# 8 Days of Christmas (song)

"8 Days of Christmas" is a song recorded by American girl group Destiny's Child for their Christmas album of the same title (2001). Written by group members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland along with Errol McCalla Jr., who handled its production, it is a Christmas-themed song with heavy R&B and dance pop elements.
The song was first released in November 2000 on the reissue of the group's second studio album The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and the US maxi CD single for their song "Independent Women Part I" (2000), before being released as the lead single from 8 Days of Christmas on December 16, 2001, by Columbia Records.

## Background

"8 Days of Christmas" was written by Destiny's Child band members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland along with Errol "Poppi" McCalla, Jr., while production was helmed by Knowles, her father Mathew and McCalla. The song contains re-sung lyrics from the traditional Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as well as replayed element from "Jingle Bells" as written by James Pierpont. Knowles stated during its video premiere at the BET countdown format 106 & Park in 2001: "Actually, we wrote the song two years ago, when we went in the studio to do some Christmas something. That's what started the idea of doing a Christmas album."

## Reception

The song received general favorable reviews, although it has been reevaluated in the years since its publication.
Jordyn Beazley of The Guardian wrote that even if "It was released 20 years ago" the meaning of the song "has only got better with age". Raffy Ermac of Pride Magazine described it as " a fun, sexy spin on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in which "instead of true love giving you useless things, [...] Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle are getting showered with gifts ." Maura Johnston of Vulture wrote that the song "shows off Destiny’s Child innovative approach to pop-R&B", prising the "dizzying pre-chorus and jubilant refrain to the original’s day-by-day rundown" and the "collective prowess on a fluttering bridge".
Time Out listed the song as the 22nd on its list of "The 65 Best Christmas Songs of All Time", defining it "A fine achievement" with "an injection of sass and unabashed materialism", which "turned a cosy old holiday favourite into a bumping R&B Christmas carol for our times". Cosmopolitan listed the song as the 11th of "The 75 Best Christmas Songs of All Time"

## Music video

The accompanying music video for "8 Days of Christmas" was directed by Sanaa Hamri. It shows all three members appearing in Santa Claus-inspired clothing at a toy store on a snowy day. Throughout the video, the group shops for various gifts and in between cuts and Knowles rides on a carousel. At the end of the video, many children rush into the toy store where the group gives out gifts.
The music video is featured on the DualDisc edition of 8 Days of Christmas.

## Track listings and formats
### "Independent Women" US CD maxi-single

* "Independent Women" (Part 1 – Album Version) – 3:41
* "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Drum Dub Mix) – 5:30
* "Independent Women" (Victor Calderone Club Mix) – 9:36
* "Independent Women" (Maurice's Independent Man Remix) – 7:30
* "8 Days of Christmas" – 3:29

### CD single

* "8 Days of Christmas" (Album Version) – 3:29
* "Emotion" (Album Version) – 3:56

### US CD promo

* "8 Days of Christmas" (LP Version) – 3:29
* "8 Days of Christmas" (Instrumental) – 3:29
* "8 Days of Christmas" (A Cappella) – 3:29

### Brazil CD promo

* "8 Days of Christmas" (Album Version)
* "8 Days of Christmas" (Radio Edit)
* "8 Days of Christmas" (BCDj's Holiday Mix)

### European CD single

* "8 Days of Christmas" (Album Version) – 3:29
* "Emotion" (Album Version) – 3:56

## Charts

Weekly chart performance for "8 Days of Christmas" :
| Chart (2001–2020) | Peak position |
| Australia (ARIA) | 68 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 87 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 7 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 58 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 185 |
| UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) | 9 |
| UK Audio Streaming (OCC) | 75 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 57 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard) | 54 |

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Other versions

In 2023 American singer Coco Jones released a covered the song for Apple Music.