It's Christmas Time Again
{{For|the Jessica Simpson song|ReJoyce: The Christmas Album#Track listing}}
{{Infobox song
| name = It's Christmas Time Again
| cover = It's Christmas Time Again.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Backstreet Boys
| album =A Very Backstreet Christmas
| released = November 6, 2012
| recorded = October 18, 2012{{cite web|title=Backstreet Boys Twitter Update|url=https://twitter.com/backstreetboys/status/258729434297806849|access-date=November 2, 2012|date=October 18, 2012|quote=Studio w/ Kevin, AJ, & Nick. If you're good this year, we may have a surprise for u ;)|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135122/https://twitter.com/backstreetboys/status/258729434297806849|url-status=live}}
Los Angeles, CA
| studio =
| length = 3:23
| writer = Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Mika Guillory, Morgan Taylor Reid
| producer = Morgan Taylor Reid{{cite web|title=Morgan Taylor Reid Twitter Update|url=https://twitter.com/morganreidmusic/status/265951484074659840|access-date=November 7, 2012|date=November 6, 2012|quote=Get Backstreet Boys Xmas single NOW on iTunes!! Produced/mixed/co-written by yours truly!|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027225846/https://twitter.com/morganreidmusic/status/265951484074659840|url-status=live}}
| chronology = Backstreet Boys
| prev_title = Don't Turn Out the Lights
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = In a World Like This
| next_year = 2013
| misc =
}}
"It's Christmas Time Again" is a Christmas song by the American vocal group Backstreet Boys. The song was written by Backstreet Boys members Nick Carter and Howie Dorough along with Mika Guillory and Morgan Taylor Reid in early October 2012.{{cite web|title=Nick Carter Twitter Update|url=https://twitter.com/nickcarter/status/253535685624070144|access-date=November 2, 2012|date=October 3, 2012|quote=On our way to work to write with Prophet and Morgan. Wish us luck.|archive-date=December 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221185204/https://twitter.com/nickcarter/status/253535685624070144|url-status=live}} It is the first song by the Backstreet Boys to feature Kevin Richardson's vocals in six years. Richardson left the group in 2006 and rejoined in 2012. It is also the first song released under the group's own label, K-BAHN. It's also their second seasonal song following their original Christmas song "Christmas Time," which was released 16 years after it.
A sneak preview of "It's Christmas Time Again" was posted on the group's official website on November 1, 2012, and AOL Music premiered the whole song on November 5, 2012.{{cite web|last=Malach|first=Maggie|title=Backstreet Boys, 'It's Christmas Time Again' Premiere: Band Rings in Holiday Season with New Song|url=http://blog.music.aol.com/2012/11/05/backstreet-boys-its-christmas-time-again/|publisher=AOL Music|access-date=November 5, 2012|date=November 5, 2012|archive-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075800/http://blog.music.aol.com/2012/11/05/backstreet-boys-its-christmas-time-again/|url-status=live}} "It's Christmas Time Again" was released digitally on November 6, 2012.{{cite web|title=Backstreet Boys Christmas Time|url=http://backstreetboys.com/xmastime|publisher=Backstreet Boys|access-date=November 1, 2012|date=November 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214073823/http://backstreetboys.com/xmastime|archive-date=February 14, 2013}} The Backstreet Boys performed the song publicly for the first time on November 4, 2012, at the taping of Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade at Disneyland. On November 14, 2012, the group debuted the song on national TV on The Talk, and on December 19, 2012, they performed the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
In December 2013, the Backstreet Boys performed this song in the annual "Christmas in Washington" TV special, which was also attended by the President of the United States Barack Obama and his family.{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Cindy|title=Obamas, Hugh Jackman celebrate 'Christmas in Washington'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/12/15/backstreet-boys-celebrate-christmas-in-washington/4032715/|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=December 21, 2013|date=December 16, 2013|archive-date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219043154/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/12/15/backstreet-boys-celebrate-christmas-in-washington/4032715/|url-status=live}}
After ten years, it appears on the group's first-holiday album, A Very Backstreet Christmas.
Background
The Backstreet Boys had been working on their eighth studio album since mid-2012. They originally aimed to have something out before the end of the year,{{cite web|title=AJ Mclean outside recording studio Jun 27, 2012 - part 1|website=YouTube|date=27 June 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltwPYaYjTrg|access-date=July 12, 2012|archive-date=June 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628110149/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltwPYaYjTrg&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}} but later pushed back the release date for the single to early 2013.{{cite web|last=Marinelli|first=Gina|title=The Backstreet Boys Spill On "Sucky" Fashion, Parachute Pants, & Yes, A New Album|url=http://www.refinery29.com/2012/09/36802/backstreet-boys|publisher=Refinery29|access-date=September 19, 2012|date=September 18, 2012|archive-date=September 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919234848/http://www.refinery29.com/2012/09/36802/backstreet-boys|url-status=live}} When they got the opportunity to perform at Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, Disney gave them the option to sing their previous original Christmas song "Christmas Time" or a classic, but they figured they would write a new Christmas song instead which would also serve as a gift to their fans while they're waiting for the new album.{{cite web|title=Backstreet Boys Are Back With New 'It's Christmas Time Again' Single|url=http://www.homorazzi.com/article/backstreet-boys-its-christmas-time-again-song-lyrics-2012-kevin-richardson/|publisher=Homorazzi|access-date=November 20, 2012|author=Patrick|date=November 5, 2012|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095407/http://www.homorazzi.com/article/backstreet-boys-its-christmas-time-again-song-lyrics-2012-kevin-richardson/|url-status=live}} Dorough and Carter wrote the song in early October 2012 with Morgan Taylor Reid and Mika Guillory in about two hours. Within a week, they had the song demoed, written, and recorded by the rest of the Backstreet Boys members. They then presented it to Disney, who quickly approved it.{{cite web|title=Interview: Howie D. – Backstreet Boys|url=http://tommy2.net/content/?p=39562|publisher=Tommy2.net|access-date=November 15, 2012|date=November 12, 2012|archive-date=November 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125090818/http://tommy2.net/content/?p=39562|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
Artistdirect gave the song a positive review and 5 out of 5 stars,{{cite web|last=Florino|first=Rick|title=Backstreet Boys "It's Christmas Time Again" Song Review – 5 out of 5 stars|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/backstreet-boys-it-s-christmas-time-again-song-review-5-out-of-5-stars/10297469|access-date=November 15, 2012|date=November 12, 2012|archive-date=November 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119033819/http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/backstreet-boys-it-s-christmas-time-again-song-review-5-out-of-5-stars/10297469|url-status=live}} describing the song as a "timeless Christmas anthem" with a smooth acoustic guitar build-up, resounding bells, and soaring five-part harmonies. Entertainment Weekly also gave the song a positive review, noting that the song has a catchy tune, a little "boy band hook," and a five-part harmony.{{cite magazine|last=Gonzalez|first=Sandra|title=Backstreet Boys release new Christmas song: Listen here (and get filled with joy)|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/11/06/backstreet-boys-its-christmas-time-again/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 26, 2012|date=November 6, 2012|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110093217/http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/11/06/backstreet-boys-its-christmas-time-again/|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Listicles for "It's Christmas Time Again" ! scope="col" | Publication ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | List ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Billboard
| 10 Best Boy Band Christmas Songs | style="text-align: center;"| Placed | align="center" | {{Cite magazine|author=O'Brien, Jon |date=December 7, 2022|title=10 Best Boy Band Christmas Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-boy-band-christmas-songs/|access-date=December 7, 2022|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208140108/https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-boy-band-christmas-songs/jonas-brothers-like-its-christmas/|url-status=live}} |
|---|
Charts
The song peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs chart in November 2012.{{cite magazine|last=Trust|first=Gary|title=Weekly Chart Notes: Phillip Phillips Finds His 'Home' At No. 1|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/474131/weekly-chart-notes-phillip-phillips-finds-his-home-at-no-1|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=November 16, 2012|archive-date=March 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320164122/http://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/474131/weekly-chart-notes-phillip-phillips-finds-his-home-at-no-1|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| align="left"|Chart (2012)
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|Japan (Japan Hot 100){{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/275645/backstreet-boys/chart?f=848 |title=Backstreet Boys - Chart history | Billboard |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2013-10-13 |archive-date=2013-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725061333/https://www.billboard.com/artist/275645/backstreet-boys/chart?f=848 |url-status=live }}
| style="text-align:center;"|38 |
| align="left"|US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
Music video
The music video for this song is animated and premiered on Artist Direct.{{cite web|title=Backstreet Boys Debut "It's Christmas Time Again" Animated Music Video on ARTISTdirect.com|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/backstreet-boys-debut-it-s-christmas-time-again-animated-music-video-on-artistdirect-com/10297550|publisher=ARTISTdirect|access-date=November 15, 2012|date=November 15, 2012|archive-date=November 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117231906/http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/backstreet-boys-debut-it-s-christmas-time-again-animated-music-video-on-artistdirect-com/10297550|url-status=live}} It features the members of the Backstreet Boys as cartoon characters. It follows the story of a couple who grow old together and how they spend Christmas over the years.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Backstreet Boys}}
{{Backstreet Boys singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Backstreet Boys songs
Category:American Christmas songs