A Conversation for UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Peer Review: A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 1

summerbayexile

Entry: UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s - A87955384
Author: summerbayexile - U208939

Here's the sister article to UK Christmas Singles of the 1970s. Hope you like it. Any feedback, as ever, gratefully received.

SBE


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 2

Bluebottle

Another highly enjoyable festive treat – it must be very Christmassy in your house at the moment smiley - santa

I'd add that 'Do They Know It's Christmas' (1984) was the best-selling song both ever and of the decade, and included bass guitar played by Paul McCartney (though he's not in the video). (Which means that Paul McCartney was involved in the best-selling songs of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.) Also, Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' is Britain's biggest selling song ever to never get to number one, and often overlooked that year was 'We All Stand Together', which was a Christmas number three that any other year would have been a Christmas number one, but re-entered the Christmas chart the following year too.

Is it worth mentioning that Mel & Kim (Smith & Wilde) by using that name were tay-tay-tay-tttt-tay-tay taking the mickey or spoofing sister act Mel and Kim?

You mention that The Snowmen had a follow up to their previous year's song in 1982, but they're not mentioned in 1981? Did 'The Hokey Cokey' not make the top 50? (It certainly seems to be played on the festive 'TOTP2' a lot…)

The only other thing is that, although it is obvious to us why Gary Glitter is no longer played (and rightly so), it won't be obvious to, say, an American reader who had been born since 2000. Not sure what to advise on that, though.

<BB<


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 3

summerbayexile

Hi Bluebottle,

Good points on Paul McCartney - both of them. I'll put those in. Mel and Kim, yes, that may be obvious to a child of the 80s but worth putting in for younger readers. Hokey Cokey isn't really a Christmas song even though it is often played then so it doesn't make the cut. I actually thought long and hard before including Gary Glitter at all, but I decided that it was such a big single for about 10 years that I really had to. If readers are interested I feel like anyone who wants to find out why Glitter is no longer played could Google it. I don't feel like explaining it in a Christmas entry. BTW, do you think I've covered the Lennon points that you brought up in my 70s entry fully enough?

Many thanks for your input once again.

SBE


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 4

SashaQ - happysad

Another really informative Entry - thank you smiley - biggrin

"This was almost certainly the result of every Grandmother in the country receiving it for Christmas whether they liked it or not!"

smiley - laughsmiley - ok

"Christmas Countdown by Frank Kelly" - is that Frank Kelly of Father Ted fame?

I like 'Thank God It's Christmas', but that is mainly because it is not one of the most frequently played Christmas songs, so it is quite a treat to hear it in shops. I didn't know that about Slovenia!

I agree with <BB< about 'obvious reasons' not necessarily being obvious - you could maybe just put a footnote on that to say something like 'He has been in prison since 2015'.

"We All Stand Together racked up sales of 870,000 making it the biggest selling Number 3 ever." - wow! smiley - biggrin

I didn't know that about Merry Christmas Everyone, either - if they had released it in 1984, I wonder if it would have become a classic as it did if it had 'only' been Number 3 or 4? Fascinating

"Whilst some of the lyrics cause a few concerns nowadays, that should not take away from the sheer beauty of the music and the passion of the singing. " - nicely put smiley - ok

Who sang the original " Rockin’ around the Christmas tree"?

Pet Shop Boys' 'Always on my Mind' is another of my favourite Christmas Number Ones smiley - cool

Excellent concluding paragraph smiley - applausesmiley - biggrin


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 5

summerbayexile

Hi Sasha,

Thanks for your feedback and appreciation. smiley - ok I have decided to stop being coy about Gary Glitter and included the reason in the paragraph. I have slightly rewritten the Queen section as in retrospect it was a bit harsh to a record I also like. I have included the details about the original Rockin' around the Christmas Tree. Thanks once again. smiley - biggrin

SBE


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 6

summerbayexile

You were right Sasha! It was Frank Kelly of Father Ted fame! I have added some extra info on that and it now does it justice. Thanks smiley - cheers

SBE


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 7

Bluebottle

Did you know that Jona Lewie's real name is John Lewis?

<BB<


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 8

SashaQ - happysad

smiley - cheers Well updated - thank you smiley - ok


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 9

summerbayexile

Thank you Sasha. Just a few tweaks made recently and its ready to go now as far as i am concerned.


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 10

Bluebottle

Regarding song 'What are we gonna get for ‘Er Indoors', did little Dennis Waterman write the theme tune and sing the theme tune?
Ah – I see that 'Hokey Cokey' by the Snowmen was at number 18 Christmas week 1981 – is it worth a footnote smiley - footprintssmiley - musicalnote when you mention them in 1982?smiley - snowmansmiley - ticklesmiley - musicalnote

<BB<


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 11

summerbayexile

Cheers BB. I will put the Snowmen suggestion in to the entry itself rather than as a footnote.


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 12

summerbayexile

Done, thanks BB. smiley - cheers


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 13

summerbayexile

Ready to go now! smiley - ok


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 14

summerbayexile

Just dug out my original single copy of Last Christmas and have added a small bit about the inside of the gatefold sleeve that you may find amusing! smiley - run

SBE


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 15

summerbayexile

Definitely ready to go now and Christmas is coming up fast! smiley - winkeye

SBE


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 16

SashaQ - happysad

smiley - ok

That is funny that Wham didn't take themselves too seriously with the criticism from NME! smiley - laugh How many copies of Last Christmas were sold, do you know?


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 17

summerbayexile

Just over 2 million at the time and many more later!!


A87955384 - UK Christmas Singles of the 1980s

Post 18

SashaQ - happysad

smiley - ok


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Post 19

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Post 20

SashaQ - happysad

Congratulations! smiley - bubblysmiley - biggrinsmiley - disco


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