Showing posts with label Band Aid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Band Aid. Show all posts

Sunday, December 24, 2023

The Top 100 Christmas Songs of All Time

Christmas Songs:

Top 100

These are the top 100 Christmas songs according to Dave’s Music Database. 40 lists focused on Christmas songs were aggregated together and then the highest-ranking songs were reordered based on their overall status in Dave’s Music Database, which compiles multiple lists as well as chart performances, sales figures, and awards for songs.

Songs are listed first by songwriters and then the song in quotation marks. The year the song was published is listed in parentheses after the song title. If a specific performer is associated with the song, then that performer and the year of its release are listed in parentheses.

Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

Spotify Podcast:

Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast The Top 25 Christmas Songs (premiere: December 24, 2023) based on this list.

1. “White Christmas” (written by Irving Berlin, performed by Bing Crosby, 1942)
2. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” (written by Mel Tormé & Robert Wells, performed by Nat “King” Cole, 1946)
3. “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (written by Johnny Marks, performed by Gene Autry, 1949)
4. “Silent Night” (words: Joseph Mohr, music: Franz Gruber, English translation: John Freeman Young; performed by Bing Crosby, 1935)
5. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (written by Mariah Carey & Walter Afanasieff, performed by Carey, 1994)
6. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (music: Jule Styne, words: Sammy Cahn, performed by Vaughn Monroe, 1945)
7. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (written by J. Fred Coots & Haven Gillespie, 1934; highest-ranked version: Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters, 1944)
8. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (written by Bob Geldof & Midge Ure, performed by Band Aid, 1984)
9. “Winter Wonderland” (music: Felix Bernard, words: Richard B. Smith, performed by Guy Lombardo, 1934)
10. “Jingle Bells” (written by James S. Pierpont, 1857; highest-ranked DMDB version: Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters, 1943)

11. “The Little Drummer Boy” (written by Harry Simeone, Katherine K. Davis, & Henry V. Onorati; performed by the Harry Simeone Chorale; 1958)
12. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (written by Johnny Marks, performed by Brenda Lee, 1958)
13. “O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)” (songwriters unknown, 1751; highest-ranked version: John McCormack, 1915)
14. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (written by Tommie Connor, performed by Jimmy Boyd & Norman Luboff’s Orchestra, 1952)
15. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (music: Felix Mendelssohn, words: Charles Wesley, 1855; highest-ranked version: Trinity Choir, 1912)
16. “O Holy Night (Minuit, Chrétiens)” (written by Adolphe Adams & John Sullivan Dwight, 1847; highest-ranked version: Andy Williams, 1963)
17. “Joy to the World” (music: George Frideric Handel, words: Isaac Watts, arranged by Lowell Mason, 1719; highest-ranked version: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 1970)
18. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (music by Walter Kent, words by Kim Gannon & Buck Ram; performed by Bing Crosby, 1943)
19. “Last Christmas” (written by George Michael, performed by Wham!, 1984)
20. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (written and performed by John Lennon & Yoko Ono, 1971)

21. “The First Noel” (written by Davies Gilbert, 1823; highest-ranked version: Nelson Eddy, 1961)
22. “Away in a Manger” (music: James Ramsey Murray, words: Charles H. Gabriel, 1882)
23. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (written by Frank Loesser, performed by Johnny Mercer with Margaret Whiting, 1949)
24. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (words: Ralph Blane, music: Hugh Martin, performed by Judy Garland, 1944)
25. “Jingle Bell Rock” (written by Joe Beal & Jim Boothe, performed by Bobby Helms, 1957)
26. “We Three Kings of Orient Are” (written by John Henry Hopkins Jr., 1857)
27. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (music: Lewis Redner, words: Phillips Brooks, 1868)
28. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” (words: Rev. Edmund Hamilton Sears, music: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850)
29. “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” (written by Ross Badasarian, performed by David Seville & the Chipmunks, 1958)
30. “Wonderful Christmas Time” (written and performed by Paul McCartney, 1979)

31. “What Child Is This?” (words: William Chatterton Dix, music: “Greensleeves,” 1865)
32. “Blue Christmas” (written by Billy Hayes & Jay W. Johnson, performed by Elvis Presley, 1957)
33. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (words: John Mason Neale, music: traditional, 1851)
34. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (traditional, 1760)
35. “Good King Wencelas” (written by John Mason Neale, 1860)
36. “Frosty the Snowman” (written by Steve Nelson & Walter E. Rollins, performed by Gene Autry, 1950)
37. “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” (written by Donald Yetter Gardner, performed by Spike Jones, 1948)
38. “Fairytale of New York” (written by Jem Finer & Shane MacGowan, performed by the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, 1987)
39. “Sleigh Ride” (written by Leroy Anderson & Mitchell Parish, performed by Anderson, 1949)
40. “Go Tell It on the Mountain” (written by John Wesley Work Jr., 1865)

41. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (words: Frederic Austin, music: traditional, 1780)
42. “Merry Xmas Everybody” (written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, performed by Slade, 1973)
43. “Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy” (written by Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman, Alan Kohan, Harry Simeone, Katherine K. Davis, & Henry V. Onorati ; performed by Bing Crosby & David Bowie, 1977)
44. “Deck the Halls” (words: Thomas Oliphant, music: “Nos Galan,” 1862)
45. “Angels We Have Heard on High” (paraphrased by James Chadwick, arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes, music: “Gloria,” 1862)
46. “I Saw Three Ships” (unknown, 1833)
47. “O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)” (words: Ernst Anschütz, music: “Ach Tannenbaum,” 1824)
48. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich & Phil Spector; performed by Darlene Love; 1963)
49. “Silver Bells” (written by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans, performed by Bing Crosby, 1952)
50. “Santa Baby” (written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer, & Tony Springer; performed by Eartha Kitt; 1953)

51. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (written by Edward Pola & George Wyle, 1963)
52. “Run Rudolph Run” (written by Johnny Marks & Marvin Brodie, performed by Chuck Berry, 1958)
53. “River” (written and performed by Joni Mitchell, 1971)
54. “Here Comes Santa Claus” (written by Gene Autry & Oakley Haldeman, performed by Autry, 1947)
55. “Mary’s Boy Child” (written by Jester Hairston, performed by Harry Belafonte, 1956)
56. “Please Come Home for Christmas” (written by Charles Brown & Gene Redd, performed by the Eagles, 1978)
57. “Feliz Navidad” (written and performed by José Feliciano, 1970)
58. “In Dulci Jubilo” (writer unknown, 1328)
59. “Christmas Wrapping” (written by Chris Butler, performed by the Waitresses, 1981)
60. “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (written by Johnny Marks, performed by Burl Ives, 1964)

61. “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” (written by Robert Allen, performed by Perry Como, 1954)
62. “2000 Miles” (written by Chrissie Hynde, performed by the Pretenders, 1983)
63. “Pretty Paper” (written by Willie Nelson, performed by Roy Orbison, 1963)
64. “Christmas Time Is Here” (music: Vince Guaraldi, words: Lee Mendelson, performed by Guaraldi, 1965)
65. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (written by Meredith Wilson, performed by Perry Como, 1945)
66. “Little Saint Nick” (written by Brian Wilson & Mike Love, performed by the Beach Boys, 1963)
67. “Mistletoe” (written by Nasri Atweh, Adam Messinger, & Justin Bieber; performed by Bieber; 2011)
68. “Step into Christmas” (written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin, performed by John, 1973)
69. “Father Christmas” (written by Ray Davies, performed by the Kinks, 1977)
70. “Christmas in Hollis” (written by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, & Jason Mizell; performed by Run-D.M.C., 1987)

71. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (written by Harry Simeone, performed by Bing Crosby, 1963)
72. “I Believe in Father X-Mas” (written by Greg Lake & Peter Sinfield, performed by Lake, 1975)
73. “Carol of the Bells” (written by Peter J. Wilhousky & M. Leontovich, 1919)
74. “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” (written by Randy Brooks, performed by Elmo & Patsy, 1979)
75. “Merry Christmas Baby” (written by Lou Baxter & Johnny Moore, performed by Chuck Berry, 1958)
76. “Coventry Carol” (writer unknown, 1534)
77. “Thank God It’s Christmas” (written by Brian May & Roger Taylor, performed by Queen, 1984)
78. “Santa Tell Me” (written by Ariana Grande, Savan Kotecha, & Ilya; performed by Grande; 2013)
79. “Underneath the Tree” (written by Kelly Clarkson & Greg Kurstin, performed by Clarkson, 2013)
80. “Up on the Housetop” (written by Benjamin Hanby, 1864)

81. “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” (written by John Rox, performed by Gayla Reevey, 1953)
82. “This Christmas” (written by Donny Hathaway as Donny Pitts with Nadine Theresa McKinnor, performed by Hathaway, 1970)
83. “Christmas Is the Time to Say 'I Love You'” (written and performed by Billy Squier, 1981)
84. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (words: Theodor Geisel, music: Albert Hague, performed by Thurl Ravenscroft, 1966)
85. “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” (written by Roy Wood, performed by Wizzard, 1973)
86. “Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight)” (written by Joey Ramone, performed by the Ramones, 1989)
87. “Christmas Island” (written by Lyle Moraine, performed by the Andrews Sisters, 1946)
88. “Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song)” (written by Robert Alex Anderson, performed by Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters, 1949)
89. “Christmas All Over Again” (written by Tom Petty, performed by Petty with the Heartbreakers, 1992)
90. “Merry Christmas Darling” (written by Frank Pooler & Richard Carpenter, performed by the Carpenters, 1970)

91. “We Need a Little Christmas” (written by Jerry Herman, performed by Percy Faith, 1966)
92. “Nuttin’ for Christmas” (written by Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett, performed by Barry Gordon, 1955)
93. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (arranged by Arthur Warrell, performed by Marian Anderson, 1968)
94. “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)” (performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 1996)
95. “Hard Candy Christmas” (written by Carol Hall, performed by Dolly Parton, 1982)
96. “Someday at Christmas” (written by Ron Miller & Bryan Wells, performed by Stevie Wonder, 1967)
97. “What Christmas Means to Me” (performed by Stevie Wonder, 1967)
98. “Christmas Song” (written by Dave Matthews, performed by Dave Matthews Band, 1993)
99. “Merry Christmas” (written and performed by Ed Sheeran & Elton John, 2021)
100. “Christmas Time Is Here Again” (written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, & Richard Starkey; performed by the Beatles; 1967)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 12/25/2011; last updated 12/24/2023.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Million-Selling Singles in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom:

Million-Selling Singles

The Official Charts Company, which uses information such as sales to track the top singles and albums in the U.K., published a list of all the official million-selling singles in UK chart history in 2012. Those figures have been updated with various sources (including those at the bottom of this page) to include more than 300 songs which have now sold more than a million copies in the U.K. All of the songs have been listed with ties broken by which songs rank higher in Dave’s Music Database.

Click here to see other songs lists based on charts, sales, and airplay.

Sales (in millions) – Song Title – Act – Year
  1. 5.40: Elton John “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” / “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” (1997)
  2. 4.99: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017)
  3. 4.20: Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved” (2018)
  4. 3.94: Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984)
  5. 3.60: Tones and I “Dance Monkey” (2019)
  6. 3.00: Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (2014)
  7. 3.00: Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber “Despacito” (2017)
  8. 3.00: Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995)
  9. 3.00: Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud” (2014)

  10. 3.00: Adele “Someone Like You” (2011)
  11. 3.00: The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (2019)
  12. 2.85: The Killers “Mr. Brightside” (2003)
  13. 2.80: Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
  14. 2.63: Pharrell Williams “Happy” (2013)
  15. 2.50: Adele “Hello” (2015)
  16. 2.49: Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” (1978)

    2.40 million:

  17. Eminem “Lose Yourself” (2002)
  18. Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé “Perfect” (2017)
  19. Eminem with Rihanna “Love the Way You Lie” (2010)
  20. Taylor Swift “Shake It Off” (2014)
  21. Cher “Believe” (1998)
  22. Drake with Wizkid & Kyla “One Dance” (2016)
  23. Justin Bieber “Sorry” (2015)
  24. 2pac with Dr. Dre & Roger “California Love” (1996)
  25. Calvin Harris with Dua Lipa “One Kiss” (2018)

    2.39 to 2.01 million:

  26. 2.22: Clean Bandit with Jess Glynne “Rather Be” (2014)
  27. 2.21: Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas” (1994)
  28. 2.16: John Legend “All of Me” (2013)
  29. 2.15: Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” (2011)
  30. 2.15: Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983)
  31. 2.10: Adele “Rolling in the Deep” (2010)
  32. 2.10: Wings “Mull Of Kintyre/Girls’ School” (1977)
  33. 2.07: Wham! “Everything She Wants” / “Last Christmas” (1984)
  34. 2.06: Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (2015)
  35. 2.04: Boney M “Rivers of Babylon” / “Brown Girl in the Ring” (1978)

    2.00 million:

  36. Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (1992)
  37. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991)
  38. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans with 112 “I’ll Be Missing You” (1997)
  39. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” (1976)
  40. Los Lobos “La Bamba” (1987)
  41. Adele “To Make You Feel My Love” (2008)

    1.99 million to 1.90 million:

  42. 1.98: Boney M “Mary’s Boy Child” / “Oh My Lord” (1978)
  43. 1.97: Avicii with Aloe Blacc “Wake Me Up!” (2013)
  44. 1.95: The Beatles “She Loves You” (1963)
  45. 1.95: Hozier “Take Me to Church” (2013)
  46. 1.95: Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (2013)
  47. 1.94: Wet Wet Wet “Love Is All Around” (1994)
  48. 1.92: OMI “Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn remix)” (2014)
  49. 1.91: Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (1984)
  50. 1.91: Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera “Moves Like Jagger” (2011)
  51. 1.90: Aqua “Barbie Girl” (1997)

    1.89 million to 1.81 million:

  52. 1.89: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John “Summer Nights” (1978)
  53. 1.87: Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (1982)
  54. 1.87: Robson Green & Jerome Flynn “Unchained Melody” / “(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover” (1995)
  55. 1.86: The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963)
  56. 1.85: Justin Bieber “What Do You Mean?” (2015)
  57. 1.83: Passenger “Let Her Go” (2012)
  58. 1.82: Daft Punk with Pharrell Williams “Get Lucky” (2013)

    1.80 million:

  59. Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” (1998)
  60. Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know” (2012)
  61. Beyoncé with Jay-Z “Crazy in Love” (2003)
  62. Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (1999)
  63. Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road” (2018)
  64. Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (2011)
  65. The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer” (2016)
  66. Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are (Amazing)” (2010)
  67. The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” (2003)
  68. The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Face” (2015)
  69. Eminem with Dido “Stan” (2000)
  70. Billie Eilish “Bad Guy” (2019)

  71. Bryan Adams “Summer of ‘69” (1984)
  72. Toto “Africa” (1982)
  73. Post Malone with 21 Savage “Rockstar” (2017)
  74. The Weeknd “The Hills” (2015)
  75. Kings of Leon “Use Somebody” (2008)
  76. Eminem “Without Me” (2002)
  77. Shawn Mendes with Camila Cabello “Señorita” (2019)
  78. Oasis “Don’t Look Back in Anger” (1995)
  79. Eminem “The Real Slim Shady” (2000)
  80. Sia “Chandelier” (2014)

  81. Robbie Williams “Angels” (1997)
  82. Glass Animals “Heat Waves” (2020)
  83. Beyoncé “Halo” (2008)
  84. Queen “Don’t Stop Me Now” (1978)
  85. Will Young “Anything Is Possible/Evergreen” (2002)

    1.79 to 1.70 million:

  86. 1.79: John Lennon “Imagine” (1975)
  87. 1.79: Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise” (1995)
  88. 1.78: The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)
  89. 1.76: Sia with Sean Paul “Cheap Thrills” (2016)
  90. 1.71: Spice Girls “Wannabe” (1996)
  91. 1.71: Bastille “Pompeii” (2013)
  92. 1.71: Lukas Graham “7 Years” (2015)
  93. 1.70: Wham! “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1984)
  94. 1.70: Kings of Leon “Sex on Fire” (2008)

    1.69 to 1.60 million:

  95. 1.69: Mr. Probz “Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)” (2013)
  96. 1.68: Taylor Swift “Love Story” (2008)
  97. 1.67: Ed Sheeran “Castle on the Hill” (2017)
  98. 1.67: Sam Smith “Stay with Me” (2014)
  99. 1.66: Shaggy with Rikrok “It Wasn’t Me” (2001)
  100. 1.66: Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” (1984)
  101. 1.65: David Guetta with Sia “Titanium” (2011)
  102. 1.65: George Michael “Careless Whisper” (1984)
  103. 1.64: Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” (2009)
  104. 1.64: One Republic “Counting Stars” (2013)
  105. 1.63: Taylor Swift “Blank Space” (2014)
  106. 1.63: Major Lazer, DJ Snake & MØ “Lean On” (2015)
  107. 1.63: George Ezra “Budapest” (2013)
  108. 1.62: Culture Club “Karma Chameleon” (1983)
  109. 1.61: Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982)
  110. 1.60: Baddiel & Skinner & Lightning Seeds “Three Lions” (1996)

    1.59 to 1.51 million:

  111. 1.59: Mike Posner “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” (2015)
  112. 1.59: Ed Sheeran “The A Team” (2011)
  113. 1.58: The Beatles “Can’t Buy Me Love” / “Do You Want to Know a Secret” (1964)
  114. 1.57: Fugees “Killing Me Softly” (1996)

  115. 1.56: Village People “Y.M.C.A.” (1978)
  116. 1.55: Various Artists “Perfect Day” (1997)
  117. 1.55: Shawn Mendes “Stitches” (2015)
  118. 1.53: Kylie Minogue “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (2001)
  119. 1.52: Justin Timberlake “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (2016)
  120. 1.52: Ken Dodd “Tears” (1965)
  121. 1.51: James Arthur “Impossible” (2012)

    1.50 million:

  122. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981)
  123. Madonna “Into the Groove” (1985)
  124. Ellie Goulding “Love Me Like You Do” (2015)
  125. Adele “Set Fire to the Rain” (2011)
  126. Calvin Harris with Rihanna “This Is What You Came For” (2016)
  127. Jennifer Rush “The Power of Love” (1985)

    1.49 to 1.40 million:

  128. 1.49: James Arthur “Say You Won’t Let Go” (2016)
  129. 1.48: Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth “See You Again” (2015)
  130. 1.47: Katy Perry “Roar” (2013)

  131. 1.47: Snow Patrol “Chasing Cars” (2006)
  132. 1.47: The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl “Fairytale of New York” (1987)
  133. 1.47: James Bay “Hold Back the River” (2014)
  134. 1.46: Maroon 5 “Sugar” (2015)
  135. 1.45: Bill Haley & His Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1955)
  136. 1.45: The Beatles “I Feel Fine” (1964)
  137. 1.45: Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” (1985)
  138. 1.44: Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982)
  139. 1:44: Coldplay “Viva La Vida” (2001)
  140. 1.43: All Saints “Never Ever” (1997)

  141. 1.43: The Seekers “The Carnival Is Over” (1965)
  142. 1.42: The Beatles “We Can Work It Out ” / “Day Tripper” (1965)
  143. 1.42: Slade “Merry Xmas Everybody” (1973)
  144. 1.42: Celine Dion “Think Twice” (1994)
  145. 1.41: Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1978)
  146. 1.41: Zara Larsson “Lush Life” (2016)
  147. 1.40: Beyoncé “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (2008)
  148. 1.40: Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
  149. 1.40: LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem” (2011)

    1.39 million:

  150. Engelbert Humperdinck “Release Me” (1967)
  151. Ella Henderson “Ghost” (2014)
  152. Run-D.M.C. Vs. Jason Nevins “It’s Like That” (1997)

    1.38 million:

  153. Psy “Gangnam Style” (2012)
  154. Meghan Trainor “All About That Bass” (2014)
  155. fun. with Janelle Monae “We Are Young” (2011)
  156. Coldplay “Yellow” (2000)
  157. Alexandra Burke “Hallelujah” (2008)

    1.37 million:

  158. New Order “Blue Monday” (1983)
  159. Walk the Moon “Shut Up and Dance” (2014)
  160. Clean Bandit with Sean Paul & Anne-Marie “Rockabye” (2016)
  161. Tony Christie with Peter Kay “Is This the Way to Amarillo” (1971/2005)

    1.36 million:

  162. Calum Scott “Dancing on My Own” (2016)

    1.35 million:

  163. Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” (2006)
  164. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
  165. Rihanna “Diamonds” (2012)
  166. Ed Sheeran “Photograph” (2014)
  167. Swedish House Mafia with John Martin “Don’t You Worry Child” (2012)
  168. Gareth Gates “Unchained Melody” (2002)

    1.34 to 1.31 million:

  169. 1.34: Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (1997)
  170. 1.34: Ed Sheeran “Sing” (2014)
  171. 1.34: Jessie J with B.o.B. “Price Tag” (2011)
  172. 1.33: Naughty Boy with Sam Smith “La La La” (2013)
  173. 1.32: Major Lazer with Justin Bieber & MØ “Cold Water” (2016)

    1.30 million:

  174. Lady Gaga “Poker Face” (2009)
  175. Elvis Presley “It’s Now or Never” (1960)
  176. Katy Perry “Firework” (2010)
  177. Rihanna with Drake “Work” (2016)
  178. Harry Styles “As It Was” (2022)
  179. Taylor Swift “Look What You Made Me Do” (2017)
  180. Adele “Skyfall” (2012)

    1.29 million:

  181. Imagine Dragons “Radioactive” (2012)
  182. Rihanna “Only Girl in the World” (2010)
  183. Pitbull with Ke$ha “Timber” (2013)
  184. Calvin Harris & Disciples “How Deep Is Your Love” (2015)
  185. Years & Years “King” (2015)

    1.28 to 1.27 million:

  186. 1.28: The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1997)
  187. 1.27: Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love” (2007)
  188. 1.27: Tom Jones “Green, Green Grass of Home” (1966)
  189. 1.27: Rag ‘n’ Bone Man “Human” (2016)

    1.26 million:

  190. Kanye West with Jamie Foxx “Gold Digger” (2005)
  191. Paul Anka “Diana” (1957)
  192. Idina Menzel “Let It Go” (2013)
  193. R. Kelly “Ignition (remix)” (2002)
  194. Coldplay “Paradise” (2011)
  195. Jess Glynne “Hold My Hand” (2015)

    1.25 million:

  196. Abba “Dancing Queen” (1976)
  197. Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” (1979)
  198. Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998)
  199. UB40 “Red Red Wine” (1983)
  200. Eiffel 65 “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” (1999)
  201. Michael Jackson “Earth Song” (1995)
  202. Steps “Heartbeat” / “Tragedy” (1998)

    1.24 million:

  203. Ray Parker Jr. “Ghostbusters” (1984)
  204. The Chainsmokers with Daya “Don’t Let Me Down” (2016)
  205. Skrillex with Diplo & Justin Bieber “Where Are Ü Now” (2015)
  206. Whigfield “Saturday Night” (1994)

    1.23 million:

  207. Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” (1988)
  208. Jason Derulo “Want to Want Me” (2015)
  209. Art Garfunkel “Bright Eyes” (1979)

    1.22 million:

  210. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Ray Dalton “Can’t Hold Us” (2011)
  211. Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake “Where Is the Love?” (2003)

    1.21 million:

  212. The Beatles “Hey Jude” ‘ “Revolution” (1968)
  213. The Lumineers “Ho Hey” (2012)
  214. Fifth Harmony with Ty Dolla $ign “Work from Home” (2016)
  215. Take That “Back for Good” (1995)

    1.20 million:

  216. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
  217. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987)
  218. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2003)
  219. Stevie Wonder “Superstition” (1972)
  220. U2 “With or Without You” (1987)

  221. Usher with Lil Jon & Ludacris “Yeah!” (2004)
  222. Rihanna with Jay-Z “Umbrella” (2007)
  223. Jason Mraz “I’m Yours” (2008)
  224. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001)
  225. Lady Gaga with Colby O’Donis “Just Dance” (2008)
  226. Drake “God’s Plan” (2018)
  227. Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” (2009)
  228. Beyoncé “Irreplaceable” (2006)
  229. Shakira with Wyclef Jean “Hips Don’t Lie” (2006)
  230. James Blunt “You’re Beautiful” (2005)

  231. Camila Cabello with Young Thug “Havana” (2017)
  232. Maroon 5 with Cardi B “Girls Like You” (2017)
  233. Fleetwood Mac “Dreams” (1977)
  234. Queen with David Bowie “Under Pressure” (1981)
  235. Cee-Lo Green “Fuck You (aka “Forget You”)” (2010)
  236. Gerry Rafferty “Baker Street” (1978)
  237. Dolly Parton “9 to 5” (1980)
  238. Evanescence with Paul McCoy “Bring Me to Life” (2003)
  239. Magic! “Rude” (2013)
  240. LMFAO “Sexy and I Know It” (2011)

  241. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (1967)
  242. Drake “Hotline Blake” (2015)
  243. Destiny’s Child “Say My Name” (1999)
  244. M.I.A. “Paper Planes” (2007)
  245. Pitbull with Ne-Yo, Afrojack, & Nayer “Give Me Everything” (2011)
  246. Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like” (2016)
  247. Ariana Grande “Thank U, Next” (2018)
  248. Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be” (2017)
  249. Elton John “Tiny Dancer” (1971)
  250. Dolly Parton “Jolene” (1973)

  251. Ariana Grande “7 Rings” (2019)
  252. Bruno Mars “Grenade” (2010)
  253. Elton John “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Gonna Be a Long Time)” (1972)
  254. Post Malone “Circles” (2019)
  255. Olivia Rodrigo “Drivers License”
  256. Kendrick Lamar “Humble” (2017)
  257. Twenty One Pilots “Stressed Out” (2015)
  258. Eminem with Rihanna “The Monster” (2013)
  259. Rage Against the Machine “Killing in the Name” (1992)
  260. Drake “Nice for What” (2018)

  261. Eminem “Not Afraid” (2010)
  262. One Direction “What Makes You Beautiful” (2011)
  263. Jennifer Lopez with Pitbull “On the Floor” (2011)
  264. Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now” (2019)
  265. Ed Sheeran with Justin Bieber “I Don’t Care” (2019)
  266. Christina Perri “A Thousand Years” (2011)
  267. Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits” (2021)
  268. Nicki Minaj “Starships” (2012)
  269. Dua Lipa “New Rules” (2017)
  270. Beyoncé with Jay-Z “Drunk in Love” (2013)

  271. Beyoncé “If I Were a Boy” (2008)
  272. Benny Blanco with Halsey & Khalid “Eastside” (2018)
  273. Post Malone “Wow.” (2018)
  274. Lewis Capaldi “Before You Go” (2019)
  275. Adele “Send My Love to Your New Lover” (2015)
  276. Ava Max “Sweet But Psycho” (2018)
  277. Keala Settle with the Greatest Show Ensemble “This Is Me” (2017)
  278. Christina Perri “Jar of Hearts” (2010)
  279. Saint JHN “Roses” (2016)
  280. Eminem with Nate Dogg “Till I Collapse” (2002)

  281. Adele “When We Were Young” (2015)
  282. Drake with Rihanna “Too Good” (2016)
  283. James Bay “Let It Go” (2014)
  284. Eminem with Ed Sheeran “River” (2017)
  285. Dr. Dre with Eminem “Forgot About Dre” (1999)
  286. Band Aid 20 “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (2004)
  287. Beyoncé “Love on Top” (2011)
  288. Ed Sheeran “Lego House” (2011)
  289. Ed Sheeran “Galway Girl” (2017)
  290. George Ezra “Shotgun” (2018)

  291. Tinie Tempah “Pass Out” (2010)
  292. Rudimental with Jess Glynne “These Days” (2018)
  293. Dr. Dre with Snoop Dogg “Still D.R.E.” (1999)
  294. Beyoncé “Best Thing I Never Had” (2011)
  295. Labrinth with Emeli Sande “Beneath Your Beautiful” (2012)
  296. Loud Luxury with Brando “Body” (2017)
  297. La Roux “In for the Kill” (2009)
  298. Cheryl Cole “Fight for This Love” (2009)
  299. Labrinth with Tinie Tempah “Earthquake” (2011)
  300. Ellie Goulding “How Long Will I Love You” (2013)
  301. Take That “Rule the World” (2007)

    1.19 million:

  302. Mr. Acker Bilk & the Leon Young String Chorale “Stranger on the Shore” (1961)
  303. Harry Belafonte “Mary’s Boy Child” (1957)
  304. Engelbert Humperdinck “The Last Waltz” (1967)

    1.18 million:

  305. The Weeknd with Daft Punk “Starboy” (2016)
  306. Boyzone “No Matter What” (1998)
  307. Spice Girls “2 Become 1” (1996)
  308. Lost Frequencies “Are You with Me?” (2014)
  309. Babylon Zoo “Spaceman” (1996)

    1.17 million:

  310. The Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody” (1965)
  311. Donna Summer “I Feel Love” (1977)
  312. Billy Joel “Uptown Girl” (1983)
  313. David Soul “Don’t Give Up On Us” (1976)
  314. Rudimental with John Newman “Feel the Love” (2012)

    1.16 million:

  315. DJ Snake with Justin Bieber “Let Me Love You” (2016)
  316. Wheatus “Teenage Dirtbag” (2000)

    1.15 million:

  317. Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive” (1979)
  318. Lou Bega “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)” (1999)
  319. Vance Joy “Riptide” (2013)
  320. Gary Glitter “I Love You Love Me Love” (1973)

    1.14 million:

  321. Enrique Iglesias “Hero” (2001)
  322. Coldplay with Beyoncé “Hymn for the Weekend” (2015)
  323. Ian Dury & the Blockheads “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” (1978)
  324. Black Box “Ride on Time” (1989)

    1.13 million:

  325. Major Lazer with Nyla “Light It Up” (2016)
  326. Shayne Ward “That’s My Goal” (2005)
  327. Peter Andre “Mysterious Girl” (1995)

    1.12 million:

  328. Bing Crosby with The Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter Orchestra “White Christmas” (1942)
  329. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1995)
  330. Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987)
  331. The Script with will.i.am “Hall of Fame” (2012)
  332. Hear’say “Pure and Simple” (2001)
  333. Robson & Jerome “I Believe” / “Up on the Roof” (1995)

    1.11 million:

  334. Nelly & Kelly Rowland “Dilemma” (2002)
  335. Bruno Mars “Locked Out of Heaven (2012)
  336. Frank Ifield “I Remember You” (1962)
  337. Sam Smith “I’m Not the Only One” (2014)
  338. Ellie Goulding “Burn” (2013)
  339. Kungs vs. Cookin’ on 3 Burners “This Girl” (2016)
  340. Little Mix “Black Magic” (2015)
  341. Teletubbies “Teletubbies Say ‘Eh-Oh!’” (1997)

    1.10 million:

  342. Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me” (1987)
  343. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
  344. Elton John & Kiki Dee “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (1976)
  345. Fetty Wap “Trap Queen” (2014)
  346. Jessie J with Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj “Bang Bang” (2014)
  347. Irene Cara “Fame” (1982)

    1.09 million:

  348. Rod Stewart “Sailing” (1975)
  349. DNCE “Cake by the Ocean” (2015)
  350. Adam & the Ants “Stand and Deliver” (1981)
  351. Rudimental with Ella Eyre “Waiting All Night” (2013)

    1.08 million:

  352. The Archies “Sugar, Sugar” (1969)
  353. Zara Larsson with MINEK “Never Forget You” (2015)

    1.07 million:

  354. Pink with Nate Ruess “Just Give Me a Reason” (2012)
  355. The Fray “How to Save a Life” (2005)
  356. Ed Sheeran “Don’t” (2014)
  357. Cliff Richard & the Shadows “The Young Ones” (1962)
  358. Kygo with Conrad “Firestone” (2015)
  359. Little Mix “Shout Out to My Ex”
  360. Zara Larsson with Clean Bandit “Symphony” (2017)
  361. Tight Fit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (1982)

    1.06 million:

  362. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983)
  363. Starship “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (1987)
  364. The Jam “A Town Called Malice” (1982)
  365. Atomic Kitten “Whole Again” (2001)
  366. John Newman “Love Me Again” (2013)

    1.05 million:

  367. 50 Cent “In Da Club” (2002)
  368. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop” (2012)
  369. Frank Sinatra “My Way” (1969)
  370. Coldplay “Fix You” (2005)

    1.04 million:

  371. The Beatles “Help!” (1965)
  372. Shawn Mendes “Treat You Better” (2016)
  373. Arctic Monkeys “Do I Wanna Know?” (2013)
  374. Gerry & the Pacemakers “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1963)
  375. Julie Covington “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” (1976)
  376. Matt Cardle “When We Collide” (201)

    1.03 million:

  377. Rod Stewart “Maggie May” / “Reason to Believe” (1971)
  378. Lionel Richie “Hello” (1984)
  379. Maroon 5 with Wiz Khalifa “Payphone” (2012)
  380. Brotherhood of Man “Save Your Kisses for Me” (1976)
  381. Coldplay “Adventure of a Lifetime” (2015)
  382. Mark Morrison “Return of the Mack” (1996)
  383. Avicii with Dan Tyminski “Hey Brother” (2013)
  384. Bob the Builder “Can We Fix It?” (2000)
  385. Shakin’ Stevens “Merry Christmas Everybody” (1985)

    1.02 million:

  386. George Harrison “My Sweet Lord” (1970)
  387. Bee Gees “How Deep Is Your Love” (1977)
  388. Tony Orlando & Dawn “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” (1973)
  389. John Lennon & Yoko Ono “Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)” (1971)
  390. New Seekers “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” (1971)
  391. Lana Del Rey with Cedric Gervais “Summertime Sadness” (2012)
  392. Ariana Grande “One Last Time” (2014)
  393. Showaddywaddy “Under the Moon of Love” (1976)
  394. Neiked with Dyo “Sexual” (2016)

    1.01 million:

  395. Owl City “Fireflies” (2009)
  396. Will Smith “Men in Black” (1997)
  397. Zayn “Pillow Talk” (2016)
  398. French Montana with Swae Lee “Unforgettable” (2017)
  399. Little Jimmy Osmond “Long Haired Lover from Liverpool” (1972)
  400. The Simon Park Orchestra “Eye Level” (1972)
  401. Kylie Minogue with Jason Donovan “Especially for You” (1988)

    1.00 million:

  402. Otis Redding “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” (1968)
  403. The Kinks “You Really Got Me” (1964)
  404. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983)
  405. Elvis Presley “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (1960)
  406. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
  407. The Who “Baba O’Riley” (1971)
  408. Kenny Loggins “Footloose” (1984)
  409. Elvis Presley “Surrender” / “Lonely Man” (1961)
  410. Rihanna with Kanye West & Paul McCartney “Four Five Seconds” (2015)

  411. Adele “Chasing Pavements” (2008)
  412. Elvis Presley “Wooden Heart” (1960)
  413. Lillywood & the Prick with Robin Schulz “Prayer in C” (2014)
  414. Bazzi “Mine” (2017)
  415. B*Witched “C’est La Vie” (1998)
  416. Route 94 with Jess Glynne “My Love” (2014)

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First posted 11/4/2012; last updated 11/9/2021.

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Saturday, July 13, 1985

Live Aid: July 13, 1985

Originally posted July 13, 2011.



On July 13, 1985, an estimated 1.9 billion people in 150 nations watched the broadcast of Live Aid. It “was the most ambitious international satellite television venture that had ever been attempted at the time“. WK Musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure organized the star-studded concerts, held simultaneously in London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium. The two venues attracted 72,000 and 100,000 fans respectively.

Geldof, best known for the U.K. #1 song “I Don’t Like Mondays” with his group the Boomtown Rats, was dismayed by the plight of starving Ethiopians after seeing a BBC documentary. Determined to make a difference, he had assembled some of Britain’s biggest musical stars the previous winter for the charity recording “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, written by Geldof and Ure. The song became, at the time, the best-selling record ever in the UK. HE

Highlights included reunions of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. U2’s performance, “established them as a pre-eminent live group for the first time”. WK Queen’s 20-minute set has been called “the greatest live performance in the history of rock music”. WK



Also of note were Paul McCartney’s performance of “Let It Be”, followed by an all-star gathering to close out the London concert with “Christmas”. Stateside, the concert closed with the U.S. response to that song, USA for Africa’s “We Are the World”.

A planned duet between Mick Jagger and David Bowie – one on each coast – had to be scrapped because it was too complicated. Instead, they recorded a duet version of Martha & the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” and the video was shown at both venues. Phil Collins made news by performing at both venues. He hopped a Concorde after his Wembley appearance and jetted overseas to Philadelphia.



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Saturday, December 15, 1984

Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas” hit #1 in the UK

Do They Know It’s Christmas

Band Aid

Writer(s): Bob Geldof, Midge Ure (see lyrics here)

Released: December 3, 1984

Peak: 13 US, 7 CB, 39 GR, 35 A40, 32 AR, 15 UK, 12 CN, 14 AU, 2 DF (Click for codes to charts.)

Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 3.94 UK, 11.7 world (includes US + UK)

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 39.3 video, 403.22 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Bob Geldof made his name initially as the frontman of the Boomtown Rats, an Irish punk-pop outfit which got its start in the late ‘70s and found success with a pair of #1 songs on the UK charts with “Rat Trap” and “I Don’t Like Mondays.” However, in his obituary someday, the leading line will reference him as the man who organized Band Aid and Live Aid.

Geldof was so moved one night by images from the BBC of “Ethiopians as they trudged for miles in search of food” HL that he felt obligated to do something. He started out collecting money at Boomtown Rats shows HL but wanted to do something on a grander scale. He connected with Midge Ure, the frontman from Ultravox, to pen a song about those suffering in the African famine. He wrote the lyrics in the back seat of a taxi and Midge produced the backing track in his studio. TB

To garner even more attention to the cause, however, the pair then tackled their collective rolodexes to round up a Who’s Who of British pop superstars to sing a Christmas charity single as the collective Band Aid. Among the stars enlisted were Bono, Phil Collins, Sting, George Michael, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Status Quo, Paul Weller, Spandau Ballet, Heaven 17, and Kool & the Gang.

36 artists HL gathered at Sarm West Studios in London on November 25, 1984. Geldof implored attendees “to leave your egos outside the studio” HL and, in a wonderful display of unity, “everyone got on with everyone else.” HL They started the recording process by singing the “Feed the world, let them know it’s Christmas time” refrain first as a group. Then individual singers sang the song the entire way through so that Ure, who also produced the song, could splice the best parts together for the final version. WK The whole song was recorded within a 24-hour period. WK

Geldof wanted to make sure all the proceeds went straight to the Ethiopians so he in addition to getting the musicians to work for free, he arranged for free studio time, manufacturing, and distribution. The song sold 750,000 in its first week of release in England, making it their fastest-selling single in history at the time. MG It went on to sell more than 3.5 million, making it the best-selling song in Britain until Elton John’s 1997 re-recording of “Candle in the Wind”. WK Combined with the 1985 Live Aid concert, Geldof’s efforts raised £110 million. MG

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First posted 12/15/2011; last updated 4/12/2023.

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