John Lennon was one of the bestselling musicians of his time. Between the many, many smashes he released as one-fourth of The Beatles to his experimental and pioneering solo work, he never had a tough time selling his albums and singles. But people don’t purchase music like they used to. These days, streaming is king, and while many legacy acts haven’t been able to adapt to this new age in the music industry, Lennon has done so beautifully.
The late rocker claims a top 40 hit again in the United Kingdom, as his most famous holiday song is on the rise as the season continues. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” surges back into that region on one tally, which didn’t exist when Lennon was still alive.
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” surges from No. 67 to No. 30 on the latest edition of the Official Streaming chart. The ranking—and streaming platforms in general—weren’t introduced until decades after Lennon’s murder in 1980, so it would be understandable if he’d never landed on this list. The former Beatle’s Christmas cut is still so popular, though, that it breaks onto this tally at the end of every year.
Lennon has previously risen as high as No. 14 on the Official Streaming chart, which is all about the most-streamed tracks across the pond each week. The tune just passed a full year on the tally last time around, and now it’s up to 53 stays somewhere on the 100-spot list.
The same timely track is also on the rise on another U.K.-based chart, and while it’s rocketing north, it hasn’t yet found its way back into the top 40. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” dances from No. 92 to No. 49 on the Official Singles list, which is considered the main ranking of the most-consumed songs in the country.
Lennon’s Christmas song has spent more time on the singles chart, as it’s now managed 62 frames somewhere on the roster. While it may have lived on the most competitive ranking for longer than on the streaming-only tally, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” has only risen as high as No. 18 on that chart—four spaces further down than on the streaming tally.
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is not a Lennon solo cut, though. He’s named specifically, but so, too, is his wife Yoko Ono, as well as their Plastic Ono Band. The single was released in 1971 in the U.S., and it reached audiences in the U.K. later. In the decades since it dropped, the cut has become a staple for many during December, when it’s replayed constantly, and streaming sites like Spotify and Apple Music have helped it return to prominence, thanks to renewed interest from millions of listeners around the world.
