Christmas advert songs that conquered the charts

Anticipating big brands' Christmas ad campaigns has almost become a festive tradition. At the beginning of every November, we huddle round our tellies to see which cuddly cartoon characters or hot celebrities will be fronting the big-budget ads. But most importantly, of course, we want to know which song will be soundtracking the ads – and who'll be singing them.

We look back at some of the tracks that have enjoyed the boost of a big TV campaign, and how it made them chart successes.

Lily Allen – Somewhere Only We Know

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated Christmas ad song of them all, Lily Allen scored her third Number 1 in 2013 with this stripped-back piano cover of Keane's 2004 hit. Lily very nearly bagged herself the Christmas Number 1, spending three weeks at the top through December. She was no match for the power of The X Factor, however – 2013 winner Sam Bailey knocked her off with her cover of Demi Lovato's Skyscraper.

MORE: See Lily Allen's full Official Chart archive of hit singles and albums

Fleur East – Sax

The first big ad campaign launch of 2015 featured a song what hadn't even been released yet. X Factor 2014 runner-up Fleur East's debut single had such star power, Asda snapped it up for their Christmas ads. The track is still in the Top 10, peaking at Number 3 on release in November.

Grace feat G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me

A slick and stylish cover of Lesley Gore's 1963 original, which was never a hit in the UK, but was kept off Number 1 in the US by the Beatles. Grace's rework appeared in the House Of Fraser campaign for 2015 and has peaked at Number 5 so far.

Gabrielle Aplin – The Power Of Love

John Lewis's 2012 campaign, which featured a snowman falling in love, gave Gabrielle Aplin her first hit and a Number 1. The track was a cover of a Frankie Goes To Hollywood original which, spookily enough, had been Number 1 almost exactly 28 years earlier.

Aurora – Half The World Away

This year's John Lewis festive ad spot moved action off Earth and onto the moon, so what better song to soundtrack it than Oasis's Half The World Away? Expertly covered by teenage Norwegian star Aurora, the track peaked at Number 11. Such was the ad's impact, that the Oasis, never an official single, actually charted for the first time.

MORE: See all Oasis's hit UK singles and albums in their archive

Taken By Trees – Sweet Child O' Mine

A rather unexpected, non-rocky of Guns N Roses' headbanging classic was the soundtrack to 2009's campaign. ChartFact: Taken By Trees' version of Sweet Child O' Mine peaked ONE place higher than G'N R managed it in 1988, taking it to Number 24.

MORE: All Guns 'N Roses' hits can be found in their Official Chart archive

Ellie Goulding – Your Song

Yep, it's another John Lewis one. Ellie Goulding's cover of Elton John's romantic classic fronted the store's 2010 campaign and was a big hit. It gave Ellie her second Top 10 and a then-peak of Number 2, which she later smashed with two chart-toppers, one in 2013 and the other in 2015.

MORE: See all Ellie Goulding's hit singles and albums in her UK chart archive

Slow Moving Millie – Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

Originally a Smiths B-side, Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want finally got some chart love when it was the theme for – you've guessed it – the John Lewis Christmas ad push in 2011. Actress Amelia Warner, who sings as Slow Moving Millie, scored her only Top 40 hit with her acoustic version.

Sugababes – Girls

Was there any more perfect a soundtrack to a raucous Christmas party than this Sugababes reimagining of Ernie K Doe's Here Come The Girls. It was actually the original that featured in Boots' 2007 campaign, but such was the popularity of Sugababes' version, which hit Number 3 in August 2008, it replace Ernie's rendition in the following year's advert!

What's your favourite Christmas ad song? Join in the chat on Facebook or Twitter, or leave a comment below!