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Merry Christmas Everyone

{{Short description|1985 single by Shakin' Stevens}}

{{Distinguish|Merry Xmas Everybody}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Merry Christmas Everyone

| cover = Shakin' Stevens Merry Christmas Everyone single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Shakin' Stevens

| album =

| B-side = "With My Heart", "Blue Christmas"

| released = {{Start date|1985|11|25|df=yes}}

| recorded = 1984

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = *Pop rock

| length = 3:39

| label = Epic

| writer = Bob Heatlie

| producer = Dave Edmunds

| prev_title = Lipstick, Powder and Paint

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = Turning Away

| next_year = 1986

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|N-PyWfVkjZc|"Merry Christmas Everyone"}}}}

}}

"Merry Christmas Everyone" is a festive song recorded by Welsh singer-songwriter Shakin' Stevens. Written by Bob Heatlie and produced by Dave Edmunds, it is the fourth and to date last number one single for Shakin' Stevens on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/merry%20christmas%20everyone/|title=merry christmas everyone > Full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company}}

It was released on 25 November 1985{{cite web|url=http://www.net-serve.co.uk/shakin/biog.html |title=shakin1 |publisher=Net-serve.co.uk |date=1986-12-07 |access-date=2014-03-30}} and was the Christmas number one for that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.everyhit.com/christmasnumber1.html |title=Christmas Number Ones : Singles - everyHit.com | quote=A technical note; the Christmas Number One does not always synchronise with the dates elsewhere as they refer to 'week ending' chart dates. These are the real Christmas Number Ones. |access-date=19 December 2009}} Ever since it has been included on many top-selling Christmas collections and received frequent airplay every Christmas. In 2007, the song re-entered the UK top 30 and reached number 22 on the Christmas chart. This is because downloads are now included in the UK Singles Chart; whereas in past years this would have been impossible unless there was a physical re-release of the song. From 2007 to 2017, the song charted in the UK at peak positions 22, 36, 47, 68, 42, 46, 54, 38, 26, 17, and 10. Originally only in the chart for eight weeks, it has since amassed over 70 weeks. In December 2018 it reached No. 9 in the UK chart, its highest position since 1985.[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20181228/7501/ Official Singles Chart Top 100] - 28 December 2018 - 03 January 2019 In both December 2019 and December 2020, it reached No. 6.[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20191227/7501/ Official Singles Chart Top 100] - 27 December 2019 - 02 January 2020[https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20201211/7501/ Official Singles Chart Top 100] - 11–17 December 2020

Background

"Merry Christmas Everyone" was recorded in 1984. Its original planned release was put back by a year to avoid clashing with the runaway success of Band Aid's charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?"{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Music video

The video shows a young girl named Samantha traveling by plane to a place called Santaworld where she meets up with Stevens who met her on a bus going to the place. Stevens is then seen riding with a woman dressed as an elf in a sleigh pulled by a horse and is taken to meet Santa Claus before going to a replica of Santa's workshop where children are seen playing with toys before going out with Santa on the sleigh and joins in a snowball fight with some other children and ends up hitting a snowman who starts to chase him. At the end of the video, Stevens is seen bidding farewell to Santa, the snowman and the children before going back into the sleigh with the woman. Filmed in Sweden the children included Shaky's son, daughter, their friends including Shaky's drummer's daughter the actor, Sarah J Price (in her first role) and competition winner Jeremy Cartwright who was holidaying in Wales prior to filming and can be seen sledging at speed down a hill. {{better source needed|date=December 2021}}

Track listing

= UK 7-inch single =

  1. "Merry Christmas Everyone" (Bob Heatlie) – 3:39
  2. "With My Heart" (Bruce Roberts / Darrell Edwards / Shakin' Stevens) – 2:45

= UK 12-inch single =

  1. "Merry Christmas Everyone" 12” Mix (Bob Heatlie) – 4:17
  2. "Blue Christmas" (Billy Hayes / Jay W. Johnson) – 2:45
  3. "With My Heart" (Bruce Roberts / Darrell Edwards / Shakin' Stevens) – 2:45

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly charts for "Merry Christmas Everyone"

! scope="col"| Chart (1985–2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2022-01-03|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=3 January 2022|access-date=31 December 2021}}

| 27

{{single chart|Austria|3|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|rowheader=true|access-date=7 December 2022}}
{{single chart|Flanders|10|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 January 2017}}
{{single chart|CIS|79|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|songid=30357|rowheader=true|access-date=28 December 2024}}
scope="row"| Croatia International Airplay (Top lista){{cite web|url=https://api.hrt.hr/media/26/83/arc-100-2023-01-02-20230103144413.pdf|title=HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1060 - Issue Date: January 2nd 2023|access-date=8 January 2023|date=3 January 2023|language=en|publisher=Hrvatska Radiotelevizija}}

| 4

{{single chart|Czechdigital|25|year=2022|week=51+52|rowheader=true|access-date=2 January 2024}}
scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten){{cite web|url=http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=52&y=2017&list=t40 |title=Track Top-40 Uge 52, 2017 |publisher=Hitlisten |access-date=3 January 2018}}

| 6

scope="row"| Estonia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ee/weekly/20241220-20241226|title=Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Dec 26, 2024|publisher=TopHit|access-date=28 December 2024}}

| 44

{{single chart|Germany|3|songid=9644|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|rowheader=true|access-date=16 December 2022}}
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|28|artist=Shakin Stevens|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 January 2024}}
scope="row"| Greece International (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206113956/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2023|title=Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week 48/2023|publisher=IFPI Greece|access-date=December 6, 2023}}

| 71

scope="row"| Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40){{cite web |title=2018/52. heti Editors' Choice Top 40 slágerlista |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/editors-choice-radios-jatszasi-lista/2018/52 |publisher=MAHASZ|language=hu|access-date=January 6, 2025}}

| 25

{{single chart|Hungarysingle|19|year=2023|week=52|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 4, 2024}}
{{single chart|Hungarystream|17|year=2022|week=52|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 5, 2023}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 December 2018}}
scope="row"| Latvia Airplay (LaIPA){{cite web|url=https://sejas.tvnet.lv/8163292/latvijas-muzikas-topa-gada-nogale-valda-nostalgija-un-svetku-noskana|title=Latvijas mūzikas topā gada nogalē valda nostalģija un svētku noskaņa|trans-title=Nostalgia and festive mood prevail in Latvian music chart at the end of the year|language=lv|publisher={{Ill|TV Net|lv|TVNET GRUPA}}|access-date=January 1, 2025|date=December 30, 2024}}

| 14

scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s52/|title=2022 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|date=30 December 2022|access-date=31 December 2022}}

| 27

scope="row"| Luxembourg (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shakin-stevens/chart-history/i12/|title=Shakin Stevens Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=3 January 2024}}

| 18

scope="row"| Malta Airplay (Radiomonitor){{cite web|url=https://radioairplay.fm/classifiche-musicali/classifiche/malta/radio-airplay/51-2024/|title=Malta {{ndash}} Radio Airplay Chart {{!}} Settimana 51.2024 {{ndash}} dal 13/12/2024 al 19/12/2024|trans-title=Malta {{ndash}} Radio Airplay Chart {{!}} Week 51.2024 {{ndash}} 13/12/2024 to 19/12/2024|publisher=Radiomonitor|access-date=21 December 2024|language=it}}

| 19

{{single chart|Dutch100|8|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|rowheader=true|access-date=28 December 2024}}
scope="row"| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2022-12-30|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=2 January 2023|access-date=31 December 2022}}

| 26

scope="row"| Norway (VG-lista){{cite web|url=https://topplista.no/charts/singles/2022-w52/|title=Singel 2022 uke 52|publisher=VG-lista|access-date=December 31, 2022}}

| 34

{{single chart|Poland|9|chartid=3617|year=2020|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 December 2020}}
scope="row"| Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/single-w-streamie|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie|publisher=OLiS|language=pl|access-date=4 January 2024|type=Select week 22.12.2023–28.12.2023.}}

| 5

{{single chart|Portugal|97|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|rowheader=true|access-date=7 January 2023}}
scope="row"| Romania Airplay (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ro/weekly/20241220-20241226|title=Top Radio Hits Romania Weekly Chart: Dec 26, 2024|publisher=TopHit|access-date=30 December 2024}}

| 46

{{single chart|Slovakia2|28|year=2022|week=51/52|rowheader=true|accessdate=3 January 2024}}
{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|14|year=2022|week=49|rowheader=true|access-date=11 December 2023}}
scope="row"| Slovenia (SloTop50){{cite web|url=http://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2014&week=51|title=SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart|publisher=slotop50.si|access-date=31 January 2018}}

| 37

scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2022&dspp=52|title=Veckolista Singlar, vecka 52|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=5 January 2023}}

| 39

{{single chart|Switzerland|9|artist=Shakin' Stevens|song=Merry Christmas Everyone|rowheader=true|access-date=1 January 2023}}
scope="row"| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)

| 1

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2021 year-end chart for "Merry Christmas Everyone"

! Chart (2021)

! Position

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20210101/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2021|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=5 January 2022}}

| 95

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2023 year-end chart for "Merry Christmas Everyone"

! Chart (2023)

! Position

scope="row"| Germany (GfK){{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.de/info/hew0y8/jahrescharts-2023|title=Jahrescharts 2023|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts|language=de|access-date=10 December 2023}}

| 76

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2024 year-end chart for "Merry Christmas Everyone"

! Chart (2024)

! Position

scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2024|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 2024|website=austriancharts.at|language=de|access-date=3 January 2025}}

| 53

scope="row"| Germany (GfK){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2024|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts|language=de|access-date=9 December 2024}}

| 77

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Denmark|artist=Shakin Stevens|title=Merry Christmas Everyone|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2022|relyear=1985|id=11965|accessdate=January 17, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Germany|artist=Shakin' Stevens|title=Merry Christmas Everyone|award=Gold|number=3|relyear=1985|certyear=2025|access-date=10 January 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=Shakin' Stevens|title=Merry Christmas Everyone|award=Gold|relyear=1985|id=2021-12-31|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Shakin' Stevens|title=Merry Christmas Everyone|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=4240-1676-1|access-date=7 January 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

"Echoes of Merry Christmas Everyone" (2015)

{{Infobox song

| name = Echoes of Merry Christmas Everyone

| cover = Echoes-of-Merry-Christmas-Everyone-Shakin-Stevens.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Shakin' Stevens

| album =

| released = {{Start date|2015|12|04|df=yes}}

| recorded = 2015

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Bluegrass

| length =

| label =

| writer = Bob Heatlie

| producer =

| prev_title = Trouble / This Ole House

| prev_year = 2005

| next_title = Last Man Alive

| next_year = 2016

}}

In time for Christmas 2015, Shakin' Stevens released a new version of the song as a charity single in collaboration with The Salvation Army. It is a completely revamped version with folk and bluegrass influences and prominent use of banjo. The single was available as a download starting December 2015{{cite news|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/christmas-number-1-2015-the-contenders-revealed__12382/|first=Rob|last=Copsey|title=Christmas Number 1 2015: The contenders revealed. Who will take this year's Christmas chart-topper crown?|publisher=OfficialCharts.com|date=24 November 2015|access-date=12 December 2015}} with all proceeds going to The Salvation Army.

The 2015 single did not chart on the UK Top 100, although the original by Shakin' Stevens made it to number 26 on the UK Top 100 Chart published on Christmas week.

The Celebs version

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a supergroup known as the Celebs, which included Laura Tobin, Richard Arnold, Frank Bruno, The X Factor winner Sam Bailey and others, recorded a new rendition of "Merry Christmas Everyone" to raise money for both the Alzheimer's Society and Action for Children. It was released digitally on 11 December 2020, on independent record label Saga Entertainment. The music video debuted exclusively on Good Morning Britain the day before release.{{cite web | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/good-morning-britain-stars-show-22984823| title=Good Morning Britain stars show off their vocals in charity Christmas single| website=Daily Mirror| date=10 November 2020}}

References

{{reflist|2}}

{{Shakin' Stevens}}

{{UK Christmas No. 1s in the 1980s}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1985 singles

Category:1985 songs

Category:Shakin' Stevens songs

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:British Christmas songs

Category:Songs written by Bob Heatlie

Category:Christmas number-one singles in the United Kingdom

Category:Epic Records singles