8 Days of Christmas (song)

"8 Days of Christmas"
Single by Destiny's Child
from the album 8 Days of Christmas
A-side
Written1999
PublishedNovember 13, 2000
ReleasedOctober 15, 2001
RecordedJuly 2000
StudioManta Sound (Toronto)[1]
Genre
Length3:29
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
Producers
Destiny's Child singles chronology
"Emotion"
(2001) 		"8 Days of Christmas"
(2001) 		"Nasty Girl"
(2002)
Music video
"8 Days of Christmas" on YouTube

"8 Days of Christmas" is a song recorded by American girl group Destiny's Child for their Christmas album of the same title (2001). Written by group members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland along with Errol McCalla Jr., who handled its production, it is a Christmas-themed song with heavy R&B and dance pop elements.

"8 Days of Christmas" was first included on the November 2000 reissue of Destiny's Child's second studio album The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and the US maxi CD single for their song "Independent Women Part I" (2000), before being released as the lead single from 8 Days of Christmas in October 2001, by Columbia Records.

Background

"8 Days of Christmas" was written by Destiny's Child band members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland along with Errol "Poppi" McCalla, Jr., while production was helmed by Knowles, her father Mathew and McCalla. The song contains re-sung lyrics from the traditional Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as well as replayed element from "Jingle Bells" as written by James Pierpont.[3][4] Knowles stated during its video premiere at the BET countdown format 106 & Park in 2001: "Actually, we wrote the song two years ago, when we went in the studio to do some Christmas something. That's what started the idea of doing a Christmas album."[5]

Critical reception

"8 Days of Christmas" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, although it has been reevaluated in the decades since its release.[6][7][8][9]

Jordyn Beazley of The Guardian wrote that even if "It was released 20 years ago" the meaning of the song "has only got better with age".[10] Raffy Ermac of Pride Magazine described it as " a fun, sexy spin on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in which "instead of true love giving you useless things, [...] Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle are getting showered with gifts."[11] Maura Johnston of Vulture wrote that the song "shows off Destiny’s Child innovative approach to pop-R&B", praising the "dizzying pre-chorus and jubilant refrain to the original’s day-by-day rundown" and the "collective prowess on a fluttering bridge".[12]

Time Out listed the song as the 22nd on its list of "The 65 Best Christmas Songs of All Time", defining it "A fine achievement" with "an injection of sass and unabashed materialism", which "turned a cosy old holiday favourite into a bumping R&B Christmas carol for our times".[2] Cosmopolitan listed the song as the 11th of "The 75 Best Christmas Songs of All Time" [13]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "8 Days of Christmas" was directed by Sanaa Hamri and filmed in early October 2001.[14][15] It shows all three members appearing in Santa Claus-inspired clothing at a toy store on a snowy day. Throughout the video, the group shops for various gifts and in between cuts and Knowles rides on a carousel. At the end of the video, many children rush into the toy store where the group gives out gifts.[16]

The music video is featured on the DualDisc edition of 8 Days of Christmas.

Track listings and formats

European CD single[17]
  1. "8 Days of Christmas" (album version) – 3:29
  2. "Emotion" – 3:56
US promotional CD single[18]
  1. "8 Days of Christmas" (album version) – 3:29
  2. "8 Days of Christmas" (instrumental) – 3:29
  3. "8 Days of Christmas" (a cappella) – 3:29
  4. Holiday Greeting "Merry Christmas" – 0:10
  5. Holiday Greeting "Happy Holidays" – 0:09
  6. Holiday Greeting "Seasons Greetings" – 0:10
  7. Holiday Greeting "Happy Kwanzaa" – 0:08
  8. Holiday Greeting "Happy New Year" – 0:12

Charts

2002–2025 weekly chart performance for "8 Days of Christmas"
Chart Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 68
Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)[20] 80
Ireland (IRMA)[21] 87
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 58
Nigeria Bubbling Under Top 100 (TurnTable)[24] 22
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 185
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[26] 9
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[27] 75
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[28] 2
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 57

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "8 Days of Christmas"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] Gold 35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "8 Days of Christmas"[a]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
France October 15, 2001 Maxi CD Columbia
[33]
Germany October 30, 2001
Sony Music
[34]
United Kingdom November 12, 2001 Maxi CD Columbia
[35]

Other versions

In 2023 American singer Coco Jones released a covered the song for Apple Music.[36]

References

Notes

  1. ^ "8 Days of Christmas" was released as a double A-side single with "Emotion".

Citations

  1. ^ 8 Days of Christmas (booklet). Destiny's Child. Columbia. 2001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b "The 65 Best Christmas Songs of All Time". Time Out. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "8 Days of Christmas" Sample of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/127394/Destiny%27s-Child-8-Days-of-Christmas-Traditional-Folk-The-Twelve-Days-of-Christmas/
  4. ^ "8 Days of Christmas" Sample of "Jingle Bells (One Horse Open Sleigh)". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/127396/Destiny%27s-Child-8-Days-of-Christmas-James-Pierpont-Jingle-Bells-(One-Horse-Open-Sleigh)/
  5. ^ Keytas Vibe Archived 2010-09-18 at the Wayback Machine Freewebs.com
  6. ^ Wurzburger, Andrea (November 18, 2022). "Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, & More Stars Whose Christmas Songs Will Make Your Holiday Playlist Extra Festive". People. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ^ Beck, Lia (25 October 2023). "These Are the Best 50 Modern Christmas Songs to Add to Your Holiday Playlist". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  8. ^ Yongo, Sughnen (December 16, 2024). "40 Timeless Christmas Song Classics To Warm The Season". Forbes. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Blair, Olivia; O'Malley, Katie (October 13, 2021). "A List Of The Best Christmas Songs Of All Time, Ranked". Elle UK. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "From Paul Kelly to Phoebe Bridgers: which songs are on your Christmas playlist?". The Guardian. December 20, 2022. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Ermac, Raffy (November 30, 2020). "The Top 10 Pop Christmas Songs of All Time, Ranked". Pride Magazine. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Johnston, Maura (December 19, 2024). "The 50 Best Original Christmas Songs Since 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'". Vulture. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Thompson, Eliza (October 26, 2023). "The 75 Best Christmas Songs of All Time". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Communications. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Destiny's Child (2005). 8 Days of Christmas (DualDisc liner notes). Columbia Records, Music World Entertainment, Sony Urban Music. CN 97768.
  15. ^ vanHorn, Teri (October 10, 2001). "Destiny's Child Confirm Track List For Holiday Album, Shoot Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2002. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  16. ^ Strecker, Erin (December 4, 2014). "The 8 Best Things About Destiny's Child's Cheesy/Perfect '8 Days of Christmas' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  17. ^ Destiny's Child (2001). 8 Days of Christmas (CD single). Sony Music. COL 672211 1.
  18. ^ Destiny's Child (2001). 8 Days of Christmas (promotional CD single). Columbia Records. CSK 54873.
  19. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #557". auspOp. December 28, 2019. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  20. ^ "Airplay Radio Chart Top100 – 29. prosinca 2025" (in Croatian). Top lista. December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  21. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Destiny's Child". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  22. ^ "Destiny's Child – 8 Days Of Christmas" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  23. ^ "Destiny's Child – 8 Days of Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  24. ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Bubbling Under Top 100: December 12th, 2025 - December 18th, 2025" (select the week December 12th, 2025 - December 18th, 2025 from drop-down menu). TurnTable. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  25. ^ "Chart Log UK: Asher D – Dyverse". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 27, 2020 – via zobbel.de.
  26. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 28/12/2018 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  27. ^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart on 29/12/2017 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  28. ^ "Destiny's Child Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  29. ^ "Destiny's Child Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  30. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #558". auspOp. January 4, 2020. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Destiny's Child – 8 Days of Christmas". Radioscope. Retrieved 2024-12-17. Type 8 Days of Christmas in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  32. ^ "British single certifications – Destiny's Child – 8 Days of Christmas". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 28, 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type 8 Days of Christmas Destiny's Child in the "Search:" field.
  33. ^ "Emotion" (in French). Columbia Records. October 15, 2001. Retrieved September 23, 2025 – via Fnac.
  34. ^ "Destiny's Child – Emotion" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  35. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting November 12, 2001" (PDF). Music Week. November 10, 2001. p. 29. Retrieved September 23, 2025 – via World Radio History.
  36. ^ Corrine, Amber (November 1, 2023). "Coco Jones Covers Destiny's Child's "8 Days Of Christmas" Ahead Of The Holidays". Vibe. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
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