Here’s a list of the songs that I performed in public for the first time during December 2024. Each month I aim to play at least one new song from each of the following repertoires:

• Songs that reached #1 in the UK.
• Songs that reached #1 somewhere else.
• Songs that have not reached #1 anywhere.

Songs that reached #1 in the UK

Date	Song (Artist, Year it reached #1)	Notes
Sun 1-Dec-2024	Is this the way to Amarillo (Tony Christie, 2005)	My usual choices for 2005 are Elvis Presley re-releases, 3 of which returned to the top of the charts that year. I tried this one for a change. Chords: Original: A D A E / F C F C F C Bm E / I played it in D: D G D E / Bb F Bb F Bb F Em A
Thu 5-Dec-2024	YMCA (Village People, 1979)	In the news recently because Victor Willis, who wrote the lyrics, insists that the song is entirely heterosexual, and his wife is threatening to sue anyone who says otherwise
Sun 8-Dec-2024	I love sausage rolls (Ladbaby, 2019)	The UK’s Christmas #1 from 2019, during a 5-year run when Ladbaby were always #1 on Christmas Day. I sang alternating verses and choruses from this version, and the Joan Jett & The Blackhearts version, a 1982 #1 in the US
Tue 10-Dec-2024	Cathy’s Clown (Everly Brothers, 1960)	In the Billboard Hot 100 era, this was the first song to top the UK and US charts simultaneously
Thu 12-Dec-2024	I’m Alive (Hollies, 1965)	A favourite from the 1960s. Played in C: Intro G C F…G / V: G C F D / G D G C G Em G Em F…D F D F D
Thu 26-Dec-2024	One Day at a Time (Lena Martell, 1979)	This featured on a repeated episode of “Top of the Pops” recently. I didn’t realize that it was written by Kris Kristofferson. He died in September, so I added this to my repertoire in memory of him. Lena Martell is still going strong

Songs that reached #1 somewhere else

Date	Song (Artist, Year it reached #1)	Notes
Sun 1-Dec-2024	Zombie (Cranberries, 1994)	#1 in Australia, and the only #1 title I know of, anywhere, that begins with Z
Sun 15-Dec-2024	Yesterday (Beatles, 1965)	#1 in the US. Chords learnt from my first ever songbook, “Lennon & McCartney 50 great songs”, bought at The Sound of Music, 147 High Road W4. Played with a Capo on 5 rather than transposed: F Em7 A7 Dm Dm7Bb C7 F CDm G Bb F / Em7 A7 Dm Bb Gm C7 F
Sun 15-Dec-2024	Daniel (Elton John, 1973)	#1 in Ireland. Gaby Logan chose it on “Desert Island Discs” in memory of her brother Daniel who died aged 15 of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Sun 22-Dec-2024	Love of the Common People (Paul Young, 1983)	#1 in Ireland. Christmas #2 in the UK in 1983

Songs that have not reached #1 anywhere

Date	Song (Artist, Year it reached #1)	Notes
Tue 3-Dec-2024	Courting in the kitchen (Clancy Brothers, n/a)	Eventually I might have a go at every song on “Hearty and Hellish, Live in New York” by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, a favourite album from my childhood. My first public outing for this one
Sun 22-Dec-2024	Love Me Love My Dog (Peter Shelley, n/a)	I didn’t see this one coming. I returned from visiting a favourite cousin in Dublin, in her last hours, in a hospice in Blackrock. She died the following morning and this song came to mind. There’s a bit more to it than that.
Thu 26-Dec-2024	You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me (Beatles, n/a)	Many years ago my brother suggested that we do this. We finally got to rehearse it and perform it at a Boxing Day session.