Can't Wait 'Til Christmas
Encyclopedia
"Can't Wait 'Til Christmas" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter
Hikaru Utada. It was released on Utada's second Japanese compilation album, Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
, on November 24, 2010.
she has written. The song is a piano
backed slow paced ballad, sung in a higher register to the majority of Utada's songs. Other than piano, subtle background sounds are occasionally added into the instrument backing, such as occasional cymbal
sounds. The lyrics describe a person in winter on Christmas Eve
, who cannot wait for Christmas Day, however, asks why people want to chase after tomorrows instead of cherishing what they have now. The protagonist of the song has days filled with nothing to do at Christmas time, and feels that she wants to be close to her lover. She chides her lover for trying to act cool in front of her, but feels the distance between them growing less. She wants her lover to not promise her things for the future, and instead to listen to what she feels right in that moment.
The song was written for fans who expressed an interest in a Hikaru Utada-written Christmas song. Utada felt the shiest about this song being released out of the new songs written for Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
, as she had been trying to write a Christmas song for 1–2 years, but could not find the proper inspiration. Utada believed that the writing style used in "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas" is different to that of the rest of the new songs.
Nex, her second successive Pepsi Nex commercial, after "Hymne à l'amour (Ai no Anthem)" in October. This is the first time Pepsi has used an original song in its recent advertisement campaign in Japan, as all of the other songs have been covers of Western songs. The commercials began airing from December 4 onwards. The commercials feature Utada singing the song in an outdoor wintery landscape, lying against an oversized Pepsi Nex bottle.
The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life
in December 2010.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Hikaru Utada. It was released on Utada's second Japanese compilation album, Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 is Japanese pop singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada's second compilation album, released on November 24, 2010, the same day as her Universal-released English language compilation album, Utada the Best...
, on November 24, 2010.
Composition and inspiration
The song was written by Hikaru Utada, and is the first Christmas songChristmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
she has written. The song is a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
backed slow paced ballad, sung in a higher register to the majority of Utada's songs. Other than piano, subtle background sounds are occasionally added into the instrument backing, such as occasional cymbal
Cymbal
Cymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
sounds. The lyrics describe a person in winter on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, who cannot wait for Christmas Day, however, asks why people want to chase after tomorrows instead of cherishing what they have now. The protagonist of the song has days filled with nothing to do at Christmas time, and feels that she wants to be close to her lover. She chides her lover for trying to act cool in front of her, but feels the distance between them growing less. She wants her lover to not promise her things for the future, and instead to listen to what she feels right in that moment.
The song was written for fans who expressed an interest in a Hikaru Utada-written Christmas song. Utada felt the shiest about this song being released out of the new songs written for Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2
Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 is Japanese pop singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada's second compilation album, released on November 24, 2010, the same day as her Universal-released English language compilation album, Utada the Best...
, as she had been trying to write a Christmas song for 1–2 years, but could not find the proper inspiration. Utada believed that the writing style used in "Can't Wait 'Til Christmas" is different to that of the rest of the new songs.
Promotion
The song was used in an advertising commercial campaign for PepsiPepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
Nex, her second successive Pepsi Nex commercial, after "Hymne à l'amour (Ai no Anthem)" in October. This is the first time Pepsi has used an original song in its recent advertisement campaign in Japan, as all of the other songs have been covers of Western songs. The commercials began airing from December 4 onwards. The commercials feature Utada singing the song in an outdoor wintery landscape, lying against an oversized Pepsi Nex bottle.
The song was performed during Utada's two date concert series Wild Life
Wild Life (concert)
WILD LIFE was Japanese-American singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada's final concert tour before her scheduled hiatus from 2011. Performing only two dates at the Yokohama Arena, Japan on December 8 and 9 2010.-Set list:-Tickets:...
in December 2010.
Chart rankings
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay |
3 |
| Billboard Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
2 |
| RIAJ Digital Track Chart RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... weekly top 100 |
1 |
Certifications
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads | 100,000+ (Gold) |
| RIAJ PC downloads | 100,000+ (Gold) |