BTS singer V and Bing Crosby debut the reworked take on “White Christmas” at No. 2 on multiple … [+]
BTS singer V has, in just a few years, amassed a large number of hits in the United Kingdom across a variety of charts. He’s especially successful when compared to other soloists from South Korea, and he already ranks as one of the biggest hitmakers that fits that description.
V debuts his latest single, a superstar collaboration, on a pair of charts in the U.K. this week. The tune nearly brings him back to the top spot, but he and his duet partner are blocked from the No. 1 rung by a musical act that’s essentially fake.
“White Christmas” is credited to both Bing Crosby, the man who made the holiday tune a classic decades ago, and V. A new version of the tune was released for the 2024 season, and the popularity of the two stars ensured it became a fast smash—though not a No. 1.
V and Crosby’s track launches at No. 2 on both rankings it reaches across the pond. “White Christmas” is new to the second-place spot on the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles Downloads charts.
Keeping the multi-generational hit from reaching No. 1 is a parody song, though one with a very serious meaning. This week, both of those purchase-focused tallies are owned by “Freezing This Christmas,” which is credited to a recently-created musical act named Sir Starmer and the Freezing Grannies. That tune debuts in first place on the two rankings.
Sir Starmer is a reference to the current prime minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer. The Freezing Grannies bit underlines what the song is about: the government’s highly controversial decision to cut back on subsidies given to elderly residents to help them remain warm throughout the winter. The track has garnered a lot of attention in the country—not all of it positive—and clearly there are a lot of people who are on board with the message.
V has now collected eight top 10 hits on his own on both charts. He’s landed in first place once on the Official Singles Sales list, and in three instances on the Official Singles Downloads tally. Crosby only reaches the top 10 for the first time ever alongside the BTS musician.
Last week, V conquered the Official Singles Downloads chart and started his tune “Winter Ahead” at No. 2 on the Official Singles Sales ranking, where he trades one runner-up for another. Now, that track, which credits fellow South Korean artist Park Hyo Shin, falls several dozen spaces on both tallies.
