Bing gets a 'bong' in classic song stakes as Noddy & Slade climb to top of the 'all time' christmas tree.
Amazon.co.uk's music site is the ultimate one-stop shop for all your Christmas music presents. From pop to punk, classical or something for the kids, just make your selection and it's delivered to your door - gift wrapped if you choose. And the site's new Christmas Music Store (www.amazon.co.uk/christmas-music) means you can take your pick from the best compilations for the entire festive season - from partying on Christmas Eve through to chilling out on New Year's Day. Choose from The Best Christmas Album in The World Ever, to Carols For Christmas with The Winchester Cathedral Choir to Elvis' Christmas Album.
Top of the Christmas Pops - and the one that's not
Almost one in four (24%) surveyed* selected Slade's Brummie belter over nearest rival Bing Crosby's White Christmas, which polled 22% of the vote. In third place (15%) was Wizzard's I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday followed by a more contemporary classic, Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. The track voted most likely to clear the Christmas dance floor is Cliff's most recent offering, The Millennium Prayer, with 64% of the `no' vote!
Silent Night proved a popular choice as the UK's all time favourite carol with a 39% share. O Come All Ye Faithful scored second place (21%) while Good King Wenceslas and Away in a Manger vied for third position, selected by almost one in ten (9%).
Jingle Bells topped the traditional Christmas chart with 37% claiming it as their favourite, followed by The Twelve Days of Christmas with 21% of the vote. Third past the post was Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (14%).
Summary of survey highlights
- Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody most popular Christmas pop song
- Silent Night is UK's best loved carol
- Jingle Bells rings in the number one slot with top traditional song vote
- While Cliff's Millennium Prayer is `most likely to clear the dance floor'
- British music lovers say `no' to Westlife, Marilyn Manson and Oasis Christmas tracks
Please don't make a Christmas Record!
They may have been last year's yuletide Number One with the double A-side Seasons in the Sun/Flying Without Wings, but Westlife are the band the British public DON'T want to make a specific Christmas record with a top score of 23%. In second place, Marilyn Manson failed to capture the festive vote with 21% of respondents saying `no' to a Christmas offering from the Stateside shocker. Cliff Richard and Oasis make unlikely partners in joint third (17%) followed by the Sex Pistols (12%), the Prodigy (10%) and Eminem (9%).
Pollsters prefer `Bells' to `Baby Jesus'
Would be pop stars take note, to earn a place on the all time festive list it's essential that you aim for the heartstrings - 41% of those questioned said the most important element of a classic Christmas song was `sentimentality and nostalgia'. Combine this with `lyrics you can sing along with' (21%), `something that appeals to all the family' (18%) and `bells in the background' (12%) and you have a surefire smash on your hands. Only 1% of respondents believe a Christmas classic should have a religious theme.
Avoid family friction with the songs `most likely'...
Christmas parties are guaranteed to get even the most reluctant dancer up for a boogie. So amateur DJ's who want to make sure they cater for the entire family should include the following tracks on their playlist. According to the survey results, granny is most likely to get her dancing shoes on for a traditional rendition of Jingle Bells (23%). Everyone's got an embarrassing uncle in the family - to give him a night to remember make sure you play Jingle Bell Rock (33%). Teens are most likely to respond to Wham's Last Christmas (28%), while stressed out mum will unwind with Bing's White Christmas (38%).
For further information contact:
Daniel Whitehead
The RED Consultancy
T: 020 7465 6427
E:danielw@redconsultancy.com
Andy Stafford
Amazon.co.uk
T: 020 8636 9572
E:astaff@amazon.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
The Christmas Classic survey was conducted on behalf of Amazon.co.uk with 500 adults selected at random via e-mail. Respondents made their selections from lists compiled by Amazon.co.uk music store editors.
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