Step into Christmas

November 1973 brought Elton John a festive anthem that refused to follow the standard holiday script. The track blended upbeat pop-rock with gospel-influenced choirs and a prominent organ arrangement, creating a communal spirit that stood apart from traditional seasonal releases. While it peaked at No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart, the song became a staple of British radio during the holidays and avoided the typical fade-out that plagues many novelty Christmas tracks.

Over fifty years later, the song found new life through a collaboration with Irish singer-songwriter CMAT. Commissioned as an Amazon Music Original, this reimagined duet dropped on November 5, 2026, aiming for the coveted UK Christmas Number One spot. Critics praised the update for capturing a joyful twist while maintaining the core charm of the original composition by John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. [edit]