Debate: A Look at Wham! versus Mariah Carey's Music Legacy
In the festive spirit of the holiday season, Wham!'s iconic song "Last Christmas" has taken the top spot as the most played Christmas song in Germany for the year 2021. The classic hit, penned by British musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, has been a staple in German music charts during Christmas time and has consistently ranked highly in the top singles chart for that year[1].
While regional variations in Germany's Christmas music preferences were not explicitly outlined in the data, it is worth noting that traditional German Christmas songs such as "Leise rieselt der Schnee", "Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen", "Ihr Kinderlein, kommet", and the UNESCO-recognised "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" remain culturally significant classics and are commonly played during Advent and Christmas celebrations throughout Germany[5].
Looking at the regional charts, "Last Christmas" by Wham! dominated the Central German and West regions, while "Merry Christmas" by Ed Sheeran and Elton John reigned supreme in the region around Berlin and Brandenburg, as well as in the southwestern part of Germany[2][3].
Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" claimed the title of the most played Christmas song on German radio from December 3 to 19, 2021, with a total of 2,047 plays[4]. Other notable mentions include Melanie Thornton's "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" and Chris Rea's "Driving Home For Christmas", which were played 1,980 and 2,015 times, respectively[6].
As the year draws to a close and the holiday season approaches, it is clear that the German public continues to embrace the timeless charm of "Last Christmas" by Wham!, making it the undisputed Christmas anthem of 2021.
[1] Toppop.de (2021). Top 100 Singles 2021. Retrieved from https://www.toppop.de/jahrescharts/2021/ [2] Radio Fritz (2021). Die 100 meistgespielten Weihnachtslieder 2021. Retrieved from https://www.radiofritz.de/sendungen/musik-guide/die-100-meistgespielten-weihnachtslieder-2021 [3] SWR3 (2021). Die 100 meistgespielten Weihnachtslieder 2021. Retrieved from https://www.swr3.de/musik/die-100-meistgespielten-weihnachtslieder-2021 [4] Media Control (2021). Radiocharts.de. Retrieved from https://www.radiocharts.de/ [5] UNESCO (2021). Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. Retrieved from https://ich.unesco.org/en/List/3484 [6] Radio NRW (2021). Die 100 meistgespielten Weihnachtslieder 2021. Retrieved from https://www.radio-nrw.de/musik/die-100-meistgespielten-weihnachtslieder-2021
What music dominated the entertainment scene in Germany during the holiday season of 2021, particularly in Central and West regions? "Last Christmas" by Wham!
Does the popularity of traditional German Christmas songs such as "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" or "Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen" wane during this period? Despite the rise of contemporary hits, these classics remain culturally significant and are commonly played throughout Germany during Advent and Christmas celebrations.
