Christmas songs flood the chart, while Maan & Goldband hold on at Number 1

While the Christmas classics start to flood the chart, Maan & Goldband their “Stiekem” is able the keep a fifth consecutive week at Number 1. Since it debuted atop the chart with the biggest opening numbers of the year, the Dutch duet has become the fastest-scoring single of 2022 and is set to become one of the year’s biggest sellers. If “Stiekem” is able to hold on to Number 1 for one more week, it would become the Christmas Number 1 of 2022. It would mark Maan her third Christmas chart-topper, following “Blijf Bij Mij” in 2017 and “Hij Is Van Mij” in 2018. Her and Goldband’s reign, however, has been challenged, as Raye has her eyes set on Number 1 as well. Her phenomenal “Escapism” maintains its position at #2, but it is edging in on her competition fast. If Raye were to takeover, it would become the British talent her first ever Number 1.

Joining the race towards Number 1 is Fred Again… with “Delilah (Pull Me Out of This)”, which jumps up fourteen places to a new peak at #3. It marks the London-based DJ his highest-peaking effort to date and his first ever Top 10-entry. The single is supported by an incredible live performance in Amsterdam a few weeks ago and his announcement as a headliner at Down the Rabbit Hole Festival next year. It is also boosted by Fred Again… his latest EP Actual Life 3, which was released to fan acclaim. If Fred were to overtake the pole position next week, it would mark his first ever Number 1. It would also be the third house Number 1 of the year, following the surprise smashes “Afraid To Feel” by LF System and “B.O.T.A.” by Eliza Rose.

Meanwhile, Michael Bublé also contends for this year’s Christmas Number 1 as his holiday classic “It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas” soars up to #5 this week. The Canadian jazz-pop singer had recorded the song in 2011 for his holiday album titled Christmas. With a new peak inside the Top 5, the modern Christmas classic becomes Bublé his highest-peaking single to date, surpassing “Everyday” [#9] from 2007. The Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey herself, also joins the competition, as “All I Want For Christmas Is You” returns to the Top 10 at #10. Her holiday hit was first released in 1994 and has peaked at #3 on my personal list in 1997. In total, “All I Want For Christmas” has charted for fifty weeks now, making it one of the longest-charting songs ever.

Amidst the Christmas chaos, R&B icon SZA celebrates the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album S.O.S. After multiple delays and endless teasing, the album was finally released last week to fan and critical acclaim. Boosted by high streaming figures, its lead single “Shirt” reaches a new peak at #7. It marks SZA her seventh Top 10-single on my personal list. Meanwhile, the album track “Nobody Gets Me” debuts at #15; the only new entry this week. The song was solely written by SZA herself and is one her most personal releases to date. The ballad was well received by fans and spawned viral success on TikTok. It marks SZA her thirteenth Top 40-song and one of her highest debuts to date.

Further down, Sam Fender re-enters the list at #28 with his Christmas single “Winter Song”, which has previously peaked at #18 in 2021. Sigrid also returns to the list at #33 with her modern holiday classic “Home To You (This Christmas)”. The orchestral single was the most-successful Christmas song of the previous year and peaked at #3, outperforming season’s veterans Mariah Carey and Band Aid. Finally, British pop performer Mabel re-enters at #38 with her rendition of Cindi Lauper’s classic “Time After Time”. She recorded the song for last year’s McDonalds Christmas advert.

With the Christmas Number 1 of 2022 set to be announced next week, I’ve decided to list all my personal Christmas chart-toppers since charting began in 1995. The list consists of five Dutch Number 1s, most of which topped the charts in the 2010s and 2020s. Five acts managed to score multiple Christmas chart-toppers: the Spice Girls (1996, 1997, 1998), Robbie Williams (1999, 2001), Cheryl Cole (2003 alongside Girls Aloud, 2009 solo), Adele (2008, 2010), and Maan (2018, 2019). The Spice Girls are the only act on the list to score three consecutive Number 1s. My personal highest-scoring Christmas Number 1 of all time is Dua Lipa her “Don’t Start Now” (2019), which spent ten consecutive weeks atop the list and went quintuple-platinum. Last year’s Christmas Number 1 was “Dat Heb Jij Gedaan” by MEAU, which became one of the most-successful Dutch songs of all time.

Newly certified songs

“Ghost of You” – Mimi Webb GOLD

List of Christmas Number 1s

1995.                “Ademnood” – Linda, Roos & Jessica

1996.                “2 Become 1” – Spice Girls

1997.                “Too Much” – Spice Girls

1998.                “Goodbye” – Spice Girls

1999.                “She’s the One” – Robbie Williams

2000.                “My Love” – Westlife

2001.                “Something Stupid” – Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman

2002.                “Dilemma” – Nelly & Kelly Rowland

2003.                “Jump” – Girls Aloud

2004.                “1001 Arabian Nights” – Ch!pz

2005.                “Ugly” – Sugababes

2006.                “Patience” – Take That

2007.                “Valerie” – Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse

2008.                “Make You Feel My Love” – Adele

2009.                “Fight For This Love” – Cheryl Cole

2010.                “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

2011.                “People Help the People” – Birdy

2012.                “Troublemaker” – Olly Murs & Flo Rida

2013.                “Story of My Life” – One Direction

2014.                “Blank Space” – Taylor Swift

2015.                “Hello” – Adele

2016.                “Touch” – Little Mix

2017.                “Blijf Bij Mij” – Ronnie Flex & Maan

2018.                “Hij Is Van Mij” – Kris Kross Amsterdam, Maan, Tabitha & Bizzey

2019.                “Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa

2020.                “Nu Wij Niet Meer Praten” – Jaap Reesema & Pommelien Thijs

2021.                “Dat Heb Jij Gedaan” – MEAU