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Ed Sheeran and Elton John unveil new single Merry Christmas - can it claim the 2021 Official Christmas Number 1?
Merry Christmas also comes with a star-packed music video that pays homage to classic Christmas music videos.
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Ed Sheeran and Elton John have released their brand-new, highly anticipated Christmas single.
Merry Christmas was co-written by the pair and is an ode to the best bits about the festive season - kissing under the mistletoe, raising a toast and playing in the snow.
As if that wasn't festive enough, the track's music video pays homage to scenes from classic Christmas music videos and films. Mr Blobby, Jonathan Ross, Big Narstie, Michael McIntyre and The Darkness all make cameos and reinvent scenes from Wham’s Last Christmas, Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas, The Snowman’s Walking in the Air, East 17’s Stay Another Day and more.
During the 2021 Christmas period, Ed and Elton's global record and publishing royalties from the single and profits from sales of the single will be donated equally between the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation & The Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Merry Christmas is one of this year's big contenders for the Official Christmas Number 1, which will be announced on Friday, December 24 on BBC Radio 1 and here on OfficialCharts.com.
MORE: Every Official Christmas Number 1 ever
Both have experience when it comes to landing a festive smash; in 2017 Ed scored the Official Christmas Number 1 with Perfect, while Elton's Step Into Christmas has returned to the Top 10 for the past two festive seasons.
This year marks the UK's 70th Christmas Number 1 and competition is fiercer than ever; ABBA, George Ezra, and The K**ts are among the acts eyeing up the top spot.
Article image: Zakary Walters
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thierry henon
I got to say it:" I LOVE IT!!" OMG it is one of the best new Xmas single i have heard in years! The music, the lyrics, the video: it just give you the Xmas spirit whether you like Xmas or not! I am impressed but so happy with their new song! Do hope for xmas number 1 single this year and i am not even a fan of ED but tbh, i love Elton!
R
RCH
Just tell me that you don't hear directly plagiarism in this song, it's pretty obvious....as usual for Ed.
crunch2k
Plagiarism from what song?
Alfred Lock
Would have been better released in Xmas week assuming Ladbaby is going for the unprecedented 4th no.1 in a row..That would have been a showdown .