Best Christmas Hits of this Decade

Attention!!!

Every year this blog delivers a brand new compilation to add to your Christmas playlist. This year we explore the latest Christmas songs that have joined the fray to brighten our yuletide spirit. We are not referring to modern Christmas classics such as Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You and Wham!’s Last Christmas, but those originals songs that have entered seasonal airplay only this decade. 

There are artists such as Michael Bublé and Sia who always deliver a festive jingle or two to lighten up our Christmas gatherings. Producing a Christmas album is an arduous task as reception by fans and critics can be polarizing. Due to this, only a few bold musicians actually go down this onerous path, as most take the easy way out with a single. This playlist was such a pleasure to compile as I found out some real gems to be added to your usual Christmas collection. 

Coldplay’s Christmas Lights takes the top spot as the slow ballad delivers a very inspirational message for the season. This is followed by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s You Make It Feel Like Christmas and Sia’s Santa’s Coming for Us which are both equally upbeat and cheerful. In terms of entries Sia leads  with 5 followed by Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Aloe Blacc, John Legend, Ariana Grande and Gwen Stefani each with 2 entries. So here are the Top 40 Christmas Hits of this Decade:
  1. Coldplay – Christmas lights
  2. Gwen Stefani  ft. Blake Shelton – You make it feel like Christmas
  3. Sia – Santa’s coming for us
  4. Leona Lewis – One more sleep
  5. John Legend – Bring me love
  6. Kelly Clarkson – Underneath the tree
  7. Ariana Grande – Santa tell me
  8. Aloe Blacc – I got your Christmas right here
  9. Sia – My old Santa Claus
  10. Justin Bieber – Mistletoe
  11. Matt Terry – When Christmas comes around
  12. Lindsey Stirling ft. Becky G – C’mon Christmas
  13. Pentatonix – That’s Christmas to me
  14. Michael Bublé – Cold December night
  15. Lady Antebellum – On this winter’s night  
  16. Gwen Stefani – Cheer for the elves
  17. Jim Brickman ft. Kenny Rogers – That silent night
  18. Kylie Minogue – Every day’s like Christmas
  19. Katy Perry – Cozy little Christmas
  20. Mariah Carey – Oh Santa!
  21. OneRepublic – Christmas without you
  22. Sia – Every day is Christmas
  23. Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped in red
  24. John Legend – By Christmas eve
  25. Meghan Trainor – I’ll be home
  26. Sia – Ho ho ho
  27. Sara Evans – At Christmas
  28. Hurts – All I want for Christmas is New Year’s day
  29. Ariana Grande – Winter things
  30. Katy Perry – Every day is a holiday
  31. Christina Perri – Something about December
  32. Train – Shake up Christmas
  33. Elizabeth Chan – Something about the holidays
  34. Idina Menzel – December prayer
  35. Sia – Snowman
  36. The Monkees – What would Santa do
  37. Sara Bareilles – Love is Christmas
  38. Jessie J – This Christmas day
  39. The Celebs – Rock with Rudolph
  40. Aloe Blacc – Funky ass Christmas 
Till the next carol...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - November, 2018

Attention!!!

2018 MTV Europe Music Awards
The curtains closed on the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards with fantastic performances from Bebe Rexha, Panic! At the Disco and Nicki Minaj. Camila Cabello took home Best Artist as well as Best US Artist and Best Song and Best Video for Havana (ft. Young Thug). Cardi B was awarded Best New Artist while Janet Jackson was honored with the Global Icon Award. Some of the other winners were:
Best Pop Artist: Dua Lipa
Best Hip Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Rock Artist: 5 Seconds of Summer
Best Electronic Artist: Marshmello
Best Live Artist: Shawn Mendes

2018 Country Music Association Awards
The 2018 CMA Awards were held in November with Chris Stapleton snagging 3 wins out of five nominations including Male Vocalist of the Year and Single and Song of the Year for Broken Halos. However, the biggest accolade of the night – Entertainer of the Year was awarded to Keith Urban. The other winners were:
Female Vocalist of the Year: Carrie Underwood
Album of the Year: Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour
Music Video of the Year: Thomas Rhett – Marry me
New Artist of the Year: Luke Combs

2018 People’s Choice Awards
The people have voted and the results are in. BTS was the big winner at the ceremony under Music where they were awarded Group of 2018 and the Song and Music Video of 2018 for Idol. Nicki Minaj was close behind with 2 wins for Female Artist of 2018 and Album of 2018 for Queen. The other winners were:
Male Artist of 2018: Shawn Mendes
Country Artist of 2018: Blake Shelton
Latin Artist of 2018: CNCO
Concert Tour of 2018: Taylor Swift – Reputation Stadium Tour

Spice Girls announce reunion
The Spice Girls have announced that they will reunite for a 2019 UK tour. This reunion is without founding member Victoria Beckham aka Posh Spice. The Viva 4 Ever tour will see the best-selling female group of all time perform at 6 stadiums. The last time all five reunited was for a one-off performance at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Ariana Grande is Billboard’s 2018 Woman of the Year
Ariana Grande was named Billboard’s 2018 Woman of the Year. The superstar has had 4 chart topping albums including her latest Sweetener which produced the hits No Tears Left to Cry and God is a Woman. She has raised awareness for mental health, LGBTQ rights and following the Manchester Arena bombing outside her concert last year, she organized the One Love Manchester benefit concert, which raised millions to aid victims and their families.

Woolsey Fire and One Love Malibu Festival
The deadliest wildfires in California (now known as Woolsey Fire) left more than 30 dead and nearly 300,000 were required to evacuate. Several artists’ homes including that of Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and Lil Pump were burned to the ground and Lady Gaga, Cher and Melissa Etheridge were forced to evacuate from their residences. The One Love Malibu Festival was held to raise funds to assist the victims and rebuild the community. Katy Perry, Chris Martin, Gwen Stefani and Macy Grey are some of the big names who took the stage.

Katy Perry is 2018’s Highest Paid Woman in Music
With earnings over USD 84 million, Katy Perry tops Forbes’ 2018 list of the highest paid women in music. Her massive income is due to her successful Witness Tour and also the staggering fees received for her judging role on American Idol. Close behind her at second place is Taylor Swift while Beyonce, Pink and Lady Gaga complete the top 5.

Bohemian Rhapsody waltzes to the top of the box-office
Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody premiered worldwide and soared to the top of the box-office. Rami Malek stars as Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of the British rock band. Adam Lambert, who is on tour with the real Queen as its frontman for the past 6 years also makes a cameo in the film.

Netflix announces Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings
Netflix has announced it is releasing a series featuring the music career of Dolly Parton titled Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings. The anthology series will consist of 8 episodes each based on one of Parton’s songs. Professional dancer and actress Julianne Hough is set to star as Jolene inspired by the hit of the same name.

Chris Cornell’s Family sues doctor
Chris Cornell’s widow and children are suing the doctor who treated the lead vocalist of the rock band Soundgarden. The lawsuit filed against Dr. Robert Koblin alleges that he and his clinic “negligently and repeatedly” prescribed “dangerous mind-altering controlled substances to Cornell which impaired Cornell’s cognition, clouded his judgment, and caused him to engage in dangerous impulsive behaviors that he was unable to control, costing him his life.”

Late Elvis Presley bestowed with Presidential Medal of Freedom
US President Donald Trump has selected the late Elvis Presley to be the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honour in the country. As an icon of American culture Presley has sold billions of records, won 3 Grammy Awards out of 13 nominations and starred in 31 films.

6ix9ine arrested on Racketeering Charges
6ix9ine was arrested last week by the US police for racketeering, firearms, assault with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy murder charges. The arrest was made after a five-year investigation into the Nine Trey Bloods street gang, of which 6ix9ine is a member. If found guilty, the rapper may face 32 years to life in prison. Due to his arrest his upcoming debut studio album Dummy Boy has been postponed indefinitely.

Jason Derulo joins the star studded cast of Cats Movie Musical    
Jason Derulo is the most recent artist to be added to the fold of the Hollywood adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s acclaimed Cats Musical, alongside Taylor Swift and Jennifer Hudson. The ensemble cast also features Idris Elba, Rebel Wilson, James Corden, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen. 

Chart News 
Meanwhile in chart news in the US, Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B’s Girls Like You which retained its crown for the first two weeks was ousted by Ariana Grande’s global hit Thank U, Next which is her first No.1 in the US. She held onto the peak position till the end of the month. During the month Post Malone & Swae Lee’s Sunflower from the soundtrack of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Panic! At the Disco’s High Hopes and Sheck Wes’ Mo Bamba all entered the top 10.  

In the UK, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s Shallow from the soundtrack of A Star is Born began the month at the helm. However, like in the US Grande’s Thank U, Next replaced them at the top and remained for the rest of the month. During the month Kodak Black ft. Tyga & Offset’s Zeze, Halsey’s Without Me and Jess Glynne’s Thursday all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1.       Black Eyed Peas ft. CL – Dopeness
2.       Phantoms ft. Vanessa Hudgens – Lay with me
3.       Zara Larsson – Ruin my life
4.       Clean Bandit ft. Marina & Luis Fonsi – Baby
5.       David Guetta, Bebe Rexha & J Balvin – Say my name
6.       CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul – Hey DJ
7.       Hailee Steinfeld – Back to life
8.       Backstreet Boys – Chances 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

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