When Christmas Comes Around... | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 15, 2021 | |||
Recorded | 2021 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 47:51 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Producer | ||||
Kelly Clarkson chronology | ||||
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Singles from When Christmas Comes Around... | ||||
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When Christmas Comes Around... is the ninth studio album by American singer Kelly Clarkson, released on October 15, 2021, through Atlantic Records. Produced by Jesse Shatkin, Jason Halbert, Joseph Trapanese and Aben Eubanks, it is her second Christmas album after Wrapped in Red (2013) and her first studio album in four years since Meaning of Life (2017), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in her career. Featuring cover versions of Christmas songs, as well as original co-penned tracks and duets with Chris Stapleton, Ariana Grande and Brett Eldredge, its release was preceded by the singles "Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)" and "Santa, Can't You Hear Me". It also includes previously released singles "Christmas Eve", "All I Want for Christmas Is You", and "Under the Mistletoe" as bonus tracks. The album was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. [1]
Promotion for the album included a Christmas special of the same title, which premiered on NBC on December 1, 2021. The Christmas special premiered with a 0.6 rating and 4.3 million total viewers. [2] [3] A deluxe reissue of the album featuring two new tracks was released on November 1, 2024, including the single "You for Christmas". [4]
"My purpose for choosing this lyric as the title of this project was to bring forth a sense of reality to the fact that we are probably in very different places emotionally When Christmas Comes Around... Some of us are consumed with a new love, some of us reminded of loss, some filled with optimism for the coming new year, others elated for some much deserved time away from the chaos our work lives can sometimes bring us. Wherever you are, and whatever you may be experiencing, I wanted everyone to be able to connect to a message on this album. Each year you may even have a new favorite depending on where you are in your life, but while change can be unpredictable there is no better time of year, in my opinion, to breathe hope into one’s life and let possibility wander."
Following the release of her first Christmas album Wrapped in Red in 2013 on RCA Records, Clarkson transferred to Atlantic Records and has issued the Christmas tracks "Christmas Eve" (2017), "Under the Mistletoe" (with Brett Eldredge), and a cover of Vince Vance & the Valiants' "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (2020). [6] In an interview on the television program Entertainment Tonight , she revealed that she was not originally intending to record another Christmas studio album due to her fondness for her first, but later decided to following the emotional stress induced by the highly publicized divorce the previous year. [7] In recording the album, Clarkson recorded cover versions of various Christmas classics and wrote new material featuring duets with American recording artists Chris Stapleton and Ariana Grande. [6]
Atlantic Records has promoted When Christmas Comes Around... as an exploration of "a wide range of holiday emotions and experiences anchored by Clarkson's incomparable vocal prowess". [6] Clarkson has elaborated that the album will explore various themes of love, loss, hope, and optimism — emotions that people tend to experience during the holiday season. [5] [7]
Drawing inspiration from her experiences during the past two years, she remarked of the album's title, her first to not have a titular track since My December (2007), as "when Christmas comes around, we are all in different places." Further adding that its selection of tracks will both evoke a somber and posit a jolly atmosphere. Characterizing it as "a different Christmas album", she portrayed When Christmas Comes Around... as feeling more like a normal studio album, but "there's Christmas sprinkled on it." [7]
When Christmas Comes Around... was released by Atlantic Records on October 15, 2021. [7] A special edition shipped exclusively to Target retail stores would also feature a Christmas card signed by Clarkson. [8] Its lead single "Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)", was released on September 23, 2021. [9] "Glow" with Stapleton and "Santa, Can't You Hear Me" with Grande were released as promotional singles alongside the album's release. [10] [11] The deluxe reissue of the album was released on November 1, 2024. [4]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [12] |
Slant Magazine | [13] |
In a roundup of new holiday albums, The New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica praised Clarkson's "nimble" vocals and wrote that the original tracks, some of them strikingly "uncelebratory," make the album stand out. [14] In the year-end episode of his Times podcast Popcast, Caramanica again praised the album, calling it "very, very good [...] solid [and] impressive," though "not quite Mariah-level." [15] Mike DeWald of Riff Magazine praised how Clarkson's original songs are "something fresh and listenable." [16] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine , who gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars, criticized some production choices but praised Clarkson's "impressive" vocals and "melodic variations" on the classics as the "chief selling point." [13]
Marcy Donelson of AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars, called it "a vibrant, fully orchestral, high-volume set on average", and singled out "Merry Christmas (To the One I Used to Know)" and "Santa, Can't You Hear Me" as highlights among the newest tracks." [12] Vulture 's Justin Curto called Clarkson "the queen of the holidays", calling the album a gift for Christmas. Curto especially appreciated the collaboration with Ariana Grande, as it sounds "as majestic as you would expect from the two singers." [17] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine found that while the original songs on When Christmas Comes Around... "don't quite live up to the lofty bar she previously set" on Wrapped in Red, the album "juxtaposes the yuletide blues with jubilant holiday standards," futher noting that "Clarkson's vocals, then, are the album’s chief selling point." [13]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Merry Christmas Baby" | Jesse Shatkin | 3:45 | |
2. | "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" | Meredith Willson | Shatkin | 1:54 |
3. | "Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)" |
|
| 3:51 |
4. | "Merry Christmas (To the One I Used to Know)" |
|
| 4:10 |
5. | "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" | Johnny Marks | Shatkin | 1:52 |
6. | "Glow" (with Chris Stapleton) |
| Halbert | 3:18 |
7. | "Santa Baby" |
| Halbert | 2:50 |
8. | "Santa, Can't You Hear Me" (with Ariana Grande) |
| Halbert | 4:02 |
9. | "Last Christmas" | George Michael | Halbert | 3:09 |
10. | "Jingle Bell Rock" |
| Shatkin | 1:56 |
11. | "Blessed" |
| Halbert | 3:34 |
12. | "Christmas Come Early" |
| Halbert | 2:59 |
13. | "Under the Mistletoe" (with Brett Eldredge) |
|
| 3:45 |
14. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | Shatkin | 3:46 | |
15. | "Christmas Eve" |
| Halbert | 3:00 |
Total length: | 47:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "You For Christmas" |
| Ronson | 2:54 |
2. | "Sleigh Ride" | Ronson | 2:10 | |
3. | "Merry Christmas Baby" |
| Shatkin | 3:45 |
4. | "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" | Willson | Shatkin | 1:54 |
5. | "Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)" |
|
| 3:51 |
6. | "Merry Christmas (To the One I Used to Know)" |
|
| 4:10 |
7. | "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" | Marks | Shatkin | 1:52 |
8. | "Glow" (with Chris Stapleton) |
| Halbert | 3:18 |
9. | "Santa Baby" |
| Halbert | 2:50 |
10. | "Santa, Can't You Hear Me" (with Ariana Grande) |
| Halbert | 4:02 |
11. | "Last Christmas" | Michael | Halbert | 3:09 |
12. | "Jingle Bell Rock" |
| Shatkin | 1:56 |
13. | "Blessed" |
| Halbert | 3:34 |
14. | "Christmas Come Early" |
| Halbert | 2:59 |
15. | "Under the Mistletoe" (with Brett Eldredge; Bonus track) |
|
| 3:45 |
16. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Bonus track) |
| Shatkin | 3:46 |
17. | "Christmas Eve" (Bonus track) |
| Halbert | 3:00 |
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes
Recorded and engineered at
Performance credits
Musicians
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Production
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Chart (2021–2023) | Peak position |
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Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [20] | 147 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [21] | 31 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [22] | 44 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [23] | 65 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [24] | 23 |
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) [25] | 58 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [26] | 19 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [27] | 80 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [28] | 56 |
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [29] | 16 |
UK Physical Albums (OCC) [30] | 79 |
US Billboard 200 [31] | 22 |
US Top Holiday Albums (Billboard) [32] | 1 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalog number | Ref. |
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Various | October 15, 2021 | Atlantic | 864083-4 | [18] [33] | |
Christmas card CD | 864006-3 | [8] | |||
Kelly Brianne, known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA Records. Her debut single, "A Moment Like This", topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the country's best-selling single of 2002. It was included on her debut studio album, Thankful (2003), which entered the Billboard 200 at number one, and also yielded the top-10 single "Miss Independent". Trying to reinvent her image, Clarkson parted ways with Idol management and shifted genres to pop rock for her second studio album, Breakaway (2004), one of the best-selling albums by a female artist. Supported by four US top-ten singles–the title track, "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes", and "Because of You" – Breakaway sold over 12 million copies worldwide and won two Grammy Awards.
"Santa Baby" is a song performed by American singer Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra and originally released in 1953. The song was written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer, who also used the pseudonym Tony Springer in an attempt to speed up the song's publishing process. Lyrically, the song is a tongue-in-cheek look at a Christmas list addressed to Santa Claus by a woman who wants extravagant gifts such as sables, yachts, and decorations from Tiffany, which become increasingly laced with innuendo and the implication that the woman has a crush on Santa.
"I Forgive You" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson, included on her fifth studio album Stronger (2011). It was produced and co-written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Andre Lindal, with extra writing and background vocals from Lauren Christy. Musically, "I Forgive You" is a pop rock and power pop song.
Wrapped in Red is the sixth studio album by American singer Kelly Clarkson, released on October 25, 2013, by RCA Records. The album is a follow-up to her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits – Chapter One, and its companion extended play, The Smoakstack Sessions Vol. 2. Produced by Greg Kurstin, it was her first Christmas album and her only record to be solely released by RCA. Wrapped in Red consists of sixteen tracks, featuring five original songs co-penned with Kurstin and eleven cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, two of which are duets featuring singers Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood.
"Underneath the Tree" is a Christmas song by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her sixth studio album and first Christmas album, Wrapped in Red (2013). She co-wrote the track with its producer Greg Kurstin. It is a Christmas-themed song that sings of gratitude for companionship during the holidays, in which the loved one is referred to as the only present needed "underneath the tree". Accompanied by various instrumental sounds, the song is given a Wall of Sound treatment, along with sleigh bells and bell chimes to create a holiday atmosphere. "Underneath the Tree" was first released to Adult Contemporary radio stations on November 5, 2013, by RCA Records as the album's lead single.
"Wrapped in Red" is a song by American pop singer Kelly Clarkson. It is the titular song and the opening track from her sixth studio album of the same name. Written by Clarkson, Ashley Arrison, Aben Eubanks, and Shane McAnally, the song is produced by Greg Kurstin, who recorded the track using the Wall of Sound production technique developed by Phil Spector. A soul-pop ballad, "Wrapped in Red" is a Christmas song about unrequited love in the holidays, in which the color red is used as metaphorical device to express someone's truthful feelings, apart from being a quintessential holiday color. "Wrapped in Red" was serviced by RCA Records to Adult Contemporary radio stations as the second single from the album on November 25, 2014.
"Winter Dreams " is a song by American recording artist Kelly Clarkson, from her sixth studio album, Wrapped in Red (2013). Produced by Greg Kurstin, Clarkson co-wrote the song with Ashley Arrison and Aben Eubanks for her then-fiancé, Brandon Blackstock, stepson of American recording artist Reba McEntire. A slow-tempo Christmas neo-jazz pop song, "Winter Dreams" features a 50-piece chamber orchestra conducted and arranged by film composer Joseph Trapanese. Its lyrical theme mainly depicts love and escapism during the holidays, in which Clarkson sings about spending her first holiday with Blackstock, to whom the song is also dedicated. Unlike the deep lyrical themes of "Every Christmas", in which she refers to her life before meeting Blackstock, Clarkson had described "Winter Dreams" with a lighter fare, referring to it as her holiday life after meeting him.
"Santa Tell Me" is a Christmas song by American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande. It was released by Republic Records on November 24, 2014, and was included on the Japanese exclusive reissue of Grande's first EP Christmas Kisses (2013), as well as a "naughty version" on Grande's second EP Christmas & Chill (2015). The song was written by Grande, Savan Kotecha, and Ilya Salmanzadeh, who also served as its producer.
Christmas & Chill is the second Christmas record and extended play (EP) by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on December 18, 2015 by Republic Records as a follow-up to her 2013 Christmas EP Christmas Kisses and her 2014 Christmas single "Santa Tell Me". The EP features six, original, R&B-inspired Christmas tracks produced by American producers Tommy Brown, Mr. Franks, The Magi, and Travis Sayles. Grande has expressed admiration and has referred to it as her "favorite body of work".
"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).
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.
"POV" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on March 23, 2021 by Republic Records as the third single from her sixth studio album Positions (2020). Grande wrote the song with Tayla Parx, and it was produced by Mr. Franks, Oliver "Junior" Frid and Tommy Brown.
"Under the Mistletoe" is a duet by American singers Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge. It was written by Clarkson and Aben Eubanks, who co-produced it with Jesse Shatkin. "Under the Mistletoe" was first issued by Atlantic Records on October 28, 2020. The song is also included on Clarkson's second Christmas album When Christmas Comes Around... (2021).
"Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)" is a song by American singer Kelly Clarkson from her ninth studio album and second Christmas album, When Christmas Comes Around... (2021). Produced by Jason Halbert and Joseph Trapanese, it was released as album's lead single by Atlantic Records on September 23, 2021.
"Santa, Can't You Hear Me" is a duet by American singers Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande. It is the second single from Clarkson's ninth studio album and second Christmas album, When Christmas Comes Around... (2021). The song was written by Clarkson with Aben Eubanks, with the song's track recording was produced by Jason Halbert.
"Glow" is a duet by American singer-songwriters Kelly Clarkson and Chris Stapleton from her ninth studio album and second Christmas album, When Christmas Comes Around... (2021). Written by Clarkson, Danja, Jason Halbert, Hayley Warner, and Jesse Thomas, it was released a promotional single by Atlantic Records on October 15, 2021.
"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).
Aben Eubanks is an American Grammy-nominated musician, songwriter, and producer. Eubanks began his career as a guitarist for Matt Nathanson in 2004 and for Graham Colton in 2005. In 2006, Eubanks joined Kelly Clarkson's band and together co-wrote several songs including "Sober" from the My December album, "Under the Mistletoe" a duet with Brett Eldredge, "Santa, Can't You Hear Me", a duet with Ariana Grande, both songs charted on the Billboard Holiday Hot 100. and appeared on the album When Christmas Comes Around which was nominated for a 2023 Grammy for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Eubanks also co-wrote "Broken Hearts" with Shane McAnally and Ashley Arrison, which Chevel Shepherd performed on the fifteenth season of The Voice, which reached number one on the Billboard Country Digital Songs Sales Chart. "Lighthouse", cowritten by Eubanks, is the first 2024 single from Kelly Clarkson's Chemistry album.