It seems that 2006 won't go down in history as a classic year for Christmas singles. With only one week to go until The Big Day, bookmakers William Hill have already closed the betting on the single to take the festive top spot, claiming that X Factor winner Leona Lewis's A Moment Like This is a dead cert. Lewis pipped Liverpool swing sensation Ray Quinn to the final post on Saturday and the CD pressing plants have already gone into overdrive to enable the single to be released on Wednesday 20 December. A digital download of the song went on sale immediately following the televised final, shifting an incredible 50,000 copies in half an hour.
The sales have meant that William Hill are now refusing any further bets on the outcome of the chart race. "We are hearing that the downloads on the song are smashing records and that even if Leona failed to sell another copy she would already have the Christmas number one!" said spokesman Rupert Adams and the bookies are now offering odds of 1/2 that the single sells 1 Million copies by Christmas Day.
So this is obviously a disappointment for the other contenders in the race, but in our opinion, this year's festive crop has been a sorry bunch. Aside from the fact that the X Factor single is a cover from another reality TV show - A Moment Like This was recorded by American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson back in 2002 - what else can we expect to be clogging up the charts as we tuck into our turkey? Q takes a look...
SIR CLIFF RICHARD - 21st CENTURY CHRISTMAS
The hardy perennial, as they say. As much part of Christmas as The Queen’s speech and having an argument with your family. Unfortunately, this is a lame attempt to make Christmas “relevant” in the new Millennium, and accompanied by a deeply unsettling video featuring Sir Cliff wearing spangly trousers. It's enough to put you off your turkey.
RICKY TOMLINSON - CHRISTMAS MY ARSE
Top novelty effort from the Royle Family stalwart. Moderately amusing if you like the show, but whether or not this will bear repeated listening over the decades remains to be seen.
TAKE THAT – PATIENCE
The current Number 1 and once in with a chance of the top spot, until the X Factor final. A sneaky guest spot on that show won’t do much good at this late stage, alas.
ALL ANGELS - SILENT NIGHT / ANGELS
Cherubic vocals from manufactured girl group, who tackle the traditional carol and back it with the Robbie Williams standard. Was in with a chance, as their album has racked up over 30,000 sales, but it’s a bit obvious, we feel, and aimed too much at the Radio 2 audience.
PETER ANDRE AND KATIE PRICE (IE, JORDAN) – A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Deeply cloying and unpleasant cover of the song from Disney’s Aladdin movie, all in the name of charidee. It’s taken from the pair’s duets album of the same name and Peter assures us on his website that the video you heard of Katie’s supposed bad singing was faked. We’re saying nothing.
EL CHOMBO - CHACARRON
Incomprehensible reggaeton babble is this season’s irritating novelty party-stopper and being plugged by various DJs who should know better. His real name is Rodney. A YouTube hit, is this a sign of what we can expect from future Yuletide hits?
What do you think of this year’s Christmas contenders? What were your top festive singles, and what were the worst? Have your say here by leaving a comment below.
6:31 PM | 18/12/2006
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Really, who gives a shit?
Posted by Robert Sharp at 4:40 PM | 19/12/2006 | Report Abuse
yeh they may all a little poor, but you guys obviously havent heard noel gallaghers take on that old slade song...genius!!
Posted by claireybabes at 8:47 PM | 19/12/2006 | Report Abuse
This year is bad but there have been good ones. Oasis one comes highly but Badly Drawn Boy, Snow Patrol, Low, The Eels (2 good ones from them), Ron Sexsmith (my personal fave). I collect these things so I don't have to listen to the usual rubbish. I've got about 100 alternative Christmas songs and a good half of them are great. Try XFM's Its a Cool Cool Christmas for a good start.
Posted by Gaz at 4:37 PM | 18/01/2007 | Report Abuse
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