Christmas Saves the Year
"Christmas Saves the Year" is a Christmas single written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Released on December 8, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic through Fueled by Ramen, "Christmas Saves the Year" expresses the idea that even in a turbulent year, optimism can still be found in Christmas.[2]
"Christmas Saves the Year" | ||||
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Single by Twenty One Pilots | ||||
Released | December 8, 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2020 | |||
Genre | Christmas[1] | |||
Length | 3:32 | |||
Label | Fueled by Ramen | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tyler Joseph | |||
Producer(s) |
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Twenty One Pilots singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Christmas Saves the Year" on YouTube |
Background
"Christmas Saves the Year" was written and recorded in lead singer Tyler Joseph's home studio.[3] Twenty One Pilots first debuted the track at the end of a Twitch stream in which lead singer Tyler Joseph played in the Chipotle Challenger Fortnite series tournament to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation,[4][2][5] after having teased "a gift" for the viewers of the stream.[6]
Originally reluctant to write a Christmas song, Joseph was inspired as he was "experiencing Christmas through a little girl's perspective". The sound of the track was inspired by a musical instrument called Mellotron.[7]
Composition
Joseph wrote the song from the perspective of his "friends who live in some bigger cities that have these small apartments", and are "trying to weigh the options of whether or not they should see their family this year."[7]
Music video
Immediately following the end of the stream, the song and visualizer video were made available on music-streaming services, and a premiere for the video was put on YouTube. The video was directed and animated by Johnny Chew.[8][9]
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[10] | 34 |
References
- Campbell, Rachel (December 8, 2020). "Hear Twenty One Pilots' Surprise Holiday Song "Christmas Saves the Year"". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Campbell, Rachel (December 9, 2020). "Hear twenty one pilots' surprise holiday song "Christmas Saves The Year"". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- @twentyonepilots (December 9, 2020). "an original twenty one pilots christmas song written and recorded in tyler's home studio. from us to you, merry christmas" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Twenty One Pilots release holiday single, 'Christmas Saves The Year' | NME". NME | Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- "Chipotle Challenger Series 2020: Everything You Need to Know". Dexerto. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Dowd, Rachael (December 8, 2020). "See why fans think new music from twenty one pilots is arriving soon". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- "Tyler Joseph Interview with Zane Lowe - CSTY (12.9.20) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- Brayden, Kate. "Twenty One Pilots share festive new single 'Christmas Saves The Year'". Hotpress. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- News, Music. "Twenty One Pilots Release Holiday Single". Vermilion County First. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2020.