Wombling Merry Christmas
| "Wombling Merry Christmas" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Wombles | ||||
| from the album Keep On Wombling | ||||
| B-side | "Madame Cholet" | |||
| Released | November 1974 | |||
| Genre | Glam rock, Christmas, children's music | |||
| Length | 3:18 | |||
| Label | CBS | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Mike Batt | |||
| Producer(s) | Mike Batt | |||
| The Wombles singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Wombling Merry Christmas" on YouTube | ||||
"Wombling Merry Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Mike Batt,[1] and recorded by British band the Wombles. Released in November 1974, the song rose to a peak of No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in December that year, spending 8 weeks in the chart.[2] The song was also released in West Germany, but failed to chart.
Music video
[edit]The video was recorded in 2011 as part of a re-release that year and shows the Wombles dancing to the song.[3] The band also appeared on Top of the Pops performing the song over Christmas 1974.
Reception
[edit]Despite significant success, the song was widely mocked on release. However, the song, labelled as 'innocent',[4] and likened to 'golden tears falling from heaven'[5] was liked by many, and was described in 2011 as 'actually sound[ing] good this time around'.[6] Bob Stanley described it as having 'more bonhomie than a dozen boxes of crackers'.[7]
Later on, Mike Batt remarked on this criticism of the song, saying '...I wrote Wombling Merry Christmas, so I'm not scared of cliches',[8] and that 'back in the 1970s people were more in tune with the spirit of these songs'.[9]
Chart performance
[edit]| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
The song was prevented from reaching number one by Mud's "Lonely This Christmas" which (combined with a poor marketing campaign on behalf of the Wombles) 'more than halved' sales.[10] The song is also widely believed to have prevented Ralph McTell's "Streets of London" from reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart.[11]
2011 re-release and Christmas number one campaign
[edit]In December 2011, after the Wombles performed at the Glastonbury Festival, Dramatico released a CD single of "Wombling Merry Christmas", and this was set for the Christmas number one, hoping to beat the X Factor winner.
Track listing
[edit]- "Wombling Merry Christmas"
- "The Wombles Warning"
- "Miss Adelaide (She's Got a Lot of Knowledge)"
- "The Jungle Is Jumping" (download and streaming only)
The release failed to reach the Christmas number one spot, which was achieved by the Military Wives Choir with "Wherever You Are".
I Wish It Could Be a Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day
[edit]In 2000, the song was used as part of a medley with Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", titled "I Wish It Could Be a Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day". This song was described by Batt as a "very silly record",[12] however it proceeded to reach No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart, and staying on the chart for 3 weeks.[13]
Chart performance
[edit]| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 22 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Elisabeth Beresford". The Times. 2010-12-27. p. 48. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "wombling-merry-christmas | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ Corner, Lewis (2011-11-11). "Wombles debut new Xmas video - watch". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ Sexton, Paul (2010-12-24). "Christmas No1? Don't bet on it". The Times. p. 4. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ Hann, Michael (2011-11-17). "Readers' Reviews". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ Hodgkinson, Will (2011-12-23). "All I want for Christmas is a No 1 smash hit". The Times. p. 43.
- ^ Potton, Ed (2006-12-23). "Get the party started". The Times. p. 24.
- ^ Rogers, Jude (2011-12-18). "The Xmas factor: what makes a great Christmas song?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ Paphides, Pete (2008-12-05). "Give me a rhyme for pudding". The Times. p. 14.
- ^ Perry, Andrew (2011-06-15). "The Wombles at Glastonbury 2011: interview". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ Denselow, Robin (2006-10-06). "CD: Ralph McTell, The Journey: Recordings 1965-2006". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "Wizzard, it's the Wombles". BBC News. 2000-11-20. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "i-wish-it-could-be-a-wombling-christmas | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 2018-01-01.