Kylie Minogue's Christmas cheer has just hit a new high, securing her 11th UK No. 1 album! This achievement places her in an elite group of chart-topping legends. But what does this mean for the highly anticipated Christmas No. 1 race? Let's dive in!
Kylie's latest chart-topper, Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped), is a familiar festive treat for her fans. It's a re-release of her 2015 album, Kylie Christmas (which previously peaked at No. 12), now featuring four new tracks and a slightly different tracklist. This isn't the first time the album has been reissued, but Fully Wrapped qualifies as a fresh release, continuing a streak of No. 1 albums that began back in 1988 with her self-titled debut.
With this accomplishment, Kylie now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with music icons like David Bowie and Eminem. She's surpassed the likes of ABBA, Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Elton John, and Queen. She also draws level with Rod Stewart and U2, though still trails behind the Beatles and Robbie Williams, who jointly hold the record with 15 No. 1 albums each.
In the singles chart, Kylie also makes an appearance with Xmas, a seasonal exclusive from Amazon. While currently at No. 16, it's expected to climb as physical copies are released, which significantly boost chart positions in the streaming era.
And this is the part most people miss...
Currently leading the singles race is Wham!'s Last Christmas, claiming the No. 1 spot this week, dethroning Taylor Swift's The Fate of Ophelia. Last Christmas never reached No. 1 upon its initial release in 1984, but it finally achieved the top spot in January 2021 and has held the Christmas No. 1 title for the past two years. Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You is at No. 3, and Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is at No. 4. Kelly Clarkson's Underneath the Tree also highlights its enduring popularity, achieving its first Top 5 placement since its 2013 release. Overall, there are 20 Christmas songs in the Top 40.
But here's where it gets controversial... Next week, the Christmas No. 1 battle will intensify with new contenders. Charity and novelty singles are entering the fray, including Lullaby by Together for Palestine, a humanitarian project featuring Palestinian and British artists. Other contenders include Brighter Than the Night by Vicky McClure and SpudBros, Giant Armadillo by Bob the Drag Queen, and a cover of Robbie Williams’ Angels by Visiting Angels.
Adding a touch of the unexpected, Denise Welch has released Slayyy Bells, a collaboration with Celebrations, blending the star's unique style with a dance track.
However, British pop singer Raye could shake things up with her non-Christmas song Where Is My Husband?, currently at No. 2. If it wins, it would be the first non-festive or charity song to be Christmas No. 1 since Ed Sheeran’s Perfect in 2017.
The UK Christmas No. 1 will be announced on Friday, December 19th, at 4 pm.
What are your thoughts? Do you think a classic Christmas hit will prevail, or will a new song take the crown? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below!
