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 a follow-up to her eighth studio album Meaning of Life (2017). 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]
| When Christmas Comes Around... | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 15, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2021 | |||
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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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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.[4] The release of When Christmas Comes Around… also marks the longest gap between studio albums in Clarkson's entire career, with her previous album, Meaning of Life, having been released in October 2017.
Background and recording
edit"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."
—Clarkson on naming the album When Christmas Comes Around...[5]
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]
Themes and inspirations
editAtlantic 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]
Release
editWhen 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]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| 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]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Personnel
editCredits adapted from the album's liner notes
Recorded and engineered at
- Brooklyn, New York (Brooklyn Bridge Music)
- Burbank, California (The Eastwood Stage at Warner Bros. Studio, The Listening Station, Glenwood Place Studios)
- Los Angeles, California (The Ribcage)
- Nashville, Tennessee (Ocean Way, Southern Ground)
- New York City (Manhattan Beach Recording)
- Pasadena, California (The Vibe Room)
- Studio City, California (Everland Studios)
- Universal City, California
Performance credits
- Kelly Clarkson – all vocals
- Jessi Collins – background vocals
- Luke Edgemon – background vocals
- Brett Eldredge – featured vocals
- Ariana Grande – featured vocals
- Nayanna Holley – background vocals
- Tiffany Palmer – background vocals
- Bridget Sarai – background vocals
- Chris Stapleton – featured vocals
- Brandon Winbush – background vocals
Musicians
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Production
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Charts
edit| Chart (2021–2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalog number | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | October 15, 2021 | Atlantic | 864083-4 | [18][33] | |
| Christmas card CD | 864006-3 | [8] |
References
edit- ^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See the Complete Winners & Nominees List".
- ^ Thaadeus, Shearmen (December 2, 2021). ""Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around" ratings". Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ Dwortz, Mallory (December 1, 2021). "How to Watch "Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around"". MLive. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c Iahn, Buddy (September 24, 2024). "Kelly Clarkson shares 'You For Christmas'". The Music Universe. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Fisher, Kelly (September 27, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson Dishes On Her 'Purpose' For Christmas Breakup Single". iHeartRadio. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c Towers, Andrea (September 23, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson drops holiday breakup bop 'Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)' just in time for... fall". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Calvario, Liz (September 24, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson Shares the Inspiration Behind Her New Breakup Christmas Song and Holiday Album (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "Kelly Clarkson – When Christmas Comes Around (Target Exclusive, CD)(Christmas Card)". Target Corporation. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ Zemler, Emily (September 23, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson Welcomes the Holidays With 'Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ Clarkson, Kelly; Stapleton, Chris (October 14, 2021). "Spotify – Glow". open.spotify.com.
- ^ Clarkson, Kelly; Grande, Ariana (October 14, 2021). "Spotify – Santa, Can't You Hear Me". open.spotify.com.
- ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (October 15, 2021). "When Christmas Comes Around... Review by Marcy Donelson". AllMusic. AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c Curto, Justin (October 15, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson Declares It's Christmastime With When Christmas Comes Around …". Vulture. Retrieved October 18, 2021. Cite error: The named reference "Slant" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Caramanica, Jon (December 11, 2021). "13 Albums That Revisit (and Redefine!) Holiday Classics". The New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ Caramanica, Jon (December 28, 2021). "What We Forgot to Talk About in 2021". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ DeWald, Mike (October 15, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson celebrates the season on 'When Christmas Comes Around…'". Riff Magazine. RIFF Magazine. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ Curto, Justin (October 15, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson Declares It's Christmastime With When Christmas Comes Around …". Vulture. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "When Christmas Comes Around... (CD Album)". HMV. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ White, Jack (September 22, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson to release second festive album When Christmas Comes Around... on October 15". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Kelly Clarkson – When Christmas Comes Around..." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kelly Clarkson – When Christmas Comes Around..." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kelly Clarkson – When Christmas Comes Around..." (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 47. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "2023 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 29, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kelly Clarkson – When Christmas Comes Around...". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100 – 22 October 2021 – 28 October 2021". Official Charts Company. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Kelly Clarkson Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ Clarkson, Kelly (September 22, 2021). "When Christmas Comes Around..." Apple Music. Retrieved September 22, 2021.