XMAS (song)
| "XMAS" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kylie Minogue | ||||
| from the album Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) | ||||
| Released | 5 November 2025 | |||
| Length | 3:16 | |||
| Label | Darenote | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Kylie Minogue singles chronology | ||||
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"XMAS" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was written by Duck Blackwell, Luke Fitton, Richard Stannard and Minogue for the 2025 Fully Wrapped reissue of her first holiday album, Kylie Christmas (2015), with production by Blackwell and Stannard. An Amazon Music Original, it was released exclusively as a single through Amazon's digital music store on 5 November 2025.
Development and writing
[edit]"XMAS" was written by Minogue along with Duck Blackwell, Luke Fitton, and Richard Stannard, with production by Blackwell and Stannard.[1] In an interview with The Sun, Minogue stated that the song originated in 2015 during a summer visit to Soho House in Berlin, shortly after completing work on Kylie Christmas.[2] Ideas for "XMAS" emerged on the club's terrace after "a couple of glasses of wine."[2] The concept developed as a playful twist on American disco group Village People's 1978 hit single "YMCA," reimagined as "XMAS," and the chorus remained unused for a decade before being revisited.[2] Recorded in three days between her 2025 Tension Tour, Mingoue remarked in an interview with Scott Mills's Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, that "XMAS" was the song she "needed to exercise. I needed to get it out. It's been 10 years in the making."[3]
Critical reception
[edit]Classic Pop editor Annie Zaelski called "XMAS" a "peppy synth pop" track and an "undeniable earworm," that was "leaning on tricks like spelling out catchphrases rather than more clever gambits."[4] Daniel Welsh of The Huffington Post found that "XMAS" was "a nice enough – though still pretty naff – festive ditty that will no doubt particularly appeal to little ones, leaning into trends laid out in recent hits for acts like Bruno Mars and Chappell Roan, complete with its own TikTok dance." He argued, however, that it sounded like a boardroom-engineered bid for a chart hit.
Commercial performance
[edit]XMAS debuted at number 64 on the UK Singles Chart in the week ending 4 December 2025.[1] It has since peaked at number 24.[1]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 24 |
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 5 November 2025 |
|
Darenote | [1] |
| 12 December 2025 | [6][7][8] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "XMAS (Amazon Music Original)". Amazon.co.uk. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ^ a b c Hardwick, Jack (30 November 2025). "Kylie Minogue reveals 'fantasy' Christmas tradition she's NEVER tried as she lifts lid on festive plans". The Sun. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ^ Garnsworthy, Jenny (5 November 2025). "Kylie Minogue announces 10th anniversary Christmas album featuring new song". The Independent. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ^ Zaelski, Annie. "Stop Press: Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped)". Classic Pop. Retrieved 9 December 2025 – via Threads.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "XMAS (Amazon Music Original) [Limited Edition CD Single]". Amazon.co.uk. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ^ "XMAS (Amazon Music Original) [Limited Edition Gold 7" Single]". Amazon.co.uk. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ^ "XMAS (Amazon Music Original) [Limited Edition Gold 7" Single]". Amazon.co.uk. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.