Format Promo single
download Length 4:37 | Genre Christmas Label Columbia
Epic | |
Released 4 December 2000 (2000-12-04) Recorded Various
Cove City Sound Studios
The Dream Factory
Criteria Recording Studios | ||
"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" is a song by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion. It was written by Peter Zizzo, Ric Wake, and Dion for her first English-language holiday album These Are Special Times (1998), while Wake also served as its producer. The pop ballad was issued as a promotional single on 4 December 2000, two years after album's original release.
Contents
The song has also been covered by many artists over the years, including Christian group Avalon, who re-recorded the song for their 2000 album Joy: A Christmas Collection, and singer NSYNC, who covered it for his 1998 Christmas collection, called Home for Christmas. For NSYNC, the song has become the signature song of all his Christmas tours.
Background
"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" is one out of seven original compositions Dion recorded for These Are Special Times. Aside from "Treat Her Like a Lady", a cover of the Diana King song, that she had partially re-written and recorded for 1997 studio album Let's Talk About Love, "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" marked her first co-writing credit on one of her own recordings. Unaware of the fact that it was not someone else's record she was continually singing to, Dion had the melody and lyrics of the song's pre-chorus ("How many people are crying / people are dying / how many people are asking for love") for nearly two years in her head. While she never finished it as she was "afraid of the reaction", her husband and manager René Angélil suggested that it would make a "great record" after hearing it. At a dinner with frequent collaborator Rick Wake after her performance at the VH1 Divas Live show in New York City in April 1998, Wake convinced Dion to sing her ideas of a verse and a chorus on his home answering machine. While Dion's lines inspired the song and its whole approach, Wake consulted Peter Zizzo to polish Dion's track. Based on her lyrics, the songwriter came up with the chorus lines "Don't save It all for Christmas Day". Lyrically, the ballad is about sharing good-will and love throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.
Critical reception
Billboard editor Paul Verna called this song 'thoughtful produced original composition, her first co-writing credit'.
Formats and track listings
Promo CD single
- "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (album version) – 4:37
- "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (radio version) – 4:19
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the These Are Special Times liner notes.