Will Ed and Elton Outsell Sausage Rollers LadBaby at Christmas?

“’Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.” So says the traditional Christmas carol ‘Deck the Halls’. But is 2021 the year to get stuck into the jolly in the Christmas Number One betting market?

Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl’s ‘Fairytale of New York’ is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. However, it has never been a UK Number One. ©GettyImages

The battle for the festive chart-topping song is always hotly contested and has the nation gripped. Such is the popularity of this race, in December Sky Cinema will be releasing a new movie titled ‘A Christmas Number One’.

It follows that great British tradition of trying to get to the top of the pop charts over the festive period, it is described as a “heart-warming, festive romantic comedy set at Christmas time in New York and London”.

If this has you thinking of The Pogues classic ‘Fairytale of New York’ you are not alone. And you too may be shocked to discover that song never made it to the top of the charts on its 1987 Christmas release.

Every year since 2005 ‘Fairytale of New York’ has been a top-twenty seller during the Christmas period. But, on the week that it really mattered, The Pet Shop Boys cover of ‘Always on My Mind’ claimed the coveted Christmas Number One.

Bob and Blobby Killed in the Name of Christmas

There have been other results that many would describe as ‘unjust’. In 1993 Mr Blobby, generally agreed to be one of the worst songs ever recorded, beat Take That to the top spot.

In 2000 Westlife had to accept Bob the Builder’s ‘Can We Fix It’ was more popular than their ‘What Makes a Man’. This was the Irish band’s first single not to peak at Number One.

A protest vote against ITV entertainment show The X Factor saw Rage Against the Machine’s 1992 track ‘Killing in the Name’ keep X Factor winner Joe McElderry off of the top spot in 2009.

So, it is very clear this is a race that does not always fall to the form horse. Be mindful of these reversals when placing your bets on the best-selling Christmas song of 2021. Its identity will be announced on December 24.

Here Are the Leading Contenders and Their Latest Odds:

8/13 Elton John and Ed Sheeran

Sheeran released his first album ten years ago. He has sold over 150 million records since. The 30-year-old claimed Christmas Number One in 2017 with ‘Perfect’. Elton John has twice the record sales, but it has taken him five decades and 30 albums to reach this point.

Two of the most popular artists in the world, the pair could go to Number One with a cover of Kum Ba Yah. But neither are prone to releasing tosh.

When Sheeran recently sang a small impromptu snippet of their 2021 Christmas collaboration to Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2, it quickly became clear this will be a serious Christmas Number One contender.

Interestingly, a satire video is being prepared to accompany this seemingly serious song. Parody videos have successfully been adopted by LadBaby – the duo’s chief rival in the early betting.

2/1 LadBaby

Only the third act to secure three consecutive Christmas Number Ones – following The Beatles and the Spice Girls – LadBaby, the married Nottingham YouTubers, are on a roll …a proverbial sausage roll!

Christmas chart-toppers every year since 2018, LadBaby has specialized in sausage rolls and have successfully adapted 1985s ‘We Built This City’, 1975s ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and 1981s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ into tracks featuring the savory snack.

The amusing Nottinghamshire duo is yet to confirm they will release a song and video this Christmas. That strongly suggest they will, and it is likely to be landed on the public less than a fortnight before Christmas.

Last year ‘Don’t Stop Me Eatin’ dropped from its debut Number One spot to number 78 in just a week. Nevertheless, it still sold in excess of 150,000 copies in the days leading up to Christmas, and proceeds from all LadBaby songs traditionally go to the Trussell Trust charity.

9/2 Adele

Her first single in almost five years, Adele’s ‘Easy on Me’ has hit the top spot in 29 countries. It was released on October 15 and was a prelude to her new album titled ‘30’.

Adele’s hopes of a Christmas Number One therefore depend on the success of the second single from that album. More fitting of an Amy Winehouse title, it is called ‘I Drink Wine’.

Until ‘30’ is released fans will have no concept of the song’s melody. It is unlikely to be Christmas-themed, but such is Adele’s selling power, it cannot be dismissed from the Number One race.

16/1 The Lathums

The Lathums, a four-piece British indie pop band from Wigan, have been a 2021 breakthrough act. Their debut album, How Beautiful Life Can Be, went to the top spot in the album chart and their ongoing British tour is sold out.

‘Krampus’ is the name of their Christmas single, and it was released on November 12. Unquestionably the track – sounding remarkably like a re-working of the 1986 Housemartins ‘Happy Hour’ – will do well.

Can The Lathums Christmas track realistically fend off A-list opposition and peak in five weeks’ time? It must be considered highly unlikely.

16/1 ABBA

The Swedish legends have had nine Number One hits in the UK. But only one of the two singles they released prior to their first studio album in 40 years breached the top-10 of the singles chart. It reached number nine.

The group have never officially recorded a Christmas song, so there is little to suggest they have an imminent Christmas hit up their sleeves. The major bookmakers agree. Abba have been big drifters in this market.

John Lewis Christmas advert has striking similarities to scenes from E.T. It is unlikely to help a cover of Philip Oakey’s ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ reach Christmas Number One. ©John Lewis PLC

33/1 Lola Young

Young, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from South London, is tipped to be a star of the future. For now, her voice is being showcased in John Lewis’ Christmas TV commercial.

As has become a tradition, the advert consists of a slowed-down cover version of a classic song – everything from ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ to ‘Your Song’ has been used in the past – this year John Lewis chose Philip Oakey’s ‘Together in Electric Dreams’.

The TV commercial, a take on Steven Spielberg’s ET, is fetching enough but its accompanying song does not improve its original version. Additionally, it is by no means ‘Christmassy’.

The 1984 original never went higher than number three in a chart anywhere in the world. The highest position a song used in a John Lewis commercial has reached in the Christmas Number One chart is also number three.

*All prices are correct at the time of publishing and have been provided by William Hill.

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