Most loved (and hated) Christmas pop songs revealed
It’s that time of the year again: seasonal pop songs are serenading us wherever we go. There’s no escape – whether you love it or hate it, Christmas music is here! So what’s your favourite?
The sat nav manufacturer Garmin® has found that Fairytale of New York by The Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl and first released in 1987 reaching number 2 in the UK charts, still tops the 2011 Christmas pops as far as drivers are concerned.
In the survey, 21% of motorists said it was their festive song of choice to drive to. Bottom of the poll was Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry, released in 1958, obtaining less than 1% of the votes.
The Garmin survey carried out by YouGov asked people to choose from a list what their favourite Christmas song to drive to was – from the old classics such as Let it Snow by Dean Martin to Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) by the Darkness.
Here’s a round-up of the results:
Place |
Song |
Artist |
% votes |
1st |
Fairytale of New York |
The Pogues |
21 |
Joint 2nd |
I Wish It Could Be Christmas |
Wizzard |
10 |
Joint 2nd |
Driving home for Christmas |
Chris Rea |
10 |
Joint 3rd |
Merry Christmas Everybody |
Slade |
7 |
Joint 3rd |
All I want for Christmas is you |
Mariah Carey |
7 |
4th |
White Christmas |
Bing Crosby |
6 |
5th |
Last Christmas |
Wham |
5 |
6th |
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow |
Dean Martin |
3 |
7th |
Time (Don’t Let The Bells End Christmas) |
The Darkness |
2 |
8th |
Run Rudolph Run |
Chuck Berry |
1 |
Fairytale of New York by The Pogues came top of the poll for every part of the country! It was particularly popular in Wales though with 34% of people voting it their favourite festive song to have on in the car, while 26% agreed in Scotland.
In the East Midlands Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea was equal top with Fairytale of New York with 14% of those interviewed saying they liked it best to drive to.
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey varied in popularity with only 4% of people saying it was their favourite Christmas song to drive to in the South East, as opposed to 10% in Yorkshire and the Humber.
SONG FACTS
Song |
Artist |
First release date |
UK chart position |
Fairytale of New York |
The Pogues |
1987 |
2 |
I Wish It Could Be Christmas |
Wizzard |
1973 |
4 |
Driving home for Christmas |
Chris Rea |
1988 |
53 |
Merry Christmas Everybody |
Slade |
1973 |
1 |
All I want for Christmas is You |
Mariah Carey |
1994 |
2 |
White Christmas |
Bing Crosby |
1942 |
1 |
Last Christmas |
Wham |
1984 |
2 |
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow |
Dean Martin |
1966 |
|
Christmas Time |
The Darkness |
2003 |
2 |
Run Rudolph Run |
Chuck Berry |
1958 |
36 in 1963 |
NOTES
5% of those interviewed said they had other favourite songs than those listed.
2% said they didn’t know what their favourite song to drive to was.
20% didn’t have a favourite Christmas song to sing along to.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2060 adults of whom 1573 were drivers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 31 October and 2 November 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
REGIONAL TABLE – Which ONE, if any, of the following is your favourite Christmas song to drive to? |
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REGION |
North East |
North East |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
East Midlands |
West Midlands |
East of England |
London |
South East |
South West |
Wales |
Scotland |
N Ireland |
Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry |
2% |
2% |
– |
0% |
– |
– |
– |
0% |
0% |
– |
– |
– |
Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea |
9% |
10% |
9% |
14% |
12% |
12% |
8% |
13% |
8% |
15% |
9% |
2% |
Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl |
24% |
22% |
19% |
14% |
22% |
16% |
15% |
22% |
25% |
34% |
26% |
28% |
Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – The Darkness |
2% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
– |
1% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
2% |
1% |
4% |
I Wish It Could Be Christmas – Wizzard |
17% |
11% |
13% |
11% |
11% |
10% |
8% |
11% |
8% |
6% |
6% |
13% |
Last Christmas – Wham |
1% |
5% |
11% |
3% |
7% |
4% |
5% |
4% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
3% |
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow – Dean Martin |
3% |
2% |
2% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
1% |
5% |
7% |
Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade |
10% |
5% |
6% |
7% |
8% |
9% |
9% |
8% |
6% |
8% |
4% |
5% |
White Christmas – Bing Crosby |
14% |
10% |
4% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
12% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
7% |
6% |
All I want for Christmas is you – Mariah Carey |
4% |
6% |
10% |
7% |
7% |
8% |
8% |
4% |
8% |
5% |
6% |
14% |
Other |
2% |
6% |
5% |
9% |
1% |
11% |
5% |
2% |
4% |
– |
7% |
4% |
Don’t know |
3% |
1% |
2% |
4% |
– |
2% |
4% |
2% |
2% |
– |
1% |
– |
Not applicable – I don’t have a favourite Christmas song to drive to |
9% |
19% |
19% |
19% |
22% |
22% |
20% |
22% |
22% |
21% |
23% |
15% |
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About Garmin
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