Dec 30th 16: The Christmas List

As this issue reflects all sales in between 23rd and 29th of December it also represents the most loved songs under Christmas trees (and otherwhere) for Germany. Of course the real holidays only cover half of the time–so it is no wonder having a completely un-Christmas #1 hit. It is once again Rockabye by Clean Bandit Feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie which rises back to the top. It is the second week for the collaboration there. Perspectives are quite good that this last #1 of the year will become the first #1 of 2017 too.

Former #1 hit Human by Rag'n'Bone Man drops to #2 again and probably will now slide down constantly. On the list of the year 2016 it ranks at #9 as the longest running #1 hit.

The Christmas hits start at #4 as there Hallelujah by The Pentatonix pretty sits. The midweek sales list had the song at #2 only, the midweek #1 at the end of the week find itself at #5. It is All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey which reaches its new peak in its 52nd chart week and now ranks as the second highest hit of her at all. Only her #1 song Without You from 1994 performed better.
52 weeks inside the charts to get a peak sounds spectacular–in fact it ain't. Last Christmas reached its peak position in January 2008 in its 72nd chart week–and still ain't the slowest sleeper hit. Sky And Sand by Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner had an 83 weeks run before reaching #29 in November 2011.
In real time (not in chart weeks) one song this week had a much longer way to its peak than All I Want For Christmas I You. It is Thank God It's Christmas by Queen which can re-enter at #48 and sets a new bench after 31 years.

Talking 'bout Last Christmas. That classic also enters the top 10 again at #7. It is this the third time matching the peak position of its initial release in 1984 but falling three ranks short of the all time peak in 2008. Worth mentioning this is only the fourth top 10 week for the song.

The whole top 100 contain 19 Christmas related hits. Some of them also reach new peaks as there are:
Feliz Navidad by Puerto Rican Jose Felícíano – the song was released in 1970 but first charted in December 2007 reaching its so far peak on the list of January 4th at #42. This year the song climbs to #37 in its 32nd chart week.
Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens – in 1986 after its release the song reached #75 for one single week. This season it rises to #38. It is only the fourth chart week.
Christmas Time by Bryan Adams – released in 1985 it peaked in its second chart week a year before at #64. This year it goes one rank higher to #63.
Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney – released in 1979 it enters the German charts this year for the very first time at #77.
My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears – lands seven ranks higher than 2015 at #83. It's only the second chart week at all.
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams – the US American entertainer only had two chart hits in Germany so fas. In 1963 and 1971. His Christmas Song was originally released in 1963 but re-edited several times the past years. Now it starts own chart life at #86 ending a more than 45 years long absence.
Even longer Brenda Lee did not appear in the list. Her last entry dates back to January 1965. With Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree she celebrates a seventh chart hit in Germany at #98 and now is the artist with the longest break ever: almost 52 years.
Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms – a complete new name to the German list. The USAmerican singer died in 1997 already. His 1957 Christmas song is his first chart appearance at all (#90).
All together this week ranks as the one with most re-entries of the year as there are seven songs back on the list. It is this a result of minor relevance as we had while the end of the 2000s much much more re-entries every single week.


Luckily it's not all about Christmas tunes. At #8 Alan Walker can launch his third top 10 hit in 2016. Alone for sure is one of the first hits we will have in 2017.
ZAYN can enter the top 20 with a second song. I Don't Wanna Live Forever from the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack features Taylor Swift who has her first top 20 appearance since two years.
In its fourth chart week Now & Later by Sage The Gemini goes 64–35.
And almost at the very end Shakira & Maluma rise slowly with Chantaje 86–72.

As this is the last issue of the year it also finishes the survey of most successful songs of the year. Getting the crown in the very last moment The Sound Of Silence by Disturbed spends a 19th week inside the top 10 and with this is the longest running top 10 hit of 2016. Of course Love Yourself and Geiles Leben both spent 20 weeks inside the top 10 but started their runs in 2015 already.