull on Heartstrings
A cover of “All You Need is Love” by reality stars and British icons titled “The Celebs” aims to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Meanwhile, a new Band Aid 40 track blends vocalists from three decades of the charity juggernaut’s recordings. Wham! hopes their 40th-anniversary “Last Christmas” reissue can compete with Band Aid’s star power.
Do you have high hopes for them? Place a bet at 22bet21.com where they are offering odds of 2/1 or 50% that Wham! Will claim the number 1 spot.
Mariah, Michael, and More Bring Holiday Classics
In addition to Wham! and Band Aid, the return of holiday music royalty could block newcomers from the summit. Mariah Carey’s seminal “All I Want for Christmas Is You” will undoubtedly storm up the charts, while Michael Bublé could snatch his first-ever Christmas Number 1 with new duet “Maybe This Christmas” featuring Carly Pearce. Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” will also duke it out with modern rivals.
The Thrilling Race Concludes December 20th
As Christmas consumes the UK, the suspense builds towards December 20th’s big reveal. Will crowd-pleasers like Ed Sheeran or Kelly Clarkson deliver much-needed holiday cheer? Can WHAM! fend off nostalgic classics and trendy newcomers to repeat as victors? As the clock strikes midnight on December 19th, one act will claim the coveted Christmas Number 1 single for 2024.