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"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion from her first English-language Christmas album, These Are Special Times (1998). The song was written by Peter Zizzo, Ric Wake and Dion, while Wake also served as its producer. The pop ballad was issued as a promotional single on 4 December 2000, two years after album's original release.[1]

"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album These Are Special Times
Released	4 December 2000 (2000-12-04)
Recorded	1998
Studio	Various Cove City Sound Studios The Dream Factory Criteria Recording Studios
Genre	Christmas pop
Length	4:38
Label	Columbia Epic
Songwriter(s)	Peter Zizzo Ric Wake Celine Dion
Producer(s)	Ric Wake
Celine Dion singles chronology
"If Walls Could Talk" (2000) "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (2000) "God Bless America" (2001)
Audio video
"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" on YouTube

The song has also been covered by many artists over the years, including Christian group Avalon, who re-recorded the song for their 2000 album Joy: A Christmas Collection. It is most associated with Clay Aiken, as it has been his signature Christmas song since he recorded it for his 2004 album Merry Christmas with Love.

Background

"Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" is one out of seven original compositions Dion recorded for These Are Special Times.[2] Aside from "Treat Her Like a Lady", a cover of the Diana King song, that she had partially re-written and recorded for 1997 studio album Let's Talk About Love, "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" marked her first co-writing credit on one of her own recordings.[3] Unaware of the fact that it was not someone else's record she was continually singing to, Dion had the melody and lyrics of the song's pre-chorus ("How many people are crying / people are dying / how many people are asking for love") for nearly two years in her head.[4] While she never finished it as she was "afraid of the reaction",[4] her husband and manager René Angélil suggested that it would make a "great record" after hearing it.[3] At a dinner with frequent collaborator Rick Wake after her performance at the VH1 Divas Live show in New York City in April 1998, Wake convinced Dion to sing her ideas of a verse and a chorus on his home answering machine.[4] While Dion's lines inspired the song and its whole approach, Wake consulted Peter Zizzo to polish Dion's track.[5] Based on her lyrics, the songwriter came up with the chorus lines "Don't save It all for Christmas Day".[5] Lyrically, the ballad is about sharing good-will and love throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.[4]

Critical reception

Billboard editor Paul Verna called this song 'thoughtful produced original composition, her first co-writing credit'.[6]

Formats and track listings

Promo CD single

1. "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (Album Version) – 4:37
2. "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (Radio Version) – 4:19

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the These Are Special Times liner notes.[7]

Charts

Chart (2011–2017)	Peak position
South Korean Gaon International Chart[8]	94
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[9]	81

References

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