Holiday Seasoning | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1, 2024 | |||
Recorded | 2021–2024 | |||
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Length | 38:51 | |||
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Producer |
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Jimmy Fallon chronology | ||||
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Singles from Holiday Seasoning | ||||
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Holiday Seasoning is the third studio album by American entertainer Jimmy Fallon, released through St. James Place and Republic Records on November 1, 2024. The holiday album contains guest appearances from the Jonas Brothers, the Roots, Meghan Trainor, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Megan Thee Stallion, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Will Ferrell, Chelsea Handler, Cara Delevingne, and Dolly Parton, as well as Lang Lang and LL Cool J on the deluxe edition. Fallon, the Roots, and Yankovic were also responsible for production, alongside Ido Zmishlany, Gian Stone, Jon Bellion, Tenroc, Pete Nappi, and Billy Jay Stein. Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular, an accompanying holiday special, aired in December 2024 featuring a number of guests from the album.
When Fallon was a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL), he and castmate Horatio Sanz wrote "I Wish It Was Christmas Today" as a Christmas music parody, which debuted during a Christmas episode in December 2000 during the series' 26th season. [1] It became a recurring sketch on SNL; the song was later recorded by Julian Casablancas and included as a bonus track on his studio album, Phrazes for the Young (2009). [1]
Production on an album of Christmas music started in 2021, after a suggestion from Michele Anthony of Universal Music Group prompted Fallon to record a holiday song. [2] "Chipmunks & Chestnuts", which draws influences from Roy Orbison, Slim Whitman, and Monty Python, was the first song written for the project. [3] [4] In December 2021, "It Was a... (Masked Christmas)" with Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion was the first single released from the album. The song started out as an idea in August 2021 when Fallon was recording at Electric Lady Studios; his intention behind the track was to cheer people up during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he approached Grande to sing the hook but didn't hear back until October; she then got in touch with Megan Thee Stallion to record the rap. [5]
"Almost Too Early for Christmas" with Dolly Parton was released in November 2022, accompanied by a lyric video featuring cartoon versions of the two performers; the song refers to the phenomenon of the Christmas creep. [6] [7] The two, who had previously collaborated on a cover of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for Parton's A Holly Dolly Christmas (2020), performed the song on the holiday special, Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas, which aired on December 1, 2022. [7] [8] "Wrap Me Up" with Meghan Trainor was released in November 2023; the two promoted the single with a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a music video released the following month. [9] In September 2024, Justin Timberlake teased his duet with Fallon, "You'll Be There", on an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ; Timberlake was responsible for much of the instrumentation on the track. [3] [1] Fallon revealed that Timberlake's touring commitments was the reason he was the most difficult guest to have on the album. [10]
The tracks on Holiday Seasoning span a number of genres and musical influences. [1] "Holiday" with the Jonas Brothers, originally titled "Silent Night", was envisioned as a song in the vein of the Jacksons' "Blame It on the Boogie", with some added influence of Chic to make it sound like a roller disco song. [1] "New Year's Eve Polka (5-4-3-2-1)", a polka song with "Weird Al" Yankovic and the Roots, was conceived after Fallon lamented the lack of cheerful songs for New Year's Eve. [3] "Coquito", an "off-beat reggaeton" track, was written as a tribute to the namesake Puerto Rican alcoholic Christmas cocktail. [3] [1] The folky "One Glove" with Will Ferrell was inspired by Warren Zevon, "Weird Cousin" is a lo-fi jam in the style of Weezer, while Fallon wanted "Thanksgiving Eve" to sound like a Bob Dylan song. [1] [11] "Hallmark Movie" with Cara Delevingne is a song that starts out like a romantic movie similar to those aired on the Hallmark Channel, but then turns into a dramatic Lifetime movie. [3] Fallon recorded covers of "Silent Night" and "The Little Drummer Boy" at Electric Lady during a blizzard in 2023; [4] they later appeared on the track listing for the album's deluxe edition. [12]
The album was announced on October 10, 2024, and released on CD, vinyl, and digital formats on November 1, 2024. [13] In March 2023, Fallon had told E! News that the plans were for his album to be released that year. [14] Merchandise accompanied the release of the album, including a Christmas sweater, a Christmas stocking, and oven mitts. [3] In addition, a gift box of holiday seasonings was launched, which includes a hot chocolate blend created in collaboration with Fallon and his two daughters. [15] [16] A limited-time channel, Holiday Seasoning Radio, was launched on Sirius XM featuring holiday songs selected by Fallon as well as a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the album. [17] In December 2024, Crumbl launched a candy cane chocolate brownie inspired by Holiday Seasoning, developed in collaboration with Fallon. [18]
On October 29, 2024, Fallon appeared on The Howard Stern Show to discuss the album; he also performed "Chipmunks & Chestnuts" on air. [19] Following the album's release, individual lyric videos were released for track, as well as a yule log video featuring the entire album, in which Fallon makes various cameos. [20] Fallon additionally appeared on a number of talk shows to promote the album, including Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen , where he revealed plans for the deluxe edition, Hot Ones , Elvis Duran and the Morning Show , and Today . [21] [22] [23] [24]
"Holiday" was released as a single and was a minor radio hit in the U.S., becoming Fallon's first song to top the country's Adult Contemporary chart. [25] [26] [27] Its music video features the Jonas Brothers trapped in a snow globe, and the song's remix features rapper LL Cool J. [1] [12] "Holiday" was released as a single in Italy on December 13, 2024. [28] Fallon and the Roots performed "Hey Rudy" at the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28. [29] Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular, an accompanying holiday special, aired on December 4, 2024, featuring a number of guests from the album. [3] A deluxe edition of Holiday Seasoning was released on December 6, 2024, featuring nine additional tracks. [12]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [30] |
In a three-star review, Marcy Donelson of AllMusic praised the affectionate "Holiday" and "Almost Too Early for Christmas", but doubted some of the songs would fit in with other holiday music, noting they could be used as background music. [30] Maria Sherman of the Associated Press included Holiday Seasoning on a list of 2024's best holiday albums. [31]
In the U.S., Holiday Seasoning debuted atop Billboard 's Comedy Albums chart and at number 2 on the Top Holiday Albums chart, with almost 13,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, according to Luminate, becoming Fallon's second number-one on the former. In addition, the album debuted at number 3 on the Top Album Sales chart and number 9 on the Vinyl Albums chart, with nearly 12,000 copies sold. [32] The album has spent four weeks atop the Comedy Albums chart. [27]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Christmas Ding Dong" |
|
| 1:16 |
2. | "Holiday" (with Jonas Brothers) |
| Ido Zmishlany | 3:03 |
3. | "Hey Rudy" (with the Roots) |
|
| 2:40 |
4. | "Wrap Me Up" (with Meghan Trainor) |
| Stone | 2:28 |
5. | "You'll Be There" (with Justin Timberlake) |
| Zmishlany | 3:21 |
6. | "It Was a... (Masked Christmas)" (with Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion) |
| Zmishlany | 3:00 |
7. | "How You Know It's Christmastime" |
|
| 2:15 |
8. | "New Year's Eve Polka (5-4-3-2-1)" (with "Weird Al" Yankovic and the Roots) |
|
| 1:42 |
9. | "Chipmunks & Chestnuts" |
|
| 2:30 |
10. | "One Glove" (with Will Ferrell) |
| 2:35 | |
11. | "Merry Happy Christmas" (with Chelsea Handler) |
|
| 2:32 |
12. | "Coquito" |
|
| 1:17 |
13. | "Hallmark Movie" (with Cara Delevingne) |
|
| 1:42 |
14. | "Weird Cousin" |
|
| 2:09 |
15. | "Thanksgiving Eve" |
| 3:13 | |
16. | "Almost Too Early for Christmas" (with Dolly Parton) |
| Zmishlany | 3:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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17. | "Christmas Alone" |
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| 2:26 |
18. | "The Elves Are Unionizing" |
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| 2:17 |
19. | "Broadway (Do You Remember)" |
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| 2:15 |
20. | "Today at Christmastime" |
|
| 2:08 |
21. | "Remember (Christmas)" (with Lang Lang) | Harry Nilsson |
| 3:28 |
22. | "Elvis on the Shelvis" ( The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ) |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 1:26 |
23. | "Little Drummer Boy" (at Electric Lady) |
|
| 2:00 |
24. | "Silent Night" (at Electric Lady) | John Freeman Young |
| 2:20 |
25. | "Holiday" (with Jonas Brothers and LL Cool J) |
| Zmishlany | 3:03 |
Notes
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200 [34] | 84 |
US Top Comedy Albums (Billboard) [35] | 1 |
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard) [36] | 2 |
"Mary, Did You Know?" is a Christmas song addressing Mary, mother of Jesus, with lyrics written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and music written by Buddy Greene in 1991. It was originally recorded by Christian recording artist Michael English on his self-titled debut solo album in 1991. At the time, English and Lowry were members of the Gaither Vocal Band, and Greene was touring with them. The song reached number six on CCM Magazine's Adult Contemporary Chart. In 1993, the second singer to record the song was Country singer Kathy Mattea on her album Good News, which won the Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album. Lowry would record the song several times himself, most notably with the Gaither Vocal Band on their 1998 Christmas album, Still the Greatest Story Ever Told.
Once Upon a Christmas is a collaborative studio album by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was released on October 29, 1984, by RCA Records. The album was produced by Rogers with David Foster. It was Rogers' second Christmas album, following 1981's Christmas, and Parton's first. The album's release was accompanied by a CBS television special, Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember. The album was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA in 1989.
White Limozeen is the twenty-ninth solo studio album by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released on May 30, 1989, by Columbia Records. The album returned the performer to the country music fold, after the critical and commercial failure of 1987's Rainbow. The album was produced by Ricky Skaggs, and featured a duet with Mac Davis, along with a cover version of Don Francisco's Christian classic, "He's Alive", as well as a bluegrass cover of the 1978 REO Speedwagon hit "Time for Me to Fly." For Parton's efforts, she was rewarded with two country #1 singles: "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That" and "Yellow Roses". The album spent 100 weeks and peaked at #3 on the U.S. country albums chart and won Parton back much of the critical praise she had lost with Rainbow. It ended up being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Home for Christmas is the thirtieth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on September 11, 1990, by Columbia Records. The album was produced by Gary Smith, with Parton serving as executive producer. It is Parton's second Christmas album, following 1984's Once Upon a Christmas with Kenny Rogers. Unlike Once Upon a Christmas, which featured a number of original songs, Home for Christmas is made up of ten Christmas standards. The album's release was accompanied by an ABC television special, Dolly Parton: Christmas at Home. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1994.
"Jolene" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Dolly Parton. It was produced by Bob Ferguson and recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee on May 22, 1973, then released in October 1973, by RCA Victor as the first single and title track from her album of the same name.
Straight No Chaser (SNC) is a professional American a cappella group that originated in 1996 at Indiana University. Originally a student group at Indiana University, they recorded a video in 1998 of a comical version of "The 12 Days of Christmas". The founding members all graduated, to be replaced by other students, in 1999. In 2007, the 1998 video went viral on YouTube, and subsequently led to a reunion of the founding members and a five-album record deal with Atlantic Records in 2008. The YouTube video has been viewed over 24 million times.
The singles discography of American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton includes over 200 singles and touches on eight decades. Parton has released 198 singles as a lead artist, 49 as a featured artist, six promotional single and 68 music videos. Parton also released 21 singles with Porter Wagoner from 1968 to 1980, bringing her total number of singles to 243.
Pentatonix are an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, consisting of vocalists Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Matt Sallee, and Kevin Olusola. Characterized by their pop-style arrangements with vocal harmonies, scat singing, riffing, vocal percussion, and beatboxing, they produce cover versions of modern pop works or Christmas songs, sometimes in the form of medleys, along with original material. Pentatonix was formed in 2011 and subsequently won the third season of NBC's The Sing-Off, receiving $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music. When Sony's Epic Records dropped the group after The Sing-Off, the group launched its YouTube channel, distributing its music through Madison Gate Records, a label owned by Sony Pictures.
Pure & Simple is the forty-fifth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released worldwide on August 19, 2016 by Dolly Records and RCA Records. "Pure & Simple" is Dolly Parton's seventh #1 country album. It is her first #1 country album in 25 years.
"Under the Christmas Lights" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani for her fourth studio album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017). It was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, and busbee, who co-produced the song with Eric Valentine. The song was released alongside the rest of the album on October 6, 2017, through Interscope Records. Details about the track first emerged in August 2017, when the song title appeared as a registered work on BMI and GEMA. "Under the Christmas Lights" is a pop and Christmas song with a doo-wop melody and romantic lyrics.
You Make It Feel Like Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani. The album, which is Stefani's first full-length Christmas-themed album, was released on October 6, 2017, by Interscope Records. The record was executively produced by Stefani and Busbee, with additional production coming from Eric Valentine. The standard version of You Make It Feel Like Christmas contains twelve songs, featuring six original songs penned by Stefani, Busbee and Justin Tranter, and six cover versions of Christmas standards. While going on a nature walk near the Oklahoma ranch house belonging to boyfriend Blake Shelton, Stefani felt inspired to record a Christmas album and began writing what would later become "Christmas Eve". Recording sessions took place in the summer months of 2017; several of the tracks' titles leaked in August, leaving Stefani to confirm the project in September. The album's original songs make references to Stefani's newfound love and relationship with Shelton.
Dumplin' is the soundtrack album by American country music singer-songwriter Dolly Parton for the 2018 film of the same name. It was released on November 30, 2018, by Dolly Records and RCA Records. The album features guest performances by Elle King, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Sia, Mavis Staples and Rhonda Vincent, among others.
"Girl in the Movies" is a song by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was written by Parton and Linda Perry for the soundtrack of the 2018 Netflix film, Dumplin'. The song was produced by Perry and released as the second single from the soundtrack on November 2, 2018. It was nominated for Best Original Song at the 76th Golden Globe Awards and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Suga is the third extended play by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion. It was released on March 6, 2020, by 1501 Certified Entertainment and 300 Entertainment. It features guest appearances from Kehlani and Gunna. The project's release was preceded by legal troubles between the rapper and the label, following a contract renegotiation attempt, which led to the filing of a temporary restraining order towards the label. Megan had initially intended for it to be her debut studio album, but instead released it as an EP as a result.
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A Very Trainor Christmas is a Christmas album and the fourth major-label studio album by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. Honest OG Recording and Epic Records released it on October 30, 2020. Trainor involved her family members in the creation, co-writing its songs with her brothers, Ryan and Justin, among others. It features artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Seth MacFarlane, Trainor's cousins Jayden, Jenna, and Marcus Toney, and her father, Gary. The album includes cover versions of Christmas standards, such as "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (1951) and "Last Christmas" (1984), as well as six original recordings.
"Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas" is a song by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton and Canadian-Italian singer Michael Bublé. The song was released as a digital download on October 2, 2020 as the fourth single from Parton's forty-seventh solo studio album A Holly Dolly Christmas. The song was written by Dolly Parton and produced by Kent Wells.
"It Was a... " is a song by American television host, actor, and comedian Jimmy Fallon, American singer Ariana Grande and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion. It was released on December 7, 2021, via Republic Records. The song was written by Fallon, Gregory Hein, Ido Zmishlany, Myles William, and Rami Yacoub, and produced by Zmishlany and William. It is Fallon's first Christmas single in nearly four years since his 2017 cover of "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney, and also his first official single since "Ew!" with will.i.am (2014). The song is included on the track listing of Fallon's third studio album, Holiday Seasoning (2024).
"Holidays" is a song by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from her fourth major-label studio album and first Christmas album, A Very Trainor Christmas (2020), featuring musical group Earth, Wind & Fire. Trainor wrote the song with Philip Bailey, Eddie Benjamin, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, and its producer, Mike Sabath. It became available as the album's fifth track on October 30, 2020, when it was released by Honest OG Recording and Epic Records. "Holidays" is influenced by several genres and incorporates trumpets, layered harmonies, and horn bleats in its production.
"Wrap Me Up" is a song by American comedian Jimmy Fallon and singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, included on the former's third studio album, Holiday Seasoning (2024). Fallon and Trainor wrote it with songwriter Sean Douglas and its producer, Gian Stone. Republic Records released it as a single on November 17, 2023. A doo-wop, hip hop, and Christmas song, "Wrap Me Up" is written as a duet on which two narrators exchange flirtatious lyrics in a call-and-response format. One of them expresses curiosity about their Christmas gift and the other one withholds the answer before offering themself as the gift.