SHAKIN’ STEVENS - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Released: November 25, 1985

Charted:  UK: #1 (2 weeks)

"Merry Christmas Everyone" is a festive song by Welsh singer-songwriter Shakin' Stevens. Penned by Bob Heatlie and produced by Dave Edmunds, it marked Shakin' Stevens' fourth and, as of now, last number one single on the UK Singles Chart. Originally scheduled for release in 1984, the song was delayed by a year to avoid conflicting with the release of the Band Aid’s "Do They Know It's Christmas?" single.

Shakin' Stevens reflected on "Merry Christmas Everyone" in The Observer Music Monthly on December 18, 2005, stating, "It was written for me by a guy called Bob Heatlie. As soon as we heard it, we thought, 'If it's marketed right, it could be #1.' I'm very, very proud to be associated with a #1 classic Christmas song, up there with your Bings and your Lennons and Slades. It's very difficult to get a Christmas #1 with traditional lyrics. The radio stations have a 'sleigh list,' and they only start playing them two and a half weeks before Christmas."

The video for "Merry Christmas Everyone" was filmed in Lapland. Shakin' Stevens shared the experience, saying, "We were halfway up a mountain but unfortunately it wasn't snowing, so we had to bring in some snow machines. And I remember lunch was cold salad, which was a bit bizarre!"