“Band Aid 40 enters UK top 10 as Christmas No1 race gets into full swing |”. UK charts

The race for the No. 1 spot for Christmas is heating up, as over half of the songs in this week’s Top 40 are Christmas-themed.

After only reaching No. 45 in its first week of release, the Band Aid 40th anniversary version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” performed significantly better in its second week, reaching No. 8. The improvement is due in part to the release of Vinyl and CD editions (according to chart rules, each physical sale counts for at least 100 streams).

Five more Christmas songs are in the top 10 this week, with “Last Christmas” by Wham! is in second place. The duo’s song never made it past this position when it was first released in 1984, but it ended up topping the charts in 2021. Reach number 1 again in 2022 and 2023.

It is the bookies’ favorite for this year’s Christmas number one, but it will have to edge out pop singer Gracie Abrams, whose single “That’s So True” is at the top for a fifth time.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is at No. 5 this week, while Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is at No. 6, Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” is at No. 9 and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” is at number 10. There are a total of 21 Christmas songs in the top 40.

While they may not reach the huge streaming numbers of Christmas classics, other charity singles are expected to perform strongly as people support them with purchases, earning them strong sales on the charts.

Out on Friday is All I Am by Aaron Paley – aka Yorkshire Pudding Boy, a 13-year-old boy from Southend who went viral for a Halloween outfit made for him by his pub landlord father James, which consisted of around 350 Yorkshire puddings . The song is released in aid of the National Autism Society and the NSPCC.

Sheffield indie band Reverend and the Makers have recorded a song for Samaritans called Late Night Phone Call. The group is best known for its Top 10 hit “Heavyweight Champion of the World,” but has built a loyal following and its most recent album, 2023’s “Heatwave in the Cold North,” peaked at No. 6.

Meanwhile, the popularity of the film version of “Wicked” is causing songs from the soundtrack to climb the charts. Defying Gravity by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande is at No. 7, while What Is This Feeling? is in 16th place.

V, the K-pop singer and member of boy band BTS, has two future holiday hits: Winter Ahead, a duet with Park Hyo Shin, and a new duet version of White Christmas with Bing Crosby, which was approved by the late singer’s estate.