A Very Backstreet Christmas

A Very Backstreet Christmas
Studio album by
Backstreet Boys
ReleasedOctober 14, 2022 (2022-10-14)
RecordedMay 5, 2021 – August 14, 2021
Genre
Length
  • 43:37
  • 49:53 (deluxe edition)
Label
Producer
Backstreet Boys chronology
DNA
(2019) 		A Very Backstreet Christmas
(2022)
Singles from A Very Backstreet Christmas
  1. "Last Christmas"
    Released: September 6, 2022
  2. "Christmas in New York"
    Released: December 6, 2022

A Very Backstreet Christmas is the tenth studio album (ninth in the United States) and the first Christmas album by the Backstreet Boys. Initially slated for release in 2021, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was released on October 14, 2022.[2] It entered the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart at number 1,[3] and debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200 chart. A related television special, A Very Backstreet Holiday, was pulled from airing and streaming debuts after sexual assault allegations against Nick Carter,[4][5] who has since filed a defamation lawsuit for $2.5 million.[6][7]

Background

On April 8, 2019, the Backstreet Boys announced they would release a Christmas album.[8][9] On an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! in February 2020, the Backstreet Boys reaffirmed that it was coming out, saying that they were negotiating with their record label.[10][11] However, due to COVID-19, they could not begin production, and the album was delayed until 2021.[12]

With their DNA World Tour postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Backstreet Boys started working on their first Christmas album in March 2021,[13] and began recording on May 5, 2021.[14] On July 12, they officially announced their return to Las Vegas for a holiday residency scheduled for November and December 2021.[15][16] On August 11, Kevin Richardson announced they had finished recording vocals for a "top secret project," believed to be the Christmas album.[17] On August 14, band member Nick Carter revealed that they had finished recording the album and had done a photo shoot for the album cover.[18] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album failed to meet the production deadline,[19] forcing them to reschedule the album to release in late 2022. The band also canceled their 2021 holiday residency in Las Vegas.[20] The Backstreet Boys took inspiration from many artists while working on the album, such as Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey,[21] with one of the original songs, "Happy Days," being inspired by former NSYNC member Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling."[22]

Promotion

"Last Christmas," a cover of Wham!'s was 1984 hit, was issued on September 6, 2022, as the album lead single, followed by the release of its official music video on November 1.[23] The Backstreet Boys' rendition peaked at number one on the US Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart, becoming the band's third topper on the chart as well as their number one hit since "I Want It That Way" reigned for 10 weeks beginning in July 1999.[24] In October 2002, songwriter Gary Baker revealed in an interview that one of the new songs he wrote for the album, "Christmas in New York," would served as the album's second single, with a brand new music video premiere in claymation.[25][26] Released on December 6, 2022,[27] the song reached number 19 on the US Adult Contemporary chart.[24]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[28]
The Arts Desk[29]
laut.de[30]

AllMusic editor Neil Z. Yeung rated the album three and a half stars out of five. He found thath "with harmonies and vocal control honed by the decades, the quintet's talents have aged like a fine mulled wine, which is apparent on A Very Backstreet Christmas [...] A trio of originals close the album, with "Christmas in New York" bringing the nostalgic, technicolor magic of old and "Together" and "Happy Days" bridging their soul/R&B and dance-pop sides."[28] In a negative review, Barney Harsent from The Arts Desk wrote that "the album sounds about a tenth as interesting as that scenario suggests. Where we could have joy, we get a light dusting of saccharine sweetness; where we could have fun, we get earnest emoting; where we could have a knowing wink and a rimshot, we get poor pacing and worse phrasing." He rated the album one out of five stars and concluded: "This one gives absolutely nothing in return."[29]

Commercial performance

A Very Backstreet Christmas debuted and peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard 200, with first week sales of 20,000 equivalent albums.[31] While it was the band's first album to miss the chart's top ten,[32] it entered Billboard's Top Holiday Albums chart at number one.[31] Elsewhere, A Very Backstreet Christmas reached the top five in Canada and the top ten in Germany,[33] the Netherlands,[34] Portugal,[35] and on the UK Independent Albums Chart.[36]

Track listing

A Very Backstreet Christmas track listing[2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."White Christmas"Irving Berlin
2:46
2."The Christmas Song"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Conerly
  • Harrell[a]
3:42
3."Winter Wonderland"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Tommy Parker
  • Harrell[a]
1:41
4."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Conerly
  • Harrell[a]
3:31
5."Last Christmas"George Michael
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Conerly
  • Parker
  • Harrell[a]
3:46
6."O Holy Night"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Harrell[a]
3:28
7."This Christmas"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Conerly
  • Harrell[a]
3:17
8."Same Old Lang Syne"Dan Fogelberg
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Shintaro Yasuda
  • Harrell[a]
4:26
9."Silent Night"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Harrell[a]
2:43
10."I'll Be Home for Christmas"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Conerly
  • Harrell[a]
3:05
11."Christmas in New York"
Baker4:33
12."Together"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Harrell[a]
3:23
13."Happy Days"
  • Taylor Hill
  • Richardson
  • Littrell
  • McLean
  • Dorough
  • Carter
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Taylor Hill[b]
  • Harrell[a]
3:20
Total length:43:37
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Feliz Navidad"José Feliciano
  • Brown
  • Conerly
  • Sayles
  • Harrell[a]
2:52
15."It's Christmas Time Again"
Reid3:23
Total length:49:53

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a vocal producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for A Very Backstreet Christmas
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[37] 19
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[38] 14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[39] 58
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[40] 5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[34] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[33] 9
Italian Albums (FIMI)[41] 88
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[42] 38
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[43] 34
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[44] 51
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[35] 8
Scottish Albums (OCC)[45] 49
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[46] 22
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 13
UK Album Sales (OCC)[48] 26
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[49] 36
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[36] 9
UK Physical Albums (OCC)[50] 28
US Billboard 200[32] 17

Release history

Release history and formats for A Very Backstreet Christmas
Country Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Japan November 9, 2022 CD Warner Music Japan [51]
United States October 14, 2022 K-BAHN [52]
United States December 2, 2022 LP [53]

References

  1. ^ "US: Backstreet Boys release highly anticipated first-ever Christmas album A Very Backstreet Christmas". BMG. July 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Brandle, Lars (July 7, 2022). "Backstreet Boys Are Releasing a Christmas Album With a 'BSB Twist'". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  3. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 27, 2022). "Backstreet Boys' 'A Very Backstreet Christmas' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums Chart". Billboard.
  4. ^ Holmes, Martin (December 9, 2022). "Backstreet Boys Holiday Special Pulled by ABC Following Nick Carter Rape Allegation". TV Insider. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "ABC Pulls Backstreet Boys Holiday Special Following Nick Carter Rape Allegations and Lawsuit". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Judge Says Nick Carter Can Continue to Pursue Counterclaim Against Sexual Assault Accuser". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Naumann, Ryan (August 13, 2024). "Nick Carter Sues Sexual Assault Accuser for $2.5 Million, Says She Cost Him 7-Figure Deal". In Touch Weekly. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  8. ^ "Grammy Museum Backstreet Boys Live Stream Q&A". YouTube. April 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "A Backstreet Boys Christmas Album is in the Works & It Will be the Gift Fans Have Been Waiting for". April 10, 2019.
  10. ^ A Backstreet Boys Christmas Album is in the Works | WWHL | WWHL, February 11, 2020, retrieved September 10, 2022
  11. ^ Dresdale, Andrea (February 12, 2020). "'It's happening': Backstreet Boys say Christmas album is coming". Good Morning America. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  12. ^ America, Good Morning. "No Backstreet Boys Christmas album this year, says AJ McLean". Good Morning America.
  13. ^ "Backstreet Boys Are Recording Their First-Ever Christmas Album". Music Mayhem Magazine. May 9, 2021. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "Get hype, everyone - the @backstreetboys are headed into the studio TOGETHER to record a Christmas album and really, we are just 💥💥💥 about it!". Twitter.com. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "Backstreet Boys back in Las Vegas for a Christmas residency". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "Backstreet Boys to Perform Christmas-Themed Las Vegas Residency: 'We Schemed Such a Glorious Show'". PEOPLE.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  17. ^ "Kevin Richardson on Instagram: "Bring your kid to work day. That's a wrap on vocals for… our secret BSB project that no one knows about and absolutely none of my bandmates have posted about on their socials 🤫 🤣 Thank you @officialkukharrell @jellido @ms_taber and @paradisesoundrecordings studios. What a wonderful place and vibe to create in. ✌🏼❤️ y'all. #backstreetboys #bringintheheat"". Instagram.
  18. ^ "Nick Carter on Instagram". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
  19. ^ "Here's What AJ McLean Says Is the Backstreet Boys' Most 'Hated' Song". Billboard. September 13, 2021. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021. We sadly had to postpone our Christmas residency until next year, because the Christmas album is not done yet.
  20. ^ "Backstreet Boys on Instagram". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "Backstreet Boys Share Christmas Album Inspiration". ET Canada. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
  22. ^ "Backstreet Boys Says Justin Timberlake Influenced a Track on New Album". Peoplemag.
  23. ^ Tailor, Leena (September 6, 2022). "Backstreet Boys Reveal Surprising *NSYNC Influence on New Christmas Album, Tease Plans for 30th That Will 'Break Everyone's Brains'". Variety.
  24. ^ a b Trust, Gary (October 27, 2022). ""Last Christmas" Becomes Backstreet Boys' First Adult Contemporary No. 1 Since "I Want It That Way"". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  25. ^ Mahan, Anna (October 5, 2022). "Behind the scenes with Gary Baker, an Alabama music icon". www.waff.com.
  26. ^ ""We Got Your Holiday": JCPenney is Making the Holidays Easier for Busy Families with Inflation-Busting Early Black Friday Deals, Creative Gifting Solutions and Festive Family Entertainment". www.businesswire.com. October 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "Backstreet Boys - Christmas In New York (Official Music Video)". YouTube. December 6, 2022.
  28. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "A Very Backstreet Christmas – Backstreet Boys". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  29. ^ a b Harsent, Barney (December 7, 2022). "Album: Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas". The Arts Desk. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  30. ^ Ohnmacht, Anne. "A-capella-Vibes unter dem Weihnachtsbaum". laut.de (in German). Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  31. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (October 27, 2022). "Backstreet Boys' 'A Very Backstreet Christmas' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  33. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  35. ^ a b "Portuguesecharts.com – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  36. ^ a b "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  37. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  38. ^ "Ultratop.be – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  39. ^ "Ultratop.be – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  40. ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  41. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  42. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2022-11-21" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  43. ^ 週間 デジタルアルバムランキング 2022年10月24日付 （2022年10月10日～2022年10月16日） [Weekly Digital Album Ranking dated October 24, 2022 (October 10, 2022 – October 16, 2022)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  44. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 16, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  45. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  46. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  47. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  48. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  49. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  50. ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  51. ^ "A Very Backstreet Christmas Backstreet Boys CD Album". tower.jp. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  52. ^ "Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas - Amazon.com Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  53. ^ "Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas - Amazon.com Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
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