Christmas Time (Bryan Adams song): Difference between revisions

"Christmas Time"
"Christmas Time"
Single by Bryan Adams
B-side	"Reggae Christmas"
Released	Late 1985
Recorded	1984
Genre	Pop, Rock, Festive hits
Length	4.10
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Producer(s)	Bob Clearmountain, Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Bryan Adams singles chronology

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"Christmas Time" is a song by Canadian rock singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. It was written by Adams and Jim Vallance^[1] and became Adams' most popular Christmas song. It was originally released on clear, green vinyl with a picture sleeve. It was written and recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. No music video was shot for the song when it was originally released, but on December 10, 2019, Adams released a video for the song on YouTube.^[2] Over thirty years after it was first recorded, the song still receives significant radio airplay each year during the Christmas season. It features prominently in the 2022 action comedy film Violent Night.

The B-side is "Reggae Christmas", written by Jim Vallance in 1978 after a chance meeting with Ringo Starr. Although Starr never recorded it, Adams went on to do his version in 1984, adding a new bridge section. It was first released as a fanclub-only single on colored vinyl in December 1984, with a Christmas message by Adams and his band on the B-side (entitled "Plum Pudding"). Subsequently, "Reggae Christmas" ended up as the B-side to all pressings of "Christmas Time", from 1985 onwards. There was a live video made by MTV for its "Reggae Christmas", featuring a guest appearance by Pee-wee Herman.

Track list

A-side

"Christmas Time"

B-side

"Reggae Christmas"

Albums

Despite being listed as a bonus track to the 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife on the Bryan Adams website,^[3] there is no official version of the album with "Christmas Time" on it. The song, along with its B-side "Reggae Christmas", appears on Bryan Adams' 2019 EP Christmas.

The song is also available on these compilation albums:

The Christmas Hit Collection (Arcade, 1989)
The Best of Rock Christmas (Polystar, 1995)
A Musical Christmas from The Vatican DVD (2002)
The Very Best of Rock Christmas (Polystar, 2005)
A Canadian Christmas (2005)
Christmas #1 Hits (2006)
Now Christmas 3 (Warner Music Canada, 2008)
On Christmas Night (2016)

Personnel

Bryan Adams – acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
Jim Vallance – bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals
Keith Scott – lead guitar
Mickey Curry – drums

Chart positions

Chart (1985–1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	64
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	39
Germany (GfK)^[5]	67
Ireland (IRMA)	26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[6]	33
Norway (VG-lista)^[7]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[8]	19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[9]	18
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	55
US Billboard Top Tracks^[10]^{[citation needed]}	31
Chart (2009)	Peak position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[8]	50
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[9]	91
Chart (2016–2023)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[11]	17
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[12]	43
Germany (GfK)^[13]	14
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[14]	18
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)^[15]	94
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)^[16]	31

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[17]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[18]	Gold	45,000^‡
Germany (BVMI)^[19]	Gold	250,000^‡
Poland (ZPAV)^[20]	Gold	50,000^[20]
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Christmas Time page on Bryan Adams' web site".
^ Bryan Adams - Christmas Time (Official Video), archived from the original on 2021-12-20, retrieved 2019-12-12
^ "Cuts Like A Knife page on Bryan Adams' web site".
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
^ "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time / Reggae Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". VG-lista.
^ ^a ^b "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". Singles Top 100.
^ ^a ^b "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Artist Chart History (singles) - Bryan Adams". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
^ "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ "Bryan Adams Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
^ "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 22.12.2023–28.12.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 50. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
^ "Canadian single certifications – Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". Music Canada.
^ "Danish single certifications – Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bryan Adams; 'Christmas Time')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music and Media. 27 December 1986. p. 34. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

[1] "Christmas Time page on Bryan Adams' web site".

[2] Bryan Adams - Christmas Time (Official Video), archived from the original on 2021-12-20, retrieved 2019-12-12

[3] "Cuts Like A Knife page on Bryan Adams' web site".

[kent-4] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Germany_Bryan_Adams-5] "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 11, 2018.

[sc_Dutch100_Bryan_Adams-6] "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time / Reggae Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_Norway_Bryan_Adams-7] "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". VG-lista.

[sc_Sweden_Bryan_Adams-8] "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Swiss_Bryan_Adams-9] "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". Swiss Singles Chart.

[US1-10] "Artist Chart History (singles) - Bryan Adams". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2008-10-19.

[sc_Austria_Bryan_Adams-11] "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

[12] "Bryan Adams Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2022.

[gerpeak-13] "Bryan Adams – Christmas Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 30, 2020.

[sc_Poland_-14] "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved December 28, 2020.

[15] "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 22.12.2023–28.12.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 4, 2024.

[sc_Slovakia2_-16] "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 50. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved December 19, 2022.

[CanadaBryan_AdamsChristmas_TimesingleCertRef-17] "Canadian single certifications – Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". Music Canada.

[DenmarkBryan_AdamsChristmas_TimesingleCertRef-18] "Danish single certifications – Bryan Adams – Christmas Time". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 23, 2020.

[GermanyBryan_AdamsChristmas_TimesingleCertRef-19] "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bryan Adams; 'Christmas Time')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 20, 2023.

[PolandCert-20] "Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music and Media. 27 December 1986. p. 34. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

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@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | B-side     = Reggae Christmas
 | released   = Late 1985
+| recorded   = 1984
-| format     = [[Single (Music)|7" single]]
-| recorded   = 1985
 | studio     =
 | venue      =
-| genre      = [[Rock music|Rock]]
+| genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Rock music|Rock]], Festive hits
 | length     = 4.10
 | label      = [[A&M Records|A&M]]
@@ Line 25: / Line 24: @@
 "'''Christmas Time'''" is a song by Canadian rock singer-songwriter [[Bryan Adams]]. It was written by Adams and [[Jim Vallance]]<ref>{{ cite news
 |url=http://www.bryanadams.com/index.php?target=archive,lyrics&lyrics_release=20&lycris_song=243
-|title= Christmas Time page on Bryan Adams' web site}}</ref> and became Adams' most popular Christmas song. It was originally released on clear, green vinyl with a picture sleeve. It was written and recorded in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada. No music video was shot for the song. Over thirty years after it was first recorded, the song still receives significant radio airplay each year during the Christmas season.
+|title= Christmas Time page on Bryan Adams' web site}}</ref> and became Adams' most popular Christmas song. It was originally released on clear, green vinyl with a picture sleeve. It was written and recorded in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada. No music video was shot for the song when it was originally released, but on December 10, 2019, Adams released a video for the song on YouTube.<ref>{{Citation|title=Bryan Adams - Christmas Time (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV-eP8K6bhw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/aV-eP8K6bhw |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2019-12-12}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Over thirty years after it was first recorded, the song still receives significant radio airplay each year during the Christmas season. It features prominently in the 2022 action comedy film ''[[Violent Night]]''.
-The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] is "Reggae Christmas", written by [[Jim Vallance]] in 1978 after a chance meeting with [[Ringo Starr]]. Although Starr never recorded it, Adams went on to do his version in 1984, adding a new bridge section. It was first released as a fanclub-only single on colored vinyl in December 1984, with a Christmas message by Adams and his band on the B-side (entitled "Plum Pudding"). Subsequently, "Reggae Christmas" ended up as the B-side to all pressings of "Christmas Time", from 1985 onwards.  There was a live video made by [[MTV]] for its "Reggae Christmas", featuring a guest appearance by [[Pee Wee Herman]].
+The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] is "Reggae Christmas", written by [[Jim Vallance]] in 1978 after a chance meeting with [[Ringo Starr]]. Although Starr never recorded it, Adams went on to do his version in 1984, adding a new bridge section. It was first released as a fanclub-only single on colored vinyl in December 1984, with a Christmas message by Adams and his band on the B-side (entitled "Plum Pudding"). Subsequently, "Reggae Christmas" ended up as the B-side to all pressings of "Christmas Time", from 1985 onwards.  There was a live video made by [[MTV]] for its "Reggae Christmas", featuring a guest appearance by [[Pee-wee Herman]].
 ==Track list==
@@ Line 39: / Line 38: @@
 Despite being listed as a bonus track to the 1983 album ''[[Cuts Like a Knife]]'' on the Bryan Adams website,<ref>{{ cite news
 |url=http://www.bryanadams.com/index.php?target=archive,official_releases&view_releases=list&show_release=20#release_20
-|title=Cuts Like A Knife page on Bryan Adams' web site}}</ref> there is no official version of the album with "Christmas Time" on it. The song has in fact been absent from any official Bryan Adams release thus far, alike its B-side "Reggae Christmas".
+|title=Cuts Like A Knife page on Bryan Adams' web site}}</ref> there is no official version of the album with "Christmas Time" on it.
+The song, along with its B-side "Reggae Christmas", appears on Bryan Adams' 2019 EP ''Christmas''.
-The song is, however, available on these compilation albums:
+The song is also available on these compilation albums:
 *''The Christmas Hit Collection'' (Arcade, 1989)
 *''The Best of Rock Christmas'' (Polystar, 1995)
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 *''Christmas #1 Hits'' (2006)
 *''Now Christmas 3'' (Warner Music Canada, 2008)
+*''On Christmas Night'' (2016)
 ==Personnel==
-*[[Bryan Adams]]: [[acoustic guitar]], [[Lead vocalist|vocal]], [[Backing vocalist|Backing vocal]]
+*[[Bryan Adams]] &ndash; acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
-*[[Jim Vallance]]: [[Bass guitar|Bass]], [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], [[Percussion instrument|Percussion]], backing vocal
+*[[Jim Vallance]] &ndash; bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals
-*[[Keith Scott (musician)|Keith Scott]]: [[Lead guitar]]
+*[[Keith Scott (musician)|Keith Scott]] &ndash; lead guitar
-*[[Mickey Curry]]: [[Drum kit|Drums]]
+*[[Mickey Curry]] &ndash; drums
 ==Chart positions==
 {|class="wikitable sortable"
-!align="left"|Chart (1985–86)
+!align="left"|Chart (1985–1986)
 !align="center"|Peak<br />position
 |-
-|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=kent>{{cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
+|align="left"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=kent>{{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|title-link=Kent Music Report}}</ref>
 |align="center"|64
 |-
@@ Line 67: / Line 68: @@
 |align="center"|39
 |-
-{{singlechart|Germany2|67|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time|id=1371|accessdate=October 11, 2018}}
+{{single chart|Germany|67|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time|songid=1371|accessdate=October 11, 2018}}
 |-
 |align="left"|Ireland ([[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]])
 |align="center"|26
 |-
-{{singlechart|Dutch100|33|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time / Reggae Christmas}}
+{{single chart|Dutch100|33|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time / Reggae Christmas}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Norway|2|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
+{{single chart|Norway|2|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Sweden|19|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
+{{single chart|Sweden|19|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Swiss|18|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
+{{single chart|Swiss|18|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
 |-
 |align="left"|UK Singles ([[The Official Charts Company]])
@@ Line 84: / Line 85: @@
 |-
 |align="left"|US [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|''Billboard'' Top Tracks]]<ref name="US1">{{cite web
-| url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3502|pure_url=yes}}
+| url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3502
 | title=Artist Chart History (singles) - Bryan Adams
 | publisher=Allmusic
-| accessdate=2008-10-19 }} {{dead link|date=November 2017}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
+| accessdate=2008-10-19
+| archive-date=2011-02-17
+| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217214823/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3502
+| url-status=dead
+}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
 |align="center"|31
 |-
@@ Line 93: / Line 98: @@
 !align="center"|Peak<br />position
 |-
-{{singlechart|Sweden|50|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
+{{single chart|Sweden|50|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Swiss|91|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
+{{single chart|Swiss|91|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time}}
 |-
-!align="left"|Chart (2016–18)
+!align="left"|Chart (2016–2023)
 !align="center"|Peak<br />position
 |-
-{{single chart|Austria|39|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time|accessdate=January 5, 2018}}
+{{single chart|Austria|17|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time|accessdate=January 2, 2020}}
 |-
+|Canada Digital Song Sales (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bryan-adams/chart-history/cns/|title=Bryan Adams Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref>
-{{single chart|Germany2|20|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time|id=1371|accessdate=December 28, 2018|refname=gerpeak}}
+|align="center"|43
 |-
-{{single chart|Poland|29|chartid=2928|year=2018|accessdate=December 31, 2018}}
+{{single chart|Germany|14|songid=1371|artist=Bryan Adams|song=Christmas Time|accessdate=December 30, 2020|refname=gerpeak}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Poland|18|chartid=3617|year=2020|accessdate=December 28, 2020}}
+|-
+| scope="row"| Poland ([[Polish music charts|Polish Streaming Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/single-w-streamie|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie|publisher=[[OLiS]]|language=pl|access-date=January 4, 2024|type=Select week 22.12.2023–28.12.2023.}}</ref>
+|align="center"|94
+|-
+{{single chart|Slovakia2|31|year=2022|week=50|access-date=December 19, 2022}}
 |}
+==Certifications==
+{{Certification Table Top}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Christmas Time|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1985|certyear=1986}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Christmas Time|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=2020|id=9839|accessdate=December 23, 2020}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Christmas Time|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=2023|accessdate=June 20, 2023}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Christmas Time|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1985|certyear=1996|certref=<ref name="PolandCert">{{cite web|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-12-27.pdf|title=Gold & Platinum Awards 1986|publisher=[[Music and Media]]|page=34|date=27 December 1986|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref>|salesamount=50,000|salesref=<ref name="PolandCert"/>}}
+{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 111: / Line 132: @@
 {{Bryan Adams singles}}
+{{authority control}}
 [[Category:Bryan Adams songs]]
@@ Line 116: / Line 139: @@
 [[Category:A&M Records singles]]
 [[Category:Christmas songs]]
-[[Category:Songs against racism and xenophobia]]
+[[Category:Songs about racism and xenophobia]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Bryan Adams]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Jim Vallance]]

v t e Bryan Adams
Discography Videography Awards and nominations Backing band
Studio albums	Bryan Adams You Want It You Got It Cuts Like a Knife Reckless Into the Fire Waking Up the Neighbours 18 til I Die On a Day Like Today Room Service 11 Tracks of My Years Get Up Shine a Light Pretty Woman – The Musical So Happy It Hurts Classic / Classic Pt. II
Live albums	Live! Live! Live! Unplugged Live at the Budokan Bare Bones Live at Sydney Opera House Wembley 1996 Live
Soundtrack albums	Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Colour Me Kubrick
Compilation albums	So Far So Good The Best of Me Anthology Ultimate
Singles	"Let Me Take You Dancing" "Straight from the Heart" "Cuts Like a Knife" "This Time" "I'm Ready" "Run to You" "Somebody" "Heaven" "Summer of '69" "One Night Love Affair" "It's Only Love" "Diana" "Christmas Time" "Heat of the Night" "Hearts on Fire" "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" "Can't Stop This Thing We Started" "There Will Never Be Another Tonight" "Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven" "Do I Have to Say the Words?" "Please Forgive Me" "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" "Let's Make a Night to Remember" "Star" "18 til I Die" "I'll Always Be Right There" "Back to You" "I'm Ready" "On a Day Like Today" "When You're Gone" "Cloud Number Nine" "The Best of Me" "Inside Out" "Here I Am" "Open Road" "Flying" "Room Service" "This Side of Paradise" "I Thought I'd Seen Everything" "Tonight We Have the Stars" "You've Been a Friend to Me" "One World, One Flame" "Joe and Mary" "So Happy It Hurts" "On the Road" "Kick Ass" "Never Gonna Rain"
Collaborations	"All for Love" "Rock Steady" "I Finally Found Someone" "Don't Give Up" "Bang the Drum" "Feels Like Home"
Videography	Unplugged Live at Slane Castle Live at the Budokan Live in Lisbon Live at Sydney Opera House Wembley 1996 Live
Tours	Ultimate Tour
Other topics	Pretty Woman: The Musical Queen Elizabeth II domestic rate stamp (Canada) "Young Lust"
Category