Christmas for some people is all about the music. Music evokes emotion and gets everyone into the spirit of the occasion and when it comes to Christmas songs there was never a truer word spoken; come late November every other song on the radio is a festive favourite.
Ever since the number one singles chart began in 1952 we – and our parents and grandparents before us – have looked forward with great anticipation to the Christmas Number One being announced before the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day.
It has to be said that years ago it was far more exciting than it is now; there was a time when it really did go to the wire and no one knew who was going to be the lucky artist to whisk away the festive honour that year.
Nowadays it’s a different story with our 25th December top spot being decided long before the Christmas cards have hit the shops thanks to shows like X-Factor. Just take a look at the number ones for the last three years and there’s the proof; it’s pretty much decided for us! Where did the challenge go?
So what is the most popular type of Christmas number one? One with religious undertones? Something on the party theme? A novelty single? Or songs that have nothing to do with Christmas whatsoever? It’s quite astonishing that considering Christmas is after all first and foremost a religious festival, there have only been a total of four religion-themed Christmas number ones out of 56 to date. Can you name them? Answers at the end of this article for those who like a memory challenge!
Songs on the party theme are far more in abundance however and are on the most part responsible for the Christmas classics that fill the yuletide compilations that are two-a-penny in the tinsel-framed retail displays these days. But don’t we love them! Timeless tunes like Merry Xmas Everybody; Lonely This Christmas; Merry Christmas Everyone and Mistletoe and Wine definitely have that neck-tingling effect that brings the
Watch Kansas City Chiefs vs Indianapolis Colts live Streaming Online NFL Football 2010 Match on PC
The Indianapolis Colts were the NFL’s last unbeaten team in three of the last five seasons, so they know a thing or two about running in front of the pack.
For the surprising Kansas City Chiefs, it’s a little bit surreal.
The Chiefs are the league’s lone team without a loss, a perfect record that may be difficult to preserve Sunday as they seek their first win in Indianapolis over the Colts, who are eager to move on after a heartbreaking defeat.
Indianapolis (2-2) has been the NFL’s regular season standard for much of the past decade, entering this season with a league-best 89-23 record since the start of the 2003 season.
The Colts have been undefeated through at least seven games in four of the past five seasons — and in 2005, ‘08 and ‘09 were the league’s last unbeaten team — but perhaps no one expected the Chiefs (3-0) to be in that role early in 2010.
Kansas City has done it by relying on an impressive rushing attack (160.7 yards per game, third in the NFL) and opportunistic special teams unit featuring rookie returners Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas, emerging as the only AFC West team with a winning record.
Not bad, considering the Chiefs didn’t win their third game until late November last year and never got there at all in 2008.
“It feels good. This is what we’ve been talking about in OTAs, minicamp, training camp,” cornerback Brandon Flowers said after a 31-10 win over San Francisco in Week 3. “We just have to keep it going, we can’t settle for 3-0.”
Even after a convincing victory, Flowers was pleased Kansas City had an early bye week.
“That means we can get extra film study, extra time to get ready for going against the Colts and Peyton Manning, and that high-powered offense. That can take us a long way.”
The Chiefs are looking to become the eighth team to open 4-0 after beginning the previous season 0-4, but they’ll have their work cut out for them. Kansas City has lost in each of its four trips to Indianapolis and is 1-9 against the Colts — three playoff defeats included — in the last 10 meetings.
To make matters worse, the Chiefs may be facing Manning’s club at the worst possible time — coming off a loss. Only three times since 2005 has Indianapolis dropped consecutive games when Manning has played 60 minutes.
Sunday’s loss in Jacksonville was particularly vexing for the AFC champs. Manning threw for 352 yards and two touchdowns, but two red-zone turnovers and a dropped interception came back to haunt the Colts when Josh Scobee’s 59-yard field goal at the gun gave the Jaguars a 31-28 win.
Indianapolis is 0-2 in the AFC South for the first time.
“It’s not what we want to be, it’s not what we set out to be, but it’s what we are,” said Manning, who leads the league with 11 touchdowns and a 112.2 passer rating. “We have to find a way to dig ourselves out of a hole. We are in a hole.”
The Colts’ mediocre start is due in large part to issues with the run — on both sides of the ball. Indianapolis is 29th (75.5 ypg) on the ground offensively, rushing for fewer than 60 yards in three of four games, and 29th against the run, yielding 149.5 per contest.
That doesn’t bode well considering what Kansas City does best. Fourteen running backs are averaging at least 70 yards on the ground, and in Jamaal Charles (79.3) and Thomas Jones (72.3), the Chiefs have two.
“There’s obviously, a lot of work to do on that side of the ball and we’ve got to get that straightened away,” Colts president Bill Polian said of his team’s defense. “We’ve got good players there, but they’re not playing well right now.”
Indianapolis is missing a few key ones in the secondary. Safety Bob Sanders is expected to miss most of the regular season with a torn biceps, and replacement Melvin Bullitt is out for the year after breaking a bone in his shoulder against Jacksonville.
Rookie Brandon King or recently signed DaJuan Morgan will likely replace Bullitt on Sunday, leaving Matt Cassel — who threw for 250 yards and three TDs against the 49ers — with a potential weakness to exploit.
A Chiefs loss will leave the NFL without a 4-0 team for the first time since 1970.
Killers frontman on his solo album, his Mormon faith, dealing with critics and aspirations for the band. No, they’re not breaking up. Video Rating: 4 / 5
The hub of the city is arguably the midtown area. This is where the world famous Times Square is located. Broadway is nearby as is Rockefeller Center. Home to the tallest Christmas tree in the world, people flock from everywhere to see it lit up in late November and December. This is also the time of year that the Rockettes grace the stage at Radio City Music Hall in the Christmas spectacular. If you are fortunate enough to spend the holidays in the city, this is truly a must see. Read the rest of this entry →
