Christmas Tree (Lady Gaga song): Difference between revisions
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| Genre = [[Christmas music|Christmas]], [[electropop]] |
| Genre = [[Christmas music|Christmas]], [[electropop]] |
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| Length = 2:26 |
| Length = 2:26 |
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| Writer = |
| Writer = [[Stefani Germanotta]], [[Rob Fusari]], [[Space Cowboy (musician)|Nicolas Dresti]] |
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| Label = Streamline, [[Interscope Records|Interscope]], [[Kon Live Distribution|Kon Live]], [[Cherrytree Records|Cherrytree]] |
| Label = Streamline, [[Interscope Records|Interscope]], [[Kon Live Distribution|Kon Live]], [[Cherrytree Records|Cherrytree]] |
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| Producer = [[Martin Kierszenbaum]], Space Cowboy |
| Producer = [[Martin Kierszenbaum]], Space Cowboy |
Revision as of 05:27, 3 January 2012
"Christmas Tree" | |
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Song |
"Christmas Tree" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It was released on December 16, 2008 for digital download. It was written by Gaga and Rob Fusari and produced by Martin Kierszenbaum and Space Cowboy. It also features guest vocals from Space Cowboy. Musically, "Christmas Tree" is a Christmas song that uses influences of dance-pop and electropop. It samples the classic Christmas song "Deck the Halls", as well as briefly using the lyrics "Rum pum pum pum" from the Christmas song "The Little Drummer Boy" in its intro. Lyrically, the song uses sexual innuendos and metaphors.
The song received mixed reviews from music critics, with some commending its creativity and individuality from other Christmas songs and others criticizing its sexual innuendos and deeming it "not for the family". Due to strong digital sells, it reached number 79 on the Canadian Hot 100 in January 2009. It also reached number 18 on the Japanese RIAJ Digital Track Chart and number 23 on the Billboard Holiday/Seasonal Digital Songs chart in late 2010.
In December 2009, it was available for free download on Amazon as apart of their "25 Days of Free" promotion. It has been included in several Christmas compilation albums, including Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4.
Background
"Christmas Tree" is a Christmas music-themed song,[1] featuring vocals from Lady Gaga and Space Cowboy.[1][2] It was written by Gaga and Rob Fusari,[3] and was produced by Martin Kierszenbaum and Space Cowboy.[4] Space Cowboy and Gaga were introduced in Los Angeles by Martin Kierszenbaum, the head of Gaga's label, Cherrytree Records, an imprint of Interscope Records.[5][6] Kierszenbaum recommended a collaboration between them after hearing Space Cowboy's single "My Egyptian Lover",[2][5] released in January 2007 and featuring vocalist Nadia Oh.[7] Kierszenbaum contacted Space Cowboy during Christmas 2007[2] and Space Cowboy first spoke to Gaga by phone on New Year's Eve, "[getting] along so well right away"[8] talking about sequins, disco balls, Prince, David Bowie and body paint.[1][8] The pair worked together in Los Angeles to create "Christmas Tree" and "Starstruck", a song from some editions of Lady Gaga's then-current album The Fame.[2][8] Space Cowboy commented of working with Lady Gaga:
We figured out that we shared pretty much the same experiences; we’d been doing similar things on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Then I got invited to the studio to write some songs with Lady Gaga; we did “Starstruck”, we did a song called “Christmas Tree” She’s super-creative, she’s amazing — the best writer I’d ever seen, and best performer.
Composition
"Christmas Tree" is a version of the traditional Christmas song "Deck the Halls", with the same melody but with lyrics changed to be sexually suggestive,[9] with many sexual innuendos and metaphors.[10][11] Lyrically, the song is "lewdly celebratory" with lines such as "Light me up put me on top/ Let's fa-la-la-la-la-, la-la, la, la".[9] In an analysis by Stelios Phili of the Washington Square News, Phili jokes that the meaning of the song is closer to the original version of "Deck the Halls", a Welsh folk song called "Nos Galan" (Welsh for "New Year's Eve") traditionally sung at New Year's Eve,[12][13] than the English Christmas version.[9] He cites the original first line, "Cold is the man who can't love", and says that Gaga "seeks not to warn against becoming a cold, loveless man, but to prevent that fate by way of some hot lovin'".[9]
The song contains dance-pop and electropop music[14][15] with synthesizers and a "pounding, grind-worthy beat".[9][16] Space Cowboy described the song as "futuristic".[1] Referenced in the song lyrics is producer Kierszenbaum's nickname of "Cherry Cherry Boom Boom".[4][5][6] Describing the song in episode 25 of her YouTube broadcast series Gaga-vision, Gaga said: ""Christmas Tree" is about the spirit of celebrating the most joyous holiday and I'll tell you why: because Christmas is the holiday that most makes boys and girls feel randy."[17][18]
Release
"Christmas Tree" was released as a digital download-only single[14][19] on December 16, 2008 on Interscope Records[14][20] while Gaga's first single "Just Dance", was charting.[19] It was made available as an MP3 from Amazon.com and iTunes.[20] The song was not included in Gaga's album The Fame. One year later, in December 2009, it was one of the songs free to download from Amazon.com as part of its "25 Days of Free" offer, whereby for the first twenty-five days in December a Christmas-themed song is made free to download from the website.[21] "Christmas Tree" was made available on December 6.[22] The song was included on several compilation albums: Canadian compilation album NOW! Christmas 4,[10] Taiwanese compilation album Christmas 101[23] and the seasonal compilation album It's Christmas Time,[24][25] all released for Christmas 2009. It was also included in the compilation albums Merry Xmas![26] and Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4, part of the Now That's What I Call Music series of compilation albums,[27] both released for Christmas 2010. "Christmas Tree" was also included on The Singles, a box set of CD singles released exclusively in Japan in December 2010. It is on the ninth and last CD, which also includes the three live tracks from The Cherrytree Sessions.[28] It was also released on her demo album, Disco Heaven.
Critical reception
"Christmas Tree" received mixed reviews from critics. Alex Rawls of OffBeat gave a positive review as part of the "25 Days of Free" offer from Amazon.com. Joking that the artists of the more religious songs must be "praying" for Lady Gaga, Rawls described the song as "not so po-faced" as the five songs released before it was made available on December 6, 2009.[22] Estrella Adeyeri, the music editor of Nouse, gave the song a positive review, complimenting its "synth beats and numerous yuletide innuendos".[16] Ryan Brockington of the New York Post praised the song, describing it as a "favorite holiday jam" and a "subliminal lady parts pine-tree jingle".[11] A reviewer from gay.com described the song as "merry" and a "naughty choice", praising its "dark decadence".[29] Gino dela Paz of The Philippine Star described the song as going from "zero to crazy"[30] and Diana Nabiruma of The Weekly Observer called the song "plain naughty and wacky".[31] Jason Lewis for Fast Forward Weekly called the song "charmingly ludicrous" and called it among "the best “new” holiday music out there".[32] Chad Bullock of MTV included "Christmas Tree" in a list of "excellent" new Christmas music, describing it as "non-traditional and vaguely sexual".[33]
Molly Gamble of Marquette Tribune gave "Christmas Tree" a negative review, criticising the song's "poorly veiled metaphor" for sex and calling the song "shameless". She commented that "Christmas Tree" is not a song one can listen to in the presence of family and that it "makes Christmas feel dirty".[34] Katie Hasty and Melinda Newman of HitFix gave the song a very negative review, calling it "stupendously stupid and awful" and the "most terrible Christmas song ever in the whole wide world ever", criticising its obvious sexual metaphors.[35] Cassaundra Baber of Observer-Dispatch listed the song on list of "Horrible holiday hits", criticising it for being "sexualized" and calling it "not for the kids".[36]
The song was described as "porn-tastic" in a review for Now! Christmas 4 by Eye Weekly reviewer Chris Bilton, quoting the lyric "My Christmas tree is delicious". Bilton also called it one of few tracks on the album that make it a "worthy stocking stuffer".[10] Also in a review for Now! Christmas 4, Charlottetown Guardian reviewer Doug Gallant called "Christmas Tree" a "dreadful offering".[37] Beverley Lunney, a reviewer for Winnipeg Free Press, gave the song a negative review, commenting that listeners would be "offended" by the song's "truly unfestive metaphors" and called it one of a "sea of unbearable original tunes" on Now! Christmas 4.[38] Darryl Sterdan of the Ottawa Sun called the song "the only reason to buy" Now! Christmas 4 and recommended downloading it.[39] In a review of Now! Christmas 4, John Lucas of The Georgia Straight described the song as a "filthy electro banger" and "so blatantly about [sex] that you have to wonder how in the hell it got past the usually vigilant Now! gatekeepers", calling it the "single exception" to an otherwise bland album.[15] In a review for It's Christmas Time, Chester Chronicle reviewer Polly Weeks called the song something that "will keep teenagers happy".[25] In a review for Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4, J Matthew Cobb of HiFi Magazine called "Christmas Tree" part of a "good list" of new material and described it as "naughty, but nice",[40] and in a review for Merry Xmas!, Adrian I of Music-News.com praised the song.[41]
Chart performance
Due to high digital downloads, "Christmas Tree" entered the Canadian Hot 100 chart at number seventy-nine in the first week of January 2009, remaining on the chart for one week.[42] In November 2010, "Christmas Tree" charted on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart of Japan, entering at position eighteen, its peak.[43] The song then dropped to positions 51, 74, 81 and 100 before leaving the chart.[44][45][46][47] Also in November 2010, "Christmas Tree" charted on the Billboard Holiday/Seasonal Digital Songs chart in the US, peaking at position 23.[48] In December 2010, it was also ranked at number 23 on the "Hot 100 Holiday Christmas Songs" by Billboard,[48] based on sales and airplay over the winter period as calculated by Nielsen SoundScan and Nielson BDS.[49]
Track listing
- Digital download[50]
- "Christmas Tree" (featuring Space Cowboy) – 2:22
Charts
Chart (2008–10) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Hot 100[42] | 79 |
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[43] | 18 |
US Billboard Holiday/Seasonal Digital Songs[48] | 23 |
References
- ^ a b c d Space Cowboy (April 3, 2009). "Space Cowboy Biography". Cherrytree Records. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Vazquez, Michael (2009-12-10). "A Space Cowboy Odyssey". URB. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Lady Gaga - "Christmas Tree" BMI Repertoire". Broadcast Music Incorporated. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
- ^ a b "Discography of Martin Kierszenbaum". Cherry Cherry Boom Boom. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
- ^ a b c Rudolph, Raj (2009-11-14). "EQ Interview With Space Cowboy - "I don't think its cool to cheat or anything like that..."". Elecroqueer. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ a b "Interview with Space Cowboy". The Music Box. 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
- ^ McAlpine, Fraser (2007-01-16). "Space Cowboy ft. Nadia Oh - 'My Egyptian Lover'". BBC Radio 1. BBC. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
- ^ a b c Singer, Jeremy (October 28, 2009). "DJ Space Cowboy, Ready To Raise North American Party Levels". andPOP. andPOP Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Phili, Stelios (2010-04-22). "Reading into 'Christmas Tree'". Washington Square News. New York University. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
- ^ a b c Bilton, Chris (2009-12-02). "The good, the bad and the secret military tribunal-worthy of holiday-themed music featuring Bob". Eye Weekly. Torstar. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ a b Brockington, Ryan (2009-12-17). "Fave five: Holiday hits". New York Post. News Corporation. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
- ^ Kimberling, Clark (2004). Solos for Soprano Recorder Or Flute Collection 2: Christmas Carols. Mel Bay Publications. p. 32. ISBN 9780786661978.
- ^ Garden, John (2003). The Christmas Carol Dance Book. Earthly Delights. ISBN 9780975004005.
- ^ a b c "allmusic ((( Christmas Tree > Overview )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
- ^ a b Lucas, John (2009-12-18). "Now! Christmas 4 is the Charlie Browniest of all holiday albums". The Georgia Straight. Vancouver Free Press. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ a b Adeyeri, Estrella (2009-12-08). "Nouse Playlist". Nouse. University of York Students' Union. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
- ^ Presenter: Lady Gaga (2008-12-09). "Lady Gaga - Transmission Gaga-vision - Episode 25". Transmission Gaga-vision. Episode 25. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "Lady Gaga 'Christmas Tree' Transmission Gaga-vision Video". Popdirt. 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ a b Lamb, Bill (2008-12-09). "Lady Gaga - "Christmas Tree"". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ a b "Lady Gaga : Single : Christmas Tree". Lady Gaga's official website. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (2009-12-02). "Amazon gives away Gaga, Tori Amos MP3s in '25 Days of Free' promotion". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ a b Rawls, Alex (2009-12-11). "Get What You Pay For?". OffBeat Magazine. OffBeat, Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
- ^ "Christmas 101". Last.fm. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
- ^ Reporter, BBC (2009-11-17). "Rolf and Quo plan Christmas song". BBC. BBC Online. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
- ^ a b Weeks, Polly (2009-12-21). "On the record: The best festive tunes". Chester Chronicle. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
- ^ O'Brien, Jon. "Merry Xmas! (Sony)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ Campbell, Al. "Now That's What I Call Christmas, Vol. 4". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "Lady Gaga: The Singles" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ "Lady Gaga and Space Cowboy's Gift to You: "Christmas Tree"". gay.com. Here Media. 2009-12-18. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ dela Paz, Gino (2009-12-19). "Have yourself a quirky little Christmas". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
- ^ Nabiruma, Diana (2009-12-23). "Who said Lady GaGa can't croon one for Christmas?". The Weekly Observer. James Tumusiime. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
- ^ Lewis, Jason (2009-12-24). "Making a playlist and checking it twice". Fast Forward Weekly. Great West Newspapers, LP. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
- ^ Bullock, Chad (2009-12-23). "Celebrate Christmas With Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber And Rihanna". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ^ Gamble, Molly (2009-12-10). "Don't touch that Christmas song". Marquette Tribune. Marquette University Student Media. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ Hasty, Katie; Newman, Melinda (2009-12-09). "Best and worst new Christmas songs: Leighton Meester, Spongebob, Lady GaGa". HitFix. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
- ^ Baber, Cassaundra (2009-12-24). "Horrible holiday hits". Observer-Dispatch. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
- ^ Gallant, Doug (2009-12-11). "The sounds of Christmas". Charlottetown Guardian. Transcontinental Media. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
- ^ Staff Writer (2009-12-17). "Fa-la-la-la-la". Winnipeg Free Press. FP Canadian Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
- ^ Sterdan, Darryl (2009-12-05). "Mr. Snow-it-all". Ottawa Sun. Sun Media. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
- ^ Cobb, J Matthew (2010-12-09). "Various Artists: NOW That's What I Call Christmas! 4". HiFi Magazine. HiFi. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ I, Adrian (2010-12-03). "Album Review: Various Artists - Merry Xmas! 4 x CD Set". Music-News.com. Publishing Group Network. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ a b "Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree". αcharts. Music Square. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
- ^ a b "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue November 16, 2010" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ^ "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue November 23, 2010" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
- ^ "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue November 30, 2010" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
- ^ "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue December 7, 2010" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
- ^ "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue December 14, 2010" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
- ^ a b c Vick, Megan; Letkemann, Jessica (2010-12-01). "100 Hot Holiday Songs: 40-21". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
- ^ Vick, Megan; Letkemann, Jessica (2010-12-01). "100 Hot Holiday Songs: 100-81". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
- ^ "Christmas Tree (feat. Space Cowboy) - Single Lady GaGa". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-11.