Christmas songs take over the Top 10, Dua Lipa maintains a small lead

Dua Lipa manages to maintain her lead during the Christmas onslaught, earning “Houdini” a fifth week atop the list. She faces some intense competition though, as Jack Harlow edges in on her Number 1-spot with “Lovin On Me”. Both are a shew-in for the special Christmas Number 1 next week. Do not count out the festive singles though, as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” and Michael Buble’s “It’s Beginning To Look…” charge into the Top 10 with full force. They could also easily take the Christmas Number 1 and become the very first holiday chart-toppers of all time. Ariana Grande also joins the race with “Santa Tell Me” at #6, followed by Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Three” at #8.

Mimi Webb tops off an incredible chart year with an early Christmas present – her holiday song “Back Home For Christmas” peaks at #10 this week. Earlier this year, she released her eponymous debut album and scored two Top 10-hits with “Red Flags” and “Roles Reversed”. She then played numerous festivals across Europe, including Lowlands in the Netherlands. She now bids for a possible Christmas Number 1 with the festive “Back Home For Christmas” to close off an incredibly successful year. It now becomes Webb’s seventh Top 10-entry on my personal chart. It is now already the best-performing new Christmas song of this year.

Amidst the Christmas chaos, Dutch rapper Mula B secures the highest debut of the week with “Allang Niet Meer Van Jou” at #13. The musician, real name Hicham Gieskes, has been an influential rapper in the Dutch hip hop scene since 2016. His debut 8-9-17 established a devoted fanbase and he soon scored streaming hits such as “Bandolero” or “Viraal” featuring Frenna. This week, he released his latest album Narcopop which has been met with universal acclaim from critics, praising its mix of electronic music and hip hop. “Allang Niet Meer Van Jou” debuts on my personal Top 40, earning Mula B his first entry since 2019. The synth-hip hop track features the boys of Goldband, who lend their voices on the chorus. It marks Goldband their landmark tenth Top 40-hit.

Inside the Top 20, Band Aid, Sam Fender, Ellie Goulding and Sigrid all make big jumps into the upper half of the list with their respective Christmas songs. Fender’s “Winter Song” reaches a new peak at #17 since its release in 2021. Mabel’s “Time After Time” and Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe” are also boosted by the holiday cheer. Ed Sheeran & Elton John re-enter the Top 40 at #35 with “Merry Christmas”, its second chart run. George Ezra also re-enters with his joyful rendition of “Come on Home For Christmas” at #39. BRITS Rising Star winners The Last Dinner Party debut at #32 with their debut single “Nothing Matters” amidst the Christmas re-entries.

With the end of the year nearing, it is time to rank the highest-scoring songs, albums and artists of 2023. Goldband triumphs as the best-scoring act of the year again, following their domination on my personal singles chart. Their collaboration “Stiekem” with Maan is the highest-scoring song of 2023, despite not having peaked at Number 1 during this calendar year. Their follow-up “Rommel” debuted at Number 1 and was certified double-platinum. Their success is further supported by numerous festival appearances. The second best-scoring artist of 2023 is London-based DJ and producer Fred Again.., who racked up five consecutive Top 10-hits this year, including the Top 3-smash “(Delilah) Pull Me Out of This”. His success is supported by his headlining act at Down The Rabbit Hole Festival this summer. Miley Cyrus ranks as the third best-scoring artist of 2023 and the best-performing female artist of the year. “Flowers” became an unprecedented global success and her biggest hit of all time on my personal chart. Success continued with three more consecutive Top 10-hits. Female acts further dominate this year-end ranking: RAYE, SZA, Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Rodrigo and Ice Spice all rank as one of the best-scoring artists of this year. Out of seventeen Number 1s this year, sixteen where by a female artist of featured a female artist.

Best-scoring artists of 2023

1. Goldband – “Stiekem” [#2], “Rommel” [#1], “Allang Niet Meer Van Jou [#13]
2. Fred Again – “Strong” [#3], “Delilah” [#2], “Turn on the Lights Again” [#6], “Danielle” [#5], “Adore U” [#8]
3. Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” [#1], “River” [#7], “Jaded” [#9], “Used to Be Young” [#8]
4. RAYE – “Escapism” [#1], “The Thrill is Gone” [#8], “The Weekend” [#19], “Prada” [#1]
5. SZA – “Shirt” [#5], “Nobody Gets Me” [#4], “Kill Bill” [#2], “Special” [#27], “Snooze” [#6], “Slime You Out” [#35]
6. Kylie Minogue – “10 Out of 10” [#27], “Padam, Padam” [#1], “Tension” [#7], “Hold On To Now” [#21]
7. Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night” [#1], “Houdini” [#1]
8. Calvin Harris – “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” [#18], “Miracle” [#1], “Desire” [#16]
9. Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire” [#1], “Bad Idea Right?” [#7], “Get Him Back” [#10], “Can’t Catch Me Now” [#12]
10. Ice Spice – “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” [#1], “Princess Diana” [#33], “Barbie World” [#2], “Pretty Girl” [#32]