The Christmas Shoes (song)
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| "The Christmas Shoes" | |
|---|---|
| Single by NewSong | |
| from the album Sheltering Tree | |
| Released | 2000 |
| Recorded | 1999 - 2000 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:50 |
| Label | Benson |
| Writer(s) | Leonard Ahlstrom, Eddie Carswell |
"The Christmas Shoes" is a Christmas-themed song by the Christian vocal group NewSong. The song was released through Benson Records as a bonus track on their 2000 album Sheltering Tree,[1] and it reached No. 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[2] "The Christmas Shoes" spent one week at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 42 on the Hot 100 chart.[3] It was written by Eddie Carswell and Leonard Ahlstrom.[1]
Content
The song recounts the events experienced by a narrator completing the last of his gift-shopping on Christmas Eve.
In the checkout aisle, a young boy is ahead of him, wishing to purchase a pair of expensive shoes for his terminally ill mother, explaining to the cashier that he hasn't much time remaining before she finally succumbs to the undisclosed illness and that he wants her to appear presentable before Jesus. However, he lacks enough money to pay for the shoes.
The narrator ends up paying for the shoes, to the boy's delight.
The song closes on the note that the experience has permanently changed the narrator, reflecting on the true meaning of the Christmas season.
Cover versions and other media
A year after NewSong's version, 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.[citation needed]
Pop-punk band FM Static released a cover of this song in 2008.[citation needed]
Criticism
The song has appeared on various "worst Christmas song" lists.[5][6][7][8][9] In 2011, the song was named "The Worst Christmas Song Ever" by Jezebel.com, following a weeks-long survey of commenter votes.[10]
In November 29, 2010, stand up comedian Patton Oswalt did a part of his set highlighting how the song could be considered sadistic.
In December 24, 2008, internet critic Nostalgia Chick named this song the most disturbing and inescapable Christmas song.[11] Three years later, she wrote a review of the TV movie.[12]
See also
References
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- ↑ Whitburn 2008, p. 419
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