Merry Xmas Everybody

By 1973, Slade were one of the most popular bands in Britain, having achieved two number-one singles—"Cum On Feel the Noize" and "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me"—in three months. These singles had both entered the charts straight at number one, a feat unheard of since the Beatles with "Get Back" in 1969. During the year, manager Chas Chandler suggested that Slade write and record a Christmas song. Although the other band members were initially against the idea, Lea came up with the basis of the song while taking a shower. After coming up with the verse melody, Lea recalled a song Holder had discarded in 1967, which he had written when the band were named the 'N Betweens. Entitled "Buy Me a Rocking Chair", it was Holder's first solo work. Holder worked through the night at his mother's house in Walsall to write the lyrics, which he later described as a "family-based" "very working-class Christmas". He was also influenced by the regular power cuts across the country as a result of ongoing miners' strikes, which created the line "Look to the future now, it's only just begun" as an optimistic message that things would get better soon. He completed the lyrics in one draft. In 2009, PRS for Music announced that up to forty-two percent of the world's population could have listened to the song. ==Recording==

The song was recorded in the late summer of 1973, partway through Slade's east coast US tour, at the Record Plant in New York, It ended up being re-recorded, with the corridor outside used to record the chorus, Composition "Merry Xmas Everybody" opens with the introduction using a B♭ triad, a 7-second melody consisting of a harmonium and bass. The first verse then emerges in G major. This is followed by the bridge then the chorus. This sequence is then repeated once, and followed by a solo part sung by Holder (''What will your daddy do/when he sees your mamma kissin' Santa Claus''). The first sequence is then repeated, with the final chorus sung four times. On the last rendition, Holder screams out "IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!" after the ''Everybody's having fun'' line and over the rest of the chorus; the final part decreases its tempo and fades out to a D major chord played by the harmonium. ==Release==

, Slade's guitarist|alt=Two men walking down some stairs. In front, the man is wearing a suit, and a jacket on top. He carries a guitar. His hair comes down to his shoulders, and he has large sideburns. On his head is a top hat, covered with large coins. The man following him is wearing metallic plates on his knees, arms and shoulders, and is wearing platform shoes. He carries a guitar, and on his arms is some jewellery. He is wearing a hood of some sort on his head. On the day of its release, 7 December 1973, "Merry Xmas Everybody" was awarded a silver disc by the British Phonographic Industry based on UK pre-order sales of over 250,000 copies. and the fastest selling single in the UK. The single was in such big demand over the Christmas period that Polydor Records made special arrangements to have 250,000 copies sent from Los Angeles, on top of the 30,000 copies they were receiving per day from their German pressing plants. The song was the Christmas number one of 1973, beating another Christmas-themed song, "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" by Wizzard. "Merry Xmas Everybody" remained number one until mid-January, and stayed in the top 50 for nine weeks. That it remained in the charts after Christmas caused confusion for Holder, who wondered why people continued to buy it. In a 1979 fan club interview, Lea said: "'Don't Blame Me' was a time-filler, I think that it was created as that. When it was used as a B-side, we didn't even know it was being used, it was chosen by the offices. We were in America recording the Christmas single, there was a rush to choose what to put on the back of it, and that track happened to be used." On 18 November 1985, the song was given its first release on 12-inch vinyl, with an extended remix created by Lea and Peter Hammond. On 11 December 1989, it received its first release as a CD single. ==Promotion==

No promotional video was created for the single as the band focused on extensive TV work over the Christmas period instead. They performed the song on various shows including Top of the Pops, The Les Dawson Christmas Show and Lift Off with Ayshea. The band performed the song again on Top of the Pops on 22 December 1983, when the song returned to the top 20. The song was given an animated music video which premiered on the band's YouTube channel on 9 December 2021, which was directed and animated by Matthew Robins. A visualizer for the song was released on 24 February 2022 on the band's YouTube channel. ==Critical reception==

Upon its release, Record Mirror stated: "When Slade get hold of a Christmas song, inevitably it's something different. Holder and Lea, that well known tunesmith duo, here on a gentler, more melodic, less rumbustious, guaranteed number one than usual." Disc commented: "There is no doubt that this slice of festive cheer will be a huge monster hit: the main question is whether it'll go straight to number one." Sounds said: "Noddy is in particularly fine voice and there's also some super-neat thumping bass." Melody Maker described the song as "another stomper" and "highly danceable". In a review of the 1977 reissue, Bob Geldof, writing for NME, stated, "Whatever happened to Christmas? Slade put the boot back into it, that's wot. One of our (the Boomtown Rats) favourite single bands." ==Legacy==

"Merry Xmas Everybody" is played regularly at UK nightclubs and on TV or radio stations and in many supermarkets around Christmas. It is included on numerous Christmas-themed compilation albums and several of Slade's subsequent compilation albums. Peter Buckley describes the song in The Rough Guide To Rock as "arguably the best Christmas single ever". This opinion was reflected in a 2007 poll carried out by MSN Music, where it was voted the UK's most popular Christmas song. But even so, the song is virtually never played in the United States, having not been released as a single there in 1973. In the United States this song does, however, get played on Muzak. It can be heard playing in the background during six episodes of the British television programme Doctor Who: "The Christmas Invasion" (2005) in Mickey Smith's garage, "The Runaway Bride" (2006) at Donna's first wedding reception, "Turn Left" (2008) inside a pub and a hotel in an alternate timeline, "The End of Time" (2009) in Donna's house, "The Power of Three" (2012) in a hospital and "Last Christmas" (2014) to keep a woman distracted from the monsters in the episode. Noddy Holder has referred to the song as his pension scheme, reflecting its continuing popularity and the royalties it generates. According to analysis of PRS for Music figures, it was estimated that the song generates £500,000 of royalties per year. The song has been credited with popularizing the annual race for the UK Christmas Number One Single. ==Formats and track listings==

7" single • "Merry Xmas Everybody" – 3:26 • "Don't Blame Me" – 2:40 12" single (1985 reissue) • "Merry Xmas Everybody" (extended remix) – 5:17 • "Don't Blame Me" – 2:40 CD single (1989 reissue) • "Merry Xmas Everybody" – 3:23 • "Don't Blame Me" – 2:40 • "Far Far Away" – 3:33 CD single (1993 German reissue) • "Merry Xmas Everybody" – 3:23 • "My Friend Stan" - 2:38 • "Cum On Feel the Noize" – 4:18 '''CD single (Slade vs. Flush '98 remix)''' • "Merry Xmas Everybody '98 Remix" (Flush edit) – 3:44 • "Merry Xmas Everybody (original version)" – 3:26 • "Cum On Feel the Noize" – 4:23 CD single (2006 reissue) • "Merry Xmas Everybody" – 3:26 • "Cum On Feel the Noize" – 4:23 ==Personnel==

Slade • Noddy Holder – lead vocals, rhythm guitar • Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals • Jim Lea – bass, acoustic guitar, piano, harmonium, backing vocals • Don Powell – drums Additional personnel • Chas Chandler – production ==Charts==

Original release Re-entries and reissues ==Certifications and sales==

• In 1998, Swedish dance duo Flush released a dance remix under the name "Slade vs Flush". It reached No. 30 in the UK. • In 2000, British rock band Oasis recorded an acoustic version for The Royle Family Christmas Special. It was later released on the 2002 various artists compilation NME in Association with War Child Presents 1 Love. • In 2000, Steps recorded a version for the album Platinum Christmas and their own 'Steps Into Christmas' arena tour. • In 2005, British singer Tony Christie covered the song and released it as a single on Amarillo Records. • In 2010, Scottish folk singer Karine Polwart released an acoustic cover as a single. • In 2010, Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 performed an acoustic version of the track on Paul Morley's Christmas Songs. • In 2010, American singer-songwriter Brendan Benson performed a cover of the song for The A.V. Clubs Holiday Undercover web series. • In 2010, English and Irish musician Kate Nash performed a cover of the song for The A.V. Clubs Holiday Undercover web series. • In November 2019, American indie pop duo I Dont Know How but They Found Me released a cover of the song on their EP Christmas Drag. • In 2019, Robbie Williams covered the song in a duet with songwriter Jamie Cullum for the former's Christmas-themed album The Christmas Present. • In 2020, German power metal band Blind Guardian released a cover of the track. • In December 2023, singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega performed an acoustic version of the song during her "Home for the Holiday" shows at City Winery in New York City. Anne-Marie version "Merry Xmas Everybody" was recorded by English singer-songwriter Anne-Marie and released on November 14, 2025. The song was produced by Jon Levine. The song was made with a softer and more modern approach than the original. Background and release The song was released on 14 November 2025, ahead of Anne-Marie's performance at Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball. Speaking on the song, Anne-Marie wrote "My favourite time of year is here!!! Christmas lights, decorations, family, gifts, Yorkshire puddings and Christmas songs. What a privilege to cover this beautiful nostalgic classic. Hope you enjoy and happy holidays." Anne-Marie appeared on Hits Radio on the day of the release, announcing that she would visit and perform at a pub on 5 December as part of a "Festive Friday Fry-Up" alongside Fleur East, Will Best, James Barr and one listener who entered and won a competition. Charts ==See also==