This year's battle for the coveted Christmas number one spot has taken a distinctly political turn, pitting a song about Paddington Bear's migrant story against a Palestinian lullaby raising funds for Gaza.
The Contenders in Festive Chart Battle
McFly's Tom Fletcher has written early favourite One of Us, taken from Paddington the Musical, which tells the story of the bear from Peru who made Britain his home. The song receives a significant boost when Fletcher performs it during the quarter finals of BBC TV's Strictly Come Dancing next Saturday.
However, facing strong competition is an all-star reimagining of Palestinian lullaby Mama, Sing to the Wind, scheduled for release on December 12. The track features contributions from music legends including Brian Eno, Celeste, Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Dan Smith of Bastille and the London Community Gospel Choir. All proceeds will go toward providing vital life-saving support for Gaza.
Political Controversy and BBC Scrutiny
Tory politicians have voiced concerns about the BBC's role in promoting these politically-charged songs. Conservative culture spokesman Nigel Huddleston stated: 'With the BBC mired in a political bias scandal that cost bosses their jobs, the national broadcaster must think carefully about what it airs this Christmas.'
A Tory source specifically criticised the Paddington track, calling its lyrics 'a thinly veiled comparison' to the 100,000 asylum seekers who came to Britain last year. The song contains the lines: 'If you want to make him leave here then before you do there's something I should say, I can't imagine tomorrow without him. If he's looking for a family, then he's already one of us.'
Broader Concerns About Political Campaigning
Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, expressed concern that 'interest in the Christmas number one is being hijacked by campaigners who want to build the largest possible audience for their issue.' He added: 'The BBC appears to be happy going along with turning Christmas into a celebration of its favourite political causes.'
This criticism comes amid ongoing controversy for the broadcaster, following recent boss resignations over 'anti-Trump bias' and the row about showing 'Death to the IDF' rappers at Glastonbury.
The BBC's position appears inconsistent to some observers. Last year, the corporation refused to play Freezing this Christmas by Starmer the Granny Harmer, which attacked the axing of fuel cash for pensioners, despite the track reaching number one in download charts.
A BBC spokesman responded to the current controversy by stating: 'We don't have specific policies on tracks or ban any songs. Decisions on what we play are always made with the relevant audiences and context in mind.'
As the festive season approaches, the battle for Christmas number one has become more than just a musical competition, reflecting broader political divisions and raising questions about the role of public broadcasters in an increasingly polarized landscape.
