Christmas Eve (Kelly Clarkson song) explained

Christmas Eve
Cover:KC_Christmas_Eve_cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Kelly Clarkson
Recorded:2017
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Jason Halbert
Prev Title:Love So Soft
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:I Don't Think About You
Next Year:2018

"Christmas Eve" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson. Written by Clarkson with Jason Halbert, who produced it, it is a Christmas-themed song about witnessing the festive joys of the Christmas season, primarily on Christmas Eve. Released as a companion track to Clarkson's children's book River Rose and the Magical Christmas, it was later issued as a single by Atlantic Records on November 30, 2017. The song is included on Clarkson's second Christmas album When Christmas Comes Around... (2021).

Background and release

Lyrically, the song is a celebration of the Christmas season. It was intended to accompany the release of Clarkson's second children's book River Rose and the Magical Christmas which, unlike its predecessor, River Rose and the Magical Lullaby, has a full original song unrelated to the accompanying material.[1] Clarkson wrote the track from the perspective of elves making preparations for the holiday, while also proposing it as a prospective inclusion on her Christmas album Wrapped in Red (2013).[1]

"Christmas Eve" was originally released by Atlantic Records o October 20, 2017, four days before the release of The Magical Christmas.[2] A live recording of the song was also issued as a single exclusively on the Spotify streaming service on November 30, 2017.[3] Clarkson revealed that she did not intend the record to be a single, but a positive response from the public prompted Atlantic to release it.[4] She remarked, "It's literally so fun to sing and it just kind of puts you in this happy mood that gets you ready for Christmas," and added that "it's cool because it was like a happy accident. It wasn't supposed to even be, like, a big thing".

Reception

Billboards Tatiana Tenreyro observed that the song's bells and a jubilant horn-filled melody capture the magic of the holidays. Entertainment Weekly described it as a joyful and uplifting song that masterfully showcases her voice, accompanied by the sounds of tambourines, drums, and jingle bells.[5]

In the US, "Christmas Eve" made its debut chart appearance on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, where it reached number two, becoming her first top two hit since "Wrapped in Red" in 2014.[6] Elsewhere, it charted on the Billboard Canada AC, Billboard Canada Hot AC, and the national charts of Austria and Germany.[7]

Track listing

Digital download

Digital streaming

Personnel

Credits taken from Tidal.[8]

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

List of releases, showing region, date, format, version, record label, and catalog number
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelCatalog number
VariousOctober 19, 2017AtlanticUSAT21704314[10]
November 30, 2017StreamingRecorded at Spotify Studios NYCUSAT21705124[11]
NetherlandsDecember 9, 2017Top 40 radio[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Martin . Annie . Kelly Clarkson to release Christmas book inspired by daughter . . July 2, 2017 . June 29, 2017.
  2. Tenreyro. Tatiana. Kelly Clarkson Shares Jolly New Holiday Track 'Christmas Eve'. Billboard. December 29, 2017. October 20, 2017.
  3. Web site: Hunt. Chase. Listen: Kelly Clarkson shares live Spotify version of 'Christmas Eve'. AXS. December 29, 2017. November 30, 2017. December 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114449/https://www.axs.com/listen-kelly-clarkson-shares-live-spotify-version-of-christmas-eve-125937. dead.
  4. News: Dresdale. Andrea. Kelly Clarkson says 'Christmas Eve' hit was a 'happy accident'. December 29, 2017. ABC News. December 22, 2017.
  5. Macias. Ernest. 5 modern Christmas queens other than Mariah Carey. Entertainment Weekly. December 29, 2017. December 11, 2017.
  6. Trust. Gary. Sia, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban & Jane Lynch Land First Songs of the Holiday Season on AC Chart. Billboard. December 29, 2017. November 21, 2017.
  7. News: Offizielle Deutsche Charts: Neuer Rekord mit 39 Weihnachtssongs in Top 100 . Official German charts: New record with 39 Christmas songs in the top 100. December 29, 2017. GfK Entertainment. Munich. de.
  8. Web site: Christmas Eve by Kelly Clarkson. Tidal. December 29, 2017. October 19, 2017.
  9. Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. August 27, 2019.
  10. Web site: Christmas Eve - Single by Kelly Clarkson. Apple Music. December 29, 2017. October 19, 2017.
  11. Web site: Christmas Eve - Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC, a song by Kelly Clarkson. Spotify. December 29, 2017. November 30, 2017.
  12. Web site: Single Releases. Dutch Top 40. December 29, 2017. December 8, 2017.