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My Only Wish (This Year)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = My Only Wish (This Year)
| cover = My-Only-Wish-(This-Year)-by-Britney-Spears.jpg
| caption = Artwork for 2020 re-release
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = Promotional single
| artist = Britney Spears
| album = Platinum Christmas
| recorded = August 2000
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:15
| label = Jive
| writer =
* Brian Kierulf
* Josh Schwartz
| producer =
* Brian Kierulf
* Josh Schwartz
| misc =
}}
"'My Only Wish (This Year)'" is a teen pop Christmas song by American singer Britney Spears. It was written and produced by Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz. It was released originally in the Christmas compilation album 'Platinum Christmas'. In the song, Spears asks Santa Claus to find her a lover during the holidays.
"My Only Wish (This Year)" received positive to mixed reviews from music critics. However, close to a decade after its release, reviewers felt the song was considered a modern holiday classic. "My Only Wish (This Year)" has charted in various countries, mainly in Germany and on 'Billboard's Holiday Songs. On October 22, 2013, an audio-only video of the song was uploaded on Spears' Vevo account.
Background and composition
On October 13, 2000, American publishing and media company 'Forbes' reported that Spears had plans to record a song called "My Only Wish (This Year)" for a Christmas album titled 'Platinum Christmas'. The song was included in the album, which was released on November 14, 2000.
"My Only Wish (This Year)" was written and produced by Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz. It is a teen pop song in the key of C major over a vocal range spanning from G3 to A5. It runs in a fast shuffle rhythm, a rhythm pattern used mainly in jazz-influenced music. In the song, Spears laments her loneliness during the holidays and asks Santa Claus to bring her a lover, in lines such as "He's all I want, just for me/Underneath my Christmas tree". Since its release, the song has been included in more than eight Christmas music compilations, including 'Now That's What I Call Christmas!' (2001), 'Super Christmas Hits' (2006) and 'Christmas Top 100' (2009).
Critical reception
's 1994 hit single "All I Want for Christmas Is You"
Michael Roberts of the 'Dallas Observer' described the song as "an unobjectionable but generic retro bounce-fest". Lori Reese of 'Entertainment Weekly' called it "festive". In her review of 'Now That's What I Call Christmas!', Melissa Ruggieri of the 'Richmond Times-Dispatch' commented, "Thankfully, only a small portion of disc two is devoted to tween magnets including Britney Spears ('My Only Wish [This Year]') and 'N Sync ('You Don't Have to Be Alone [On Christmas]')". Gabrielle Rice of Yahoo! called it one of Spears's best and most remembered songs, saying, however, that it only "made the Top 10 list because the lyrics [and] fast shuffle rhythm ... are just plain cute". In his review of classic Christmas songs, 'The Sydney Morning Herald' Richard Jinman said that this track and Mariah Carey's 1994 single "All I Want for Christmas Is You" were "ho-ho-horrible singles", and Adam Graham of 'The Detroit News' also commented that the "sleigh bells and holiday cheer abound on this bouncy teen-pop ditty ... follows in the tradition" of Carey's single.
Sam Lansky of PopCrush included the song on his list of Top 10 Original Christmas Pop Songs, writing, "another millennial teen pop jam, Britney Spears' 'My Only Wish (This Year)' follows the time-honored tradition of asking Santa Claus for love", and finding it "a sweet throwback to the simpler days of [Britney]". AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the song a "pop holiday classic." Steve Leggett noted the song was "a nice and bright backdrop for that Christmas party or dinner". MTV blogger Tamar Anitai praised it as "the absolute holy grail of 1990s pop Christmas songs".
In 2021, the song was ranked as one of the 100 Best Christmas Songs of All Time, by 'Billboard'.
Chart performance
"My Only Wish (This Year)" appeared in the Danish Singles Chart on December 26, 2008, as a result of digital downloads, debuting and peaking at number 34 before dropping off the chart in the following week. In the following year, it came back at number 37. It charted in Slovakia, on December 28, 2009, at number 54. It made its first appearance on 'Billboard' Holiday Airplay on December 8, 2001, peaking at number 7. Later in 2010, it appeared on the component Holiday Digital Songs component chart at number 49, as a result of digital downloads. On December 8, 2011, "My Only Wish (This Year)" debuted at number 170 on South Korea's International Download Gaon Chart, following digital sales of 3,671 copies. On December 17, 2011, it sold 13,670 copies. On the International Comprehensive Tracks component chart, it peaked at number 34. On December 24, 2021, the single entered the UK Singles Chart for the first time at number 97 and a week later peaked at number 82, boosted by popularity during the 2021 holiday season. This marked Spears' first entry on the chart since "Make Me" in July 2016 which peaked at 42.
Cover versions and usage in media
In 2009, Brazilian singer and TV host Xuxa released a Portuguese version of "My Only Wish (This Year)", titled as "Papai Noel Existe", on her Christmas album 'Natal Mgico'. In 2019, NCT's Jaehyun and April's Lee Na-eun covered the song on an Inkigayo special. In 2020, Meghan Trainor covered the song for her Christmas album 'A Very Trainor Christmas'.
The song is featured in the 2021 Christmas Netflix film, 'Single All the Way'.
Credits and personnel
* Britney Spears lead vocals, background vocals
* Brian Kierulf songwriting, production
* Josh Schwartz songwriting
* Jennifer Karr background vocals
Charts
Certifications
References
Category:2000 songs
Category:Britney Spears songs
Category:American Christmas songs
Category:Songs about Santa Claus
Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Kierulf
Category:Songs written by Brian Kierulf
Category:Songs written by Josh Schwartz
Category:Songs about loneliness
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