In a festive showdown for the coveted title of 2023’s Official Christmas Number 1, iconic duo WHAM! has surged ahead, but the competition remains fierce with The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl releasing a new Fairytale of New York vinyl edition and buzz building around other contenders Sam Ryder and Mariah Carey.
WHAM!—comprising Andrew Ridgeley and the late, great George Michael—recently found themselves in a tight battle with the UK’s 2022 Eurovision entrant Sam Ryder during the last Official Christmas Number 1 single First Look update. The margin was razor-thin, with just 42 chart units separating WHAM!’s timeless classic “Last Christmas” at Number 1 and Sam Ryder’s enchanting “You’re Christmas to Me” at Number 2 on the charts.
However, the competition is far from over, as The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl have added a new twist to the race by issuing a brand-new vinyl release of their holiday classic “Fairytale of New York.” Fans of the beloved track can now enjoy the magic of this timeless song in a fresh format, contributing to the growing excitement around the Christmas Number 1 competition.
He discovered the gem when he was 12 years old and still has it now, claiming it to be why he fell in love with music. He likes to play disc golf when he's not writing about music. He is a one-of-a-kind individual who is always the first to bust out his air guitar on the dance-floor.