"DJ Play a Christmas Song" is a song by American singer and actress Cher, released as the lead single of her 2023 album Christmas. The song was digitally released on October 6, 2023, by Warner. It was produced by Mark Taylor, with lyrics written by Sarah Hudson, Jessie Saint John, Brett McLaughlin, James Abrahart, Mark Schick and Lionel Crasta.[1] It became Cher's first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 21 years, peaking at number 90 on the chart.[2] It also was number-one on both the US BillboardDance/Electronic Digital Song Sales and Adult Contemporary charts, making Cher the only solo artist to have a number-one song on at least one of the charts in each of the past seven decades.
Composition
The song is performed in the key of G♭ major with a tempo of 134 beats per minute in common time. It follows a chord progression of G♭sus2 – B♭m7 – C♭(add 2) – D♭sus, with a key change to A♭ major for the last two choruses. Cher's vocals span from G♭3 to C5 in the song.[3] Cher once again applies Auto-Tuning to her vocals as she had previously done and made famous on her 1998 hit song, "Believe".[4]
Promotion and performances
Cher debuted "DJ Play a Christmas Song" on October 3, 2023, at Silencio nightclub in Paris, performing at a private event hosted by Rabanne and H&M.[5] She later performed the song during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23, 2023.[6] Cher performed "DJ Play a Christmas Song" on the German TV show Wetten, dass..? on November 25, 2023.[7] She taped her performance for the 91st annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting on November 19, 2023, and it aired on NBC on November 29, 2023. On December 1, 2023, Cher appeared on The Graham Norton Show, being interviewed and performing the single.[8][9] She performed the song on the finale of Strictly Come Dancing on December 16, 2023.[10] Cher also performed the song for the iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball[11] on December 8, 2023 at Madison Square Garden.[12][13]
Critical reception
The song received a positive review by Attitude's Jamie Tabberer, who gave the song four out of five stars, calling it a "cut-glass powerhouse pop-dance banger."[14]
Commercial performance
"DJ Play a Christmas Song" debuted at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated December 30, 2023, becoming Cher's first entry on the Hot 100 since "Song for the Lonely" in May 2002.[15] It rose to number 90 the following week.[16] The song entered the US BillboardDance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart at number three,[17] becoming her highest-peaking song on that chart.[18] Weeks later, it climbed to number one, making Cher the only solo artist to have had a number-one song on at least one Billboard chart in each of the past seven decades.[19] The song also topped the US BillboardAdult Contemporary chart,[20] making it her first single since "If I Could Turn Back Time" to top the chart[21] and spending four consecutive weeks at the top.[20]
In the UK, the song peaked at number 18 on the Official Singles Chart; the song was Cher's first single to reach the Top 20 since 2001's "The Music's No Good Without You". Additionally, Cher became the oldest female artist to have a top-40 hit with new material, as well as being the only solo artist to have a top-40 hit in the UK in seven consecutive decades.[22][23]
In Germany, the song entered the German Singles chart at number 92, and rose to number 62 the following week.[24] In Australia it entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number 45.[25]
On November 8, 2024, a new version with Kelly Clarkson was released.[48]
Background
Prior to the remix's release, Clarkson first covered the song as part of her Kellyoke segement on her talk show on December 19, 2023.[49] Cher responded to Clarkson's rendition on her X account claiming that Clarkson had "aced it".[50]
Commercial performance
The remix with Clarkson entered the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales at number three on November 23, 2024,[17][51] making it Clarkson's first entry on the chart.[52]
On November 15, 2024, a new version with Giovanni Zarrella was released.[54] The song was released as a single to Italian radio stations the same day.[55]
