"The Christmas Shoes"
Single by NewSong
from the album Sheltering Tree
Released2000
Recorded1999–2000
Genre
Length4:50
LabelBenson
Songwriter(s)Leonard Ahlstrom, Eddie Carswell, Isaiah "DC" Daniel
Producer(s)Chris Harris, Isaiah "DC" Daniel

"The Christmas Shoes" is a Christmas-themed song by the Christian vocal group NewSong. It was written by NewSong group members Eddie Carswell and Leonard Ahlstrom, and St. Louis syndicated radio personality Isaiah "DC" Daniel (of Steve & DC).[1] The song was released through Benson Records as a bonus track on their 2000 album Sheltering Tree, at the urging of DC, who also co-produced the tune in the summer of 2000.[1] It peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart[2] spent one week at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 42 on the Hot 100 chart.[3]

Content

The song recounts the events experienced by a narrator completing the last of his gift shopping on Christmas Eve. He is waiting in a checkout line but is "not really in the Christmas mood" when he notices a young boy in front of him who wants to buy a pair of shoes for his terminally-ill mother: the boy tells the cashier he wants her to appear beautiful when she meets Jesus. Since he is short on money, the narrator ends up paying for the shoes, which reminds him of the true meaning of Christmas.

Cover versions and other media

One year after NewSong released the song, country music girl group 3 of Hearts released their own version, which peaked at No. 39 on the country chart.[4]

In 2002, Donna VanLiere produced a novelization of the song which was published in 2002 by St. Martin's Press. The book became a made-for-TV movie released in December 2002.[5]

In 2005 Dutch singer René Froger recorded the song for his Pure Christmas album.

Pop-punk band FM Static released a cover of this song in 2008.[6][7]

Reception

"Christmas Shoes" frequently polarizes audiences.[8] While it is a staple of radio stations during the Christmas season,[8] it is often criticized for exploiting poverty to generate a sentimental message and for the narrator's self-congratulatory tone after he gives the boy money.[9] The song has been described as poverty porn.[10] Christian commentators have also criticized it for a "malevolent portrayal of God" who "inflicts needless suffering on others to teach some jerk the true meaning of Christmas."[11]

The song has appeared on various "worst Christmas song" lists.[12][13][14][15][9] In 2011, the song was named "The Worst Christmas Song Ever" by Jezebel.com, following a weeks-long survey of commented votes.[16]

Patton Oswalt devoted part of his stand-up performance to the song at the Lisner Auditorium in November 2009, which has since become famous.[12][17]

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "NEWSONG". cbs.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2007.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 180.
  4. ↑ Whitburn 2008, p. 419
  5. ↑ "The Christmas Shoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (December 15, 2008). "A very special Christmas list for fans of all musical genres". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  7. ↑ Fryberger, Scott. "X Christmas (Various Artists)". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Fallon, Kevin (December 24, 2012). "'Christmas Shoes,' The Holiday Song You Either Love or Love to Hate". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Jeremiah-Tucker (December 17, 2009). "'Christmas Shoes' is the worst holiday song". Joplin (Missouri) Globe. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  10. ↑ Brennan, Caleb (December 25, 2020). "Operation Santa Is a Horror Story About American Poverty". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ Senechal, Isabella (December 18, 2019). "These are the worst (religious) Christmas songs of all time". America Magazine. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Gael Fashingbauer Cooper (December 17, 2012). "Is 'Christmas Shoes' the worst holiday song ever?". Today. NBC. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  13. ↑ Roy, Shalini (December 11, 2012). "Worst Christmas songs: The 10 most annoying holiday hits". Toronto City News. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  14. ↑ Janda, Greg (December 3, 2012). "Sounds of the Season: Five Terrible Holiday Songs". Channel 5 (NBC), Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  15. ↑ Moose (December 2012). "#3 of the 25 Worst Christmas Songs...Ever". 96.3 JACK-FM (Nashville). Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  16. ↑ "We've Found The Worst Christmas Song Ever". Jezebel.com. December 21, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  17. ↑ "A Patton Oswalt Christmas". The A.V. Club. November 24, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "American single certifications – Newsong – The Christmas Shoes". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
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