Christmas Eve (Kelly Clarkson song)

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"Christmas Eve"
Single by Kelly Clarkson
ReleasedNovember 30, 2017 (2017-11-30)
Recorded2017
Length3:00
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jason Halbert
Kelly Clarkson singles chronology
"Love So Soft"
(2017)
"Christmas Eve"
(2017)
"I Don't Think About You"
(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[edit]

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".[4]

Reception[edit]

Billboard's Tatiana Tenreyro observed that the song's bells and a jubilant horn-filled melody capture the magic of the holidays.[2] 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,[citation needed] Billboard Canada Hot AC, and the national charts of Austria and Germany.[7]

Track listing[edit]

Digital download

No.TitleLength
1."Christmas Eve"3:00

Digital streaming

No.TitleLength
1."Christmas Eve" (Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC)2:55

Personnel[edit]

Credits taken from Tidal.[8]

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

List of releases, showing region, date, format, version, record label, and catalog number
Region Date Format Version Label Catalog number Ref.
Various October 19, 2017 Atlantic USAT21704314 [15]
November 30, 2017 Streaming Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC USAT21705124 [16]
Netherlands December 9, 2017 Top 40 radio [17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Martin, Annie (June 29, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson to release Christmas book inspired by daughter". UPI. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Tenreyro, Tatiana (October 20, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson Shares Jolly New Holiday Track 'Christmas Eve'". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  3. ^ Hunt, Chase (November 30, 2017). "Listen: Kelly Clarkson shares live Spotify version of 'Christmas Eve'". AXS. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Dresdale, Andrea (December 22, 2017). "Kelly Clarkson says 'Christmas Eve' hit was a 'happy accident'". ABC News. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  5. ^ Macias, Ernest (December 11, 2017). "5 modern Christmas queens other than Mariah Carey". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  6. ^ Trust, Gary (November 21, 2017). "Sia, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban & Jane Lynch Land First Songs of the Holiday Season on AC Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  7. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts: Neuer Rekord mit 39 Weihnachtssongs in Top 100" [Official German charts: New record with 39 Christmas songs in the top 100] (in German). Munich. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  8. ^ "Christmas Eve by Kelly Clarkson". Tidal. October 19, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  9. ^ "Kelly Clarkson – Christmas Eve" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  10. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  11. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  12. ^ "Kelly Clarkson – Christmas Eve" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  14. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Christmas Eve - Single by Kelly Clarkson". Apple Music. October 19, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  16. ^ "Christmas Eve - Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC, a song by Kelly Clarkson". Spotify. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  17. ^ "Single Releases". Dutch Top 40. December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.