Article The Most Festive Christmas Videos Ever

[George Michael]

With the big day fast approaching, we’ve delved deep into the vaults to serve up the most festive music videos we can find. Marks are awarded for the presence of snow, reindeer and as many Chrismas clichés as a music promo can allow. So break out the mistletoe, stoke up the fire and prepare to be merry as we bring you the most festive music videos ever.

10: The Darkness – Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)

Justin Hawkins and his merry band of rockers were at the top of their game back in 2003. Little did they know that just a few years later the group would disband following Justin Hawkins’ drug-related health problems. Nevertheless, their song Christmas Time seems to have worked its way into the nation’s hearts over the last few years. Of course only time will tell whether it’s a bona fide Xmas classic or not, but with a video that features roaring fires, a log cabin and a children’s choir, it has got to be in with a shout.

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9: Kim & Mel – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Pop temptress Kim Wilde teamed up with comedian Mel Smith in 1987 to produce one of the worst Christmas records of all time. Nevertheless, for our single-minded purposes of eking out the most festive Christmas videos ever, this pair surely has a chance as the video has everything from a saxophone-wielding Santa Claus to a festive platter of mince pies.

8: Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmas Time

We can only assume that Paul McCartney got a new synthesizer for Christmas back in 1979 if this song is anything to go by. Despite being regarded as one of Sir Paul’s lesser moments, the video certainly packs a merry festive punch with its jolly band of Santas and animated reindeer.

7: David Bowie and Bing Crosby – Little Drummer Boy

In the video David Bowie pops in to play Sir Percival’s piano but is instead greeted by Bing, “the poor relation from America”. The pair then embarks on an eye-watering rendition of Little Drummer Boy that leaves us longing for mince pies and mulled wine.

6: Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

The band were famously beaten to the Christmas No.1 slot in 1973 by Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody, but Wizzard’s festive classic still holds a special place in the nation’s hearts. With adorable saxophone-playing children, cardboard snowmen and a frontman who is a dead ringer for a glam rock Santa Claus, Wizzard meet all the criteria required to guarantee their place in festive infamy.

5: Cliff Richard – Mistletoe and Wine

Snow, check. Candles, check. Angelic children’s choir, check. In fact the only thing missing from Cliff’s infamous Christmas epic is the miracle giver himself. So just where is Santa Claus? We can only assume that Cliff’s Christian persuasions forbid him from featuring such graven idols. It’s a shame though. A few ho ho hos and a flash of Santa’s beard would have practically guaranteed the top slot in our list.

4: East 17 – Stay Another Day

Tony Mortimer’s troupe of diminutive boy band rebels took the UK charts by sheer Christmas force back in 1994. It’s worth remembering that the original video for Stay Another Day didn’t feature snow or furry hoods or sleigh bells. We can only assume that it struck some bright spark at the record company at the last moment to add the Xmas peripherals, thus guaranteeing East 17 their place in chart history. Well done lads!

3: Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone

Shaky had originally planned to release his festive hit in 1984 but postponed it by a year because of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas. The gamble seemed to pay off as it finally charted at No.1 at Christmas in 1985. In this clip we see Shaky taking Top of The Pops by storm. Whilst perhaps not the most Christmassy video in our selection he surely deserves points just for his fabulous Xmas jumper alone.

2: Wham! – Last Christmas

Back in 1984 Wham!, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Band Aid battled it out for the coveted Christmas No.1 spot. Wham! missed out by a whisker with Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas taking the trophy. Sadly for George Michael and co, history repeated itself in 1985 and the band were pipped to the festive post once again. Fact fans will be fascinated to know that Last Christmas is the biggest-selling single in UK chart history not to reach number one.

1: Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You

Mimi brings out all the big guns in her schmaltzy Yuletide love song, namely: Santa Claus, some reindeer and her dog Cha Cha dressed in an adorable Christmas outfit. Curiously, the song never even broke the UK top ten on its original release but it has gone on to become one of the most popular Xmas songs ever, selling over ten million copies worldwide. The record even sold a million copies in Japan which is predominantly a Shinto/Buddhist nation.