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Wonderful Christmastime

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Wonderful Christmastime

| cover = 62331wct.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Paul McCartney

| album =

| B-side = Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae

| released = 16 November 1979

| recorded = 30 August 1979

| studio = Lower Gate Farm, Sussex

| genre =

* Christmas

* synth-pop

| length = 3:45

| label =

| writer = Paul McCartney

| producer = Paul McCartney

| prev_title = Eat at Home

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = Coming Up

| next_year = 1980

| misc =

}}

"'Wonderful Christmastime'" is a Christmas song by English musician Paul McCartney. Recorded during the sessions for his solo album 'McCartney II' (1980), it was released in November 1979 following Wings' final album 'Back to the Egg' earlier that year. It was McCartney's first solo single in over 8 years since "Eat at Home" in 1971. "Wonderful Christmastime" has charted within the top 10 in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom as well as the top 20 in Canada, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. The track is regarded as one of McCartney's weaker compositions by numerous music critics. It has been covered by numerous artists.

"Wonderful Christmastime" was added as a bonus track on the 1993 CD reissue of 'Back to the Egg'Stephen Thomas Erlewhine, [http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/back-to-the-egg-bonus-tracks-mr0001633694 "Paul McCartney/Wings 'Back to the Egg' (Bonus Tracks)"], Allmusic (retrieved 30 December 2012) and on the 2011 "Special Edition" and "Deluxe Edition" reissue of 'McCartney II'; a longer, unedited version was also included on the Deluxe Edition. The track was also mixed in 5.1 surround sound for inclusion on the 2007 DVD release 'The McCartney Years'.

Background and recording



McCartney wrote the song in the key of B major, and recorded it entirely on his own during the sessions for his solo project 'McCartney II'. Although the members of Wings are not on the recording, they do appear in the promotional music video,Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, 'Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium', 44.1 Productions (Chesterfield, MO, 2000; ), p. 251. which was filmed at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst, West Sussex.

It also includes footage filmed at the Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, where McCartney rehearsed his 1979 UK tour. Wings performed the song during their 1979 tour of the UK.Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, 'Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium', 44.1 Productions (Chesterfield, MO, 2000; ), p. 254.

Reception and legacy



Following its release as a stand-alone single in the United Kingdom, "Wonderful Christmastime" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending January 5, 1980. In the United States, the single peaked at number 83 on the 'Cash Box' Top 100 Singles chart (week ending January 12, 1980) and at number 94 on the 'Record World' Singles Chart (week ending December 29, 1979), but it did not initially make the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart.

"Wonderful Christmastime" first appeared on a 'Billboard' magazine music chart in December 1984, when it peaked at number 10 for two straight weeks on the magazine's special Christmas Singles chart. Its next appearance on a 'Billboard' music came on the week ending January 6, 1996, when the song both debuted and peaked at number 29 on the magazine's weekly Hot Adult Contemporary chart. "Wonderful Christmastime" finally debuted on the main 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart in December 2018, at position number 47. It peaked at number 28 on the week ending January 2, 2021, following its 2020 chart re-entry two weeks earlier.

"Wonderful Christmastime" continues to receive substantial annual festive airplay, although some music critics consider it to be one of McCartney's mediocre compositions.Craig Outhier, [http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2010-03-25/music/paul-mccartney-s-worst-songs/ "Paul McCartney's Worst Songs"], 'Phoenix New Times', 25 March 2010 (retrieved 30 December 2012).Alan Clayson, 'Paul McCartney', Sanctuary (London, 2003; ), pp 19293. Beatles author Robert Rodriguez has written of "Wonderful Christmastime": "Love it or hate it, few songs within the McCartney oeuvre have provoked such strong reactions."Robert Rodriguez, 'Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 19701980', Backbeat Books (Milwaukee, WI, 2010; ), p. 191.

Including royalties from cover versions, it was estimated in 2010 that McCartney makes $400,000 a year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings at over $15 million.

Personnel



* Paul McCartney vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, bass, drums, percussion, jingle bells, production

Charts



Weekly charts



Certifications and sales



Kylie Minogue version



{{Infobox song

| name = Wonderful Christmastime

| cover =

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Kylie Minogue and Mika

| album = Kylie Christmas: Snow Queen Edition

| released = 9 December 2016

| recorded = 2016

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Christmas

| length = 3:43

| label = Parlophone

| writer = Paul McCartney

| producer = Steve Anderson

| chronology = Kylie Minogue

| prev_title = At Christmas

| prev_year = 2016

| next_title = Dancing

| next_year = 2018

| misc =

}}

Australian singer Kylie Minogue and British singer-songwriter Mika covered the song for Minogue's reissue 'Kylie Christmas: Snow Queen Edition' (2016). The song was released as album's second single on 9 December 2016 by Parlophone.

The song was performed on 6 December 2016 by Minogue and Mika on Italian programme 'Stasera Casa Mika'.

Charts



Release history



Cover versions





* Diana Ross on the 1994 album 'A Very Special Season' which reached no. 37 in the UK and was certified Gold.

* 2002: Hilary Duff on her debut album 'Santa Claus Lane'.

* 2008: Demi Lovato on the compilation CD, 'All Wrapped Up'.

* 2011: Eli Young Band on the compilation 'The Country Christmas Collection', peaking at No. 33 on the 'Billboard' Hot Country Songs chart in January 2012

* 2012: Paul McCartney with New York City Children's Chorus on Saturday Night Live.[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-xpm-2012-dec-16-la-et-st-snl-martin-short-childrens-chorus-sandy-hook-paul-mccartney-story.html SNL pays quiet tribute to those lost at Sandy Hook Elementary ]

* 2013: Paul McCartney with the a cappella group Straight No Chaser on their EP 'Under the Influence: Holiday Edition'

* 2018: The Monkees recorded a version for their album 'Christmas Party'

* 2020: Lady A performed the song on 'CMA Country Christmas'.

* 2021: Pentatonix covered the song for their Christmas album 'Evergreen'.

References




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