Holiday Hits: Seasonal Songs Climb the Charts as Christmas Approaches

As Christmas approaches, seasonal songs are making their way onto the charts, adding to the festive atmosphere. Once a seasonal song becomes a hit, it often re-enters the year-end charts annually, becoming a reliable favorite.

The group fromis_9 released 'White Nostalgia' on December 2nd. This track is a remake of Kim Min-jong's song from 2001. After its release, fromis_9's 'White Nostalgia' debuted at number 67 on Melon's 'Top 100' chart and continued to climb. By 9 AM, it had reached the 8th position, securing a spot in the top 10. The remake not only evokes nostalgia for the 80s and 90s generation but also adds fromis_9's unique touch, bridging generational gaps.

The band DAY6 released their first seasonal song in 10 years on December 15th. Their new track 'Loving the Christmas' captures the warm and exciting spirit of Christmas. It features a vintage vibe reminiscent of the Motown sound from the 1960s and 1970s. Lyrics like 'Now I understand why people get excited and look forward to this day' and 'A day to fall under the spell of a warm winter' evoke a cozy feeling.

GOT7 member and actor Park Jin-young released 'Christmas Fever' on December 10th. The song expresses the excitement of a snowy winter landscape with Park's signature soft vocals and warm emotions. The witty lyrics convey an excitement that can't be hidden, much like an unexpected cough. Park Jin-young's involvement in the songwriting process adds to the song's quality. Other tracks like The Boyz's 'The Season' and Chung Ha's 'Christmas Again' also contribute to the festive mood.

Once a hit song is released, it can make a comeback on the charts every Christmas season. EXO's 'First Snow,' released in 2013, ranked 2nd on Melon's 'Top 100' as of 9 AM. Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You,' released in 2019, is at 7th place, while Ariana Grande's 'Santa Tell Me,' released in 2014, is at 17th. Notably, 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' has topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for a total of 100 weeks, proving its enduring popularity.

This year, it seems that beloved songs from the past are dominating the year-end charts. Apart from fromis_9's new release, few newly released carols have made a significant impact. However, since carols are a genre that gets revisited every year-end, it's too early to determine their success based solely on current performance. The anticipation builds around who will become the new 'carol royalty.'

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr