Formed in 1991, East 17 quickly rose to fame as one of the iconic bands of the nineties, with John Hendy, Terry Coldwell, Brian Harvey, and Tony Mortimer at its core. They racked up an impressive 18 Top 20 hits and four Top 10 albums. However, their most celebrated smash was the 1994 ballad Stay Another Day, which reigned at number one for five consecutive weeks upon its release. In 1995, the song secured Tony Mortimer a prestigious Ivor Novello award for his songwriting prowess.
Decades on, Stay Another Day still boasts millions of streams yearly and has been covered by top artists like Kylie Minogue and Jorja Smith. Despite its popularity, there is ongoing contention amongst fans regarding its status as a Christmas track; some argue passionately that it belongs firmly in the festive line up, while others aren't convinced due to its lack of explicit Christmas references.
The tune has landed on holiday compilations and once snagged the coveted Christmas number one spot. The debate continues across social media platforms, where comments range from sceptical remarks such as "Christmas songs should AT LEAST have the word Christmas or Santa in," to dismissive views like "It was a song out at Christmas but not a song about Christmas."
The argument even extends to movie genres, prompting comparisons similar to those around the perennial Die Hard Christmas movie controversy, as one social media user boldly states: "I'll buy that if you agree that Die Hard isn't a Christmas film."
However, another viewer disagreed, stating: "It's got snow. It's got bells. They've got fluffy jackets. It's a 100% nailed on Christmas song. #staynow," and another user highlighted that Stay Another Day is among the "best-selling Christmas songs of all time". While many assume that Stay Another Day was written about longing for a past lover, the true story behind the song is far more heartbreaking.
Tony Mortimer, the songwriter and founder of East 17, wrote the track about his older brother Ollie's suicide. Ollie passed away at the age of 22, four years before Stay Another Day was released.
In an interview with The Independent, Tony confessed that the festive season can be challenging as fans often approach him to discuss the emotional song.
"It usually starts around October. I accept it, but it’s always been difficult, a two-edged sword, for my family. People come up to me and say: ‘That song means a lot to me...’ I’m like: ‘Hang about, I’m not ready for that yet, I’m just in McDonald’s! ’"
"But I’ve got used to it, because it’s been so long. It never stops, though, and it’s every year. So, yeah, I said to the missus this morning: ‘Going into town today to do some interviews. They’re gonna remind me that my brother killed himself'".
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