8 Days of Christmas (song)

"8 Days of Christmas"
Single by Destiny's Child
from the album 8 Days of Christmas
B-side"Emotion"
ReleasedDecember 16, 2001 (2001-12-16)
Recorded2000
GenreChristmas
Length3:29
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Destiny's Child singles chronology
"Emotion"
(2001) 		"8 Days of Christmas"
(2001) 		"Nasty Girl"
(2002)
Music video
"8 Days of Christmas" on YouTube

"8 Days of Christmas" is a song recorded by American girl group Destiny's Child for their Christmas album of the same title (2001). Written by group members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland along with Errol McCalla Jr., who handled its production, it is a Christmas-themed song with heavy R&B and dance pop elements.

The song was first released in November 2000 on the reissue of the group's second studio album The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and the US maxi CD single for their song "Independent Women Part I" (2000), before being released as the lead single from 8 Days of Christmas on December 16, 2001, by Columbia Records.

Background

"8 Days of Christmas" was written by Destiny's Child band members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland along with Errol "Poppi" McCalla, Jr., while production was helmed by Knowles, her father Mathew and McCalla. The song contains re-sung lyrics from the traditional Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as well as replayed element from "Jingle Bells" as written by James Pierpont.[1][2] Knowles stated during its video premiere at the BET countdown format 106 & Park in 2001: "Actually, we wrote the song two years ago, when we went in the studio to do some Christmas something. That's what started the idea of doing a Christmas album."[3]

Reception

The song received general favorable reviews, although it has been reevaluated in the years since its publication.[4][5][6][7]

Jordyn Beazley of The Guardian wrote that even if "It was released 20 years ago" the meaning of the song "has only got better with age".[8] Raffy Ermac of Pride Magazine described it as " a fun, sexy spin on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in which "instead of true love giving you useless things, [...] Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle are getting showered with gifts ."[9] Maura Johnston of Vulture wrote that the song "shows off Destiny’s Child innovative approach to pop-R&B", prising the "dizzying pre-chorus and jubilant refrain to the original’s day-by-day rundown" and the "collective prowess on a fluttering bridge".[10]

Time Out listed the song as the 22nd on its list of "The 65 Best Christmas Songs of All Time", defining it "A fine achievement" with "an injection of sass and unabashed materialism", which "turned a cosy old holiday favourite into a bumping R&B Christmas carol for our times".[11] Cosmopolitan listed the song as the 11th of "The 75 Best Christmas Songs of All Time" [12]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "8 Days of Christmas" was directed by Sanaa Hamri. It shows all three members appearing in Santa Claus-inspired clothing at a toy store on a snowy day. Throughout the video, the group shops for various gifts and in between cuts and Knowles rides on a carousel. At the end of the video, many children rush into the toy store where the group gives out gifts.[13]

The music video is featured on the DualDisc edition of 8 Days of Christmas.

Track listings and formats

  • "Independent Women" US CD maxi-single[14]
  1. "Independent Women" (Part 1 – Album Version) – 3:41
  2. "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Drum Dub Mix) – 5:30
  3. "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Club Mix) – 9:36
  4. "Independent Women" (Maurice's Independent Man Remix) – 7:30
  5. "8 Days of Christmas" – 3:29
  1. "8 Days of Christmas" (Album Version) – 3:29
  2. "Emotion" (Album Version) – 3:56
  1. "8 Days of Christmas" (LP Version) – 3:29
  2. "8 Days of Christmas" (Instrumental) – 3:29
  3. "8 Days of Christmas" (A Cappella) – 3:29
  • Brazil CD promo
  1. "8 Days of Christmas" (Album Version)
  2. "8 Days of Christmas" (Radio Edit)
  3. "8 Days of Christmas" (BCDj's Holiday Mix)
  • European CD single[16]
  1. "8 Days of Christmas" (Album Version) – 3:29
  2. "Emotion" (Album Version) – 3:56

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "8 Days of Christmas"
Chart (2001–2020) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 68
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 87
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 58
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 185
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[22] 9
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[23] 75
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[24] 2
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 57
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[26] 54

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Gold 35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

In 2023 American singer Coco Jones released a covered the song for Apple Music.[30]

References

  1. ^ "8 Days of Christmas" Sample of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/127394/Destiny%27s-Child-8-Days-of-Christmas-Traditional-Folk-The-Twelve-Days-of-Christmas/
  2. ^ "8 Days of Christmas" Sample of "Jingle Bells (One Horse Open Sleigh)". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/127396/Destiny%27s-Child-8-Days-of-Christmas-James-Pierpont-Jingle-Bells-(One-Horse-Open-Sleigh)/
  3. ^ Keytas Vibe Archived 2010-09-18 at the Wayback Machine Freewebs.com
  4. ^ Wurzburger, Andrea (November 18, 2022). "Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, & More Stars Whose Christmas Songs Will Make Your Holiday Playlist Extra Festive". People. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Beck, Lia (25 October 2023). "These Are the Best 50 Modern Christmas Songs to Add to Your Holiday Playlist". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  6. ^ Yongo, Sughnen (December 16, 2024). "40 Timeless Christmas Song Classics To Warm The Season". Forbes. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Blair, Olivia; O'Malley, Katie (October 13, 2021). "A List Of The Best Christmas Songs Of All Time, Ranked". Elle UK. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "From Paul Kelly to Phoebe Bridgers: which songs are on your Christmas playlist?". The Guardian. December 20, 2022. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Ermac, Raffy (November 30, 2020). "The Top 10 Pop Christmas Songs of All Time, Ranked". Pride Magazine. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Johnston, Maura (December 19, 2024). "The 50 Best Original Christmas Songs Since 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'". Vulture. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "The 65 Best Christmas Songs of All Time". Time Out. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Thompson, Eliza (October 26, 2023). "The 75 Best Christmas Songs of All Time". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Communications. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Strecker, Erin (December 4, 2014). "The 8 Best Things About Destiny's Child's Cheesy/Perfect '8 Days of Christmas' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  14. ^ a b [1].Discogs.com
  15. ^ [2].Discogs.com
  16. ^ [3].Discogs.com
  17. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #557". auspOp. December 28, 2019. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  18. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Destiny's Child". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Destiny's Child" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  20. ^ "Destiny's Child – 8 Days of Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  21. ^ "Chart Log UK: Asher D – Dyverse". Zobbel. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  23. ^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  24. ^ "Destiny's Child Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Destiny's Child Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  26. ^ "Destiny's Child Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard.
  27. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #558". auspOp. January 4, 2020. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  28. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Destiny's Child – 8 Days of Christmas". Radioscope. Retrieved 2024-12-17. Type 8 Days of Christmas in the "Search:" field.
  29. ^ "British single certifications – Destiny's Child – 8 Days of Christmas". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  30. ^ Corrine, Amber (November 1, 2023). "Coco Jones Covers Destiny's Child's "8 Days Of Christmas" Ahead Of The Holidays". Vibe. Retrieved December 25, 2024.