In a surprising festive chart triumph, Leona Lewis's modern classic 'One More Sleep' has been officially named the most streamed British Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK. The track, which first captured hearts in 2013, has now amassed a staggering over 190 million streams on British services, according to data from the Official Charts Company.
A Modern Classic Takes the Crown
The 2013 single, which originally peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, has outperformed a sleigh-full of contemporary holiday favourites to claim the top spot. This achievement highlights a significant shift in the festive music landscape, traditionally dominated by hits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company, celebrated the result. "The canon of Christmas classics is full to bursting with songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s," he said. "So it is great to see modern classics joining the festive hall of fame – with Leona Lewis’s ‘One More Sleep’ the runaway leader as the biggest new British Christmas cracker of them all."
The Top Five Festive Streamers
The data reveals a fascinating ranking of Britain's favourite modern Christmas tunes. Securing a respectable second place is Coldplay's melancholic 'Christmas Lights'. In third is Lily Allen's cover of Keane's 'Somewhere Only We Know', which gained massive popularity after featuring in a 2013 John Lewis Christmas advertisement.
The collaboration between Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John, 'Merry Christmas', landed in fourth position. Rounding out the top five is Alexandra Burke's powerful rendition of 'Hallelujah', her 2008 X Factor winning single. Interestingly, when combining streaming figures with traditional physical sales, Burke's track becomes the biggest 21st-century Christmas song overall.
Completing the Top Ten
The rest of the top ten list showcases a diverse mix of festive styles:
- 6. The Darkness – ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)’
- 7. Sam Smith – ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’
- 8. Jess Glynne – ‘This Christmas’
- 9. George Ezra – ‘Come On Home For Christmas’
- 10. Sam Ryder – ‘You’re Christmas To Me’
This streaming revelation comes hot on the heels of the Official Charts Company announcing the contenders for this year's coveted UK Christmas number one single. The race includes tracks from global superstar Taylor Swift, Loose Women panellist Denise Welch, and a song from Tom Fletcher written for 'Paddington The Musical'.
For Leona Lewis, this streaming milestone adds another festive achievement to her career. She previously secured the Christmas number one spot in 2006 with her X Factor winner's single, 'A Moment Like This'. Now, with 'One More Sleep', she has created a lasting modern tradition for British listeners, proving that new songs can indeed earn a permanent place in the holiday soundtrack.
