The race is currently on for this year’s UK Christmas Number One. With “Love Yourself” having spent the past three weeks at the top of the UK’s Official Charts, Justin Bieber looked extremely certain to claim the coveted title.
However, earlier today Justin showed his support to his nearest rivals, the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir, and encouraged his fans to download their charity single, “A Bridge Over You”.
I'm hearing this UK Christmas race is close…but the @Choir_NHS single is for charity. So…
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 23, 2015
so for 1 week it's ok not to be #1. Let's do the right thing & help them win. It's Christmas. @Choir_NHS good luck https://t.co/ORCtFY1k4i
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 23, 2015
This is what it's all about. Merry Christmas :)
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 23, 2015
Following Justin’s tweets, the NHS Choir single is currently sitting at number one on the iTunes charts. Of course, the official chart also includes streaming and physical sales so nothing will be certain until the chart is announced on Greg James’ show on Radio One on Christmas Day.
The NHS Choir had managed to close the gap overnight before Justin’s support, with “Love Yourself” only 662 combined sales ahead of the choir’s offering. The battle for Christmas Number One is set to be the closest race in years, however, no doubt that Justin’s tweets will help to give them the edge this Christmas.
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company, said: “It was already looking too close to call this morning, but Justin Bieber’s call to arms really could make all the difference between the NHS Choir winning the Christmas race or not. It is a fantastic gesture – and could mean we are all Beliebers this Christmas Day.”
The NHS Choir single is in aid of charity, with proceeds from the single going to a number of charities including Carers UK and Mind. The song is released in support of all the hard work done by NHS workers. Justin has been a champion of state health care from a young age, therefore, his unexpected support tweets perhaps don’t come as much of a surprise.
Whatever the outcome, it is apparent that for the first time in years, the Christmas Number One will NOT be the X Factor winner’s single. Louisa Johnson charted at number 9 last week with “Forever Young”, and it’s unlikely that she will be able to battle the power of Beliebers to chart higher this week.
The race between Justin and the NHS Choir will be extremely tight until the chart locks down at midnight on Christmas Eve, however either way, Justin has helped to raise awareness of this single for a great cause, and no doubt that lots of money will be raised for the charities that will benefit!
You can support the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir by downloading their song here.
Watch the video for “A Bridge Over You” below.
Who do you think will win the race to Christmas Number One? Tweet us @CelebMix or leave a comment below!