Between here and the UK Christmas number one has become a huge betting tradition however the top spot in the irish charts has become a little predictable of late with the coveted award going to the X factor winner for the past six years.
In the United Kingdom they’ve had a little more variety and opportunity to make a buck betting on the charts. In 2009 and 2011 a rival competitor took the number one title. The question is will the Irish charts remain unsurprising for the seventh year running or will the top spot go to a different kind of Christmas single.
The contenders for the Irish number one include James Arthur the winner of this years X factor with his debut single “Impossible” and “Tiny dancer – a song for Lily Mae” by various Irish artists . Both entries have odds at 10/11 with Paddy Power, making these singles the most likely winners.
James Arthurs winners single a cover of Shontelle’s “Impossible” is the first time 100% of the profits from the X Factor release will be in aid of charity. The money from the single sales will go to Together For Short Lives a UK based organisation that helps children with life threatening and life shortening diseases.
Another possible victor is Ultan Sherry with his Christmas track “Let The Snow Flakes Fall”. Ultan is a novelty entry but the NUI Maynooth student’s self-penned song has been a huge YouTube success and is a definite contender for the top spot however with his odds at 8/1 he is not the bookies’ favourite. “Let The Snow Flakes Fall” is another charity single released this year with all the proceeds going to Autism Ireland.
Tiny Dancer – A Song for Lily Mae is yet another charity single inspired by four-year-old Lily Mae Morrison from Claregalway who is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and extremely aggressive childhood cancer of the nervous system. This single has been in the Irish charts for just under three weeks and is currently in the number one spot according to the IRMA (Irish Recorded Music Association) and will raise money and awareness about Neuroblastoma.
Performers in the single include a chorus of over 300 people from musical societies across the country and big Irish names such as Mundy, Mary Black, Declan O’Rourke and Paddy Casey to name but a few.
The group behind the single hope to “keep the X Factor winner from the Christmas Number One spot, the tabloids will love the story of the little, purple dinosaur loving fairy ballerina with a deadly cancer who left Simon Cowell’s plastic pop star out in the cold this winter.”
The Irish iTunes chart shows James Arthur in top spot and Lily Mae in second with Ultan far behind in 144th place.
Other possible contenders include One Direction and The Pogues at 20/1. Rihanna at 25/1, The Wanted and Girls Aloud at 33/1 and Cliff Richard at an unlikely 100/1
It remains to be seen who will be the victor but who do you want to be this years official Christmas number one and whose single are you going to buy or bet on this year?
Vote for your favourite here
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