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Don't Save It All for Christmas Day
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Don't Save It All for Christmas Day
| cover = Don't Save It All for Christmas Day promo.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Celine Dion
| album = These Are Special Times
| released =
| recorded = 1998
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Ric Wake
| prev_title = If Walls Could Talk
| prev_year = 2000
| next_title = God Bless America
| next_year = 2001
| misc =
}}
"'Don't Save It All for Christmas Day'" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion from her first English-language Christmas album, 'These Are Special Times' (1998). The song was written by Peter Zizzo, Ric Wake and Dion, while Wake also served as its producer. The pop ballad was issued as a promotional single on 4 December 2000, two years after album's original release.
The song has also been covered by many artists over the years, including Christian group Avalon, who re-recorded the song for their 2000 album 'Joy: A Christmas Collection'. It is most associated with Clay Aiken, as it has been his signature Christmas song since he recorded it for his 2004 album 'Merry Christmas with Love'.
Background
"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" is one out of seven original compositions Dion recorded for 'These Are Special Times'. Aside from "Treat Her Like a Lady", a cover of the Diana King song, that she had partially re-written and recorded for 1997 studio album 'Let's Talk About Love', "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" marked her first co-writing credit on one of her own recordings. Unaware of the fact that it was not someone else's record she was continually singing to, Dion had the melody and lyrics of the song's pre-chorus ("How many people are crying / people are dying / how many people are asking for love") for nearly two years in her head. While she never finished it as she was "afraid of the reaction", her husband and manager Ren Anglil suggested that it would make a "great record" after hearing it. At a dinner with frequent collaborator Rick Wake after her performance at the 'VH1 Divas Live' show in New York City in April 1998, Wake convinced Dion to sing her ideas of a verse and a chorus on his home answering machine. While Dion's lines inspired the song and its whole approach, Wake consulted Peter Zizzo to polish Dion's track. Based on her lyrics, the songwriter came up with the chorus lines "Don't save It all for Christmas Day". Lyrically, the ballad is about sharing good-will and love throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.
Critical reception
'Billboard' editor Paul Verna called this song 'thoughtful produced original composition, her first co-writing credit'.[https://books.google.com/books?id=HwoEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=pl&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=dion&f=false Billboard]
Formats and track listings
'Promo CD single'
#"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (Album Version) 4:37
#"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (Radio Version) 4:19
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the 'These Are Special Times' liner notes.
* Vocals Celine Dion
* Arrangement Ric Wake, Peter Zizzo
* Engineering Jesse Shatkin, Alex Pasco
* Background vocals Nancey Jackson
* Bass, drum, programming Peter Zizzo
* Drum programming Jim Bralower
* Guitar Larry Salzman, Marc Shulman, Peter Zizzo
* Hammond B3 organ, background vocal arrangement Loris Holland
* Mixing Humberto GaticaNoguchi
* Synth programming Jeff Bova
Charts
References
Category:Celine Dion songs
Category:NSYNC songs
Category:2000 singles
Category:Songs written by Ric Wake
Category:Songs written by Celine Dion
Category:Christmas songs
Category:Pop ballads
Category:1998 songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Ric Wake
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Epic Records singles
Category:Songs written by Peter Zizzo
Category:1990s ballads
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