Step into Christmas
{{short description|1973 Christmas song by Elton John}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Step into Christmas
| image = Step into christmas US single 1973 side-A.png
| alt = side-A label
| caption = One of side-A labels of the 1973 US single
| type = single
| artist = Elton John
| album =
| B-side = Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)
| released = {{start date|1973|11|23|df=yes}}
| recorded = 11 November 1973
| studio = Morgan (London)
| genre = Pop rock, Christmas music
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Gus Dudgeon
| prev_title = Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
| prev_year = 1973
| next_title = Bennie and the Jets
| next_year = 1974
| misc = {{External music video|header=Official video|{{YouTube|IbRtGMm96F8|"Step into Christmas"}}}}
}}
"Step into Christmas" is a Christmas song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. Released in November 1973 with "Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" as the B-side, the song peaked at No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart, reaching a new peak of No. 8 on the same chart in 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/step-into-christmas/|title=Step into Christmas {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=28 December 2019}} In the United States, the single reached No. 56 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19731229.html |title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending DECEMBER 29, 1973 |access-date=2009-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001215137/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19731229.html |archive-date=1 October 2012}} and No. 1 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart.Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–1996 (1997):316{{refn|group=note|In years when Billboard published a Christmas Singles chart, Christmas singles were not listed on the Hot 100 chart.Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–1996 (1997):xi}}
"Step into Christmas" was later included as a bonus track on the 1995 remastered reissue of the album Caribou. It also appears on the albums Elton John's Christmas Party, Rare Masters, To Be Continued, Diamonds, and various Christmas themed compilations. Two versions with different vocals are known to exist: the original single mix and a version recorded for John's 1973 performance of "Step into Christmas" on The Gilbert O'Sullivan Show television programme (which featured his friend and lyricist Bernie Taupin standing in for Ray Cooper on percussion).{{YouTube|QWMqfKjJoKc|Elton John – Step into Christmas (Gilbert O’Sullivan Show, 1973)}}
In 2009, "Step into Christmas" was listed as the ninth-most-played Christmas song of the 2000s in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.prsformusic.com/aboutus/press/latestpressreleases/Pages/MariahisourChristmasNumber1.aspx |title=Mariah Is Our Christmas Number 1 |website=Prsformusic.com |date=22 December 2009 |accessdate=8 October 2016}} In December 2023, the song was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales and streams of 1,800,000 units. In September 2021, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales and streams of 500,000 units.
Recording
According to liner notes about the song (in Rare Masters and Elton John's Christmas Party), the track and its B-side, both produced by Gus Dudgeon, were recorded during a session on 11 November 1973 at London's Morgan Studios,[https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/diamond-moments-step-into-christmas|Diamond Moments: 'Step Into Christmas'] Retrieved 19 December 2017 which was owned by drummer Barry Morgan, who had played on several of John's early albums. "Step into Christmas" was mixed to imitate the work of producer Phil Spector, using compression and utilizing his trademark wall of sound technique. According to both John and Taupin, this was an homage to Christmas songs by Spector-produced groups such as the Ronettes.
Music video
The music video produced to promote the single features the band playing the song in a recording studio, with John playing at a piano adorned with a red feather boa. It is notable for its cameo appearance of Taupin, who is seen briefly during the song's bridge playing tubular bells, although they are played on the track by percussionist Ray Cooper. John is also seen playfully holding his supporter's card for Watford F.C., the football club which he would later own. Later in the video John is seeing playing a guitar alongside drummer Nigel Olsson and then embracing him, and briefly with drum sticks inserted into the ends of his mouth.
In 2024, over 50 years after the song's original release, the video was remade as a behind-the-scenes reimagining starring Cara Delevingne as John. Delevingne wears an outfit identical to the one worn by John in the original video.{{cite web |title=Cara Delevingne plays Elton John for Step Into Christmas video remake |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/18/cara-delevingne-plays-elton-john-step-into-christmas-video-remake |website=The Guardian |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=18 December 2024}} Delevingne and John had wanted to work together and thought of the idea while at Glastonbury Festival 2024. John stated: "When someone suggested the idea of her playing me in a riff on the 1973 'Step Into Christmas' video, I just thought it was the perfect opportunity. Thank God Cara thought the same, because it came out great."
Chart performance
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Step into Christmas"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1973|certyear=2023|access-date=29 December 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Step into Christmas|artist=Elton John|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1973|certyear=2023|access-date=21 December 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Step into Christmas|artist=Elton John|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|id=13404|access-date=22 January 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|note=(since 2009)|type=single|artist=Elton John|title=Step into Christmas|relyear=1973|certyear=2024|award=Gold|access-date=24 December 2024|id=13783}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Elton John|title=Step into Christmas|award=Platinum|relyear=1973|certyear=2025|access-date=9 January 2025|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Step into Christmas|artist=Elton John|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|id=14079-733-1|access-date=15 December 2023|refname="BPI"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Step into Christmas|artist=Elton John|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1973|certyear=2021|access-date=5 October 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Notes
{{Reflist|group=note}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Elton John songs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Step into Christmas}}
Category:British Christmas songs
Category:Songs with music by Elton John
Category:Songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin