Here’s a festive conundrum for you: when the Christmas spirit takes over, why is it we all drunkenly grope for the nearest tinsel-drenched tune and cling on for dear life? Here at RealMusic Blog we’re continually stumped, especially with the failure of The Hives & Cyndi Lauper’s A Christmas Duel to trouble the UK charts this year - it’s the first decent Christmas tune in aeons. It seems that when it comes to Christmas, tradition is where it’s at: out with the new and in with the old…
Looking in the charts for the week from December 21, there are a glut of old-school Christmas songs clogging up the charts where new ones could be. Six ancient festive tracks including Mariah, Wham! and The Pogues are in the top 40, as well as Wizzard, with Slade and Shakin’ Stevens lingering nearby. Some of these records are over 30 years old, but no matter: every year they bound back into the charts, give a cheery Christmas wave and slump next to us on the sofa eating all the Quality Street. We’re not sure why - do people buy the track, throw it out and then buy it again the next year? Answers on a postcard please…
But it begs the question - are we too attached to the old songs and resistant to the new ones? I mean, think about The Hives and Cyndi Lauper. Cracking song, hilariously caustic lyrics, singalong chorus - but it didn’t happen for them. There are probably oodles of other festive songs out there desperate for chart success, but we’re all grimly hanging on to Slade, Wizzard et al for dear life. Why? Surely there’s room for everyone in the Christmas charts? Room for a bit more tat and fun? Yes there’s nothing like Mariah to get the party started, but wouldn’t you like a couple of new tracks to keep it fizzing? Listen up Girls Aloud, Take That, the Kaiser Chiefs, Leona - surely somebody wants to step forward with a sleighbell-laced track? We don’t even care particularly if they’re tacky as hell - after all, that’s part of the appeal of Christmas. Kerry Katona & Jason Donovan with Walking In An Iceland Wonderland? Bring. It. On.
So remember that next year. By all means keep hold of your old Christmas tracks, but go out and buy new ones too. We don’t want a lot for Christmas - just some new tunes to refresh our weary ears…
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(Clare Lydon)
