To some, Christmas is two days—Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. To many, Christmas ranges from November 1 to January 1. It’s just the way it goes, and there is nothing wrong with it. However, if you associate with the latter of the two demographics, you’re, partially, the reason the same commercialized Christmas songs have graced the charts season after season.
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Again, if you like listening to Burl Ives before Thanksgiving, there is no shame in that. However, wouldn’t you, just maybe, like a little variety when it comes to the national Christmas playlist? Well, if you think so, then the nation has a lot of work to do, as these three Christmas songs have been topping Billboard’s Holiday 100 for as long as anyone can remember, and they are doing it now.
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
What else is there to say about this song? Is it a classic, yes, absolutely. Although, don’t you think it might be time to hand over the title as the most popular Christmas song of all time to somebody else? Well, that’s between you and yourself, and anyone who wants to listen.
Opinions aside, numbers don’t lie. Since its 1994 release, the song has spent 70 weeks on the chart, and it’s remained at No. 1 on the Holiday 100 for 60 weeks. There are a plethora of other statistical facts proving this song’s seasonal dominance, but I think we’ve all heard them all one too many times. So, perhaps, we should all just bow down to Mariah Carey and accept her inevitable rule over the Christmas season.
“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
One could argue that Brenda Lee’s song is more dominant than Carey’s and the point they’d likely articulate is the sheer longevity of the song. Released in 1958, the song has remained a Christmas staple ever since and graced family living rooms, shopping malls, and Christmas tree lots. Frankly, you could find yourself in the middle of the Mojave desert on December 25 and still have a high likelihood of hearing this song.
Currently, the song is sitting at No. 2 on the chart. However, it has incredibly similar numbers to Carey’s song. Lee’s single has also spent a total of 70 weeks on the chart with its peak position being No. 1. It might be giving Carey a run for her money, but she still hasn’t overtaken her.
“Last Christmas” by Wham!
Last Christmas I Gave Me….So on and so forth, you know the rest of the lyrics, and it’s because George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley have been pumping their ’80s hit into the Christmas airwaves since the song was released in 1984. Whether you were an ’80s child or your parents are, this song is as inescapable as your relatives’ political discussions over Christmas dinner. That being so, the song has become a cornerstone of the holiday.
Sitting in third place on the Holiday 100, the vocal duo’s song has sat in the same position for a total of 70 weeks. Even though it has not surpassed Carey or Lee, it is still one of those Christmas songs almost anyone can sing along to.
All of these songs are an integral part of the holiday, and it might be hard to celebrate Christmas without them. However, despite their quality, we’re due for something new.
Photo by Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images
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