THEY DON’T MAKE ‘EM LIKE THEY USED TO

17-12-2007

Message Board insults have been flying following Carl Chinn’s listing of his Xmas Top Ten. But Richard Nevin notes that the charts are now being flooded by old-time festive tunes.

As a confirmed Luddite, particularly when it comes to music, I have always viewed the inclusion of “download” sales in the Top 40 with suspicion. In these days of dwindling sales and to be frank, poor quality music, I believe this move was introduced to give the countdown a boost and make it seem more vital and credible than it actually is.

However, there has been one positive side effect to this “gerrymandering” of the hit parade. Songs no longer on release “as singles” can re-enter the chart through download sales alone and this has become particularly apparent as we enter the festive season.

Take a look at the current rundown and you will find a number of “classic” Christmas hits from yesteryear have elbowed their way back into the charts amongst all the reality stars and bizarrely named dance acts.

Take a closer look and you will also find that the most modern of these songs dates from 1994 and no less than two are over 30 years old. These songs, often dismissed as uncool or naff, are not only held in reverence by dinosaurs like myself but now appear popular with the modern generation, seeing them as a vital part of a British Christmas.

So this begs the question, who will write the “Christmas classics” of the future? It can be argued that the last great hit to enter the charts was the Pogues and Kirsty McColl collaboration of twenty years ago, so what’s been the problem since 1987?

As usual, record companies and journalists have dictated the zeitgeist, rendering anything remotely festive as devoid of any merit and potentially career threatening, thus scaring any artist into avoiding Christmas altogether. Except for Cliff, of course.

The Darkness made an admirable effort a few years ago, but as they were already viewed as a novelty act, and as such were on a loser from the start. The predictability of the outcome when it comes to the number one slot, due to the ruthless and efficient “X Factor” machine, hasn’t helped either.

But with the return of Wizzard and Shakin’ Stevens to the charts, maybe there is hope for the future and that the next Christmas hit is just around the corner, one to be dismissed for 11 months of the year until it suddenly becomes everybody’s favourite and is sang with great gusto at office parties all across the land. Or are we condemned to an eternity of Aled Jones and East 17?

Either way, having Slade back in the Top 40 is always a reason for celebration as far as I am concerned.

Get down and get festive!!

Too see Chinny’s festive Top Ten click here

Join the discussion about the best Christmas tunes, go to the Stirrer Forum.