The Christmas Present

The Christmas Present is the 12th studio album by British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, and his first studio album since 2016's The Heavy Entertainment Show. It was released on 22 November 2019, and features guest appearances from Tyson Fury, Rod Stewart, Jamie Cullum, Helene Fischer and Bryan Adams. Williams performed a pair of concerts dubbed the "Robbie Williams Christmas Party" at the SSE Arena on 16 and 17 December 2019 in promotion of the album.[2]

The Christmas Present
Studio album by
Robbie Williams
ReleasedNovember 22, 2019 (2019-11-22)
RecordedJune–September 2019
StudioLos Angeles, California
Las Vegas, Nevada
London, England
Vancouver, Canada[1]
GenreChristmas
Length78:26 (Standard edition)
92:06 (Deluxe edition)
LabelColumbia
Producer
Robbie Williams chronology
Under the Radar Volume 3
(2019)		 The Christmas Present
(2019)

Background

Williams began recording the album in June 2019, just before the final leg of his Wynn Las Vegas residency, and concluded in Vancouver in October 2019. Williams joked that he was going to call the album Achtung Bublé, a play on words of the U2 album "Achtung Baby", and in reference to Michael Bublé's "monopoly" on the Christmas music market, which he said "must end now".[2]

The song "Bad Sharon", featuring Tyson Fury on guest vocals, was called a "favourite" to be the UK Christmas number one.[3]

Williams initially aspired to cover "Fairytale of New York" as a duet with Britney Spears which the latter declined.[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic52/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
NME[7]

The Christmas Present received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 52 based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[5]

Commercial performance

The Christmas Present opened at number two on the UK Albums Chart, behind Coldplay's Everyday Life. The album sold 67,000 copies in the UK during its first week, the same amount as Williams' previous album The Heavy Entertainment Show (2016).[8] Despite not getting to number one on the charts, Williams' had the fastest selling cassette release in over two decades. The Christmas Present sold over 10,000 cassettes in its first seven days of release. Halfway through its second week, Williams' album climbed to number one, outselling Rod Stewart's album by 5,000 copies and becoming Williams' 13th number one, tying Elvis Presley for the most UK number one albums.[9] In its second week, 57,000 copies had been sold. Williams now ties Presley for the most #1's in a solo career, and has 17 number one albums when including his Take That career.

The Christmas Present opened at number two on the Australian music chart, behind Coldplay's Everyday Life. The following week, The Christmas Present became Williams' first number one album in Australia since Reality Killed the Video Star 10 years prior.

Track listing
Disc one: Christmas Past[10]
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducersLength
1."Winter Wonderland"Felix Bernard, Richard B. SmithGuy Chambers, Robbie Williams2:18
2."Merry Xmas Everybody" (featuring Jamie Cullum)Noddy Holder, Jim LeaChambers3:33
3."Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"Jule Styne, Sammy CahnChambers, Williams1:57
4."The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
Chambers, Williams3:12
5."Coco's Christmas Lullaby"Robbie Williams, Kelvin Andrews, Richard Scott, Danny SpencerChambers, Williams2:55
6."Rudolph"Williams, Andrews, Scott, SpencerChambers, Williams3:40
7."Yeah! It's Christmas"Williams, Andrews, Scott, Scott RalphChambers, Williams2:49
8."It's a Wonderful Life" (featuring Poppa Pete)Williams, Andrews, Scott, SpencerChambers, Williams2:51
9."Let's Not Go Shopping"Williams, Andrews, Scott, SpencerChambers, Williams3:09
10."Santa Baby" (featuring Helene Fischer)Joan Javits, Philip Springer, Tony SpringerChambers, Williams3:27
11."Best Christmas Ever"Williams, Guy ChambersChambers, Williams3:45
12."One Last Christmas"Williams, Flynn Francis, Konrad OlsenChambers, Williams3:33
13."Coco's Christmas Lullaby Reprise"Williams, Andrews, Scott, Spencer 1:14
Disc two: Christmas Future
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducersLength
1."Time for Change"Williams, Chambers, Karl Brazil, Tom LongworthChambers3:30
2."Idlewild"Williams, Brazil, Timothy MetcalfeChambers4:08
3."Darkest Night"Williams, Brazil, Owen ParkerChambers, Williams3:19
4."Fairytales" (featuring Rod Stewart)Williams, Brazil, John Garrison, Martin TerefeChambers, Williams3:33
5."Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (featuring Bryan Adams)
Chambers, Williams2:43
6."Bad Sharon" (featuring Tyson Fury)Williams, Brazil, Benjamin Roy CastleChambers, Williams3:40
7."Happy Birthday Jesus Christ"Williams, Flynn Francis, Konrad Olsen, Philipp SteinkeChambers, Williams3:15
8."New Year's Day"Williams, Brazil, Benjamin Roy CastleChambers, Williams3:41
9."Snowflakes"Williams, Francis, Olsen, SteinkeChambers, Williams3:41
10."Home"Williams, Brazil, Parker, Sam SureChambers, Williams4:10
11."Soul Transmission"Williams, Andrews, SpencerSoul Mekanik & Daft Dog4:14
Deluxe bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."I Believe in Father Christmas"Greg Lake, Peter Sinfield3:11
13."Not Christmas"Williams, Francis, Metcalfe, Olsen3:26
14."Merry Kissmas"Williams, Brahim Fouradi, Edwin Serrano, Memru Renjaan, Carlos Vrolijk2:43
15."It Takes Two" (featuring Rod Stewart)William "Mickey" Stevenson, Sylvia Moy3:53

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[38] Platinum 15,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 100,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. O'Connor, Roisin (18 October 2019). "Robbie Williams announces Christmas album featuring Tyson Fury duet". The Independent. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  2. Bassett, Jordan (18 October 2019). "Robbie Williams wants to take Christmas back from Michael Bublé – and I am here for it". NME. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  3. Jones, Rich (18 October 2019). "Tyson Fury and Robbie Williams favourites to land Christmas No.1". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  4. https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/22/britney-spears-turned-fairytale-new-york-duet-robbie-williams-11200702/
  5. "The Christmas Present by Robbie Williams reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  6. Yeung, Neil (23 November 2019). "Robbie Williams: The Christmas Present review – a lurching mess of styles". Allmusic. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  7. Bassett, Jordan (23 November 2019). "Robbie Williams – 'The Christmas Present' Review". NME. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. "Coldplay beat Robbie Williams to number one". 29 November 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. "Robbie Williams on track for 13th UK Number 1 album". www.officialcharts.com.
  10. Copsey, Rob (18 October 2019). "Robbie Williams announces festive album The Christmas Present and massive UK show". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  11. "Australiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  14. "Ultratop.be – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  15. "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201950 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  16. "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 47, 2019". Hitlisten. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  18. "Robbie Williams: The Christmas Present" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  19. "Top Albums (Week 48, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
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  21. "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2019. 52. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
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  24. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  25. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  26. "Portuguesecharts.com – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  28. "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 49: del 29.11.2019 al 5.12.2019" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  29. "Veckolista Album, vecka 48". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  30. "Swisscharts.com – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  31. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  32. "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  33. "Jahreshitparade Alben 2019". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  34. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2019". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  35. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  36. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2019". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  37. Copsey, Rob (1 January 2020). "The Official Top 40 biggest albums of 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  38. "Austrian album certifications – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  39. "British album certifications – Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
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