Merry Christmas (song)

"Merry Christmas" is a Christmas-themed song by British singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran and Elton John. It was released through Asylum and Atlantic Records as a single on 3 December 2021. The song appears on the Christmas edition of Sheeran's = (2021) as well as a new edition of John's The Lockdown Sessions.[1][2]

"Merry Christmas"
Single by Ed Sheeran and Elton John
from the album = (Christmas Edition) and The Lockdown Sessions
Written2020
Released3 December 2021
GenreChristmas
Length3:29
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Mac
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Overpass Graffiti"
(2021)		 "Merry Christmas"
(2021)
Elton John singles chronology
"Finish Line"
(2021)		 "Merry Christmas"
(2021)

"Merry Christmas" entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart on 10 December 2021, becoming Elton's second number one song in 2021 and his 9th number one overall as well as the 12th number one song of Ed Sheeran.

Background and promotion

"Merry Christmas" serves as Sheeran's first Christmas song, and serves as John's second Christmas single, following the release of 1973's "Step into Christmas" (though Sheeran had previously written the 2016 Christmas song "When Christmas Comes Around" by X Factor winner Matt Terry). In an interview with NPO Radio 2 in October 2021, Sheeran revealed that John asked him to do a song with him the previous year after the success of "Step into Christmas". He also recalled writing the chorus of the song the same day he was asked by John.[3] On 29 November 2021, Sheeran and John both announced the collaboration and its release date.[4] They also stated that all proceeds from the song in the United Kingdom will go towards donations for the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.[5] In November 2021, on an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sheeran revealed that he went to stay with John after writing the song's chorus, in which they ended up making three Christmas songs together with "Merry Christmas" being one of them.[6]

Music video

Re-creating a scene from the festive romantic-comedy film Love Actually, the song's music video sees Sheeran and John pay homage to scenes from British Christmas hits from the past, including "Last Christmas", "Walking in the Air", "Merry Christmas Everyone" and "Stay Another Day".[7][8][9]

Charts
Chart performance for "Merry Christmas"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 27
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13] 30
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 16
Canada AC (Billboard)[15] 1
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[16] 45
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[17] 23
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[18] 62
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[19] 49
Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 19
France (SNEP)[21] 125
Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 5
Global 200 (Billboard)[23] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 3
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[25] 4
Lithuania (AGATA)[26] 42
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[27] 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 25
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 37
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 32
Norway (VG-lista)[31] 19
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[32] 95
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[33] 36
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[34] 35
South Korea (Gaon)[35] 157
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 72
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[40] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 36
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[42] 43

LadBaby version

A version of the song by LadBaby, titled "Sausage Rolls for Everyone", featuring Sheeran and John, was released on 17 December 2021.[43]

References
  1. Brandle, Lars (3 December 2021). "Ed Sheeran and Elton John Bring the Holiday Cheer With 'Merry Christmas': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  2. "The Lockdown Sessions by Elton John on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. Richards, Will (6 October 2021). "Ed Sheeran and Elton John set to release joint Christmas single". NME. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. Qureshi, Arusha (29 November 2021). "Ed Sheeran and Elton John's Christmas single is coming Friday". NME. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. Sheeran, Ed; John, Elton (29 November 2021). "Our song "Merry Christmas" is out this Friday. Link in bio to pre-order it or pre-save it. All UK proceeds from this year's Christmas period will go to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation (www.essmf.com) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (@ejaf)". Retrieved 29 November 2021 – via Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos) and Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Instagram.
  6. DeSantis, Rachel (29 November 2021). "Elton John and Ed Sheeran Channel Love Actually to Announce New Christmas Song 'Merry Christmas'". People. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  7. "Elton John, Ed Sheeran Pay Tribute to Holiday Hits in 'Merry Christmas' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  8. Bowenbank, Starr (29 November 2021). "Ed Sheeran & Elton John Reveal 'Merry Christmas' Duet Release Date With 'Love Actually' Spoof". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  9. Vivinetto, Gina (29 November 2021). "Why Ed Sheeran and Elton John re-created famous 'Love Actually' scene". Today. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  10. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  11. "Ed Sheeran & Elton John – Merry Christmas" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  12. "Ed Sheeran & Elton John – Merry Christmas" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  13. "Ed Sheeran & Elton John – Merry Christmas" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  14. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  15. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  16. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  17. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  18. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202149 into search. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  19. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202149 into search. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  20. "Track Top-40 Uge 49, 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  21. "Top Singles (Week 49, 2021)". SNEP. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  22. "Ed Sheeran & Elton John – Merry Christmas" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  23. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  24. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  25. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas 2021/12/15" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  26. "2021 50-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  27. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  29. "Ed Sheeran & Elton John – Merry Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  30. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  31. "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2021-49". VG-lista. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  32. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  33. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202149 into search. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  34. "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202149 into search. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  35. "Digital Chart – Week 50 of 2021". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  36. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 49". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  37. "Ed Sheeran & Elton John – Merry Christmas". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  39. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  40. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  41. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  42. "Ed Sheearn Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  43. O'Connor, Roisin (10 December 2021). "Sausage Rolls for Everyone: Ed Sheeran and Elton John announce surprise LadBaby Christmas song collaboration". The Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
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