Starting off strong, 19.5% of Brits have revealed that the Christmas song they hate the most is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You“; but the Mariah Carey hate doesn’t stop there: not only is her Christmas hit the UK’s least favourite festive song, but most of the people interviewed (67%) couldn’t even name another song by Carey. However, the second is currently charting at number three in the UK, and has peaked multiple times at number one since its release thirty years ago; it is also, according to Official Charts, the most streamed Christmas song in the UK. Perhaps that 19.5% is the reason why Carey still has to get that Christmas number one.

At the second spot, 12% of interviewed Brits have said they can’t stand Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe“. The song was first released in 2011, as a lead singer of the Canadian-born artist’s first Christmas album. Currently, it is the UK’s nineteenth most streamed Christmas song, and has previously peaked at number 21 on UK charts in its release year.

At number three, a staple song in UK Christmas music: “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” by Band Aid, which took the Christmas Number One Crown in 1984 and held on to the position for five consecutive weeks in its release year. 11.9% Brits have stated that the song, which counts 110 weeks charting in the UK, is their least favourite. Despite this, even forty years after its release, the song is currently peaking at number twelve and is the seventh most streamed festive song this year.

The fourth spot for most hated Christmas songs, with 11.7% of Brits agreeing, is The Pogues’s “Fairytale Of New York“. The collaboration with Kirsty MacColl was released in 1987, and peaked at number two for two consecutive weeks. Currently, it is charting at number ten and is the third most streamed Christmas song. In 2023, the song was one of the main contenders for the Christmas Number One title due to The Pogues’s frontman Shane MacGowan passing; however, the song failed to achieve the position and only peaked at number four. Despite that 11.7%, a Christmas Number One is definitely in the future of the song.

Number five sees “I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday” by Wizzard, which is said to be the least favourite of 10.9% Brits. It was released in 1973, produced and written by frontman Roy Wood; currently, the song is the tenth most streamed and charting at 28, with a previous peak at number ten in 2019.

The following positions include: Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)“, the seventeenth most streamed but disliked by 10.6%; “Christmas Time” by The Darkness is the least favourite of 10.5% Brits, “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives with 10.3% and, at number nine, Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad“.

The ten spot is taken by WHAM’s “Last Christmas“, with 10.1% disliking the song. Not only is WHAM!’s hit the second most streamed song according to UK charts, but this year it also won the Christmas Number One title for the second consecutive year. The song is truly the Christmas hit of multiple generations, despite more than one tenth of the population considers it the worst Christmas song.

Rejoice! Bells End is BACK! Our mouthwatering, limited edition beer with our friends at @SignatureBrew returns just in time for Christmas: https://t.co/Q3ngmdX2Uv pic.twitter.com/PhGxg3dTBm

— The Darkness (@thedarkness) November 24, 2021

A press release has described the beer with the following statement, “a mouth-watering bitterness to carry you through the season. On pouring out the brew, you’ll find a clear, deep copper beer with a medium-low carbonation; on the nose is a little stone fruit, toffee and light, earthy hops and you’ll be greeted with wintery and wild, spicy blackcurrant fruitiness and a firm bitterness which balances the complex rich, sweet toffee flavours of the malt.”

The British rock group formed in Lowestoft in 2000 and consists of members frontman Justin Hawkins, guitarist Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor. The group became an instant hit with their top ten single “I Believe in A Thing Called Love”. The group’s beer is aptly named after their 2003 Christmas single, “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)”.  The track was released to compete within the race for the Christmas number One single and ultimately placed at number two.

Dan Hawkins has provided the following statement concerning the group’s venture, “The tasting session for Bells End went well, it was a big night, and we tried every ale that we could think of. We wanted a beer that’s punchy and drinkable at the same time. Signature Brew really know their stuff and captured exactly what we were after. Bells End has got a bit of oomph to it but it’s something you can drink in the run up to Christmas and throughout the whole season. It’s a very wintery beer, it’s perfect and we can’t wait for everyone to try it.”

Signature Brew has gained a reputation for its music-inspired beers such as Reverb, a New England IPA sold by the brewery. The award-winning brewery has also become renowned for its collaborations with popular musicians.  Signature Brew’s beverages and can be found at its many bars and venues which also incorporate the Brewery’s passion for live music. The Siba Brewery of the year 2021 winners currently have four venues and bars across London with a location in Wembley opening soon.

In celebration for the beer’s return, The Darkness and Signature Brew’s collaboration can now be bought as a special collector’s box. The Darkness Pub In A Box contains 8 cans of the award-winning craft beer including 4 cans of The Darkness’ Bell End Extra Seasonal Bitter, 1 can of Roadie All-Night IPA, 2 cans of Studio Lager and 1 can of Backstage IPA. The collector’s box also includes a miniature pint glass, traditional pub snacks, a beer mat, limited edition The Darkness artwork, a music quiz and specially created Spotify playlists curated by music journalists.

In other news, in support of their new album Motorheart, The Darkness have embarked on their UK tour. The band’s new album was released on 19th November 2021 and has so far sired four singles including its title track and “Jussy’s Girl”. The group began touring earlier this month with a performance in Brighton and will conclude the tour on 17th December at London’s O2 Empire Shepherds Bush.

The Darkness UK tour dates

26/11/2021 – The Hexagon – Reading
27/11 – The Great Hall – Cardiff
29/11  – The Great Hall – Exeter
30/11 – G Live – Guildford
02/12 – O2 Academy – Liverpool
03/12 – Manchester Academy – Manchester
04/12 – Bonus Arena – Hull
06/12 – The Victoria – Stoke-On-Trent
07/12 – O2 Academy – Bristol
09/12 – Barrowlands – Glasgow
10/12 – O2 Academy – Newcastle
11/12 – O2 Academy – Leeds
13/12 – Rock City – Nottingham
14/12 – O2 Academy – Birmingham
16/12 – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire – London
17/12 – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire – London

Click here to purchase tickets.

Click here to purchase The Darkness Beer.

In a statement on Black Midi’s social media announcement of the releases, they stated that they,  recorded a couple of covers of our favourite Christmas tunes at our rehearsal room and then added some bells an whistles at home. The London rockers go on to explain their special relationship to the venue, saying they would usually do some fun one off covers shows at the Windmill around this time of year so hopefully this goes some way to fill the gap. The covers are the bands way of continuing their ongoing Christmas cover tradition, however remotely.

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The covers were released today and are only available for streaming on Black Midi’s Bandcamp, available to listen here. The band also pleaded for fans to go directly to The Windmill Venue’s fundraising site, saying that if fans were available pay what you want on @windmillbrixton bandcamp, link in bio
all donations go to the save the windmill brixton fundraiser. The crowdfunding site for The Windmill Venue has so far acquired £50,677 with a 70k goal, thanks in large part to Black Midi fans.

The Windmill Venue stated We’re one of 30 venues identified by Music Venue Trust as being at risk of permanent closure inside 6 months. We want the music to continue. In the MVT’s ranking, The Windmill is currently in the Red category, meaning that if it closes then it will be very soon and it is likely never to open again. The Windmill Venue’s crowdfunding site is available for charitable donations here. 

The Windmill will be hosting a Christmas themed livestream for their stage, the venue said on Instagram that it’s truly humbling and amazing what people are doing to #savewindmillbrixton. The next big thing is this superstream. The livestream will be held on December 29th, 2020 and tickets are going for 10GBP, available to order now. Black Midi will feature as one of the bands to perform this special concert.

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Other acts included Cliff Richard, The Who’s Roger Daltrey, OneRepublic, Kaiser Chiefs, Simple Minds and Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield and was hosted by Nile Rogers. The virtual carol service showcased readings, performances and festive messages that were broadcasted from the homes of the stars taking part and even some performances that were streamed from St. Lukes Church and Abbey Road Studios in London.

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Speaking about the event, host Nile Rogers said; “I’m very happy to have been able to do this for Nordoff Robbins and that Merck and I were able to bring so many of our artist friends along in support of Nordoff Robbins’ important work.” 

“Thank you to those who gave generously and I hope this continues to bring joy to everyone throughout this holiday season. It’s crucial that we raise as much as possible for Nordoff Robbins to continue to provide music therapy to every who needs it. It truly makes such a difference.”

Nordoff Robins is the UK’s largest independent music therapy charity. They use music to enrich the lives of people with life-limiting illnesses, disabilities and feelings of isolation. Unfortunately, the charity expects to lose 50% of its income in 2020 due to the coronavirus.

Speaking about the impact on their Instagram page, the charity said; “Nordoff Robbins has been severely impacted by #COVID-19. Most of our fundraising activities have been cancelled, meaning we are expecting to lose over 50% of our income in 2020, putting music therapy at risk of stopping for the people who need it most. Our #SingForNordoffRobbins online Christmas concert will help raise vital funds for our music therapy.”

You can re-watch the virtual carol service here. You can also check out Florence’s cover of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas down below.

Could it be @JustinBieber vs. @JessGlynne for this year's Christmas Number 1? #XmasNo1 https://t.co/tq8THYdZ0l

— Official Charts (@officialcharts) November 23, 2020

Jess has previously had seven UK Number 1’s, which is the most ever for a British Female solo artist. Her new festive song is in the running for a Christmas UK Number 1 hit. Signed CD and Vinyl copies of the single will be available to purchase from Amazon UK from the 18th December, a week before the Christmas Number 1 is revealed.

Official Charts have reported Jess to have said about her new Christmas song, “I chose ‘This Christmas’ by Donny Hathaway as I love the tone of this record and I’m thankful that Amazon Music have given me the opportunity to do my own version of it for them. This year has been such a hard one and there’s no doubt this Christmas is going to be difficult for so many people. Music is so important as it gives us moments of escapism and I think more than ever having an uplifting feel good song is so necessary.”

Bieber has had recent success with his new release ‘Holy’ featuring Chance the rapper, taken from his sixth ‘new era’ studio album, which went straight to Number 1 in the UK’s Official Trending Chart. Speaking about his new Christmas cover, Bieber said to NME, “‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ has always been one of my favourite songs to celebrate the holidays and I’m excited to team up with Amazon Music to share my own version, with my fans.” 

As well as these two tracks exclusive to the streaming service, other artists taking part in the programme include Mary J Blige, who has covered Whams ‘Last Christmas’ and Jamie Cullum who is releasing a version of ‘In The Bleak Mid Winter.’ Lennon Stella has also joined the programme with her rendition of the Carpenter’s song ‘Merry Christmas Darling,’ along with Carrie Underwood who’s releasing her original track ‘Favourite Time Of Year.’

The vice president of Music Industry at Amazon Music, Ryan Redington said to NME, “This Christmas season, it’s important for us to bring our customers more reasons to smile, and to create ways for them to connect with their favourite artists while at home with family.”  Katie Perry was the artist to put out a festive tune through the Amazon original series with ‘Cozy Little Christmas,’ which peaked in the charts at number 22. Last year Ellie Goulding celebrated her first chart topper in four years with her rendition of the Joni Mitchell song, ‘River’ which went straight to Number 1.

Patrick Clifton, head of Amazon Music UK  told NME, “After Katy Perry’s top forty Christmas Original in 2018 and Ellie Goulding’s ‘River’ topping the charts last year, we’re really excited for our listeners to hear Jess Glynne’s take on the Donny Hathaway classic, as well as the rest of the collection of Christmas Originals that will connect music fans with some of their favourite artists.”