For several years, Mariah Carey dominated Christmas season with her ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’. In the USA, it hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. It was only the second Christmas song to ever top the Billboard Hot 100 chart (after ‘The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late’ in 1958) and also broke the record for the longest time to reach that position, having been released in 1994 and reaching the top for the first time 25 years later.
What’s happened?
This year, things are a bit different. The song ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’, recorded by 13-year-old Brenda Lee in 1958, hit number one after a mere 65 years, having spent (on and off) 54 weeks on the chart. In previous years, the song already reached number two (behind Mariah Carey), but this year the song got an extra boost because of a new festive music video, recorded with Brenda Lee, now 78 years old.
In an interview on the Variety website, Brenda shares some background on the song, adding: “A lot of the songs I did from the time I was 10, if I listen to ’em now, I’m like, oh Lord, what happened? But ‘Rockin’’ is fresh to me, always.”
Why should Kim Wilde fans care?
Obviously, ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ has become part of Kim’s repertoire ever since she recorded the song with Mel Smith for Comic Relief in 1987, and then again in 2013 with Nik Kershaw. She still performs the song during her seasonal concerts – we expect to hear it this month, when she performs in the UK, as well. It’s good to hear that such an important part of Kim’s Christmas concerts has become a number one in the USA.