The Spice Girls and En Vogue go head to head for 1996’s Christmas Number 1

Two girl groups battle for the Christmas Number 1 of 1996, with the Spice Girls becoming the stronger contenders. This is the Spice Girls’ second week at Number 1 with 2 Become 1 and their eighteenth consecutive week at Number 1 in total. They previously spent ten weeks at the top with Wannabe and six weeks above the list with Say You’ll Be There. Together, Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, Posh Spice, Scary Spice and Sporty Spice have become the biggest breakthrough-act of 1996.

En Vogue finishes second this week with Don’t Let Go (Love). The song is the group’s highest-peaking single to date. The hit is becoming a worldwide success, peaking within the Top 3 in numerous countries. The single is considered a comeback for the group, as their last newly-released single was Whatta Man, released all the way back in 1993.

1996 has definitely been a good year for Céline Dion. The French-Canadian vocalist has scored two chart-toppers with It’s All Coming Back to Me Now and Because You Loved Me this year. She now has three Number 1s signed to her name, including Think Twice which topped the charts in March 1995. Additionally, Céline Dion scores her fourth Top 10-entry of the year this week, sixth in total, with the ballad-y All By Myself. The newest single peaks at Number 8.

Italian singer-songwriter Gala scores the highest entrance of the week. She has not entered the list before, making Freed From Desire her debut single. The hit is slowly gaining traction in Europe, having peaked at Number 2 in Italy. Gala enters at Number 18 this week.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if Mariah Carey does not re-enter the list with All I Want For Christmas Is You. The American vocalist has scored two Number 1s with Fantasy and One Sweet Day, four Top 10-entries and eleven Top 40-hits. Every year, Miss Carey enters the Top 40 with her Christmas-banger, having peaked at Number 5 so far. The single re-enters at Number 34 this week.