Christmas Saves the Year

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"Christmas Saves the Year"
Single art for the song.
Single by Twenty One Pilots
ReleasedDecember 8, 2020 (2020-12-08)
Recorded2020
Genre
Length3:32
LabelFueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)Tyler Joseph
Producer(s)
  • Tyler Joseph
Twenty One Pilots singles chronology
"Level of Concern"
(2020) 		"Christmas Saves the Year"
(2020) 		"Shy Away"
(2021)
Music video
"Christmas Saves the Year" on YouTube

"Christmas Saves the Year" is a Christmas single by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released on December 8, 2020, through Fueled by Ramen. Written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the song expresses the idea that even in a turbulent year, optimism can still be found in Christmas.[1]

Background[edit]

"Christmas Saves the Year" was written, composed and recorded in lead singer Tyler Joseph's home studio.[2] Twenty One Pilots 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,[3][1][4] after having teased "a gift" for the viewers of the stream.[5]

Originally reluctant to write a Christmas song, Joseph was inspired as he was "experiencing Christmas through a little girl's perspective", in reference to his daughter, Rosie. The sound of the track was inspired by a musical instrument called the Mellotron.[6]

Composition[edit]

"Christmas Saves the Year" is a lo-fi Christmas song. 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."[6]

Music video[edit]

Following the end of frontman Tyler Joseph's Twitch stream, the song and its visualizer video were released and made available on music-streaming services, and a premiere for the video was placed onto YouTube. The video was directed and animated by Johnny Chew.[7][8] An official music video for the song was released on December 8, 2021, one year after the song was released, and heavily utilizes claymation. It was directed and animated by Mr. Oz.[9]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Christmas Saves the Year"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[10] 34
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] 35

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Campbell, Rachel (December 9, 2020). "Hear twenty one pilots' surprise holiday song "Christmas Saves The Year"". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  2. ^ @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.
  3. ^ Rose, Anna (December 9, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots release holiday single, 'Christmas Saves The Year'". NME. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Patterson, Calum (December 4, 2020). "Chipotle Challenger Series 2020: Everything You Need to Know". Dexerto. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  5. ^ Dowd, Rachael (December 8, 2020). "See why fans think new music from twenty one pilots is arriving soon". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Tyler Joseph Interview with Zane Lowe - CSTY (12.9.20) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Brayden, Kate (December 10, 2020). "Twenty One Pilots share festive new single 'Christmas Saves The Year'". Hotpress. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Release Holiday Single". Vermilion County First. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  9. ^ Twenty One Pilots - Christmas Saves The Year (Official Video), retrieved December 8, 2021
  10. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "Twenty One Pilots Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
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