A Very Backstreet Christmas Explained

A Very Backstreet Christmas
Type:studio
Artist:Backstreet Boys
Cover:Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas cover art.png
Recorded:May 5, 2021 – August 14, 2021
Producer:
Prev Title:DNA
Prev Year:2019

A Very Backstreet Christmas is the tenth (ninth in the United States) studio album and the first Christmas album by the Backstreet Boys. Initially slated for release in 2021, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was released on October 14, 2022.[2] It entered the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart at number 1,[3] and debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200 chart. A related television special, "A Very Backstreet Holiday," was pulled from airing and streaming debuts after sexual assault allegations against Nick Carter,[4] [5] who has since filed a defamation lawsuit for $2.5 million dollars.[6] [7]

Background

On April 8, 2019, the Backstreet Boys announced they would release a Christmas album.[8] [9] On an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! in February 2020, the Backstreet Boys reaffirmed that it was coming out, saying that they were negotiating with their record label.[10] However, due to COVID-19, they could not begin production, and the album was delayed until 2021.[11]

With their DNA World Tour postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Backstreet Boys started working on their first Christmas album in March 2021,[12] and began recording on May 5, 2021.[13] On July 12, they officially announced their return to Las Vegas for a holiday residency scheduled for November and December 2021.[14] [15] On August 11, Kevin Richardson announced they had finished recording vocals for a "top secret project," believed to be the Christmas album.[16] On August 14, band member Nick Carter revealed that they had finished recording the album and had done a photo shoot for the album cover.[17] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album failed to meet the production deadline,[18] forcing them to reschedule the album to release in late 2022. The band also canceled their 2021 holiday residency in Las Vegas.[19] The Backstreet Boys took inspiration from many artists while working on the album, such as Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey,[20] with one of the original songs, "Happy Days," being inspired by former *NSYNC member Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling."[21]

A special edition of the album with two exclusive tracks, "Feliz Navidad" and "It's Christmas Time Again," was released exclusively at Target. In the winter of 2022, the group has planned numerous events to promote the album, such as appearances at the iHeartRadio Jingle Balls,[22] and plans to host J.C. Penney's Holiday Spectacular on December 1, where the music video for the second single off the album will be released.[23]

Singles

The cover song from the album, "Last Christmas," was released on September 6 and is set to be accompanied by an official video release on November 1.[24] It peaked at number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Songwriter Gary Baker announced in an interview that one of the songs he wrote for the album "Christmas in New York" would be the next second single with a brand new music video premiere in claymation.[25] [26]

Songs Charted

Due to the success of the holiday album,[27] the singles "Last Christmas," hit number 1 on the Billboard AC charts, and "Christmas in New York," reached number 19 while the originals written by the band have made it to charts, with Together on number 50.[28] [29]

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[30] 34
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[31] 51
UK Album Sales (OCC)[32] 26
UK Physical Albums (OCC)[33] 28

Release history

Country! scope=col
Datescope=colFormat(s)scope=colLabel
scope=rowJapanNovember 9, 2022CDWarner Music Japan[34]
scope=rowUnited StatesOctober 14, 2022K-BAHN[35]
scope=rowUnited StatesDecember 2, 2022LP[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: US: Backstreet Boys release highly anticipated first-ever Christmas album A Very Backstreet Christmas . BMG . en . 7 July 2022.
  2. Brandle. Lars. Backstreet Boys Are Releasing a Christmas Album With a 'BSB Twist' . Billboard. July 7, 2022. July 7, 2022.
  3. Caulfield . Keith . Backstreet Boys' 'A Very Backstreet Christmas' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums Chart . Billboard . October 27, 2022.
  4. Web site: Holmes . Martin . Backstreet Boys Holiday Special Pulled by ABC Following Nick Carter Rape Allegation . TV Insider . 6 September 2023 . 9 December 2022.
  5. Web site: ABC Pulls Backstreet Boys Holiday Special Following Nick Carter Rape Allegations and Lawsuit . Peoplemag . 6 September 2023 . en.
  6. Web site: Judge Says Nick Carter Can Continue to Pursue Counterclaim Against Sexual Assault Accuser . Peoplemag . 6 September 2023 . en.
  7. Web site: Naumann . Ryan . Nick Carter Sues Sexual Assault Accuser for $2.5 Million, Says She Cost Him 7-Figure Deal . In Touch Weekly . 14 August 2024 . 13 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Grammy Museum Backstreet Boys Live Stream Q&A . . en.
  9. Web site: A Backstreet Boys Christmas Album is in the Works & It Will be the Gift Fans Have Been Waiting for . 10 April 2019 .
  10. Web site: Dresdale . Andrea . 2020-02-12 . 'It's happening': Backstreet Boys say Christmas album is coming . 2022-09-10 . Good Morning America . en.
  11. Web site: America . Good Morning . No Backstreet Boys Christmas album this year, says AJ McLean . Good Morning America . en.
  12. Web site: Backstreet Boys Are Recording Their First-Ever Christmas Album. Music Mayhem Magazine. May 9, 2021. July 12, 2021. July 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210712200214/https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/backstreet-boys-are-recording-their-first-ever-christmas-album/ . live .
  13. Web site: Get hype, everyone - the @backstreetboys are headed into the studio TOGETHER to record a Christmas album and really, we are just about it! . Twitter.com. July 17, 2022.
  14. Web site: Backstreet Boys back in Las Vegas for a Christmas residency. ABC News. en. July 12, 2021. July 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712200216/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/backstreet-boys-back-las-vegas-christmas-residency-78796471 . live .
  15. Web site: Backstreet Boys to Perform Christmas-Themed Las Vegas Residency: 'We Schemed Such a Glorious Show' . PEOPLE.com. en. July 12, 2021 . July 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712200216/https://people.com/music/backstreet-boys-announce-holiday-las-vegas-residency/ . live .
  16. Web site: Kevin Richardson on Instagram: "Bring your kid to work day. That's a wrap on vocals for… our secret BSB project that no one knows about and absolutely none of my bandmates have posted about on their socials Thank you @officialkukharrell @jellido @ms_taber and @paradisesoundrecordings studios. What a wonderful place and vibe to create in. ✌❤️ y'all. #backstreetboys #bringintheheat" . Instagram . en.
  17. Web site: Nick Carter on Instagram. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CSjuNFbnuGV . December 26, 2021. registration. Instagram.com.
  18. Here's What AJ McLean Says Is the Backstreet Boys' Most 'Hated' Song . Billboard . September 13, 2021 . We sadly had to postpone our Christmas residency until next year, because the Christmas album is not done yet. . November 17, 2021 . November 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117164150/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/backstreet-boy-reveals-groups-most-hated-song-2021-vmas-interview-9628941/ . live .
  19. Web site: Backstreet Boys on Instagram . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CTqI-nyv8si . December 26, 2021. registration. Instagram.com.
  20. Web site: Backstreet Boys Share Christmas Album Inspiration . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014163141/https://etcanada.com/video/fde68562-4bc1-11ed-91c9-0242ac110005/backstreet-boys-share-christmas-album-inspiration/ . dead . October 14, 2022 . ET Canada.
  21. Web site: Backstreet Boys Says Justin Timberlake Influenced a Track on New Album . Peoplemag . en.
  22. Web site: 'A VERY BACKSTREET CHRISTMAS' OUT NOW – Backstreet Boys .
  23. Web site: J.C. Penney to offer holiday sales throughout November .
  24. Web site: Tailor . Leena . Backstreet Boys Reveal Surprising *NSYNC Influence on New Christmas Album, Tease Plans for 30th That Will 'Break Everyone's Brains' . Variety . 6 September 2022.
  25. Web site: Mahan . Anna . Behind the scenes with Gary Baker, an Alabama music icon . www.waff.com . 5 October 2022 . en.
  26. Web site: "We Got Your Holiday": JCPenney is Making the Holidays Easier for Busy Families with Inflation-Busting Early Black Friday Deals, Creative Gifting Solutions and Festive Family Entertainment . www.businesswire.com . en . 13 October 2022.
  27. Web site: US: Backstreet Boys hit the global charts with A Very Backstreet Christmas . BMG . 11 September 2023 . en . 26 October 2022.
  28. Web site: Backstreet Boys - Together - ultratop.be . www.ultratop.be . 12 September 2023.
  29. Web site: charts.org.nz - Backstreet Boys - Together . charts.nz . 12 September 2023.
  30. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dia/w/2022-10-24/p/4/. ja:週間 デジタルアルバムランキング 2022年10月24日付 (2022年10月10日~2022年10月16日). Weekly Digital Album Ranking dated October 24, 2022 (October 10, 2022 – October 16, 2022). Oricon. ja. October 19, 2022.
  31. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 16, 2022. Billboard Japan. ja. November 16, 2022.
  32. Web site: Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. October 21, 2022. November 7, 2022.
  33. Web site: Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. October 21, 2022. November 7, 2022.
  34. Web site: A Very Backstreet Christmas Backstreet Boys CD Album. tower.jp. 21 October 2022.
  35. Web site: Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas - Amazon.com Music. Amazon.com. 21 October 2022.
  36. Web site: Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas - Amazon.com Music. Amazon.com. 21 October 2022.