The countdown for the most wonderful time of the year is on and Christmas songs start to make their way into radio and personal playlists, including some iconic Christmas number ones.
A study from the South China University of Technology has revealed BPMs over 120 can increase your risk of dangerous driving behaviours.
Irish Car Insurance experts Chill have analysed the BPMs of the Christmas number ones in Ireland over the years, to determine which are best to avoid when behind the wheel.
The most dangerous Irish Christmas number one hits to drive to
| Rank | Artist | Song | Year | BPM |
| 1 | Alexandra Burke | Hallelujah | 2008 | 183 |
| 2 | Brendan Bowyer | No More | 1963 | 173 |
| 3 | Eminem | Lose Yourself | 2002 | 171 |
| 4 | James Arthur | Impossible | 2012 | 170 |
| 5 | Dermot Kennedy | Giants | 2020 | 158 |
| 6 | Little Mix | Cannonball | 2011 | 152 |
| 7 | Boyzone | Father and Son | 1995 | 146 |
| 8 | Take That | Babe | 1993 | 146 |
| 9 | Spice Girls | 2 Become 1 | 1996 | 144 |
| 10 | Queen | Bohemian Rhapsody | 1975 | 144 |
| 11 | Kate Winslet | What If | 2001 | 141 |
| 12 | Spice Girls | Goodbye | 1998 | 136 |
| 13 | St Winifred’s School Choir | There’s No-one Quite Like Grandma | 1980 | 136 |
| 14 | Cliff Richard | Mistletoe and Wine | 1988 | 135 |
| 15 | Ava Max | Sweet but Psycho | 2018 | 133 |
It’s fair to say Ireland has pretty varied taste when it comes to the music charts around Christmas time.
1. Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah (2008)
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, with ‘No More’ taking the top spot at Christmas in 1963, this upbeat classic has a high BPM of 173 making it the second most dangerous to drive to.
3. Eminem – Lose Yourself (2002)
US rapper Eminem enters our list with ‘Lose Yourself’, 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 with a BPM of 171.
No matter what you prefer to listen to whilst in the car, it’s important to always drive safely.
View the full study, including the most dangerous UK Christmas number ones here.
