Wonderful Christmastime

Album

Single

Label

Columbia Records

Genre

Christmas

Composer(s)

Paul McCartney

Entered Chart

Dec 29, 2018

Peak Date

Jan 26, 2019

Released

16 November 1979

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

MPL/Capitol

B-Side

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae"

Original Artist

2018-283

This was recorded during the sessions for the McCartney II album, where Paul once again retreated to his farm and laid down all the tracks himself. This time he was experimenting with the new electropop movement, which explains the weird boinging sound throughout the song. This sound was created by an early synthesizer called a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, which was also used on Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" and the Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes." >> The Beatles never had an official Christmas release, although they distributed "Christmas Time Is Here Again" to their fan club in 1967. As solo artists, however, all 4 members released Christmas songs. This one and John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" have endured and continue to get airplay in the holiday season. De La Soul sampled this for their song "Simply Havin'" on their album AOI: Bionix. Although the members of Wings do not feature on the song, they do appear in the song's music video, which was filmed at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst, West Sussex. McCartney recalled to NME in 2012: "We went out to some pub somewhere, and so that was a laugh... we just run out of the pub occasionally, filmed a bit, and then went back into the pub. So that was quite a nice evening!" This continues to receive substantial airplay every year. "The song is what we in the industry call an evergreen, because it gets played all the time," explained entertainment attorney Bernie Resnick to Forbes. "[McCartney's] publishing royalty check every fourth quarter probably has a lot of zeros on the end." According to the Forbes website, another industry source estimates that McCartney earns over $400,000 royalties a year from the song. That sounds greatly inflated to us; songwriters with recurrent hits tell us their biggest song might pull in $10,000 a year, tops. Martin Sheen, John Spencer, and Stockard Channing of The West Wing covered this for the NBC Celebrity Christmas album in 2000. Also Eli Young Band recorded a version on the 2011 compilation The Country Christmas Collection. Their cover peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 2012. McCartney performed the song on the December 15, 2012 episode of Saturday Night Live.

The mood is right
The spirits up
We're here tonight
And that's enough

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime
Recorded	30 August 1979
Studio	Lower Gate Farm, Sussex
Genre	
Christmassynth-pop
Length	3:45
Label	
ParlophoneColumbia
Songwriter(s)	Paul McCartney
Producer(s)	Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney singles chronology
"Eat at Home"
(1971)	"Wonderful Christmastime"
(1979)	"Coming Up"
(1980)
 
Music video
"Wonderful Christmastime" on YouTube
"Wonderful Christmastime" is a Christmas song by English musician Paul McCartney. Recorded during the sessions for his solo album McCartney II (1980), it was released in November 1979 following Wings' final album Back to the Egg earlier that year. It was McCartney's first solo single in over eight years since "Eat at Home" in 1971. "Wonderful Christmastime" has charted within the top 10 in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom as well as the top 20 in Canada, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Despite being regarded as one of McCartney's weaker compositions by some music critics, it is a popular song during Christmas and has been covered throughout the years by numerous artists.

"Wonderful Christmastime" was added as a bonus track on the 1993 CD reissue of Back to the Egg[1] and on the 2011 "Special Edition" and "Deluxe Edition" reissue of McCartney II; a longer, unedited version was also included on the Deluxe Edition. The track was also mixed in 5.1 surround sound for inclusion on the 2007 DVD release The McCartney Years.


Contents
1	Background and recording
2	Reception and legacy
3	Personnel
4	Charts
4.1	Weekly charts
5	Certifications
6	Kylie Minogue version
6.1	Charts
6.2	Release history
7	Cover versions
8	References
9	External links
Background and recording
McCartney wrote the song in the key of B major, and recorded it entirely on his own during the sessions for his solo project McCartney II. Although the members of Wings are not on the recording, they do appear in the promotional music video,[2] which was filmed at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst, West Sussex.[3] It also includes footage filmed at the Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, where McCartney rehearsed his 1979 UK tour.[citation needed] Wings performed the song during their 1979 tour of the UK.[4]

Reception and legacy
Following its release as a stand-alone single in the United Kingdom, "Wonderful Christmastime" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending January 5, 1980.[5] In the United States, the single peaked at number 83 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart (week ending January 12, 1980) and at number 94 on the Record World Singles Chart (week ending December 29, 1979), but it did not initially make the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[6]

"Wonderful Christmastime" first appeared on a Billboard magazine music chart in December 1984, when it peaked at number 10 for two straight weeks on the magazine's special Christmas Singles chart.[7] Its next appearance on a Billboard music came on the week ending January 6, 1996, when the song both debuted and peaked at number 29 on the magazine's weekly Hot Adult Contemporary chart.[7] "Wonderful Christmastime" finally debuted on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 2018, at position number 47.[8] It peaked at number 28 on the week ending January 2, 2021, following its 2020 chart re-entry two weeks earlier.[9]

"Wonderful Christmastime" continues to receive substantial annual festive airplay, although some music critics consider it to be one of McCartney's mediocre compositions.[10][11][12] Beatles author Robert Rodriguez has written of "Wonderful Christmastime": "Love it or hate it, few songs within the McCartney oeuvre have provoked such strong reactions."[11]

Including royalties from cover versions, it was estimated in 2010 that McCartney makes $400,000 a year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings at over $15 million.[13]

Personnel
Paul McCartney – vocals, keyboards, synthesisers, guitars, bass, drums, percussion, jingle bells, production
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1979–2022)	Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14]	38
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15]	10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16]	28
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17]	18
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[18]	43
Denmark (Tracklisten)[19]	30
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[20]	67
Germany (Official German Charts)[21]	7
Global 200 (Billboard)[22]	18
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[23]	8
Ireland (IRMA)[24]	8
Italy (FIMI)[25]	68
Latvia (LAIPA)[26]	10
Lithuania (AGATA)[27]	29
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28]	10
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[29]	35
Portugal (AFP)[30]	34
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[31]	32
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32]	13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33]	19
UK Singles (OCC)[34]	6
US Billboard Hot 100[35]	28
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36]	29
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[37]	32
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[38]	15
US Cash Box Top 100[39]	83
US Rolling Stone Top 100[40]	21
Certifications
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[41]	Platinum	90,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[42]	Platinum	600,000double-dagger
double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Kylie Minogue version
"Wonderful Christmastime"
Single by Kylie Minogue and Mika
from the album Kylie Christmas: Snow Queen Edition
Released	9 December 2016
Recorded	2016
Genre	Christmas
Length	3:43
Label	Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Paul McCartney
Producer(s)	Steve Anderson
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"At Christmas"
(2016)	"Wonderful Christmastime"
(2016)	"Dancing"
(2018)
 
Mika singles chronology
"Hurts (Remix)"
(2016)	"Wonderland Christmastime"
(2016)	"It's My House"
(2017)
 
Audio video
"Wonderful Christmastime" on YouTube
Australian singer Kylie Minogue and British singer-songwriter Mika covered the song for Minogue's reissue Kylie Christmas: Snow Queen Edition (2016). The song was released as album's second single on 9 December 2016 by Parlophone.[43]

The song was performed on 6 December 2016 by Minogue and Mika on Italian programme Stasera Casa Mika.[44]

Charts
Chart (2016)	Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[45]	23
Release history
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Italy	9 December 2016	Contemporary hit radio	Warner Music Group	[43]
Cover versions
Diana Ross on the 1994 album A Very Special Season which reached no. 37 in the UK and was certified Gold.
2002: Hilary Duff on her debut album Santa Claus Lane.
2008: Demi Lovato on the compilation CD, All Wrapped Up.[46]
2011: Eli Young Band on the compilation The Country Christmas Collection, peaking at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 2012
2012: Paul McCartney with New York City Children's Chorus on Saturday Night Live.[47]
2013: Paul McCartney with the a cappella group Straight No Chaser on their EP Under the Influence: Holiday Edition[48]
2017: Mac Demarco recorded in his anual christmas song cover
2018: The Monkees recorded a version for their album Christmas Party
2020: Lady A performed the song on CMA Country Christmas.
2021: Pentatonix covered the song for their Christmas album Evergreen.
References
 Stephen Thomas Erlewhine, "Paul McCartney/Wings Back to the Egg (Bonus Tracks)", Allmusic (retrieved 30 December 2012)
 Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium, 44.1 Productions (Chesterfield, MO, 2000; ISBN 0-615-11724-4), p. 251.
 Sawday, Alastair (6 December 2007). "Top 10 cosy pubs". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
 Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium, 44.1 Productions (Chesterfield, MO, 2000; ISBN 0-615-11724-4), p. 254.
 "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
 Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 333. ISBN 978-0-89820-213-7.
 Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920-2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 48. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
 "John Lennon & Paul McCartney Holiday Classics Hit Hot 100 at Last, Among 20 Seasonal Songs on the Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
 "Paul McCartney Chart History". Billboard.
 Craig Outhier, "Paul McCartney's Worst Songs", Phoenix New Times, 25 March 2010 (retrieved 30 December 2012).
 Robert Rodriguez, Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970−1980, Backbeat Books (Milwaukee, WI, 2010; ISBN 978-1-4165-9093-4), p. 191.
 Alan Clayson, Paul McCartney, Sanctuary (London, 2003; ISBN 1-86074-486-9), pp 192–93.
 Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (23 December 2010). "Paul McCartney Continues to Have a Wonderful (Financial) Christmas Time". Forbes. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
 "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
 "Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
 "Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Paul McCartney Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
 "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202152,53 into search. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
 "Track Top-40 Uge 51, 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
 "Europe Official Top 100". 1 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
 "Paul McCartney Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 January 3.
 "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Mūzikas patēriņa tops gadu mijā" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
 "2021 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
 "Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
 "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
 "Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202153,53 into search. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
 "Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Paul McCartney Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
 "Paul McCartney Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Paul McCartney Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
 "Paul McCartney Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
 "USA Cashbox Charts Summaries". popmusichistory. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
 "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
 "Danish single certifications – Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
 "British single certifications – Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
 "Kylie Minogue - Wonderful Christmastime (with MIKA) (Radio Date: 09-12-2016)". 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
 "Mika, per Natale duetto con Kylie Minogue e poi a Stasera Casa Mika". tvzap.kataweb.it/. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
 "Kylie Minogue & Mika – Wonderful Christmastime" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
 "Wonderful Christmastime". YouTube.
 ‘SNL’ pays quiet tribute to those lost at Sandy Hook Elementary
 "Paul McCartney, Straight No Chaser Tackle 'Wonderful Christmas Time'". Rolling Stone. 16 October 2013.
External links
Sold on Song (BBC Radio 2)
vte
Paul McCartney singles discography
vte
Kylie Minogue songs
vte
Mika
Authority control Edit this at Wikidata	
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Categories: Mika (singer) songsPaul McCartney songsLady A songs1979 singles2016 singlesBritish Christmas songsSongs written by Paul McCartneySong recordings produced by Paul McCartneyParlophone singlesColumbia Records singlesMusic published by MPL Music Publishing1979 songsBritish synth-pop songs
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Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

The party's on
The feeling's here
That only comes
This time of year

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime
Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

The choir of children sing their song
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding ooh ooh
Do-do, do-do, do-do, do

We're simply having a wonderful Christmastime
Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

The word is out
About the town
So lift a glass
Oh and don't look down

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

The choir of children sing their song
They practiced all year long
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong (dong)
Ding dong, ding dong (dong)
Ding dong, dong dong

The party's on
The spirits up
We're here tonight
And that's enough (ohh)

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime
We're simply having a wonderful Christmastime

The mood is right
The spirits up
We're here tonight
Oh and that's enough (yeah)

We're simply having a wonderful Christmastime
Simply having a wonderful Christmastime
Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Wonderful Christmastime (Christmas)