Radio LBB: A Brief History of the Non-Christmas Christmas No.1s

“It’s Chrisssssttmaaaaaaaaas!!!” and the musical merriment has truly begun. Our Spotify has been Wrapped and so has SIREN’s My Ears Through the Years. All that remains to be seen is; who will top the 2024 Christmas charts for that hotly contested Christmas No 1 spot. 

There’s nothing we love more than a festive sing-song, but what we particularly love about the Christmas No 1s are the disruptors, the underdogs, the record breakers, the tracks that against all odd rise through the multitude of Christmas bangers to make it to No 1 (looking at you, LadBaby!). So, for our final LBB instalment of the year, we’re looking at non-Christmas songs that have pipped it to that all-important number one spot of the year. 

• I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles (1963)

The first of four Christmas No 1s for The Beatles, a record that was only beaten in 2022 by, you guessed it, LadBaby. 

• Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) – Pink Floyd (1979)

Well nothing says ‘Christmas’ quite as loud as a load of kids rebelling against the system!

• Don’t You Want Me Baby – The Human League (1981) 

If you’re not whipping this one out at staff Christmas karaoke, then is it even Christmas?

• I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston (1991)  

Incidentally also a great karaoke choice for your staff Christmas party. 

• 2 Become 1 – Spice Girls (1996) 

The first of the Spice Girl Christmas No 1 hat-trick, followed up with Christmas Numbers 1s ‘Too Much’ in 1997 and ‘Goodbye’ in 1998. 

• Girls Aloud – Sound of the Underground (2002)

One for the ‘Pink Pilates Princess Strut Pop’ playlisters (you know who you are)

• Killing in the Name – Rage against the Machine (2009)

Probably not to one to have on around the Christmas dinner table with you Grandma, but what. a. song.