The Christmas Present | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 November 2019 | |||
Recorded | June–September 2019 | |||
Studio | Los Angeles, California Las Vegas, Nevada London, England Vancouver, Canada [1] | |||
Genre | Christmas | |||
Length | 78:26 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer |
| |||
Robbie Williams chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from The Christmas Present | ||||
|
The Christmas Present is the twelfth studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, and his first studio album since 2016's The Heavy Entertainment Show . It was released on 22 November 2019, and features guest appearances from Tyson Fury, Rod Stewart, Jamie Cullum, Helene Fischer and Bryan Adams. Williams performed a pair of concerts dubbed "The Robbie Williams Christmas Party" at the SSE Arena on 16 and 17 December 2019 in promotion of the album. [2]
In a Q&A with BBC Radio 2 in December 2012, Williams was asked if he would consider doing a Christmas album. "You bet", Williams stated. "I used to hate Christmas, but my wife Ayda has instilled me with Christmas spirit. It used to be a time of year that I didn't care too much for, but she loves it, loves it like a child, and because of that, I now love it, it's a very very special time of the year, and because of that, yes I'm willing to do a Christmas album, and I will do one at one point". [3]
Williams began recording the album in June 2019, just before the final leg of his Wynn Las Vegas residency, and concluded in Vancouver in October 2019. Williams joked that he was going to call the album Achtung Bublé, a play on words of the U2 album "Achtung Baby", and in reference to Michael Bublé's "monopoly" on the Christmas music market, which he said "must end now". [2] Williams was asked in an interview whether or not there were any plans for Bublé to sing on the album and he answered: "He sang with me on an album of mine called Swings Both Ways . You sort of get it in your head that you can only use that token once. I might be wrong. I should have got him involved."> [4]
In an interview with Smooth FM, Williams stated: "I wrote 50 songs for the Christmas Present record. And you can’t write 50 songs in one month because it’s Christmas and you feel Christmassy, so you have to do it when the fancy takes you." [5]
Williams initially aspired to cover "Fairytale of New York" as a duet with Britney Spears which the latter declined due to being on hiatus. [6]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 52/100 [7] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
NME | [9] |
The Christmas Present received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 52 based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [7]
Jordan Bassett of NME rated the album 3/5 stars, writing: "The original compositions are richer than the covers. The galloping 'Darkest Night' opens with the fabulous line "December in London / Think I’ve just been made redundant" and the optimistic 'New Year's Day' borrows quite liberally from George Michael's 'Freedom' on a jubilant bridge where Robbie and a gospel choir rapturously exclaim, "Oh! It’s an energy! Oh! The memories!"" [10]
The song "Bad Sharon", featuring Tyson Fury on guest vocals, was called a "favourite" to be the UK Christmas number one. [11]
"Time for Change" was released as the album's official lead single on 22 November 2019. [12]
The album's second single, "Can't Stop Christmas", was released on 20 November 2020. [13]
The Christmas Present opened at number two on the UK Albums Chart, behind Coldplay's Everyday Life . The album sold 67,000 copies in the UK during its first week, the same amount as Williams' previous album The Heavy Entertainment Show (2016). [14] Despite not getting to number one on the charts, Williams' had the fastest selling cassette release in over two decades. The Christmas Present sold over 10,000 cassettes in its first seven days of release. Halfway through its second week, Williams' album climbed to number one, outselling Rod Stewart's album You're in My Heart by 5,000 copies and becoming Williams' 13th number one, tying Elvis Presley for the most UK number one albums. [15] In its second week, 57,000 copies had been sold. Williams now ties Presley for the most #1's in a solo career, and has 17 number one albums when including his Take That career.
The Christmas Present opened at number two on the Australian music chart, behind Coldplay's Everyday Life. The following week, The Christmas Present became Williams' first number one album in Australia since Reality Killed the Video Star 10 years prior.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producers | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Winter Wonderland" | 2:18 | ||
2. | "Merry Xmas Everybody" (featuring Jamie Cullum) | Chambers | 3:33 | |
3. | "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" |
| 1:57 | |
4. | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" |
| 3:12 | |
5. | "Coco's Christmas Lullaby" |
|
| 2:55 |
6. | "Rudolph" |
|
| 3:40 |
7. | "Yeah! It's Christmas" |
|
| 2:49 |
8. | "It's a Wonderful Life" (featuring Poppa Pete) |
|
| 2:51 |
9. | "Let's Not Go Shopping" |
|
| 3:09 |
10. | "Santa Baby" (featuring Helene Fischer) |
|
| 3:27 |
11. | "Best Christmas Ever" |
|
| 3:45 |
12. | "One Last Christmas" |
|
| 3:33 |
13. | "Coco's Christmas Lullaby Reprise" |
| 1:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producers | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Time for Change" |
| Chambers | 3:30 |
2. | "Idlewild" |
| Chambers | 4:08 |
3. | "Darkest Night" |
|
| 3:19 |
4. | "Fairytales" (featuring Rod Stewart) |
|
| 3:33 |
5. | "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (featuring Bryan Adams) |
| 2:43 | |
6. | "Bad Sharon" (featuring Tyson Fury) |
|
| 3:40 |
7. | "Happy Birthday Jesus Christ" |
|
| 3:15 |
8. | "New Year's Day" |
|
| 3:41 |
9. | "Snowflakes" |
|
| 3:41 |
10. | "Home" |
|
| 4:10 |
11. | "Soul Transmission" |
| Soul Mekanik & Daft Dog | 4:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producers | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Can't Stop Christmas" |
|
| 3:23 |
2. | "Time for Change" |
| Chambers | 3:30 |
3. | "Idlewild" |
| Chambers | 4:08 |
4. | "Darkest Night" |
|
| 3:19 |
5. | "Fairytales" (featuring Rod Stewart) |
|
| 3:33 |
6. | "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (featuring Bryan Adams) |
|
| 2:43 |
7. | "Bad Sharon" (featuring Tyson Fury) |
|
| 3:40 |
8. | "Happy Birthday Jesus Christ" |
|
| 3:15 |
9. | "New Year's Day" |
|
| 3:41 |
10. | "Snowflakes" |
|
| 3:41 |
11. | "Home" |
|
| 4:10 |
12. | "Soul Transmission" |
| Soul Mekanik & Daft Dog | 4:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "I Believe in Father Christmas" | 3:11 | |
14. | "Not Christmas" |
| 3:26 |
15. | "Merry Kissmas" |
| 2:43 |
16. | "It Takes Two" (featuring Rod Stewart) |
| 3:53 |
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria) [75] | Platinum | 15,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [76] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [77] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [78] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Reload is the 34th album by Tom Jones, released in 1999. It contains 15 duets with a range of artists including Van Morrison, Cerys Matthews, Stereophonics, Robbie Williams, and Portishead, recorded with their usual record producers and in their usual studios. The tracks are mainly cover versions, with a new version of one of Jones' own songs, "Looking Out My Window" (1968), and one original track, "Sex Bomb".
Escapology is the fifth studio album recorded by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was released on 18 November 2002 through EMI Records. The album features a guest appearance by singer Rose Stone and was produced by Guy Chambers and Steve Power. The album's lead single "Feel" was released on 2 December 2002, two weeks after the album. The track was an international hit, reaching the top of the charts in Austria, Poland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and top five positions in countries such as Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Three other singles from the album were released: "Come Undone", "Something Beautiful" and "Sexed Up".
Best 1991–2004 is a 2004 compilation album by Seal, released by Warner Bros. Records. Several different versions of this album were released: one as a single disc containing Seal's greatest hits; a second with an additional disc of 13 acoustic versions of Seal's greatest hits; a third which included a DVD-Audio disc plus the two The Ultimate Collection discs; a fourth with surround sound mixes of both The Ultimate Collection discs and a collection of music videos as well as the DVD-Audio disc; a fifth, available only for France, containing the single disc of hits along with the track "Les Mots", a duet with French singer Mylène Farmer, as a bonus track.
Crazy Hits is the debut studio album by the Crazy Frog, released on 25 July 2005. It is a collection of songs mixed with the Crazy Frog ringtone, including the remix of the song "Axel F" which appeared in the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop and "Popcorn".
Swing When You're Winning is a swing cover album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, and his fourth studio album overall. It was released in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2001 and peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart.
Greatest Hits is a hits compilation released by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams on 18 October 2004. The album includes two new songs, "Radio" and "Misunderstood", which were both released as singles. The album is his seventh overall release in the United Kingdom.
Live at Knebworth, also known as Live Summer 2003 with different cover text, is a live album by English pop singer Robbie Williams, recorded and released in 2003. The album is his first live album, and is a compilation of songs performed during three consecutive shows at Knebworth, England on 1–3 August 2003.
The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III is a box set by British rock band Queen which comprises their three greatest hits albums, Greatest Hits, Greatest Hits II and Greatest Hits III. The album was originally released on 13 November 2000 on the Parlophone label. A booklet with song facts and images is also included with the three CD set. The US release was delayed by Hollywood Records until September 2002 and featured the 2001 Japanese release remastered versions of Greatest Hits Volumes 1 and 2 on the US and Canadian versions of The Platinum Collection. The album peaked at number 2 in the UK.
Calma apparente, also known by its Spanish name Calma aparente, is a 2005 studio album by Italian singer-songwriter Eros Ramazzotti. The album was preceded by the single "La nostra vita", released on 16 September 2005 and sold 43,000 copies in Italy.
Christmas is the seventh studio album and first Christmas album released by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. The album was released on October 21, 2011, in Ireland, on October 24, 2011, in the United Kingdom, and on October 25, 2011, in the United States. On the week ending December 10, 2011, Christmas rose to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart, becoming Bublé's third chart-topper following 2007's Call Me Irresponsible and 2009's Crazy Love, and spent five weeks at No. 1.
Here and Now is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback, and is their last to be released on Roadrunner Records. The album was released on November 21, 2011. It is the follow-up to their multi-platinum selling Dark Horse in 2008. On September 26, the band officially released two singles, "When We Stand Together" and "Bottoms Up". Both songs were made available for download on September 27, 2011. The first track of the record, "This Means War", was released on November 10, 2011 as the third single. The album's cover features Vancouver's Gastown Steam Clock. The clock is set at 11:21, the date the album was released.
Rudebox is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released on 23 October 2006 in the United Kingdom. It features two guest appearances from the Pet Shop Boys. The album was produced by a variety of producers including: Mark Ronson, Soul Mekanik, Pet Shop Boys and Jerry Meehan.
Swings Both Ways is the tenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It is his second swing album after 2001's Swing When You're Winning; unlike the latter, which had one original composition, this album features an equal mix of both covers and original material. The album marked Williams' first major work with former longtime collaborator Guy Chambers since 2002's Escapology. Chambers produced the album and co-wrote most of the album's new material with Williams.
Sugar is the second studio album by German DJ and record producer Robin Schulz, it was released on 25 September 2015. The album includes the singles "Headlights", "Sugar", "Show Me Love", and "Heatwave".
The Heavy Entertainment Show is the eleventh studio album by English recording artist Robbie Williams. It was released on 4 November 2016 through Columbia Records. It features guest appearances from Rufus Wainwright and John Grant. The album was primarily produced by Williams' longtime songwriting partner Guy Chambers and Richard Flack, along with a variety of producers such as Stuart Price, Johnny McDaid and Gary Go.
We Got Love is the fifteenth studio album by European-American pop group The Kelly Family. It was released by license to Airforce1 Records, a division of Universal Music, on March 24, 2017 throughout most of Central Europe.
Weihnachten is the seventh studio album by German singer Helene Fischer. It was released on 13 November 2015 by Polydor. The album was supported by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Helene Fischer is the eighth studio album by German singer Helene Fischer. It was released on 12 May 2017 by Polydor. The album debuted at number-one on the Austrian, German, and Swiss Albums Chart and reached the top ten in the Netherlands and the Flemish region of Belgium. In Germany, Helene Fischer sold more than 300,000 copies in its first week of release, making it the highest-selling debut since Herbert Grönemeyer's 2002 album Mensch.
Love is the tenth studio album by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. It was released on November 16, 2018, by Reprise Records. It is supported by the lead single "When I Fall in Love".
XXV is a compilation album by English singer Robbie Williams, released through Columbia Records on 9 September 2022. The album marks the 25th anniversary of Williams's solo career, and contains re-recorded and orchestrated versions of songs from his career, which were reworked by Jules Buckley, Guy Chambers and Steve Sidwell with the Metropole Orkest. The XXV version of "Angels" was released as the lead single, followed by the promotional single "Eternity/The Road to Mandalay" and the new song "Lost" as the second official single. The deluxe edition of the album adds 10 tracks, including four more original songs—"Disco Symphony", "More Than This", "Home Thoughts from Abroad" and "The World and Her Mother". The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, with Williams breaking the record for most number-one albums among solo acts. The album was supported by the XXV Tour.