This Christmas (Donny Hathaway song)

History

"This Christmas" was recorded at Audio Finishers Studio on Ontario Street in Chicago in the fall of 1970. Ric Powell (see credits below) said that Hathaway was "very upbeat during the session" and that he "knew what he wanted to do musically" regarding the representation of African Americans in Christmas music. On writing the song with Hathaway (who died in 1979), Nadine McKinnor 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."

"This Christmas" was released as a single in 1970. It initially saw little success, as it was listed just once on any of Billboard magazine's weekly published music charts in the 1970s, specifically Billboard special Christmas Singles chart (on the week ending December 23, 1972, at position No. 11). But in the last 30 years, the song has made it onto a number of Billboard weekly music charts. In addition to making its first appearance on the main Billboard Hot 100 songs chart in late December 2020 (peaking at No. 34 three years later), Hathaway's "This Christmas" has also appeared on these other Billboard 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).

In 1991, Atco Records released a revised edition of their 1968 compilation album Soul Christmas that included "This Christmas".

Credits

• Vocals, keyboard, bass: Donny Hathaway
• Writing: Hathaway (as "Donny Pitts"), Nadine McKinnor
• Electric guitar: Phil Upchurch
• Rhythm guitar: Chris Christmas
• Drums: Morris Jennings
• Drums, bass drum, congas, sleigh bells: Ric Powell
• Baritone saxophone: Willie Henderson
• Trombones: Louis Satterfield

Charts

Certifications

Jess Glynne version

• Nadine Theresa McKinnor

English singer and songwriter Jess Glynne released a cover version of the song as a single on 12 November 2020. The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Daniel Welsh of HuffPost 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. It's Glynne's last single to be released under Atlantic Records.

Background

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 that Amazon 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.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Other versions

The song has been covered by multiple artists including Patti LaBelle and Diana Ross. After the songs inclusion on Atco Records' 1991 reissue of Soul Christmas, the song gained popularity for its numerous covers by other artists, particularly well-known pop, smooth jazz and R&B artists.

LaBelle performed the song at the lighting of the American National Christmas Tree in 1996. During the performance, her backing singers failed to appear with a frustrated LaBelle noting so onstage.

Christina Aguilera recorded a cover of the song for her third studio album My Kind of Christmas (2000). The song was certified gold by IFPI Danmark for selling over 45,000 units.

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". Elliott Yamin released his version as his debut single in December 2006, which reached No. 21 on Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

A cover of the song by Chris Brown, recorded for the 2007 film of the same name, peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Lady Antebellum covered the song for the 2012 Christmas album On This Winter's Night. In December 2012, The Philadelphia Tribune music critic Nekesa Mumbi Moody praised Lady Antebellum's recording and the rest of the album. However, Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the Financial Times panned the album and called the trio's cover recording a "slickly insincere 1980s soul."

CeeLo Green covered the song for Cee Lo's Magic Moment (2012). Also in December 2012, Alan Sculley of Asbury Park Press praised CeeLo Green's recording as "a good Stevie Wonder". One of The 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". However, Melissa Ruggieri of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution criticised CeeLo's version as skippable and "surprisingly dull". Covers by Seal and by American band Train each went to No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In December 2016, Mark Daniell of the Ottawa Sun praised versions by the following artists as "good": Lady Antebellum, Chris Brown, Macy Gray, and CeeLo Green.

Sabrina Carpenter performed a cover of this song with Tyla for her 2024 Netflix Christmas special, A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter. The Everygirl critic praised this rendition as one of "perfectly matched" duets that "stole the show." 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".

References

References

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5. "ASCAP Unwraps the Top 30 Holiday Songs of the Century". [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
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7. (December 24, 2007). "Writer Of "This Christmas" Song Describes Its Timeless Appeal".
8. (1994). "Stars of Soul and Rhythm & Blues". [[Billboard (magazine).
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17. Welsh, Daniel. (17 December 2020). "New Christmas Songs 2020: Our Verdict". [[HuffPost UK]].
18. (19 November 2019). "Jess Glynne enters Christmas Number 1 race with festive cover".
19. Holmes, Dave. (December 7, 2017). "Patti LaBelle's Disastrous Tree Lighting Performance Is the Only Good Christmas Tradition".
20. "Here's a Reminder That Christina Aguilera Has a Christmas Album (and It's Amazing)".
21. "This Christmas (Sped + Slowed) – Christina Aguilera". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
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23. Willman, Chris. (November 30, 2001). "Music reviews on ''MTV TRL Christmas''; ''8 Days of Christmas''; Barbra Streisand's ''Christmas Memories''; ''NOW That's What I Call Christmas!''; Toni Braxton's ''Snowflakes''; They Might Be Giants' ''Holidayland''; ''A Very Special Christmas 5''; ''Swingin' Christmas''; and Mannheim Steamroller's ''Christmas Extraordinare''".
24. "Elliott Yamin Chart History: Adult Contemporary".
25. "Chris Brown – Chart History".
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27. (December 21, 2012). "Reviews: Holiday albums from CeeLo and others". Philadelphia Tribune.
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30. (December 13, 2012). "The 12 albums of Christmas". [[The StarPhoenix]].
31. Ruggieri, Melissa. (December 15, 2012). "MUSIC: Stars brighten season with CDs". The Atlanta Journal–Constitution.
32. "Seal – Chart History".
33. (December 17, 2016). "Adult Contemporary".
34. Daniell, Mark. (December 23, 2016). "For a comfy Christmas put these on your playlist and sit back". The Ottawa Sun.
35. Gomez, Desi. (December 6, 2024). "'A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter': All The Songs You'll Hear".
36. Ginsberg, Emma. (2024-12-09). "Review: Is Sabrina Carpenter's ''A Nonsense Christmas'' Worth the Watch?".
37. Novack, Sarah. (2024-12-09). "All 10 Song Performances In A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter, Ranked".