Loneliest Time of Year
{{short description|2019 single by Mabel}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Loneliest Time of Year
| cover = Mabel - Loneliest Time of Year.png
| caption = Original cover. The re-release uses the same photo but in greyscale.
| type = single
| artist = Mabel
| EP = Christmas
| released = {{Start date|2019|11|22|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Christmas
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=22}}
| label = Polydor
| writer =
- Mabel McVey
- Uzoechi Emenike
- Tre Jean-Marie
- Nayla Nyassa
- Camille Purcell
| producer =
- Sillkey
- Tre Jean-Marie
| prev_title = God Is a Dancer
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Boyfriend
| next_year = 2020
| misc ={{External music video|{{YouTube|hVzjR6hBArE|"Loneliest Time of Year"}}}}
}}
"Loneliest Time of Year" is a Christmas song by English singer Mabel, released by Polydor Records on 22 November 2019. It was written by Mabel, MNEK, Tre Jean-Marie, Nayla Nyassa and Camille Purcell, and produced by Sillkey and Tre Jean-Marie.{{cite web|url=https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/loneliest-time-of-year-mabel/ejycf31gmbc5b|title=Album Loneliest Time of Year, Mabel|website=Qobuz|accessdate=24 November 2019}}
Release
Mabel first teased "Loneliest Time of Year" on Twitter on 19 November 2019 by posting the lyrics, "Doesn't matter if I manage to get all the things on my list".{{cite tweet|user=Mabel|title=Doesn't matter if I manage to get all the things on my list 🖤✨|number=1196886338135560194|date=19 November 2019|accessdate=25 November 2019}} She shared its accompanying cover art on social media and a short snippet of the song on TikTok the following day.{{cite tweet|user=Mabel|title=Loneliest Time Of Year. Out Friday ✨|number=1197198603275710464|date=20 November 2019|accessdate=25 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tiktok.com/v/6761436090458230022.html|title=Mabel(@mabel) on TikTok: Loneliest Time Of Year. Out Friday ✨ #christmas|website=TikTok|date=20 November 2019|accessdate=25 November 2019}} The cover art is a polaroid of the singer wearing a plaid winter coat and Supreme winter hat in front of a snow backdrop.{{cite web|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/5755868/little-mix-mabel-first-ever-christmas-singles/|title=Little Mix & Mabel Release Their First-Ever Christmas Singles This Week|last=Magnocavallo|first=Fabio|website=Inquisitr|date=22 November 2019|accessdate=25 November 2019}} Upon the single's release on 22 November 2019, Mabel wrote, "Important to remember that what can be the best time of year for some can be the loneliest time of year for someone else so be kind and take care of each other this Christmas."{{cite tweet|user=Mabel|title=Loneliest Time Of Year out now Important to remember that what can be the best time of year for some can be the loneliest time of year for someone else so be kind and take care of each other this Christmas. Thanku to my studio fam @Tre @MNEK @KamilleXX 🎄|number=1197844270633361414|date=22 November 2019|accessdate=25 November 2019}}
One year later, Mabel announced on 18 November 2020 via social media that she was going to re-release the song along with a cover of the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" on 20 November 2020.https://www.instagram.com/p/CHvrAJsHLIh/?igshid=mgwb9ewh3wmi {{dead link|date=October 2021}}
Critical reception
In his review for Idolator, Mike Wass called it a "wonderfully miserable" and "refreshingly realistic Christmas song".{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7903462/mabel-isnt-feeling-very-festive-on-loneliest-time-of-the-year|title=Mabel Isn't Feeling Very Festive On 'Loneliest Time Of The Year'|last=Wass|first=Mike|website=Idolator|date=24 November 2019|accessdate=25 November 2019}}
Track listing
- Digital download (2019)
- "Loneliest Time of Year" – 3:22
- Digital download (2020){{cite web|url= https://music.apple.com/gb/album/loneliest-time-of-year-single/1539916467|title=iTunes - Music - Loneliest Time of Year - Single by Mabel|date=20 November 2020|publisher=iTunes Store}}
- "Loneliest Time of Year" – 3:22
- "I'll Be Home for Christmas" – 3:15
Personnel
- Mabel – vocals
- Sillkey – production, drums, keyboards, piano, bass, synthesizer
- Tre Jean-Marie – production, drums, engineering, guitar, keyboards, strings, synthesizer, programming, background vocals
- MNEK – vocal production
- Matt Zara – guitar
- Phil Tan – mixing
- Stuart Hawkes – mastering
Credits adapted from Qobuz.
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019–2020)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|11|artist=Mabel %5BUK%5D|song=Loneliest Time of Year|rowheader=true|accessdate=4 January 2020|refname=Flanders}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|57|date=20191220|rowheader=true|accessdate=21 December 2019}} |
| scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2019&dspp=52|title=Veckolista Singlar, vecka 52|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|accessdate=27 December 2019}}
| 78 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|7PbkUUccZGQ|Visualiser}}
{{Mabel}}
{{authority control}}
Category:British Christmas songs
Category:Polydor Records singles
Category:Songs written by Kamille (musician)
Category:Songs written by Mabel (singer)