THEY'RE MADE TO BE BROKEN: It was probably a foregone conclusion even going back to last year, but the inevitable has happened. Mariah Carey's perennial Christmas song, "All I Want For Christmas Is You", holds onto the #1 position. While that is her second week at #1 during this holiday season, it makes it a cumulative 20th week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
That sets a record for the most weeks at the top spot by one song, breaking the record of 19, originally set back in 2019 by "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, and tied last year by Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)". It's actually a "take-back" situation as Ms. Carey for a time, set the record back in 1995-96 in her duet with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day", which reigned for 16 weeks. That song held the record on its own until 2018, when "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber tied it. One year later, the record was broken, but six years after that, Mariah has now won it back.
 |
| Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" sets a record on the Billboard Hot 100 as it attains its 20th week at #1 |
But a few weeks ago, Mariah actually set another record. "All I Want" is in its 77th week on the chart, which is the most ever by a solo female artist. It broke the record of 72, set by Billie Eilish's "Wildflower" which exited the chart just a few weeks ago, due to the new Billboard rules for long-running songs. I also have to note that Dua Lipa's "Levitating" also scored 77 weeks, but 45 of them were credited to Da Baby being a featured artist. Needless to say, Mariah will break that next week as well.
So, how far can Mariah go? The song has topped the Hot 100 for at least two weeks every holiday season since 2019. Her reign during the prime holiday weeks was interrupted only twice: In 2020 when Taylor Swift released her song "Willow" that debuted at the top spot on December 26 of that year, only to fall to #38 the next week, enabling "All I Want" to move back to #1 for the final week; and in 2023, when Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" beat Mariah to the top spot, and claimed three weeks to Mariah's two that year.
But Mariah swept the season last year, claiming all four weeks of the 2024 holiday season and now taking two of the first four this year. There seems to be no end in sight as to how high Mariah can go. She can claim weeks 21 and 22 at the top this year and getting to 30 in a few years should be no problem. Of course, that presents an ongoing problem with the same songs on top each year....not just holiday songs, but regular entries as well.
When Billboard refined the rule for removing a long running song a couple months back, it was thought that Teddy Swim's "Lose Control", which set a record with 112 total weeks on the Hot 100 before being removed, would never be broken. But, as the average weeks a Christmas song usually lasts each year is 7 or 8, especially with a long-running song like Mariah's, she could conceivably break that all-time record by 2031 if she keeps it up, as the new rules don't apply to holiday entries which can enter at any position in the top 50, and will usually fall completely off the chart once the season is over.
THE TOP FIVE songs this week are exactly the same as they finished at the end of last year. Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" moves back into the runner-up position that it's accustomed to, switching places with Wham!'s "Last Christmas". The latter, which last year switched places with the #4 "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms, is slowly edging towards the top. So, with "Last Christmas" dropping to #3 this week, does that mean its chances of hitting the top spot, as I have hedged this year are squashed? Not necessarily. With two weeks to go, it still has a chance. That's because for the first time since the Worldwide chart was instituted in 2020, "Last Christmas" knocked Mariah out of the top spot this week but given its success in the U.K going back to its 1984 release, that is not really a surprise. But if it can there, could it repeat here? We shall see!
Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me", moves up from 8 to 5, equaling last year's peak. Non-holiday mainstays "Golden" by HUNTR/X and "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift hold tough at 6 and 7. Nat "King" Cole's "The Christmas Song" sets a new peak of #8, and Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath the Tree" ties its #9 high mark. Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" inches up to #10, but far off its #5 peak.
With the exception of "Ordinary" which drops out of the top 10 this week, the 11-20 positions are all holiday entries. Only Michael Bublé's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" has a chance to equal its highest rank. It's at #13, only one off its top position.
Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson have the only relatively new entries on the chart; they are the only "recent" songs (released in the 2010's) in the top 10 getting recognition the last few years, so it comes as no surprise as the two duet on "Santa, Can You Hear Me" sets a new peak at #40. There are a few new re-entries, with the "newest" being Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy", featured in A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, entering with three total chart weeks, at #50. Darlene Love's "Winter Wonderland", at #49 is just one off its peak. The only "new" holiday song, Gwen Stefani's "Shake the Snow Globe" moves 86-74.
FORGOTTEN GEMS: Request a holiday playlist for Spotify or any other streamer, and most likely you'll get songs that are currently on the perennial Hot 100 charts. Maybe there's a few others, but it's always these songs. But what about songs that were popular in the past that you never hear anymore? While "White Christmas", "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "The Christmas Song", "Jingle Bell Rock" and a few others were all released before 1960 that still visit the charts each year, what about some others?
Here's a few songs that you just don't hear anymore unless you curate a playlist all your own:
The Royal Guardsmen, "Snoopy's Christmas"
The song, released in 1967 was a big hit that year. While it did not chart on the Hot 100 (Billboard's policy at the time omitted holiday songs on the big chart), it landed on its "Best Bets for Christmas" list at #1). With the ongoing popularity of Snoopy and the rest of the "Peanuts" characters, twenty-five years after the original strip ended (and creator Charles M. Schulz's passing), the franchise is as popular as ever. Posts of the strip are constantly on my news feed, many friends have Snoopy decor in their homes, and there was even a new animated series The Snoopy Show on Apple TV which ran for three seasons earlier in this decade. So why isn't a song which celebrates the famed beagle who holds his own against the dreaded Red Baron and celebrates a truce during the holidays, promoting "peace on earth" never heard from? Granted the band, which had a few chart entries in the late 1960's, mostly with the Snoopy theme, pretty much disappeared by 1970, but a classic should still be a classic.
The Waitresses, "Christmas Wrapping"
Another that you don't hear much anymore. The 1981 gem written by the band's Christopher Butler remains one of my favorites. While rock radio may still play this, you won't find it on mainstream holiday playlists. It still gets played somewhere, as is exemplified by Butler's contest each year awarding the first person who hears the song with a donation in their name to Butler's hometown of Akron, Ohio's Public Library children's collection. While Butler conjured up the lyrics quickly because his band's indie label wanted a holiday entry for all of its artists on a compilation album, it's a very good plotline. And while the song is featured on a few holiday movies and animated specials, the story of a woman who met a guy during the previous year but missed several attempts to get together with him all year, comes down to a chance meeting this Christmas Eve, has never been made into a movie in its own right. This is so ripe for at least a Hallmark movie. Especially with the 1980's decade being popular right now, it should be a no brainer.
Leroy Anderson, "Sleigh Ride"
The song is one of my holiday favorites, and it's preserved each year with the Ronettes version. That rendition is currently #14 this week, having peaked at #8 in the past. The only problem is that the bridge is omitted from that version that is sung by other artists, like Johnny Mathis and Debbie Gibson to more recently, Gwen Stefani. And while Anderson's version is an instrumental, it does contain that bridge. But as the original composer (Anderson wrote it in 1946), it deserves inclusion; either that, or the Boston Pops (with Arthur Fiedler), who also recorded it. While The Ronettes rendition is classic, so should Anderson's, but it never charted on the Hot 100.
Bing Crosby and David Bowie, "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"
Bing is no stranger to the charts; I've always considered him "Mr. Christmas". While "White Christmas" is his greatest hit, you can hear him each year on "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" (still holding its own in spite of being eclipsed in recent years by Michael Buble's hit remake), and several others. But his last release before his death, in 1977, was featured on his final Christmas special (taped a week before his passing), with David Bowie as a guest, was timeless; it showed that two artists from different eras can get together on a song. And while "Merry Christmas" by Ed Sheeran and Elton John, is a more recent example of artists from different eras getting together, this one was pretty special. While both Bing and Bowie were slated to sing just the classic "Little Drummer Boy", Bowie didn't like the song, so the producers concocted the new "Peace on Earth" for David to sing with Crosby. It's a great sentimental song that just doesn't get its due these days.
Dan Fogelberg, "Same Old Lang Syne"
Another song that's ripe for a Hallmark movie but has been ignored in recent years, released in 1980. Of course, unlike a typical movie of that ilk, the song doesn't have a happy ending, but that's never stopped anyone before. A story of a man running into his old flame in a store on a snowy Christmas Eve and catching up on life as they shared a drink, is worthy of airplay. It's a very sentimental song. If "Last Christmas", a song about heartbreak, can be played, why can't this one?
Jim Croce, "It Doesn't Have to Be That Way"
Okay, this one doesn't really scream "Christmas". Heck, the title doesn't even have anything holiday in it, but the season is mentioned in words like "tinsel", "Santa Claus", "snow" and "lights". From 1973, the song was released on Croce's album Life and Times, actually released in January of that year. But it's even more sentimental since Croce was killed in a plane crash in September of the same year. As a result, song was released as a single that holiday season and got airplay at the time. A popular theme about missing the person they love around the holiday season in an effort to get together once more and rekindle, should get some plays.
Carpenters, "Merry Christmas, Darling"
This one really baffles me. Originally recorded in 1970, it scored on Billboard's "Best Bets for Christmas" in the #1 position in 1971 and '73 (the last year that chart existed that was an alternative to the Hot 100, in which holiday songs were banned from at the time). Karen Carpenter, who passed away in the early 1980's, has been respected, in recent years, as a talent who we sadly lost, too young. Her voice is one of the best and perhaps wasn't appreciated back then since her music at best, was considered "too soft". But that should not be the case now. The song has yet to chart on the Hot 100, and while I have heard the song once or twice in recent years, it should be all over playlists now and sadly, it isn't.
SNS 100: Turning to the penultimate blog chart, North Tower somehow survives the competition and logs a tenth week at #1, extending its record set last week. The song continues topping many beach charts, with no sign of letting up. But the top five, which remains unchanged from last week is very tight and competitive. Deb Browning and Michael Fite's "Getaway Car" is #2 for a fifth straight week, Anna Lavigne's "Dark Angel" is #3 for a third week, while The Jay Vons' "Keep On Moving" and Durand Jones and the Indications' "Don't You Know" both spend second weeks at the four and five positions, respectively. Alice Merton holds at #6. Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson's "Every Road" is the only mover in the top 10 going from 10 to 7, and there are no new songs in that region this week.
In the second ten, Deb Browning's holiday entry, "Santa, Are You Coming To Atlanta" is the only such song in the top 20, moving 18-12. Three new entries there, all by solo women, including the Impact winner, "Love Me Not" by Ravyn Lanae (21-15). As "Little Black Dress" exits the top 20, Rhonda McDaniel replaces it with "I Can't Wait for the Weekend" (25-16). Carla Geneve completes the all-female new entries with "Better Believe It" (22-15). Gwen Stefani's "Shake the Snow Globe" garners the Mover award (67-44).
Only one new add this week, as I pretty much will stand pat for the remainder of the year. While I had already added The Hounds of Winter's "Snowman" a few weeks back, from the studio outfit's new Almost Christmas EP, I wanted to include "Wintersong". Like Joni Mitchell's "River" a while ago, Sarah Teti does an awesome job covering a classic Canadian singer-songwriter, in this case Sarah McLachlan (who also covered "River" twenty years ago). The other entering songs had charted in previous years, with the exception of Straight No Chaser's "Christmas is Different" which bubbled under for a few weeks.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
December 14, 2025
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Release) (10 Weeks at #1) |
15 |
|
2 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
4 |
4 |
7 |
|
|
5 |
5 |
7 |
|
|
6 |
6 |
11 |
|
|
7 |
10 |
5 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
9 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
10 |
9 |
15 |
|
|
11 |
12 |
9 |
|
|
12 |
18 |
5 |
|
|
13 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
14 |
14 |
9 |
|
|
15 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Bird's Eye |
9 |
|
16 |
25 |
6 |
|
|
17 |
22 |
14 |
|
|
18 |
11 |
10 |
|
|
19 |
19 |
8 |
|
|
20 |
13 |
HUNTR/X
- Golden |
16 |
|
21 |
23 |
11 |
|
|
22 |
31 |
6 |
|
|
23 |
35 |
10 |
|
|
24 |
15 |
13 |
|
|
25 |
30 |
8 |
|
|
26 |
16 |
13 |
|
|
27 |
17 |
16 |
|
|
28 |
37 |
3 |
|
|
29 |
32 |
7 |
|
|
30 |
34 |
6 |
|
|
31 |
36 |
6 |
|
|
32 |
39 |
4 |
|
|
33 |
47 |
4 |
|
|
34 |
26 |
17 |
|
|
35 |
27 |
13 |
|
|
36 |
42 |
5 |
|
|
37 |
56 |
3 |
|
|
38 |
38 |
10 |
|
|
39 |
29 |
14 |
|
|
40 |
41 |
5 |
|
|
41 |
24 |
Johnny O and the
Pocket Rockets - Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) |
11 |
|
42 |
43 |
8 |
|
|
43 |
28 |
14 |
|
|
44 |
67 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2025 Edition) |
2 |
|
45 |
50 |
5 |
|
|
46 |
49 |
8 |
|
|
47 |
72 |
2 |
|
|
48 |
45 |
10 |
|
|
49 |
55 |
6 |
|
|
50 |
33 |
14 |
|
|
51 |
59 |
4 |
|
|
52 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
53 |
66 |
3 |
|
|
54 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
64 |
4 |
|
|
56 |
85 |
Lindsey Sterling
ft Sabrina Carpenter - You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch |
2 |
|
57 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
58 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
59 |
44 |
10 |
|
|
60 |
46 |
10 |
|
|
61 |
40 |
19 |
|
|
62 |
48 |
9 |
|
|
63 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
64 |
58 |
19 |
|
|
65 |
57 |
25 |
|
|
66 |
84 |
2 |
|
|
67 |
52 |
15 |
|
|
68 |
74 |
Pentatonix and
Frank Sinatra - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm |
4 |
|
69 |
73 |
4 |
|
|
70 |
75 |
4 |
|
|
71 |
71 |
7 |
|
|
72 |
54 |
The
Tams - My True Love● |
22 |
|
73 |
68 |
26 |
|
|
74 |
77 |
4 |
|
|
75 |
51 |
15 |
|
|
76 |
53 |
8 |
|
|
77 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
78 |
65 |
7 |
|
|
79 |
98 |
Rivermist ft
Terri Gore and the Rivermist Children's Choir - This Holy Night |
2 |
|
80 |
61 |
18 |
|
|
81 |
80 |
25 |
|
|
82 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  THE HOUNDS OF WINTER featuring SARAH TETI Album: Almost Christmas (EP) |
1 |
|
83 |
70 |
13 |
|
|
84 |
92 |
The
Swingin' Medallions - Hit Me With Them Horns |
5 |
|
85 |
82 |
12 |
|
|
86 |
79 |
19 |
|
|
87 |
102 |
7 |
|
|
88 |
94 |
3 |
|
|
89 |
76 |
9 |
|
|
90 |
96 |
11 |
|
|
91 |
103 |
Sylvia Johns
Ritchie and Rivermist - Down Home Old Fashioned Christmas |
8 |
|
92 |
91 |
30 |
|
|
93 |
78 |
12 |
|
|
94 |
89 |
Barry Duke and
Sharon Woodruff - Sometimes Love Is Not Enough |
15 |
|
95 |
101 |
1 |
|
|
96 |
105 |
8 |
|
|
97 |
REENTRY |
6 |
|
|
98 |
106 |
21 |
|
|
99 |
104 |
10 |
|
|
100 |
86 |
13 |
Murmurs:
Jim Quick, R. Mark Black, Allie Privette - Wait For Me*
Murmurs: Songs which are in the queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist.
|
Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week
|
Holiday Songs
●Songs garnering 25 plays on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024) ▲ Songs garnering 50 plays.
Songs on the SNS 100 are included on the following public Spotify playlists
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves Top 40: Contains songs in positions 1-40 on the SNS 100
Scenes 41-100 and Newbies Songs in Positions 41-100 on the SNS 100 plus new additions
Scenes Recurrents: Songs which had been in the top 20 and/or songs on the chart 25 weeks or more, that have dropped off the SNS 100.
(Rob Sheldon is a music fan who has followed music trends the past 60 years, and covers new and classic music, specializing in pop, rock, alternative, beach, soul and country genres). He can be contacted at rsheldonx4804@gmail.com
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