Christmas songs can usually be heard the day after Thanksgiving up until Christmas. By the time it finally roles around the songs can be quite over played. It seems like they are always playing the same ones even though there are tons to choose from. Here is my list of the top 10 traditional Christmas songs (in no particular order).
1. White Christmas - Irving Berlin wrote this song but the 1940's but it wasn't until 1942 when Bing Crosby introduced it in the musical Holiday Inn. It was at the top of the music charts for eleven weeks in 1942. It became the only song in history that has had three different runs at the top spot on the music charts.
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - This song was originally written from the Santa Claus story about his reindeer. Harry Brannon first sang it, but Gene Autry recorded the version most played in 1949. This is one of those songs you learn when you are little but it stays with you and you are never old enough to sing along.
3. Jingle Bell Rock - It was written by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe but was released by Bobby Helms in 1957. Jingle Bell Rock is often interpreted as a mix of Jingle Bells and Rock Around the Clock. This is also one of my favorite Christmas songs.
4. The Christmas Song - This song was written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells. Nat King Cole made the song popular in 1946 when they recorded it. They received a Grammy for the song in 1974 and since then is still a greatly played hit.
5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - This song was first introduced in 1944 in the musical Meet Me In St. Louis. Hugh Martin originally wrote it, but it wasn't until Frank Sinatra recorded another version in 1957 that it really took off. Today Sinatra's version is the most widely heard.
6. Jingle Bells - This is also one of my favorite Christmas songs. It's another one of the first Christmas songs for kids. James Lord Pierpont wrote it in 1857. The version today has been changed slightly but it still has the same meaning it did many years ago.
7. Winter Wonderland - Felix Bernard wrote this song in 1934. Today over 1,000 people have recorded their own versions of it. It is an oldie but still a favorite of many. This song always puts me in the mood for Christmas. I can just picture everything all Christmas like outside.
8. Let It Snow - Another one of those happy Christmas songs, I think it's best during the first snowfall of the year. It was written by Sammy Cahn in 1945. Frank Sinatra's version is most widely known and played during the Christmas season.
9. Silver Bells - It's a very catchy song written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. It was Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell that made the song popular in the movie The Lemon Drop Kid. It has also been recorded by a good number of other artists. It's a good song to get you in the mood for Christmas.
10. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - It was first written by Charles Wesley. This song was a very popular caroling song. It reminds me of Christmas Eve church service. I've sung it every year ever since I was little.
2 comments:
There are some good ones on this list. Jingle Bell Rock is one of my favorites too. I'm just happy to see that Santa Baby didn't make your list. That is easily my least favorite song of all time.
I loved this post!! Mainly because I love Christmas =) But I really liked how you talked about each song and gave it's background. It was really interesting; I didn't know a lot of the history. All these songs are definitely favorites of mine!
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