Give It Up For Atwell AKA The Poptimists Christmas Number One Canon

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Since I have a bit of spare time today I thought a 'proper' canon would be a good idea. Then I thought, NO! let's get festive with the Christmas Number Ones canon. Halfway through it I realised that Christmas Number Ones are often, indeed usually, completely rubbish and the whole fuss over it is overrated and we've polled all the good ones a grillion times anyway. BUT it was too late to turn back - so here we go, EIGHTEEN big ticks, you might not need them all.


[Poll #889366]


Three points of order:

i. I checked in about 5 different places before being actually persuaded that "Caravan Of Love" was not Wobs No.1
ii. "Last Christmas" is the highest-selling No.2 single in Britain ever, fact fans.
iii. I left off the reissue of Bo Rhap.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Actually I take it back, that was quite hard.

The Christmas market is a rum do. I wonder if the decline of the physical formats will kill it off though - buying downloads as presents isn't quite the same really.

[yuxonomei.livejournal.com]

That was hard. I usually hate Christmas No 1s with a passion. That said, I bought the reissue of Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody yesterday because it's a cracking song and it's not on The Slade Box (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slade-Box-Set/dp/B000HDZAOG/sr=8-1/qid=1166193729/ref=pd_ka_1/203-2921982-9935911?ie=UTF8&s=music).

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I've always been baffled by the 'giving people CD singles as Christmas presents' idea to be honest. i'm sure it happens but HOW RUB. i never got a single for Christmas. but then i can't remember ever getting an album either as it happens. kids should buy their own records innit.

my Aunt bought her son/my nephew Eminem's 'Stan' for Christmas. She didn't notice the Parental Advisory sticker. My nephew was about 10.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'Stay Another Day' is a Christmas song because it came out in December and has bells on it. That's all there is to it really.

'Always On My Mind' is NOT a Christmas song but it is the best Christmas #1 ever by some distance.

[mostlyconnect.livejournal.com]

I cannot actualy remember how Daytripper goes.

Why is nobody voting for Shayne Ward? Also the Robbie & Nicole record is fantastic, and the video!

[damnspynovels.livejournal.com]

If Erasure's Stop! is a Christmas song, then Stay Another Day qualifies under the same bells rule.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

fine by me! the opening "we'll be together again" of 'Stop' suggests Christmasesque social or romantic union also.

[pink-weasel.livejournal.com]

The email I had this morning from the Cliff Richard Organisation begged me to buy his single in physical form over the counter because it said that a download wouldn't count. Don't know why. I'd buy the single for all my friends as Christmas presents but then I wouldn't have any friends nezt year.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

WHAT ROT. Neither is a Christmas song.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

ok maybe not 'Stop'

but could you imagine 'Stay Another Day' being released at any other time of year. June for example? i think not.

[whalefish.livejournal.com]

That Slade record has the worst drum sound I've ever heard. I hate it just for that. I am a muso fool, mind.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

wait a minute, isn't the version of stay another day that we hear now a REMIX of the original? ie i'm SURE there was a versh without the tubular bells on...

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

It probably is the best single to be #1 at Xmas, but I think the phrase 'best Christmas #1' should involve bonus points for being a Christmas song, so I would choose Slade - by far the best Xmas song in this list.

[mippy.livejournal.com]

1) Two Little Boys always gave me a profound sense of melancholy as a child. I probably still couldn't bear to hear it now.

2) The Winifred's one did too, because I never had a grandma so I COULD NOT RELATE. Winsome bastards, rubbing my nose in it. Get yer adenoids done.

3) I forgot Dave Edmunds, and somehow it seems odd to think of the Beatles being Xmas No. 1, given that in my lifetime it seems to be mainly actual Xmas records, then ITV1 tie-ins. Or, actually, maybe it just seems that way.

[mippy.livejournal.com]

Haha, I remember that being played on Jo Whiley a lot back when I had little enough to do to listen to her show, and she kept saying 'If you have young children around, make sure you turn the radio down for the next three minutes...'

I've been bought singles for Christmas but only for reasons that would be apparent for both giver and recipient.

[mippy.livejournal.com]

Definition - does it get played on The Hits Xmas song rundowns? I think that's a reasonable enough criterion.

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised that I had more ticks from the 60s than any other decade. Blimey.

Who are these people ticking Gary Jules? Are they mad?

All is not well in the state of poptimism

[jel-bugle.livejournal.com]

Do they know it's xmas at only 25%??

I know it's geldof, but it's the only good thing he ever did.

Re: All is not well in the state of poptimism

[jel-bugle.livejournal.com]

I mean, it's being beaten by earth song! Revisionists!

Re: All is not well in the state of poptimism

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I ticked both. But you are right - I fear Band Aid 20 has poisoned this particular well. A shame because the original DTKIC is close to a masterpiece.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

it's because there is NOTHING ELSE TO TICK.

this list (apart from about five obvious exceptions) is UTTER HORROR.

Slade need to be DESTROYED.

yrs,
SCROOGE