"Christmas in Fallujah" is a single written by Billy Joel and performed by Cass Dillon.[1] A few weeks after recording the track, Joel introduced Dillon on stage in Chicago for the first live performance of the song.[2] It is also Joel's second new song of original material with lyrics he had written since 1993's River of Dreams after "All My Life".

"Christmas in Fallujah"
Artwork for Billy Joel recording
Single by Cass Dillon and Billy Joel
ReleasedDecember 4, 2007
Recorded2007
GenreRock
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Billy Joel singles chronology
"All My Life"
(2007)
"Christmas in Fallujah"
(2007)
"Turn the Lights Back On"
(2024)

The single was released on December 4, 2007, exclusively from the iTunes Store and was included on Dillon's EP A Good Thing Never Dies (iTunes download).[3] The proceeds from this single were donated to Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted homes for American service members returning from Iraq (Fallujah is a city in Iraq) and Afghanistan with severe disabilities.[4]

Live performances edit

Joel performed "Christmas in Fallujah" live in Australia in November 2008, marking the first time he sang the lyrics to the song instead of Dillon. On December 11, 2008, Joel announced that a new recording of the song that day at Sydney's Acer Arena concert would be released as a download and CD single in honor of the American and Australian soldiers serving in the Middle East. This is the only official recording of Joel singing "Christmas in Fallujah" that is available.[5]

Charts edit

Chart performance for "Christmas in Fallujah" (live)
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australia Physical Singles (ARIA)[6] 46

References edit

  1. ^ "Emerging singer-songwriter Cass Dillon premieres new Billy Joel song, "Christmas In Fallujah," exclusively on iTunes beginning Tuesday, December 4" (Press release). Columbia Records' official site for Billy Joel. 2007-11-30. Archived from the original on 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  2. ^ ocdmusicgroup (5 December 2007). "Introduction to "Christmas In Fallujah"". Archived from the original on 2021-12-12 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Starpulse Staff (25 December 2007). "Emerging Singer-Songwriter Cass Dillon Premieres, 'Christmas In Fallujah'".
  4. ^ "Billy Joel lanza canción contra la guerra". La Crónica de Hoy (in Spanish). 2007-12-09.
  5. ^ Moran, Jonathon (2008-12-12). "Billy Joel's tribute song to troops in Middle East". news.com.au. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  6. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 146.

External links edit