| "This Christmas" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1970 US retail vinyl release | ||||
| Single byDonny Hathaway | ||||
| from the albumSoul Christmas | ||||
| B-side | "Be There" | |||
| Released | December 9, 1970 (1970-12-09) | |||
| Recorded | 1970 (1970) | |||
| Studio | Audio Finishers Studio,Chicago | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:51 | |||
| Label | Atco Records | |||
| Songwriters | Donny Hathaway (as "Donny Pitts") and Nadine Theresa McKinnor | |||
| Producer | Don-Ric Enterprises[2] | |||
| Donny Hathaway singles chronology | ||||
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| Official video | ||||
| "This Christmas" onYouTube | ||||
"This Christmas" is a song by Americansoul musicianDonny Hathaway released in 1970 byAtco Records.[3] The song gained renewed popularity when it was included in 1991 on Atco Records' revised edition of their 1968Soul Christmas compilation album[4] and has since become a modernChristmasstandard, with theAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers reporting that it was the 30th most-performed holiday song of all time.[5]
Phil Upchurch said the song was "absolutely the premiere holiday song written by anAfrican American". It was written by Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor.[6]
"This Christmas" was recorded at Audio Finishers Studio on Ontario Street,Chicago in the fall of 1970.[4][3] Ric Powell (see credits below) said that Hathaway was "very upbeat during the session" and that he "knew what he wanted to do musically and the impact he wanted to make with this song" regarding the representation ofAfrican Americans in Christmas music.[4] On writing the song with Hathaway (who died in 1979), Nadine McKinnor[3] said she felt "blessed to have written Donny a song that celebrates the possibilities, the expectations, and the anticipation of Christmas and the good fun and happy loving times", and that the creation of the song "was a God plan. God was in this plan. And Donny Hathaway was a genius."[7]
"This Christmas" was released as a single in 1970.[8] It initially saw little success, as it was listed just once on any ofBillboard magazine's weekly published music charts in the 1970s, specificallyBillboard's special Christmas Singles chart (on the week ending December 23, 1972, at position No. 11).[9] But in recent years, the song has made it onto a number ofBillboard's weekly music charts. In addition to making its first appearance on the mainBillboard Hot 100 songs chart in late December 2020 (peaking at No. 34 three years later), Hathaway's "This Christmas" has also appeared on these otherBillboard music charts: Global 200 (No. 52 peak position in early January 2024), Global 200 Excl. US (No. 140 peak position in January 2024), Holiday 100 (No. 25 peak position in early January 2014), Holiday Digital Song Sales (No. 32 peak position in early January 2022), Holiday Streaming Songs (No. 27 peak position in mid December 2020), LyricFind Global (No. 13 peak position in mid December 2024), LyricFind U.S. (No. 21 peak position in mid December 2024), R&B Digital Song Sales (No. 5 peak position in late December 2023), R&B Streaming Songs (No. 6 peak position in early January 2021), R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (No. 12 peak position in late December 2023), R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs (No. 6 peak position in early January 2021), Radio Songs (No. 38 peak position in early January 2025), and Streaming Songs (No. 27 peak position in early January 2021).[10]
In 1991, Atco Records released a revised edition of their 1968 compilation albumSoul Christmas that included "This Christmas".
| Chart (2010–2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Global 200 (Billboard)[11] | 52 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[12] | 50 |
| Lithuania (AGATA)[13] | 68 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 51 |
| Japan (Japan Hot 100)[15] | 68 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 86 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 73 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[18] | 63 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[19] | 34 |
| USHoliday 100 (Billboard)[20] | 25 |
| USRolling Stone Top 100[21] | 28 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[22] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| "This Christmas" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byJess Glynne | ||||
| Released | 12 November 2020 | |||
| Length | 2:59 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Jess Glynne singles chronology | ||||
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English singer and songwriterJess Glynne released a cover version of the song as a single on 12 November 2020.[23] The single peaked at number three on theUK Singles Chart.[24] Daniel Welsh ofHuffPost UK rated Glynne's version three out of five stars, writing that "fans of both Jess Glynne and background Christmas music" would enjoy this version.[25] It's Glynne's last single to be released underAtlantic Records.[citation needed]
Talking about the song, Glynne said:
I chose 'This Christmas' by Donny Hathaway as I love the tone of this record and I'm thankful thatAmazon Music have given me the opportunity to do my own version of it for them. This year has been such a hard one and there's no doubt this Christmas is going to be difficult for so many people. Music is so important as it gives us moments of escapism and I think more than ever having an uplifting feel good song is so necessary.[26]
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy (FIMI)[27] | 72 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[28] | 3 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[29] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
After the 1991 release of Atco Records'Soul Christmas, the song became particularly notable for the popularity of its numerous covers by other artists, particularly well-knownpop,smooth jazz andR&B artists.[3] Prior to this re-release, artists who recorded cover versions includedThe Whispers,The Temptations,Gladys Knight & the Pips, as well asPatti LaBelle, who titled aChristmas album after the song. A previously unheard recording of the song byDiana Ross from 1974 was released onMotown Records' compilation albumChristmas in the City in 1993. In 1996, Patti LaBelle performed the song at the lighting of theAmerican National Christmas Tree. During the performance her backing singers failed to appear, yet a frustrated LaBelle carried on without her entourage beforePresident Clinton appeared to light the tree.[30]
Christina Aguilera recorded a cover of the song for her third studio albumMy Kind of Christmas (2000).[31] It was released as a promotional single in November 2023.[32] The song was later certified gold byIFPI Danmark for selling over 45,000 units.[33]
In 2001,Destiny's Child released a cover of the song for their studio album,8 Days of Christmas.Entertainment Weekly critic Chris Willman described the band's rendition as "solid".[34]Elliott Yamin released his version as his debut single in December 2006, which reached No. 21 onBillboard'sAdult Contemporary chart.[35]
A cover of the song byChris Brown, recorded for the2007 film of the same name, peaked at No. 62 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.[36][37]
Lady Antebellum covered the song for the 2012 Christmas albumOn This Winter's Night. In December 2012,The Philadelphia Tribune music criticNekesa Mumbi Moody praised Lady Antebellum's recording and the rest of the album.[38] However, Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of theFinancial Times panned the album and called the trio's cover recording a "slickly insincere 1980s soul."[39]
CeeLo Green covered the song forCee Lo's Magic Moment (2012). Also in December 2012, Alan Sculley ofAsbury Park Press praised CeeLo Green's recording as "a goodStevie Wonder".[40] One ofThe StarPhoenix music critics called CeeLo's takes on the song and "What Christmas Means to Me" not as good as original versions but "worth a listen" with "enough originality".[41] However, Melissa Ruggieri ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution criticised CeeLo's version as skippable and "surprisingly dull".[42] Covers bySeal and by American bandTrain each went to No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 2015 and 2016, respectively.[43][44] In December 2016, Mark Daniell of theOttawa Sun praised versions by the following artists as "good": Lady Antebellum, Chris Brown,Macy Gray, and CeeLo Green.[45]
Sabrina Carpenter performed a cover of this song withTyla for her 2024Netflix Christmas special,A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter.[46]The Everygirl critic praised this rendition as one of "perfectly matched" duets that "stole the show."[47]Screen Rant critic Sarah Novack placed this rendition fourth out of top ten performances from the special. Novack criticized the holiday song as not "particularly interesting" despite "countless alternatives", but she praised the duet's "stunning vocals and performing chemistry" and found the rendition "even better with the backup singers and musicians".[48]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)[...] do Donny Hathaway proud on 'This Christmas' [...]
[Green's] versions of 'What Christmas Means to Me' and Donny Hathaway's 'This Christmas' can't touch the originals, but he adds enough originality to make them worth a listen.