Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)

Year: 2003

Written By: Justin Hawkins

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Released in December 2003, 'Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)' was a single released by The Darkness. The Christmas song was part of the famous UK Christmas Number One Race.

During the 2003 UK Christmas Number One Race, the bookmakers made The Darkness' Christmas release the odds on favourite to reach number one in the official UK singles chart. However when it came to Christmas, the favourite 'Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) was just beaten to the top spot by 'Mad World', sung by Gary Jules. This was a surprise as the number one came from a relatively unknown artist, who had produced a cover version of Tears for Fears' 'Mad World'. As well as this, Gary Jules' version is very sombre cover, unlike the Christmas centred song, The Darkness produced.

Being beaten to the number one spot, mean 'Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) sat in still a very successful number two position in the UK charts. Official figures were that The Darkness sold 222,500 copies, but Gary Jules won with 227,500. Winning by just 5,000 copies, meant the 2003 Christmas Number One Race was one the closest Christmas number one races for many years. According to information from Music Week, The Darkness looked on course to become Christmas number one all week; however The Darkness allegedly lost out on the number one spot because of Saturday's sales.

The music video which accompanies 'Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)' features the band unwrapping presents with lead singer, Justin Hawkins being shown to obviously be thinking of his girlfriend (the girlfriend in the music video was his then-girlfriend and The Darkness's manager, Sue Whitehouse). Later on, Justin goes outside to be accompanied by the rest of the band who are playing the song. Justin then continues, by exposing a choir standing outside singing the song (The choir who provides the backing vocals for the track and are seen in the music video are from Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College School, in New Cross, London. Justin's mother had once attended that school. Justin is then given a present; which is a car key. After this, Justin hurries to the car, to find his girlfriend in it where they kiss and embrace.