good Behind the christmas hits withdrew Savage, the only christmas album by a male singer to debut at number one turns 10 years old this year and it's a Canadian who did it.
I'm Drew Savage and this is the story behind the christmas hits mistletoe by Justin Bieber exactly 10 years ago, one of Canada's most beloved music exports released his first christmas album Under the mistletoe, While Justin had released to remix album since his debut, my world 2.0 in 2010 under the Mistletoe was just his second full length studio album.
These were the early days of Bieber mania, not the global superstar is now, but with a huge vocal and loyal fan base that was excited to hear what Justin's christmas music would sound like in an interview with MTV News, Bieber said quote, I'm really excited, the song is really catchy, I know all my fans are going to love it, it's something that I feel they're going to be singing every christmas for the album itself, Bieber went heavy on originals and
recorded seven new songs once again from his MTV interview quote, we wanted to make enough new songs for people to hear new music and not just hear some classics, there's a lot of new stuff on there along with that new stuff. Justin put his own spin on eight classics, including Silent Night and his duet with Mariah Carey
on. All I Want for christmas is you mistletoe which Bieber's jokes should not be confused with the album title under the mistletoe was the biggest hit of these new songs and was co written by producer Adam messinger and Nasri who'd go on to become the lead singer and guitarist for the band Magic. The song premiered on Ryan Seacrest's kiis FM Morning Show in L. A. And brought everything you needed in a christmas song,
illusions to roasting chestnuts, christmas, lights and snow. Even a reference to the three wise men following the star as a metaphor for Justin following his heart. Mistletoe is a pop R and B infused love song with a splash of reggae where Justin lets his love know, he'd give all the christmas cliches in the world to kiss her under the mistletoe Upon release critics praised the more mature sound coming from Bieber was very much thought of as a teen icon
at the time. The video, which premiered on MTV on the same day as the song, Hit radio was directed by roman White. This was the second time Bieber worked with the director who also helmed the video for Justin's One less lonely girl roman also directed Taylor Swift's You belong with me video, one that Justin specifically mentioned as one he admires that was before the bridges between the two superstars were burned during her feud with Justin's manager
scooter braun. The video for mistletoe tells a simple but sweet story of young love and Justin's video crush being unsure of his feelings for her to walk through a christmas market together and just when the girl thinks that Justin's forgotten about her, she finds a gift from Justin on her bed and a note asking her to meet him outside the to connect and spoilers kiss under the mistletoe with snow softly falling around them.
Like all the best wrong comes by New Year's Day 2012, just 2.5 months after mistletoe was released, it had sold an estimated 722,000 digital downloads, the most ever for a christmas song in one calendar year. The most recent sales stats show that mistletoe has reached platinum status in Canada and has been certified three times platinum in the US. As for the album itself, under the mistletoe debuted at number one on the billboard album chart, selling 210,000 copies
in its first week. It's the only christmas album by a male artist to ever debut at number one on that chart. It also became Justin Bieber's third number one album at only 17 years old, making him the first solo act to earn three number ones before their 18th birthday and his love of christmas is what got them there. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more stories behind the christmas hits