The Most Dangerous Christmas Number Ones to Drive to

The festive tunes to avoid when behind the wheel

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us once again, and as we start to plan who’s coming round for dinner and when we’re going to get the decorations out, it’s also time for Christmas songs to start being played on the radio.

A University study found that songs over 120 BPM (beats per minute) lead to an increase in dangerous driving behaviours. Last year, we discovered the Christmas songs and carols with the highest BPMs making them the and therefore are the most dangerous to drive to. This year, we have analysed the BPM of Ireland’s and the UK’s Christmas number ones over the years, to discover which ones you should avoid when you’re behind the wheel.

Dangerous driving can lead to accidents and other issues on the road, which in turn can increase your car insurance premiums. So, perhaps consider removing the following from your festive playlists…

The most dangerous Irish Christmas number ones to drive to

It’s fair to say Ireland has pretty varied taste when it comes to Christmas and music, from X-Factor winners and iconic girl bands to rap artists and school choirs, the Irish like to switch things up. So, how did this mixed bag fair when we analysed the BPMs?

1. Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah (2008)

From 2006-2013, every Christmas number one in Ireland was from the winner of The X-Factor. Alexandra Burke’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s 1984 song, is the most dangerous to drive to with a deceivingly high BPM of 183. Perhaps it’s best to belt this one out when you’re firmly stationary at home…

2. Brendan Bowyer - No More (1963)

Born in County Waterford, Brendan Bowyer is the first Irish native to enter our list of dangerous Christmas number ones. The rock and roll artist had five number-one hits in Ireland, with ‘No More’ taking the top spot at Christmas in 1963. Inspired by the Spanish song ‘La Paloma’ this upbeat classic has a high BPM of 173.

3. Eminem - Lose Yourself (2002)

After taking Ireland’s Christmas number one spot just two years prior, US rapper Eminem enters our list with his second number one, ‘Lose Yourself’. Arguably, his most notable track from the motion picture ‘8 Mile’, it’s perhaps less of a shock for this high-tempo hip-hop anthem to take third place in the most dangerous Irish Christmas number ones to drive to.

4. James Arthur - Impossible (2012)

The second X-Factor single to enter the top five most dangerous Irish Christmas number ones, is James Arthur’s cover of Shontelle’s pop hit. The song became the best selling single in Ireland for 2012 and overtook ‘Hallelujah’ as the best selling X-Factor single ever. But with a high BPM of 170, well over the 120 that leads to increased risky driving behaviours, the song is not advised to drive to.

5. Dermot Kennedy - Giants (2020)

The most recent Christmas number one to make the list is Dermot Kennedy’s ‘Giants’. The Irish singer-songwriter was born in Dublin and his Indie pop track was still in the top 20 in Ireland by the end of 2021. With a BPM of 158 the emotion-fuelled track is perhaps best to avoid adding to your driving playlists.

The most dangerous UK Christmas number ones to drive to

Although a few Christmas number ones are the same as Ireland, the UK have also had their fair share of festive chart toppers that will likely make their way into your Christmas playlist or radio play.

1. Shakin’ Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone (1985)

The song frequently re-enters the charts during the festive period and is featured in many compilations of ‘the best Christmas songs of all time.’ A more traditional Christmas number one, the song also peaked at number three in Ireland, but with a BPM of 203 the upbeat tune is one to save for the Christmas parties rather than the car.

2. Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah (2008)

The X-Factor hit also made its way to be Christmas number one in the UK, however due to Shakin’ Stevens’ hit, the song is only the second most dangerous UK Christmas number one to drive to.

3. Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World (2003)

Michael Andrews and Gary Jules’ cover of Tears for Fears synth-pop track took the Christmas top spot in the UK in 2003. Released for the film ‘Donnie Darko’ a couple years prior, the song resurged in popularity late 2003 and also peaked at number two in Ireland. Although, stripped back compared to the original, this version still has a high BPM of 174.

4. Mr Blobby - Mr Blobby (1993)

Admittedly, this song may not feature in many Christmas playlists or garner much radio attention in recent years, but the self-titled track by the popular children’s character did make Christmas number one in the UK (and peaked at number eight in Ireland), and so it makes our list and takes fourth place due to a BPM of 167.

5. Girls Aloud - Sound of the Underground (2002)

The debut single of what would end up being one of the UK’s biggest girl groups, also took the UK Christmas number one spot in 2002. The song debuted at number two in Ireland behind the aforementioned ‘Lose Yourself’, eventually rising to number one but not until the New Year. The dance-pop track has a high BPM of 164, therefore becoming the UK’s fifth most dangerous Christmas number one to drive to.

No matter what you like to listen to in the car, whether you love Christmas songs or hate them, it’s important to always be safe and drive responsibly.

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Methodology

Chill analysed a range of UK and Irish Christmas number ones. The beats per minute (BPM) of each song was then recorded, with the songs being ranked from the highest BPM to the lowest.

The basis of this study used findings from South China University of Technology which discovered that songs with a BPM of 120 are linked to more dangerous driving behaviours due to the cardiovascular, physiological and psychological impact.