Only Santa Knows
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Only Santa Knows
| type = studio
| artist = Delta Goodrem
| cover = Delta Goodrem - Only Santa Knows (Official Cover Art).jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=y|2020|11|13}}
| recorded = 2014 and 2020, 2021 (Deluxe)
| studio =
| genre = Christmas
| length = 41:59
| label = Sony Music
| producer =
- Delta Goodrem
- Mathew Copley
- Michael Hohnen
| prev_title = I Honestly Love You
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Bridge over Troubled Dreams
| next_year = 2021
| misc =
}}
Only Santa Knows is the sixth studio album and the first full-length Christmas album by Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem. It was released on 13 November 2020 through Sony Music Australia. It is Goodrem's second Christmas release, after 2012's Christmas EP. The album includes two original tracks and 11 covers, including "Silent Night" with Gurrumul, which was recorded in 2014 and included on The Spirit of Christmas 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/audio/2014/dec/23/popandrock-christmas|title=Silent Night by Delta Goodrem and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu|website=The Guardian|date=December 2014|access-date=13 November 2020}}
The album was reissued on 19 November 2021 in a deluxe edition format containing four new additional tracks.{{cite web|url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/cd-goodrem-delta-only-santa-knows-deluxe-edition-cd?queryID=4809a93f52db27a58c13a67d4ddf64a8&objectID=539560|title=Only Santa Knows (Deluxe Edition)|website=JB Hi-Fi|access-date=24 October 2021}}
Background
While working on an album of original material through 2019 and 2020 (which was later confirmed as her 2021 seventh studio album Bridge over Troubled Dreams), Only Santa Knows was released on 12 November 2020 with no prior announcement. On Twitter, Goodrem stated: "I hope the music brings you joy and puts us all in good spirits regardless of everything going on around us."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/delta-goodrem-drops-surprise-christmas-album-only-santa-knows-featuring-gurrumul-and-olivia-newton-john-2815451|title=Delta Goodrem drops surprise Christmas album 'Only Santa Knows', featuring Gurrumul and Olivia Newton-John|website=NME|date=12 November 2020|access-date=12 November 2020}}
Following the surprise release of the album, Goodrem explained that the idea for a Christmas album had begun "midway through the year" and that she "went to storage, grabbed all the Christmas decorations, took them to the studio and started getting into the spirit".{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/the-morning-show/performances/delta-goodrem-performs-and-talks-about-new-christmas-album-only-santa-knows-c-1748014|title=Delta Goodrem performs 'Only Santa Knows' and chats about new Christmas album|website=7News|date=16 December 2020|access-date=24 December 2020}}
Reception
In a review for Only Santa Knows, website Stack referred to Goodrem as a "traditionalist" and opined that "opening on an uber-haunting version of the already spooky Carol of the Bells, it’s immediately clear Delta Goodrem knows what makes the Christmas classics tick".{{cite web|url=https://stack.com.au/music/album-review/delta-goodrem-only-santa-knows-review/|title=Delta Goodrem, 'Only Santa Knows' review|website=Stack.com.au|date=23 November 2020|access-date=24 December 2020}} Thomas Bleach commented "reimagining some Christmas classics through her Delta Goodrem musical lens, she's delivered some very uplifting renditions of "The Little Drummer Boy", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "White Christmas" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". She even recorded her own version of Joni Mitchell's "River" which over time has become a Christmas cult favourite. But on top of that, she also wrote a brand new Christmas song which embodies the importance of believing during this time of year."{{cite web|url=https://thomasbleach.com/2020/12/09/interview-delta-goodrem/|title=INTERVIEW: Delta Goodrem|website=Thomas Bleach|date=9 December 2020|access-date=24 December 2020}}
Only Santa Knows debuted on the ARIA Albums Chart at number five,{{cite web|url= https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2020-11-23|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums for week of 23 November 2020|website=www.aria.com.au|date=23 November 2020|access-date=19 December 2020}} the lowest opening week of Goodrem's career. In its fifth charting week, the album rose to number two.
Promotion
To support the album, Goodrem announced her own Christmas special Christmas with Delta, which aired on Nine Network on 12 December 2020,{{cite web|url= https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/latest/delta-goodrem-christmas-special-what-to-expect-exclusive/14f5ba6e-d576-4f0c-b162-18d8601ed982|title=Delta Goodrem reveals what to expect from her upcoming TV special Christmas with Delta|website=www.nine.com.au|date=9 December 2020|access-date=11 December 2020}} to a viewership of 380,000.{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/christmas-with-delta-tv-ratings/|title=Christmas with Delta brings 380,000 metro viewers to Nine|website=The Music Network|date=December 2020|access-date=24 December 2020}} She then did a follow-up in 2021 in Luna Park Melbourne 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/latest/christmas-with-delta-goodrem-special-2021-interview/0adae765-4ca6-4397-a76f-2b178b6574a3 | title=Delta Goodrem returns for a very special Christmas event }}{{cite web | url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/christmas/celebrity-christmas/delta-goodrem-christmas-show-neighbours-70218 | title=EXCLUSIVE: Delta Goodrem unveils her exciting new Christmas show and reveals how Neighbours will always be a part of her | date=5 December 2021 }} She did her third concert with tribute to Olivia Newton-John in 2022.{{cite web | url=https://honey.nine.com.au/latest/delta-goodrem-interview-exclusive-best-selfie-instagram-photos/698035c9-2721-4350-b9dd-feb8c28833ae | title=Best Selfie: Delta Goodrem on the photo that proves she's always been 'Christmas crazy' | date=8 December 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.nineforbrands.com.au/media-release/make-your-christmas-divine-with-delta/ | title=Make your Christmas divine with Delta }}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Only Santa Knows track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 41:49
| title1 = Carol of the Bells
| writer1 = {{Flatlist|
}}
| extra1 = {{Flatlist|
- Delta Goodrem
- Matthew Copley
}}
| length1 = 0:38
| title2 = Only Santa Knows
| writer2 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
- Marla Altschuler
}}
| extra2 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length2 = 3:04
| title3 = The Little Drummer Boy
| writer3 = {{Flatlist|
- Harry Simeone
- Henry Onorati
- Katherine Kennicott Davis
}}
| extra3 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length3 = 3:33
| title4 = Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
| writer4 = {{Flatlist|
}}
| extra4 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length4 = 2:58
| title5 = Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
| writer5 = John Marks
| extra5 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length5 = 3:37
| title6 = River
| writer6 = Joni Mitchell
| extra6 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length6 = 4:01
| title7 = Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
| writer7 = Marks
| extra7 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length7 = 2:47
| title8 = White Christmas
| writer8 = Irving Berlin
| extra8 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length8 = 3:29
| title9 = Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
| writer9 = {{Flatlist|
}}
| extra9 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length9 = 4:13
| title10 = Deck the Halls
| writer10 = {{Flatlist|
}}
| extra10 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length10 = 2:46
| title11 = Grown-Up Christmas List
| writer11 = {{Flatlist|
}}
| extra11 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length11 = 3:57
| title12 = Silent Night
| note12 = featuring Gurrumul
| writer12 = {{Flatlist|
- Franz Xaver Gruber
- Joseph Mohr
}}
| extra12 = Michael Hohnen
| length12 = 4:05
| title13 = Merry Christmas to You
| note13 = featuring Olivia Newton-John
| writer13 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| extra13 = {{Flatlist|
- Goodrem
- Copley
}}
| length13 = 2:45
}}
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length =
| headline = Only Santa Knows (Deluxe Edition)
| title14 = Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
| writer14 = {{flat list|
}}
| extra14 =
| length14 = 3.23
| title15 = Sleigh Ride
| writer15 = {{flat list|
}}
| extra15 =
| length15 =3.13
| title16 = Jingle Bell Rock
| writer16 = {{flat list|
- Joe Beal
- Jim Boothe
}}
| extra16 =
| length16 = 2.23
| title17 = Frosty the Snowman
| writer17 = {{flat list|
}}
| extra17 =
| length17 = 3.21
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for Only Santa Knows |
| scope="col"| Chart (2020-2022)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Delta Goodrem|album=Only Santa Knows|rowheader=true|access-date=19 December 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for Only Santa Knows |
| scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2020/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2020|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=15 January 2021}}
| 50 |
{{col-end}}