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Can ABBA claim the 2021 Christmas Number 1? Band reveal their new album Voyage includes a festive song
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Pop fans rejoiced this week as ABBA announced their comeback with a virtual concert and new album - their first new material in 40 years.
If that wasn't exciting enough, member Benny Anderson revealed during the livestream announcement that the record includes a Christmas song.
Perhaps surprisingly, it will be ABBA's first ever festive song. The group never officially recorded a Christmas song, but members have recorded festive music outside of ABBA - notably Benny and Bjorn, who released a Christmas album in their pre-ABBA days as part of rock band The Hep Stars.
In 1981, singer Agnetha and her daughter Linda recorded Christmas album Nu Tandas Tusen Julejus, the title track of which is a traditional Swedish language festive song.
Of course, odds are already on for ABBA to score this year's Official Christmas Number 1 with the track. Luke Tarr, Head of PR at bookmakers Star Sports, said: "ABBA delighted music fans with the announcement that their new album is due to be released in November, and punters have been taking a chance on them reaching the top of the Christmas charts at 8/1."
If they manage it, ABBA could be the latest icons to join the Christmas music hall of fame - previous acts to claim an Official UK Christmas Number 1 include The Beatles, Queen, Cliff Richard, and Spice Girls.
Things are shaping up nicely for ABBA's upcoming ninth studio album Voyage, with a reported 40,000 UK pre-orders since yesterday's announcement. The group launched their comeback with two new songs, I Still Have Faith In You and Don't Shut Me Down. Other songs on the record include I Can Be That Woman, No Doubt About It, and the curiously-titled Keep An Eye On Dan.
To date, ABBA have nine Number 1s on the UK's Official Singles Chart, plus nine chart-topping albums. Look back at ABBA's full Official UK Chart history.
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Anthony Rogers
Although Abba never had a Christmas song they did have " Happy New Year ".
How about if everyone streamed/ downloaded that this year as well.
BleeUK
We find out from 31st December Edition as thats the True Christmas Week Sales (24th to 30th) not the broadcasted one from 24th to 30th December as the sales are taking before Christmas Day from 17-23rd December Sales only.
BleeUK
Who knows what Christmas #1 will be, it normally a setup, the sales are down at christmas now due to streaming era never get over 150K anymore, and christmas charts for Radio 1 and TV Is Never Includes Christmas Week Data, as it before Christmas Day, so the nation goes this year by 24th December (Cut Point By 23rd) and i got with a true week sales data For 31st December broadcast or online which Includes Christmas time week and Boxing Day Data :) as with Christmas songs still there, most climbing and there is surge of impact still remains.
Blank
Most of that has always been true. Christmas #1 has never been what actually sells on Christmas Day, but what is #1 on that day from sales collated the week before. Go back far enough, and the week of sales that included Christmas Day itself wasn't published at all, instead repeating the week before's sales.
BleeUK
The Charts For UK Christmas Charts Is Very inaccurate (Every one will go by 24th December this year but i go from 31st December) as there are weekly charts after so called the christmas charts, Radio 1 and Official UK Charts have never include christmas week sales at all, Radio 1 should do the christmas charts a few days after christmas day at least, as the 1st Day of Christmas is 25th December, and the christmas charts for Radio 1 and was Top Of The Pops is always between at least 24 hours out to 6 days out of sales and units before Christmas Day, it becuase of of these ridiculous week ending rule it get away with it, like the billboard which is very silly,
Blank
It's been week-ending for over 3500 weeks! If they did they Christmas charts after Christmas, that is not the Christmas chart, and you wouldn't know the Christmas #1 on the day itself. It's always what is the current #1 on the day itself that counts, not what has been selling in the week (when it was physical sales, most shops would be closed for most of the week) so counting the sales of that week to be Christmas #1 makes no sense at all. It would be most unrepresentative. Just look at week after Christmas week most years after 1983 to see how unrepresentative that week is.
BleeUK
I Disagree, Christmas Charts has to include Christmas Day and the weeks sales, it been very misleading for years and decades the next week charts after Christmas recorded charts is more accurate that why christmas songs are hanging and climbing as this get DJ Confused on radio, after 26th Decemember why christmas song still in Top 40 or #1 i'm not it the christmas week sales from 25th and beyond 12 days of christmas till the start of Jan, media has got away from it for a long time as to do with Week ending thing, which is ridicious and the charts of sales taking for christmas charts should never close before Christmas Day
Blank
For most of the chart history that was not possible. From the 1950s until the 1970s, shops were shut for the whole week between Christmas and new year. Then of course, you could only buy records in physically open shops, so sales for that week would be literally zero. There aren't any sales in Christmas week! As such, the "New Year" week published until 1982 was simply that Christmas week repeated.
For consistancy with chart history as much as anything else, the Christmas #1 is still what is #1 on that day based on sales in the week leading up to it. Why would anyone buy a Christmas record on 26th December onwards? OK, it happened but to such a small extent it is only a curiousity and quirk of sales.
There have been enormous changes in retail during the history of the charts, which to anyone born after about 1985 would not have experienced first hand. Sunday trading laws, limited hours, forced closures of larger stores on certain days, closed Wednesday afternoons to name a few. The media reporting on the chart reflects this change as much as it reflects the popular music.
BleeUK
Thanks for the info, its intresting and the history, but From 31st December this year is exicting a true christmas charts than 24th December as the sales are taking before christmas once again , in my opinion christmas charts should be Sales from 25th December 1st day of christmas and it is important as it christmas week , becuase that special having christmas day sales, if it before christmas than it should be called the run up to christmas, so the next week or next edition it the proper one for me and should be for the public,I do understand about shops, and history but we in the 21st century now so we should re-boot the christmas charts and have it proper like we should of had it after christmas day the charts to broadcast not before! that silly, if we have to wait till New Years that be great, Have A Great Day David
BleeUK
It’s interesting the history and info you sent me, maybe there should repeat charts the following week then and freeze the charts. But I still stand as it’s a Christmas charts it should contain sales from Christmas Day 25th not before or at least call it the run up to Christmas! That make sense I still be listening to Christmas charts I do each year but I be supporting 31st December this year as Christmas charts than 24th December as sales is taking before Christmas Day. Have a great day David :)
Blank
Unlike any time before, we can now announce on Boxing Day the digital sales from Christmas Day itself. A true Christmas chart!