Yen-Jung Lu

Chrismas is coming soon. 

Shockingly, Mariah’s undeniable Christmas classic never made it to Number One – back in 1994, it had to settle for the runner's up spot behind another instant classic, East 17’s ‘Stay Another Day’. But its since made amends by re-entering The Top 40 every year since 2007, helping to cement Carey’s reputation as the ‘Queen of Christmas’. Will this year be the one it finally hits the top? Frankly, only a festive fool would count it out.

A ballad of doomed romance, ‘Last Christmas’ features sleighbells and synths, plus some truly memorable knitwear in the video. But what really sets ‘Last Christmas’ apart is George Michael’s heart-on-sleeve delivery: his genuine heartbreak horror (‘My God! I thought you were someone to rely on’) and wistful, sexy whispers. The words ‘Merry Christmas’ never sounded so sultry.

The power of Christmas nostalgia itself is greater than real memories. Hence, all of us can hark back with Bing on this Irving Berlin-penned ’40s number to a white Christmas just like the ones we used to know, even if our true past is full of crushing disappointments (December 25, 1993 – no Hornby train set).