It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Time for driving to shops for presents, driving to work Christmas parties, driving to visit beloved family and friends, or simply driving on your daily commute. The common theme for most people during the holiday season is a lot of driving.
With people spending more time on the road and wanting to feel festive, Christmas music rings from most car radios at some point. If you ever wondered which music pleases people most perfectly during the holidays,
Now we know Ireland’s favourite Christmas music to drive to and how that compares to other countries around the world, according to data from their survey and information collected fromn Ireland, UK and Ireland.
Number 6: Christmas Lights by Coldplay
Written by frontman Chris Martin in December 2008, this song debuted at number 12 on Billboard’s Hot Digital Song chart in 2010. Although it never caught on in the United States, it remains a favourite in the UK and Ireland. Although more a song of romantic regret than Christmas cheer, like Dan Fogelburg’s “Same Old Lang Syne,” it touches enough hearts to rank sixth on this list.
Number 5: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
This classic tune earns almost the same high rankings in the UK, Ireland, the United States, and around the world. Andy Williams was a contemporary of other legendary American crooners such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett and delivers the same smooth, jazz-influenced “Great American Songbook” type of style complete with orchestral accompaniment and Williams’ unmistakable voice. Many have performed this song, but Andy Williams made it his own.
Number 4: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
This song marks one of the first forays of the new rock ‘n roll style into holiday music by Brenda Lee. Only 13 years old in the release year of 1958, she had already earned the nickname “little dynamite.”
It actually charted higher in the UK (at number 6) than in the United States where it only reached number 12. Come Christmas time, however, it remains a popular play choice around the world and earned 4th place in the Ireland survey.
Number 3: Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin Stevens
Over 30 years ago, Welsh singer and songwriter Shakin’ Stevens released “Merry Christmas Everyone.” It was the top charting Christmas song in 1985, and its popularity across the British Isles has never waned. In fact, over time, it only grew in popularity. The song has earned a spot in the 200 most played songs in Ireland 71 times over the past four years.
Stevens once told the Guardian that “I always thought it would be nice to have a Christmas No 1 – if nobody remembers you for the rest of the year, they’ll remember you at Christmas.”
Stevens once told the Guardian that “I always thought it would be nice to have a Christmas No 1 – if nobody remembers you for the rest of the year, they’ll remember you at Christmas.”
Number 2: All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
Another American popular music powerhouse, Mariah Carey, both wrote and sang this song that emerged as an instant classic. Her powerful voice, positive message, and well-paced melody make her performance of this song unforgettable. It remains popular in the UK, Ireland, the United States, and around the world.
This song appeared in between the most played at least 150 times in Ireland, UK, US and worldwide.
Number 1: Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea
This Ireland favourite had a long road to becoming the country’s most popular driving Christmas song.
Rea wrote the song in 1978 after he and his wife got stuck in traffic during the holidays, but it did not get released until a decade later. Although it never charted impressively, the song with Rea’s distinctive gravelly, blues style voice gained a strong following.
Like “Merry Christmas Everyone,” its relative anonymity in the US market has not prevented it from gaining fans in the British Isles and around the world.
We hope that you enjoy these and other classic Christmas tunes while having the best holiday season yet.
Rea wrote the song in 1978 after he and his wife got stuck in traffic during the holidays, but it did not get released until a decade later. Although it never charted impressively, the song with Rea’s distinctive gravelly, blues style voice gained a strong following.
Like “Merry Christmas Everyone,” its relative anonymity in the US market has not prevented it from gaining fans in the British Isles and around the world.
We hope that you enjoy these and other classic Christmas tunes while having the best holiday season yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment