In terms of records sold, Mariah Carey unsurprisingly covets the top spot here, with over 16 million copies of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ sold to date. Artists like Wham!, Band Aid and Shakin' Stevens occupy the other top spots on this particular best-selling list.
In today's article, we'll take a closer look at the top five best-selling Christmas songs of all time (by number of total records sold), so stick around to see if your favourite festive jingle makes the cut!
1. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
The standout single from the album, "All I Want for Christmas Is You," has become one of the most popular and enduring modern Christmas songs. Written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, the song is a lively, upbeat track that has remained a staple during the holiday season since its release. It's often considered one of the best Christmas songs of all time and consistently tops charts during the holiday season, and has achieved over 16 million sales globally!
2. Last Christmas - Wham!
Released in 1984, Wham!'s ‘Last Christmas’ has sold more than 7 million copies globally, with nearly 2 million of those coming from the UK alone! Interestingly, ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas' by Band Aid actually released on the same day - December 3rd 1984.
Have you ever heard of a phenomenon known as ‘Whamageddon’? Each year, many avid music lovers will try to make it through the entirety of December (up until Christmas Eve) without hearing this song at all! This somewhat bizarre behaviour began as early as 2010 but has become more popular in recent years with the rising presence of social media.
3. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid was a historic charity single released in 1984, with its sole purpose being to raise awareness and funds to aid famine relief in Ethiopia. The song, written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure was recorded by a supergroup of British and Irish musicians known as Band Aid. The single has sold
The success of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" led to the idea of the Live Aid concert organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1985. This global concert aimed to raise more funds for famine relief in Africa and was held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia.
Over the years, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas' has been re-recorded and re-released in various versions to support different charitable causes and mark the anniversaries of its original release, with the song also being covered by artists like Slade and Barenaked Ladies.
4. Fairytale of New York - Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl
‘Fairytale of New York’ was written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan. Jem Finer, who played the banjo and various instruments for The Pogues, co-wrote the song's music, while Shane MacGowan, the lead singer of the group, penned the lyrics. The song famously featured Kirsty MacColl, and released as a single in 1987.
Despite never reaching the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart, ‘Fairytale of New York’ has become a perennial Christmas favourite. It has re-entered the charts regularly during previous holiday seasons and is often cited as one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time with over 2 million copies sold.
The song's lyrics recount a conversation between a couple who reflect on their dreams, failures, and struggles, set against the backdrop of Christmas in New York City. The lyrics contain raw, gritty language and themes of alcoholism and broken dreams, which stirred controversy upon its release. Despite this, it remains a favourite due to its powerful storytelling and emotive melody.
5. Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
'Merry Christmas Everyone' was released in 1985 and quickly became a commercial success. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart during the Christmas week of that year, becoming Shakin' Stevens' fourth number-one single in the UK.
The song was written by Scottish songwriter Bob Heatlie, who also penned other successful songs for Stevens like ‘Breaking Up My Heart’, as well as the track ‘Japanese Boy’ for the band ‘Aneka’. His composition for ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ became one of the most well-known Christmas songs globally.
The UK 12" single release of ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ actually included a bonus track that was left out of the 7" release - this being a cover performed by Shakin' Stevens of Elvis Presley's festive hit, ‘Blue Christmas’.
Was your favourite Christmas tune featured on this list? Let us know which songs you think deserve more playtime over the festive period, and check out our entire Christmas collection here!
