Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Explained

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) should not be confused with Please Come Home for Christmas.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Cover:Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Darlene Love
Album:A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records
B-Side:Harry And Milt Meet Hal B.
Released:
  • (A Christmas Gift for You album)
  • (single)
Recorded:Autumn 1963
Studio:Gold Star
Genre:
Length:2:49
Label:Philles
Producer:Phil Spector

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is a pop song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 seasonal compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records (later renamed A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector). The song was written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, and Phil Spector.

Upon release, the song did not find commercial success but in later years, it has gone on to become a Christmas standard. It charted for the first time on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2018 and has since peaked at number 15. It has also been listed on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart, peaking at number seven. The song has been covered by U2, Mariah Carey, Cher, Death Cab for Cutie, and Michael Bublé, among others.

Background and release

Love was given a demo of the song over the phone and went on to record the song. The song was released as a single in 1963[1] and in 1964 (Philles X-125).[2] Upon release, the song was not a huge success but it has gone on to become a Christmas standard.

In 1963, Spector decided that the song was strong enough to warrant a non-seasonal version and wrote a version titled "Johnny (Baby Please Come Home)", which Love also performed.[3] This version was released to the public in 1976 as the final track on the Spector compilation album, Rare Masters Vol. 2.[3]

Cher performed background vocals on the 1963 version, which six decades later came full circle when Love duetted on Cher's 2023 version of the song.[4]

Chart performance

Despite not charting on its first release, the song has found commercial success in later years. The song charted on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart at number 99 on the week ending December 13, 2014,[5] reaching a peak position of number 7 seven years later (on the week ending December 4, 2021).[6] On the week ending December 29, 2018, the track entered the main Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time at number 50,[7] and attained an all-time peak position of number 15 on the week ending December 31, 2022 (following its fourth chart re-entry).[8] On the official UK Singles Chart, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" made its first appearance on the week of January 5, 2017 at number 74. The song re-entered the same chart one year later at number 77, and again on the week of December 20, 2018 at number 80, eventually reaching its all-time peak position of number 22 two weeks later. It has re-entered the UK Singles Chart each December since.[9]

Live performances

Darlene Love performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman (NBC) in 1986. She then sang it annually for 20 years (1994-2014) on the episode before Christmas on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), 21 times in all. The exception was in 2007 when Love was unable to perform due to the Writers' Strike and a repeat of her 2006 performance was shown instead.[10] She performed the song with Paul Shaffer and the show's house band (The World's Most Dangerous Band at NBC, the CBS Orchestra at CBS).[11] She gave a surprise performance of the song in a video uploaded to Letterman's YouTube channel in December 2023.

Love also performed the song on December 24, 2013, in front of traders at the New York Stock Exchange as the market closed for the day.

Beginning in 2015, the tradition of Love's annual performance of the song moved to The View (ABC, 2015–present), where it has continued during its last edition before Christmas in the years since,[12] only skipping out the 2021 edition due to being exposed to a positive COVID-19 case resulting in a quarantine; a compilation of her previous performances was shown instead.[13]

Legacy

In December 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" first on its list of The Greatest Rock and Roll Christmas Songs, noting that "nobody can match Love's emotion and sheer vocal power."[14] The song has also been used in several movies.[15]

Cover versions

The song has become a Christmas standard and has since been covered multiple times by prominent artists. Love has noted that her two favourite covers of the song are Mariah Carey and U2's for their originality and vocal harmonies respectively.[16]

Personnel

Charts

Darlene Love version

Weekly charts

Chart (1963–2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[35] 43
Croatia (HRT)[36] 53
Greece International (IFPI)[37] 28
Latvia (LAIPA)[38] 20
Lithuania (AGATA)[39] 21
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[40] 100
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[41] 7

All-time charts

Chart ! scope="col"
Position
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[42] 44

Mariah Carey version

Weekly charts

Chart (1994–2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[43] 73
Croatia (HRT)[44] 30
France (SNEP)[45] 79
Greece (IFPI)[46] 50
Ireland (IRMA)[47] 71
Latvia (LAIPA)[48] 28
Lithuania (AGATA)[49] 39
South Korea International (Circle)[50] 83
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[51] 6
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[52] 20
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[53] 24

All-time charts

Chart ! scope="col"
Position
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)45

Michael Bublé version

Weekly charts

Chart (2011–2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[54] 87
scope="row"
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[55] 24
US Rolling Stone Top 100[56] 100

All-time charts

Chart ! scope="col"
Position
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)66

Leona Lewis version

Chart (2013)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korea International (Circle)[57] 49

Annalisa version

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Italy (FIMI)10

Various artists version

Chart (2019–2020)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Rolling Stone Top 100[58] 9

Certifications and sales

Michael Bublé version

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) . 45cat.com.
  2. Web site: Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) . 45cat.com.
  3. Web site: Did Phil Spector Do a Non-Christmas Version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"?. January 19, 2022. Entertainment Legends Reveal. 4 December 2015 .
  4. Greene . Andy . 2023-10-23 . Darlene Love on Her 60-Year Friendship With Cher, New 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' Duet . 2023-12-03 . Rolling Stone.
  5. Holiday 100 (Week of December 13, 2014) . Billboard . December 7, 2021.
  6. Darlene Love Chart History (Holiday 100) . Billboard . December 7, 2021.
  7. The Hot 100 (Week of December 29, 2018) . Billboard . December 7, 2021.
  8. Darlene Love Chart History (Billboard Hot 100) . Billboard . December 17, 2023.
  9. Web site: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love . Official Charts Company . 17 December 2023.
  10. Web site: God save the Queen – she's on YouTube! . Contra Costa Times . 2012-01-10.
  11. Web site: Late Show with David Letterman - Making of 'Christmas' with Darlene Love & Paul Shaffer. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315044824/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxQzfoS7AZg . 2016-03-15 . dead. YouTube.
  12. Web site: Scoop: Upcoming Guests on THE VIEW, 12/10-12/14 on ABC. Scoop. T. V.. BroadwayWorld.com. en. 2018-12-17.
  13. Web site: Monteil . Abby . 'The View' Concludes 2021 Season with Traditional Darlene Love Performance — With a Twist . Decider . 9 February 2023 . 17 December 2021.
  14. The Greatest Rock and Roll Christmas Songs. Greene. Andy. Rolling Stone. 2010-12-23. July 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120708024003/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/the-greatest-rock-and-roll-christmas-songs-20101216/darlene-love-christmas-baby-please-come-home-0546795 . live.
  15. Web site: Darlene Love - List. January 19, 2022. WhatSong.
  16. Darlene Love Reveals Her Favorite Covers of 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'. January 19, 2022. Billboard.
  17. Web site: Rossen . Jake . The Bittersweet Story Behind a Very Special Christmas . Mentalfloss.com . 17 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181013075529/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/72524/bittersweet-story-behind-very-special-christmas . 13 October 2018 . en . 21 December 2017 . [Music producer Jimmy Iovine] flew to Glasgow to record U2's rendition of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" while the band was performing a sound check before a concert.
  18. Web site: A Very Special Christmas, Album Track Listing . AllMusic . 12 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191212172607/https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-very-special-christmas-mw0000194204 . 12 December 2019 . en.
  19. Mariah Carey's Best Christmas Songs (Critic's Picks). January 17, 2022. Billboard.
  20. Web site: Mariah Carey "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". 2018-12-20. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. en. 2018-12-24.
  21. Web site: Mariah Carey announces second annual Christmas concert series . Goodman . Jessica . . October 9, 2015 . October 16, 2015.
  22. Web site: Billboard's Holiday 100 shows people stick to what they know and love. January 17, 2021. Times News.
  23. News: Yates. Jonny. November 16, 2023. Mariah Carey's Christmas Tour: Setlist, Dates and Ticket Info. November 16, 2023. PinkNews.
  24. Web site: A 604 Records Christmas . 18 October 2022 . Amazon.
  25. Web site: Christmas Album Tracklisting Revealed | Michael Buble Official Site . Michaelbuble.com . September 20, 2011 . December 2, 2012.
  26. Web site: Video: Hannah Waddingham & Michael Bublé Sing 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'. January 17, 2022. Broadway World Music.
  27. Web site: 'Sing 2' soundtrack features U2, Tori Kelly, Elton John & others . The Music Universe . Iahn . Buddy . November 3, 2021.
  28. Web site: The Voice: Tori Kelly, Keke Palmer And The Top 13 Perform. January 17, 2022. Yahoo. January 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182743/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/voice-tori-kelly-keke-palmer-210633343.html. dead.
  29. See Foo Fighters Turn 'Everlong' Into Christmas Medley on 'SNL' . Kreps . Daniel . 2017-12-17 . . . 2022-01-17.
  30. Web site: Bon Jovi – Please Come Home For Christmas. January 17, 2021. TV90s. 15 December 2018 .
  31. News: Alexia, il suo Natale è con Christmas (baby please come home): il video. 22 December 2022. Sky TG24. 8 December 2023.
  32. Darlene Love on Her 60-Year Friendship With Cher, New 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' Duet . Greene . Andy . 2023-10-13 . . . 2023-11-02.
  33. News: Annalisa, la cover del brano natalizio Christmas Baby Please Come Home. 7 November 2023. Sky TG24. 8 December 2023.
  34. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 29 December 2023.
  35. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 1, 2024. December 29, 2023.
  36. Web site: HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1060 - Issue Date: January 2nd 2023. 8 January 2023. 3 January 2023. en. Hrvatska Radiotelevizija.
  37. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week 52/2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20240103162214/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html. dead. January 3, 2024. IFPI Greece. January 3, 2024.
  38. Web site: Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 52. nedēļa. en, lv. LAIPA. January 30, 2024. December 31, 2023.
  39. Web site: 2019 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). lt. AGATA. December 27, 2019. December 31, 2019.
  40. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie. OLiS. pl. January 4, 2024. Select week 22.12.2023–28.12.2023..
  41. Darlene Love Chart History (Holiday 100). Billboard. December 7, 2021.
  42. Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs. Billboard. November 18, 2021.
  43. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 January 2022. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1661. 4. January 3, 2022.
  44. Web site: ARC 100 - Week 1 (01.01.2024.). 1 January 2024 . HRT. 2 January 2024. 2 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240102200549/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/airplay-radio-chart-top40-1-tjedan-01-01-2024/. live.
  45. Web site: Top Singles (Week 52, 2023). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. January 2, 2024.
  46. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 51/2021. IFPI Greece. January 3, 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180407022134/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html . 2018-04-07 .
  47. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. January 1, 2022.
  48. Web site: Mūzikas patēriņa tops gadu mijā. lv. LAIPA. November 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191010095638/https://www.parmuziku.lv/muzikas-zinas/latvija/muzikas-paterina-tops-gadu-mija-7661. October 10, 2019.
  49. Web site: 2019 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). lt. AGATA. December 27, 2019. December 31, 2019.
  50. Web site: 2011년 53주차 Digital Chart - 국외. Gaon. ko. February 19, 2022.
  51. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 52, 28 december 2018. Sverigetopplistan. December 28, 2018.
  52. Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100) . . December 7, 2021.
  53. Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales). Billboard. November 16, 2021.
  54. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #557. ARIA. December 28, 2019. May 21, 2021. December 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191228063738/https://www.auspop.com.au/2019/12/aria-chart-watch-557/. dead.
  55. Michael Bublé Chart History (Holiday 100) . . December 7, 2021.
  56. Top 100 Songs. Rolling Stone. December 24, 2020. May 21, 2019. January 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112070926/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2020-12-24/. dead.
  57. Web site: Digital Chart: 2013 Weeks 50. . July 7, 2022.
  58. Top 100 Songs. Rolling Stone. December 10, 2020. May 21, 2019. April 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419120315/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2020-12-10/. dead.

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