Christmas EveL (song)

2021 single by Stray Kids "Christmas EveL"Single by Stray Kidsfrom the EP Christmas EveL LanguageKoreanEnglishSpanishA-side"Winter Falls"ReleasedNovember 29, 2021 (2021-11-29)StudioJYPE, SeoulGenreHip hopLength2:59LabelJYPComposers Bang Chan Changbin Han HotSauce Lyricists Bang Chan Changbin Han Stray Kids singles chronology

"Scars" (2021)

"Christmas EveL" / "Winter Falls" (2021)

"Maniac" (2022) Music video"Christmas EveL" on YouTube

"Christmas EveL" (pronounced "Christmas evil") is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It was released on November 29, 2021, as a title track and dual lead single alongside "Winter Falls" from their single album of the same name, through JYP Entertainment and distributed by Dreamus, which marketed as "holiday special single" as part of Season Song project. Written by 3Racha (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) and HotSauce, the song expresses a different point of view about Christmas, rather than romance and warmth with a funky hip hop sound.

[edit] On November 11, Stray Kids announce to release the single album Christmas EveL, scheduled for release on November 29, 2021. The official track listing was posted on November 19, serving "Christmas EveL" as a lead single, alongside "Winter Falls". Two music video teasers of "Christmas EveL" were released on November 20, and 27, respectively. "Christmas EveL" was released simultaneously as the single album on November 29. Stray Kids will not promote the song on any music program, as a thank-you gift to their fans.

[edit] "Christmas EveL" is a funky hip hop song written by the group's in-house production team 3Racha, consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, and co-composed with Hot Sauce in the key of F minor, 140 beats per minute with a running time of 2 minutes and 59 seconds. Lyrically, "Christmas EveL" said about Christmas from a different point of view, Bang Chan said the song "contains our naughty side and energy", while Changbin "wanted to express the reason why naughty boys looked at Christmas differently, rather than a romantic and warm Christmas". Elite Daily described the title track as an "anti-Christmas song", described the downsides of the holiday.

[edit] "Christmas EveL" debuted at number 114 on the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart. The song landed at number 51 on the Billboard Japan Download Songs and number 25 on Singapore's RIAS Top Regional Chart. The song entered the US Billboard World Digital Song Sales at number 10 and Hungary's Singles Top 40 at number 23. "Christmas EveL" debuted at number 197 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S.

[edit] An accompanying music video of "Christmas EveL" was premiered alongside the single on November 29, 2021, preceded by two teaser videos. The music video surpassed 100 million views on November 5, 2022, becoming Stray Kids' eighth music video to reach this milestone after "God's Menu", "Back Door", "Miroh", "My Pace", "Thunderous", "Maniac", and "Hellevator". Directed by Lee Hye-sung, the music video begins with Stray Kids in a traffic jam and listening to radio news. The news was presented that Santa Claus lost his voice due to the attack of the "sound monster", who appeared in the Noeasy trailer, and he will hire substitutes, who are Stray Kids, to spread joy to children instead of him. They go to a convenience store to find presents to deliver to the children and make a mess. Later, Bang Chan pressed the button to warp everyone again and left the store. A pink gift box fell from the sky and transformed into a magical pink truck. They threw the gift boxes out of the truck to deliver the children while it was driving. Suddenly, the truck got into an accident and skidded off a cliff to a sink. They crawled out from under the sink and dropped presents under the Christmas tree in the house, but the girl opened the door and saw them by chance. They introduced themself as Stray Kids, but she screamed that "You're not Santa." Later, Stray Kids and the girl played together. It ends with Stray Kids leaving the store and receiving the text to work instead of Santa Claus again.

[edit] A year after the song release, Stray Kids gave the debut performance of "Christmas EveL" at 2022 2022 SBS Gayo Daejeon on December 24, 2022, alongside "Case 143" and "24 to 25".

[edit] "Christmas EveL" received one music program award on the December 10, 2021, episode of Music Bank.

[edit] Credits adapted from the official website. Locations

JYP Publishing (KOMCA) – original publishing JYPE Studios – recording Larrabee Studios – mixing Sterling Sound – mastering Personnel

Stray Kids – lead vocals Bang Chan (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, arrangement Changbin (3Racha) – lyrics, composition Han (3Racha) – lyrics, composition HotSauce – composition, arrangement, keyboard, drum programming, computer programming KayOne Lee – digital editing Goo Hye-jin – recording Manny Marroquin – mixing Chris Galland – mix engineering Zach Pereyra – assistant Anthony Vilchis – assistant Chris Gehringer – mastering

[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Christmas EveL"

Chart (2021)

Peakposition

Global Excl. US (Billboard)

197

Hungary (Single Top 40)

23

Japan Download Songs (Billboard Japan)

51

Singapore Top Regional (RIAS)

25

South Korea (Gaon)

114

US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)

10

Monthly charts[edit]

Monthly chart performance for "Christmas EveL"

Chart (2021)

Position

South Korea Download (Gaon)

59

 

[edit]

Release dates and formats for "Christmas EveL"

Region

Date

Format

Label

Ref.

Various

November 29, 2021

Digital downloadstreaming

JYP

Most Christmas charts are dominated by cosy ballads and jingling pop, but Stray Kids’ "Christmas EveL" flips the script with a gritty hip‑hop beat and a tongue‑in‑cheek take on the season. Its swaggering bassline and crisp rap verses give it a shelf‑life beyond the December rush, making it a perfect pick for anyone who wants a festive soundtrack that feels more like a club night than a cosy fire-side. The track’s title itself is a playful pun, signalling that the group is comfortable poking fun at the saccharine side of the holidays while still delivering a catchy hook that sticks in your head long after the lights are taken down.

When curating a Christmas gathering, slot "Christmas EveL" after a string of traditional carols to lift the energy. Its two‑minute‑plus runtime is ideal for quick dance breaks between dinner courses or as a background track during gift‑unwrapping. Pair the song with neon lighting or a "light‑up" tree for a modern visual contrast – the track’s futuristic production pairs well with LED effects. If you have a karaoke set‑up, try the English‑spiced verses for a fun group sing‑along; the chorus is simple enough for non‑K‑pop fans to join in, creating a unifying moment that feels both global and distinctly seasonal.

The lyrical punch of "Christmas EveL" lies in its subversion of holiday expectations. While the hook repeats the festive phrase, the verses weave in references to consumer fatigue and the pressure to appear merry, a subtle critique wrapped in a danceable beat. Listeners tend to focus on the song’s energetic production, missing the nuance that the group is commenting on the commercialised side of December. Spotting lines about "faking smiles" or "gift‑wrapped stress" adds depth to the experience, turning a party anthem into a conversation starter about how we actually feel during the season.