- Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the Christmas song passengers have had enough of, while taxi drivers say it’s Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”
- 47% of the capital’s taxi drivers and 32% of passengers agree that December 1st is the earliest acceptable date to start listening to Christmas music
New research from leading taxi app, FREENOW, reveals while most people enjoy listening to all types of Christmas songs (41%), especially the classics (40%), only 6% of passengers prefer listening to the more modern hits. “Driving Home for Christmas” by Chris Rea topped the list of most frequently heard holiday tunes on the radio, showing that Londoners still have an appetite for nostalgic, traditional Christmas tunes.
And it’s not just passengers who feel this way – 35% of London’s cabbies prefer playing classic Christmas songs, with “Fairytale of New York” topping the list.
However, it’s not all joy when it comes to these festive tunes, as passengers and drivers have had their fill of certain songs, particularly Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” which have topped the list for songs people can’t listen to anymore.
Top Christmas songs passengers and drivers have had enough of:
Passengers:
- “All I Want for Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey
- “Last Christmas” – Wham!
- “Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl
Drivers:
- It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” – Michael Bublé
- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – Jackson 5 (or Bruce Springsteen’s live version)
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Judy Garland (also popularised by Frank Sinatra)
When it comes to Christmas carols, the research also found that “Silent Night” is the all-time favourite Christmas carol for both drivers (40%) and passengers (39%), with over 50% of passengers and over 40% of taxi drivers saying they enjoy singing carols with family or friends.
The holiday spirit is alive and well with London’s cabbies, where 47% of drivers and 32% of passengers agree that December 1st is the ideal day to start playing Christmas music. Alarmingly to some, 14% of passengers actually prefer to get into the festive mood and listen to Christmas songs straight after Halloween, on November 1st.
“Christmas music really brings the festive spirit to life in the cab. Passengers love hearing the classics – Driving Home for Christmas always gets a smile. But by the time Christmas Day rolls around, I’m ready for a bit of peace and quiet!” says J. Hamilton, a London taxi driver of 20 years. “It’s also a great way to connect with passengers. I’ve had some wonderful chats about Christmas memories, and you can tell the music brings back happy thoughts for them.”
Many drivers go the extra mile to spread festive cheer. Three quarters (74%) will play Christmas music throughout the festive season, while one in five (20%) stated they will decorate their cabs. Almost half of drivers (48%) report that the holiday season sees friendlier and more generous passengers, which explains why 56% will work Christmas Eve, 37% will be behind the wheel on New Year’s Eve and 18% will even take to the roads on Christmas Day.
London also continues to be the go-to city for holiday cheer, with 80% of respondents choosing it as their favourite place to spend time during Christmas, followed by Edinburgh and Liverpool. 51% of passengers cite the city’s festive atmosphere and decorations as their top reason, while 50% enjoy the iconic Christmas lights on the city’s famous streets.
Nour Rasamny, Head of Operations at FREENOW UK, comments: “Christmas is truly a special time for drivers and passengers, and it’s fantastic to see our research reflect just how much music and festive decorations contribute to the magic. Whether playing classic tunes or creating a cheerful environment with cab decorations, our drivers go above and beyond to make the season extra special for Londoners and visitors.”
