Grown-Up Christmas List
Encyclopedia
"Grown-Up Christmas List" (sometimes titled "My Grown-Up Christmas List") is a Christmas song composed by David Foster
(music) and Linda Thompson-Jenner (lyrics), and originally recorded by Foster (with singer Natalie Cole
on vocals) for his 1990 non-holiday album River of Love. Though it was also released as a single, the song was not a hit upon its first appearance. In 1992, however, Amy Grant
recorded a version for her second holiday album, Home for Christmas
. Grant's version featured altered lyrics and an additional verse that Grant penned herself. Her record label at the time, A&M Records
, promoted the song as the second single from the album, and it received substantially more radio airplay than the original version by Foster.
The song is about a visit with Santa Claus by an adult who does not ask Santa for anything material for Christmas, but rather nothing but good things for all humanity.
The original version by David Foster with Natalie Cole also appeared on Foster's 1993 holiday set, The Christmas Album.
In 2003, former American Idol
winner Kelly Clarkson
performed "Grown-Up Christmas List" on the show's Christmas special, which resulted in renewed airplay of the song during the holiday season that year.
released a music video for Amy Grant's recording of the song, featuring an appearance by Grant's son, Matthew Chapman. Grant's version is the one most people associate with the song.
The 2000 version by Monica also contains a second verse penned by Thompson-Jenner. Kelly Clarkson's 2003 version was the first version to make any of Billboard
's singles chart; her rendition peaked at no. 17 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart during the Christmas holiday season of 2003.
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
(music) and Linda Thompson-Jenner (lyrics), and originally recorded by Foster (with singer Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
on vocals) for his 1990 non-holiday album River of Love. Though it was also released as a single, the song was not a hit upon its first appearance. In 1992, however, Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
recorded a version for her second holiday album, Home for Christmas
Home for Christmas (Amy Grant album)
Home for Christmas is the 13th album by Christian music and pop music singer Amy Grant, released in 1992.Home for Christmas is Amy Grant's second holiday album, the first being 1983's A Christmas Album...
. Grant's version featured altered lyrics and an additional verse that Grant penned herself. Her record label at the time, A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, promoted the song as the second single from the album, and it received substantially more radio airplay than the original version by Foster.
The song is about a visit with Santa Claus by an adult who does not ask Santa for anything material for Christmas, but rather nothing but good things for all humanity.
The original version by David Foster with Natalie Cole also appeared on Foster's 1993 holiday set, The Christmas Album.
In 2003, former American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
winner Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
performed "Grown-Up Christmas List" on the show's Christmas special, which resulted in renewed airplay of the song during the holiday season that year.
Music video
A&M RecordsA&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
released a music video for Amy Grant's recording of the song, featuring an appearance by Grant's son, Matthew Chapman. Grant's version is the one most people associate with the song.
List of notable recordings
The song has been frequently covered by other artists, including:- Bryan Duncan (1995)
- Chuck NegronChuck NegronCharles "Chuck" Negron is an American singer-songwriter, best known as one of the three lead vocalists in the band Three Dog Night, which he helped to form in 1968.-Biography:...
(1996) - B.J. Thomas (1997)
- Donny OsmondDonny OsmondDonald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
(1998) - MonicaMonica (singer)Monica Denise Brown , and professionally known as Monica, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, Monica began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir, by the time she was ten...
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(2006) - Ayaka Hirahara (2006)
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The 2000 version by Monica also contains a second verse penned by Thompson-Jenner. Kelly Clarkson's 2003 version was the first version to make any of 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...
's singles chart; her rendition peaked at no. 17 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart during the Christmas holiday season of 2003.
Track listing (Amy Grant single)
- "Grown Up Christmas List – Edit 3:44"
- "Grown Up Christmas List – LP Version 5:00"