The UK music scene is experiencing a continued wave of Jack Harlow’s supremacy as his track “Lovin On Me” retains its position at Number 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart for the third consecutive week.
The Louisville rapper’s anthem has not only captivated but seduced the UK audience, showcasing his enduring popularity. What’s even more impressive is the track’s consistent performance, surpassing its previous achievements by securing its biggest seven-day numbers, amassing a total of 55,000 UK chart units, according to the Official Charts Company.
As the festive tunes enchant the chart, with nearly half of the Official Singles Chart now dominated by Christmas tracks – a whopping 16 festive melodies gracing the Top 40 this week; other non-seasonal tracks make their mark as well. Noah Kahan achieves his highest charting position to date, with “Stick Season” rising to Number 2, while “Prada” by cassö, RAYE & D-Block Europe descends to Number 3 and Tate McRae’s “Greedy” drops to the Number 4 spot.
However, as December unfolds, the UK charts echo the arrival of the festive season. The frontrunners are, once again, Wham!’s timeless hit “Last Christmas” rising nine spots to claim Number 5 and Mariah Carey’s everlasting favourite “All I Want For Christmas Is You” leaps 10 places to land at Number 6, both contenders for this year’s Official Christmas Number 1.
The recent passing of The Pogues singer Shane MacGowan has sparked renewed interest in the beloved classic “Fairytale of New York” featuring Kirsty MacColl. The song re-enters the Top 40 at Number 18, hinting at a potential climb to the top spot in the coming weeks, which will mark a historic milestone for the track in the UK as it has surprisingly never graced the top spot.
Inside the Top 40, the musical celebration extends with Brenda Lee’s “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” at Number 14, Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” at Number 16, and Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” at Number 17, As well as Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” at Number 20 and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” at Number 22,
In addition to the timeless classics, newer additions like Sam Ryder’s “You’re Christmas to Me” and Jorja Smith’s cover of East 17’s “Stay Another Day” for Amazon Music Originals make their debut in the UK Top 40, at Number 23 and Number 38, respectively, marking significant milestones. We expect more Christmas releases on specific download and streaming sites to enter the chart in the next few weeks.
We also can’t forget the rest of the 16 Christmas hits that have made it into the Top 40, this week, as we continue to celebrate festive cheer with Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas Everyone” at Number 25, Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” at Number 27, Andy Williams’ “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” at Number 29, Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” at Number 35, Dean Martin’s “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” at Number 36, and Sia’s “Snowman” at Number 40.
Beyond the chart’s elite ranks, a surge of Christmas hits amplifies the festive fervour across the music landscape. John Lennon and Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” at Number 44, Michael Bublé’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” at Number 45, and Chris Rea’s “Driving Home For Christmas” at Number 46 are among the plethora of tracks contributing to the holiday symphony.
Further expanding the festive playlist, Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas” arrives at Number 47, The Ronettes’ “Sleigh Ride” at Number 51, Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time” at Number 52, and Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe” at Number 54 add to the enchanting lineup. Meanwhile, Wizzard’s iconic “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” finds its place at Number 55, as the UK embraces a diverse array of Christmas tunes.
Leona Lewis’ “One More Sleep” at Number 58, José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” at Number 60, and Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody” at Number 70 further enrich the musical canvas list with their festive cheer. Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” at Number 76 and Frank Sinatra’s “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” at Number 84 continue to resonate with the holiday spirit.
Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” at Number 94, Jackson 5’s “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” at Number 95, and Coldplay’s “Christmas Lights” at Number 99 beautifully round out the plethora of festive tracks enriching the UK Official Singles Chart right as December rolls in.
As the countdown for the Christmas chart officially starts, can Jack Harlow continue his reign? Will another pop hit knock him off the top spot before the festive tunes make their iconic bid for the top? Or will we finally have a Christmas song at Number 1 for Christmas since 2004’s Band Aid 20’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” – we’re not counting the iconic comedy singles from LadBaby, The X Factor winning singles including “Hallelujah” from Alexandra Burke (which does have a festive tune to it), nor the choir singles such as “Wherever You Are” by Military Wives with Gareth Malone and “A Bridge over You” by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir.