The holiday season has arrived, and the tunes are ringing out louder than ever on Spotify. The music streaming giant reports an astounding 1’400% surge in holiday playlist creations by listeners since the advent of November.
- As the world dives into the festive spirit, South Africa is no exception.
- Spotify has revealed intriguing insights into the nation’s holiday music preferences.
- The festive fervour isn’t just limited to individual tracks; it extends to the realm of albums as well.
- Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.
Leading the pack in South Africa, reigning supreme as the top-streamed holiday song, is none other than Mariah Carey’s timeless classic, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’. Released in 1994, this festive anthem continues to capture hearts and playlists across the globe. It seems that when it comes to spreading holiday cheer in South Africa, Mariah Carey is the undisputed queen.
Globally, the top-streamed Christmas album of the year is Michael Bublé’s ‘Christmas’, solidifying its place as Spotify’s most-streamed Christmas album of all time. Michael’s velvety voice serenades listeners into the holiday spirit, making him a global favourite. Following closely behind in the global top-streamed holiday artist line-up are music icons like Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby, Ariana Grande, and Frank Sinatra.
Taking a stroll through the decades, Spotify’s global list of the most-streamed holiday tracks showcases a delightful mix of musical eras. Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ reigns supreme, accompanied by timeless classics like Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ (1984), Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ (1958), Bobby Helms’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ (1957), and Ariana Grande’s ‘Santa Tell Me’ (2014).
Interestingly, South Africa’s top holiday tracks align closely with the global trends, with Mariah Carey and Wham! leading the pack.
When it comes to the more recent additions to the holiday music repertoire, Spotify listeners are turning to newer hits released in the past five years. Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s ‘Merry Christmas’ tops the charts in this category, joined by Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Santa, Can’t You Hear Me’, Taylor Swift’s ‘Christmas Tree Farm’, The Jonas Brothers’ ‘Like It’s Christmas’, and Laufey’s ‘Winter Wonderland’.
For those curious about holiday music streaming trends, here’s a fun fact: 26 November 2023 witnessed the most significant spike in holiday music streams outside of December. It seems that as soon as the calendar hits November, the world can’t resist the allure of holiday melodies. Additionally, a global trend reveals that fans around the world stream holiday music most frequently on Sundays, perhaps making it the day to unwind and revel in the festive tunes.
As we embark on this musical journey through the holiday season, one thing is clear – South Africa and the world at large have unanimously declared Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ as the ultimate holiday anthem. So, whether you’re trimming the tree, wrapping gifts, or simply enjoying a chilled drink, let the melodic magic of the season be the soundtrack to your Christmas. Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special is currently available on Apple+.
Stand a chance to WIN with The Sandton Times.
Advertise on The Sandton Times today!
Head back to The Sandton Times Home Page for more stories.
