From White Christmas to Wham! – the recipe for the perfect Christmas Song

What makes the perfect Christmas song? Is there a formula for a festive hit? Call me foolhardy, but I think there might be! Hello and welcome to this special Christmas edition of All About The Music, with me, Neil Brand. Today the guest chair is empty, but instead my studio sleigh is bursting with Christmas songs – from Slade’s joyfully raucous “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” to Chris Rea’s bittersweet drive home and the timeless grace of David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s unlikely collaboration. In this episode, I reveal my key ingredients for creating a Christmas hit. (Even better, it will become a hit year after year after year!) From picking the right instruments to penning the right lyrics and even choosing the right chord pattern, all is discussed as we work through 80 years of Christmas classics. And once we’ve heard from everyone from Mariah Carey to John Lennon, I’ll be able to reveal the ultimate Christmas song. (Plus, whisper it quietly, the one festive favourite that breaks all my recipe rules.) Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and join me – where it’s all about the music. Find the Spotify playlist of all my Christmas selections here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0EQvrCcPm648fHKgmJTNwQ Featured artists & tracks: Bing Crosby - “White Christmas” Wizard - “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” Chris Rea - “Driving Home for Christmas” Wham! - “Last Christmas” John Lennon & Yoko Ono - “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” Slade - “Merry Xmas Everybody” David Bowie & Bing Crosby - “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” Paul McCartney - “Wonderful Christmastime” Jonah Lewie - “Stop the Cavalry” Andy Williams - “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Mike Oldfield - “In Dulci Jubilo” Mariah Carey - “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Sia - “Snowman” Cliff Richard - “Mistletoe and Wine” The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - “Fairytale of New York” Connect With Us  Stay in tune with All About The Music and join the conversation wherever you are:  Website: allaboutthemusicpod.com — explore episodes, guest playlists, and behind-the-scenes stories.  Instagram: @allaboutthemusic.pod — discover new episodes, reels, and the songs that shaped our guests.  Facebook: facebook.com/allaboutthemusicpod — follow for updates, clips, and listener discussions.  TikTok: @allaboutthemusicpod — enjoy bite-sized musical moments and highlights from the show. Follow Neil: @neil.brand.9 — for performances, live appearances, and my personal reflections on music.  Share with your friends: Listen to All About The Music Because wherever you listen, it’s all about the music.  Somersault Studio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices