Auld Lang WHAT?

It's that time of year when you hear this tune, especially today, New Year's Eve. 

Why it it typically heard only then. What does it mean?

We're not New Year’s Eve celebrants. Our get together will be at home watching movies that include New Year's Eve festivities and some include this tune — Auld Lang Syne. 

And, like us, you may not be the only one(s) curious about its history. Some may recall this exchange in the final scene of the 1989 rom-com film, When Harry Met Sally. It's when Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, as Harry and Sally, reunite at yet another New Year's Eve party.

Harry: [about Auld Lang Syne] What does this song mean? My whole life, I don't know what this song means. I mean, 'Should old acquaintance be forgot'. Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances? Or does it mean that if we happened to forget them, we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot 'em?

Sally: Well, maybe it just means that... we should remember that we forgot them, or something. Anyway, it's about old friends.

It’s a classic film and a wonderful way to spend New Year’s Eve. It's on our watch list along with An Affair to Remember. 

Fellow blogger David G. asked what makes a movie a classic and who decides and also what makes a film epic? So, of course, I did some research, there's a lot more info online.

According to some critics, criteria for what makes a movie classic or epic varies and can be a matter of personal opinion. A Classic film is considered one that has passed the test of time with lasting power over the years and decades (Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, Citizen Kane). These films often deal in emotional issues that people identify with, no matter how much time has elapsed; many contain lines that are remembered and quoted. An Epic film (Ben Hur, Star Wars) typically include spectacular settings, specially designed costumes, perhaps a sweeping musical score and ensemble cast. These are considered the most expensive films to produce. 

About Auld Lang Syne

Robert Burns

Credited to Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland, this oft-sung tune is set to a traditional Scottish folk melody. Burns never claimed the song as his own. In the latter years of his short life (he died aged 37), Burns had become an avid collector of Scottish folk songs and ballads. He described the words to the now classic tune as having been taken from fragments of a tune sung by a "old man." In collecting and writing songs to provide words for traditional Scottish airs, Burns regarded his efforts as service to Scotland. He never claimed Auld Lang Syne, which he described simply as an old fragment he had discovered.

In 1788, Burns transcribed and embellished the lowland song, but the poem didn't appear in print until shortly after his death in 1796. It's since become a timeless classic in the English-speaking world. Every year it's the tradition tune ringing in the New Year; sung, but not fully understood, by party goers worldwide.

The title, translated literally into standard English, is Old Long Since, which loosely translated from Scotish means ‘in remembrance of old times. The words have been interpreted as since long ago or for old times’ sake. The lyrics tell a tale of old friends who have parted and then meet again celebrating their long friendship with a drink. They reminisce and recall adventures and memories from long ago. Ironically, there is no specific reference to the New Year.

Guy Lombardo 

As Scots immigrated around the world, they took the song with them, and it's believed that's how it became known worldwide. 

The version sung today was popularized by Canadian bandleader Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians band. Their performance of Auld Lang Syne was broadcast nationally from the Roosevelt Grill in NYC every New Year’s Eve from 1929 to 1976. Variety named Lombardo the only Canadian to create an American tradition and Life wrote that if Lombardo failed to play it, the American public would not believe that a New Year had arrived.

Additionally, the song was used in films as early as the 1920s. As our plans include watching movies that include New Year's Eve, this post has a New Year's Eve Trivia Quiz

Spoiler Alert — this quiz is a bit harder than the Christmas song trivia quiz earlier. It's all fun, no prizes, just braggin' rights. Answers below, you can see how well you fared (no peeking).

Movie Trivia — New Year's Eve 

1. What movie and its sequel (starring Renée Zellweger) begins and ends on New Year's Eve, both times with a blank diary? 

2. What 1972 disaster movie involved a luxury cruise ship capsized by a rogue wave on New Year's Eve? 

3. What 1936 film had a married couple, based on characters by Dashiell Hammett, who wind up solving a mystery on New Year's Eve? What were their names and who played them?

4. What film has a woman seemingly stop aging beyond 29? She attends various New Year's Eve parties throughout the years; January 1 is her birthday in the film. 

5. This 1957 classic had two main characters (Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr) engaged to others, kiss on New Year's Eve and agree to meet up six months later atop the Empire State Building. Years later, it inspired a 1993 film with a similar theme that referenced this one. (Bonus points if you name both films.)

6. The plot of this Sandra Bullock rom-com begins on Christmas Day, and reaches a climax on New Year's Eve.

7. What classic musical film celebrates every holiday, including New Year's Eve? (Hint, it's the one in which White Christmas was introduced.)

8. This 1995 movie has a female cast that included Whitney Houston and Angela Basset. It starts and ends on New Year's Eve and follows four women dealing with deal with love, life, and friendship over the year.

9. This rom-com film features two women (played by Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) who  find love when least expected. Considered a holiday film, the final New Year's Eve is one of the movie's best parts (and a favorite of ours).

10. Both the 1960 and later 2001 remake of this film involve a casino heist on New Year's Eve.

11. This classic silent film starring Charlie Chaplin included a New Year's Eve party. Starring as The Lone Prospector who welcomes in the New Year by sitting on the streets alone listening as excited crowds sing Auld Lang Syne at a party.

12. The 1989 sequel of this popular film is partially set on a New Year's Eve when NYC citizens come together and sing Auld Lang Syne to banish evil from the city. 

13.This comedy (1983) starring Eddie Murphy spans Thanksgiving to year end. One of the film's crucial scenes happens on a train during a New Year's Eve party. (Hint: it involves switched identities between Murphy and Dan Ackroyd.)

14. A Christmas movie classic has the entire town singing a tune usually associated with New Year at the movie's end. (Hint: think Bedford Falls.)

15. This 2011 film wasn't a box office hit, but has a large ensemble cast and a title that befits the evening. It was entirely shot in NYC and directed by Garry Marshall and features stories of a number of New Yorkers on the celebrated night.  

16. This film, set in a fictional CA hotel, has interlocking tales that occur on New Year's Eve. A bellhop in his first night on the job has four different encounters. (Actor Bruce Willis is uncredited. He violated SAG (Screen Actors Guild) rules by acting free as a favor to director Quentin Tarantino. SAG agreed not to sue Willis if his name was omitted from the credits.)

Movie Trivia Answers

1. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001 and 2004), 2. The Poseidon Adventure, 3. After the Thin Man (Nick & Nora Charles, played by William Powell & Myrna Loy), 4. The Age of Adaline (2015), 5. An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle, 6. While You Were Sleeping (1995), 7. Holiday Inn (1942), 8. Waiting to Exhale, 9. The Holiday, 10. Oceans 11 (1960 and 2001), 11. The Gold Rush (1925), 12. Ghostbusters II (1989), 13. Trading Places (1983), 14. It's a Wonderful Life (1946), 15. New Year's Eve (2011), 16. Four Rooms (1995)

How did you do and are you planning to watch any films this weekend?

🎉Best wishes to Everyone for 2024🎊 

Thanks from Patrick (aka Grenville) for your comments regarding the New England village. He appreciated all and wanted to share that it will remain through mid-February should anyone be in Nashua, NH, and want to see it.

Do You Hear . . .

Singing penguins

'Tis the season for endless playing of holiday tunes everywhere, including our home. These ear worm tunes start airing in November and go through to Christmas Day. Of course, like many, we have favorites ranging from the standards of our childhood and there's interesting facts about many.

That said, here's some holiday song trivia (multiple choice and fill in the blank ?)

No prizes, just braggin' rights. Answers are provided below.

1. What popular holiday tune was written in 1962 during the Cold War?

Joy to the World, Little Drummer Boy, Do You Hear What I Hear?, I'll Be Home for Christmas

2. What's the best selling song ever, including Christmas?

White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Silent Night, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Some popular holiday albums

3. What's the best selling Christmas album?

Elvis Christmas, Miracles (Kenny G), The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole), Merry Christmas (Mariah Carey)

4. What popular holiday tune was written during a July 1945 heat wave?

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, White Christmas, The Christmas Song, We Need a Little Christmas

5. What popular song played at Christmas was written for another major holiday?

6. Complete the lyric, a ___convertible, light blue from what song?

7. What holiday song released in 1984 topped the charts in January 2021, 36 years after its release (sadly, the singer died early Christmas Day 2016)

8. What did Alvin want for Christmas in The Chipmunk Song?

hula hoop, bicycle, baseball glove, his front tooth

9. What artist or group has recorded the most Christmas albums?

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Mannheim Steamroller

10. What popular holiday songs has two titles; who first recorded it?

11. What singer popularized Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas in what film?

12. What (non-holiday) song did Hugh Grant dance to in Love Actually?

13. Cheers! What should we enjoy in A Holly Jolly Christmas; what did grandma have too much of before being run over by a reindeer?

14. Do you know how many gifts are given in The Twelve Days of Christmas?

15. What Christmas standard was first a popular WW II holiday tune?

Song Trivia Answers

1. Do You hear What I Hear? (really), 2. White Christmas, 3. Elvis' Christmas album (1957), 4. Let It Snow and The Christmas Song (both written during a July 1945 CA heat wave), 5. One Horse Open Sleigh (1857) which later was renamed Jingle Bells and written for Thanksgiving, 6. '54 from Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt), 7. Last Christmas (George Michael of Wham!), 8. hula hoop, 9. Mannheim Steamroller with 8, 10. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire) and Nat King Cole Trio first recorded it in June 1946, 11. Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), 12. Jump (for my Love) Pointer Sisters 1984, 13. cup of cheer and egg nog, 14. 364. 15. I'll Be Home for Christmas (recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby)

Rudolph by R. May (1939)

This tune came from a store promo . . .

In 1949, a recording of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by the singing cowboy and actor, Gene Autry was No. 1 on the U.S. charts the week of Christmas and it was his biggest hit. 

The song written by Johnny Marks was based on a 1939 story,  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, written by his brother-in-law, Robert L. May.

That story first appeared in 1939 when the Montgomery Ward company, a department store chain, asked one of its copywriters, 34-year-old May, to create a Christmas story it could give away to shoppers as a Christmas promotion. The retailer had been buying and giving away coloring books annually and decided that creating a book would save money. 

May created Rudolph as the ninth and youngest of Santa's reindeer, who uses his luminous red nose to lead the reindeer team and guide the sleigh on Christmas Eve. May considered "Rollo" or "Reginald" before selecting Rudolph, thankfully. 

The story goes that May while thinking about how to craft a reindeer story looked out his Chicago office window. When, a thick fog from Lake Michigan inspired him to use a bright red nose that would shine through it like a spotlight. Ironically, that story line was initially rejected as in 1930s popular culture, a bright red nose was associated with alcoholism and drunkards. May asked Denver Gillen, an illustrator friend at Montgomery Ward to draw cute reindeer. The alert, bouncy character that he created, convinced management to support the idea.The company gave away more than 2 million copies of the book in its first year, rising to 6 million copies by 1946. 

Holiday songs written by Jewish composers . . .

White Christmas (Irving Berlin)

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (Mel Torme & Robert Wells)

Let it Snow (Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne)

Santa Baby (Joan Javits & Phil Springer)

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (George Wyle & Eddie Pola)

Silver Bells (Ray Evans & Jay Livingston)

Walkin’ In a Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard & Richard B. Smith) 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, A Holly, Jolly Christmas, Silver and Gold (Johnny Marks)

Non-holiday songs played mainly during Christmas, include . . .

Let It Snow, Winter Wonderland, Baby, It's Cold Outside, Ave Maria, My Favorite Things, It's a Marshmallow World, Walking' in a Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman, You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), Carol of the Bells

This fun post was compiled from various internet sources and print articles. 

It was an interesting look at popular holiday tunes. Hope you enjoyed as well.🎄

Your turn — if you know any interesting song facts, please share in a comment !

No. 1 After 65 years

Did you hear that finally there's a new Christmas song queen this year ?

Brenda Lee now

The song that Brenda Lee recorded as a 13-year old teenager in 1958, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is the No. 1 song on the current Billboard Hot 100 for the first time beating out Mariah Carey's long-standing holiday tune, All I Want for Christmas, now at No. 2.

The 78-year old Lee is also the oldest artist to achieve this milestone. It's a tall one for the under 5-foot tall singer. It was 65 years ago in 1958 when Lee recorded the holiday song after signing a contract with Decca Records. In 2019, it peaked at No. 2. The song's 2023 triumph is partly credited to a newly released music video coinciding with the song’s 65th anniversary. Carey's holiday tune took 25 years to reach No. 1, released in 1994 it hit the top spot in 2019.

Home Alone 1990

The song was featured in the 1990 now classic Christmas movie, Home Alone. Coincidentally, this past week actor Macaulay Culkin, who starred in the film as the 8-year old Kevin McCallister reached permanent placement on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

This current No. 1 holiday status marks Lee's third career first top spot on the chart, her first since 1960, when she topped the charts with I’m Sorry and I Want to Be Wanted. During the 1960s, Lee had 37 U.S. chart hits, a number that's surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree was written by Johnny Marks, who specialized in writing Christmas songs despite being Jewish and not celebrating. His other holiday hits include Rudolph the red-Nosed Reindeer, A Holly Jolly Christmas, Silver and Gold, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. Marks is also credited with Run Rudolph Run written by Chuck Berry but credited to Marks due to his trademark on Rudolph.

Internet source

The Billboard Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the U. S. for songs and is published weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales, online streaming, and radio play in the U.S.

The 2023 triumph of Lee's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree has been credited to a newly released music video coinciding with its 65th anniversary. Lee, who turns 79 on December 11, pushed to help it climb the chart by recording the song's first official video, featuring cameo appearances by country superstars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood. The song has become an online sensation, according to online sources, with over 8 million views, nearly 35 million streams and 21 million radio plays to date this year.

In 2018, Billboard reconfigured its chart calculation formula, giving more weight to streaming and so catalog recordings, released a year ago or many years ago, would have a chance to chart alongside new material, as listeners are likely to stream old favorites repeatedly. During the holidays, artists usually don't release new tunes, more listeners turn to a shared body of well-loved holiday songs.

Mariah Carey 1994 Christmas album

Those Billboard changes impacted holiday music big time and in December 2018, All I Want for Christmas Is You went to No. 6 on the Hot 100, the highest position it had ever reached on the singles chart. Although it had debuted in 1994 on her fourth studio album and first holiday album, Merry Christmas (Columbia Records) it wasn't released as a commercial single and due to chart rules at the time, it was ineligible. 

All I Want for Christmas Is You has topped the Hot 100 every holiday for years. In December 2019, it went to No. 1 for the first time holding that spot for the next three years. It was Carey's first-ever No. 1 song on the chart. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree annually peaked at No. 14 on the Hot 100 in 1960, then at No. 2 between 2019 and 2022.

There's $$$ in that hit holiday tune too. Carey, who co-wrote All I Want for Christmas Is You with Walter Afanasieff, has profited $60 million from a tune that she said took 15 minutes to write. On average, she earns around $3 million each holiday season. That sum is higher up when she performs holiday concerts and tours and does holiday specials and endorsements.

Olivia Olson in 2003

Coincidentally, just like Lee's holiday tune, Carey's tune was prominently featured in another popular holiday movie. The character of Joanna Anderson (Olivia Olson) sang it towards the end of Love Actually (2003) at a school concert and had everyone in the film cheering. Reportedly, Olson's singing was so good that the film's producers had to ask her to tone it down to make it more believable. She had such an amazing voice that writer and director Richard Curtis had it edited so it sounded more like a child singing.

The Chipmunk Song

 As of this week, several other holiday favorites are in the top 10 list as well. Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms) is No. 4, Last Christmas (Wham!) is No. 5, A Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives) is No. 6 and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams) is No. 10. 

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is only the third holiday song to go all the way to No. 1 after All I Want for Christmas Is You. That's because Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Song) which was also released in 1958 (like Rockin') three weeks later topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was written by Ross Bagdasarian (stage name David Seville) who sang and recorded the song and varied tape speeds to produce high-pitched chipmunk voices. Vocals were credited to Alvin, Simon and Theodore, Seville's cartoon chipmunk group.

Merry Christmas to Brenda

It Christmas wishes do come true, Brenda Lee got hers early this year, after 65 years.

Here's some of my holiday favorites: I'll Be Home For Christmas and White Christmas🎄(1941, 1943 Bing Crosby), Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1944 Judy Garland), The Christmas Song (1961 Nat King Cole), It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (1963 Andy Williams), Christmastime Is Here (1965 Vince Guaraldi Trio), Merry Christmas, Darling (1970 Karen Carpenter), Last Christmas (1984 George Michael), Believe (2004 Josh Groban), Carol of the Bells (various artists).

🎄The first public performance of the song was by Crosby on Christmas Day, 1941, on his NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall, a few weeks after the Pearl harbor attack.

Plus, some holiday non-favorites: All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, Christmas Why Can't I Find You?🎄 Mele Kelikimaka, Blue Christmas, Dominick the Donkey, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Little St Nick, Jingle Bells (barked by dogs), Santa Baby, Christmas Don't be Late, Is Zat You Santa Claus?, Happy Xmas (War Is Over!), Do They Know It’s Christmas?

🎄Written by Mariah Carey, James Horner, Will Jennings for the 2000 film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and sung by Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen).

Your Turn — do you have some likes and absolute dislikes in holiday music ?

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Today, is a day to remember Pearl Harbor (Dec 7, 1941) for all the reasons already known.

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights begins tonight Dec 7 and continues to Friday, Dec 15.

Holiday Happiness is the F&P focus this month with trivia, concerts, decos and a road trip.

Holiday (Earworm) Song Trivia

Have you been listening to Christmas songs in recent weeks, whether at home or in retail settings and have you tired of them with just a week to go until Christmas?

We've been listening a lot of them and, by now, are fairly certain that we've heard most performed not only by not only the original artist, but various others too.

That because at our VA house, there was no Internet access (bummer for sure) so we listened to a Ocean City, MD radio station that played continuous holiday tunes. This weekend, while in PA for our granddaughter's 1st birthday and at a hotel with Internet access, I found out a lot more about some of our favorite (and not so favorite) "holiday" songs. So, I'm sharing what I learned in this rather long post cause you never know when you might need a bit of holiday song trivia at holiday parties. 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was introduced by Judy Garland (written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane)  in 1944 film Meet Me In St Louis in a scene set at a Christmas Eve gathering, her character, Esther, sings the song to cheer up her young sister, Tootie, played by Margaret O’Brien. In the film, the family is upset by the father's plans to relocate them to NYC for a job promotion, leaving behind their beloved home in St. Louis, MO, just before the long-anticipated 1904 World’s Fair  begins.

After hearing the original lyrics, Garland and others termed the song depressing and asked Martin to change the lyrics. Martin later changed the lyrics to make it more upbeat. The original lyrics "It may be your last / Next year we may all be living in the past" became "Let your heart be light / Next year all our troubles will be out of sight." In 1959, Frank Sinatra asked Martin to again make a change and revise "Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow ” as his holiday album was A Jolly Christmas and Sinatra wanted the line "jollier." Martin's changed it to "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.” (I still like Garland's version.)

The Christmas Song (commonly subtitled Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire was originally subtitled, Merry Christmas to You) is a classic Christmas song written in 1945 by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé who said it was written during a blistering hot summer in an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool.” 

This is one of the most popular Christmas songs as popularized by The Nat King Cole Trio early in 1946. At Cole's insistence and over objections of Capital Records, a second recording was made the same year adding a small string section. This version became a hit on the pop and R&B charts. In 1953, Cole recorded the song using the same arrangement with a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, and again in 1961, in a stereophonic version with orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael. (Cole's version remains the most heartwarming in my opinion.)

Santa Baby, recorded in 1952 by sultry songstress Eartha Kitt, is considered one  of the first holiday novelty songs. Before then, Christmas songs tended to be nostalgic. This one was different with Kitt singing about how she's been "good all year." She tells Santa that she expects expensive gifts: a sable fur, ’54 convertible (light blue), yacht, deed to a platinum mine, duplex and checks, decorations from Tiffany, ring (not on the phone). It was co-written by Joan Javits (niece of Sen. Jacob Javits) and Phillip Springer. It’s one of the only holiday songs written by a woman. Kitt said that it was one of her favorite songs to record. 

She died in 2008 at age 81 on Christmas Day. (No one does it better than Etta did.)

White Christmas, written by Irving Berlin, is most associated with singer Bing Crosby, who sang it in the 1954 film White Christmas which was the highest grossing movie of that year. Produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it was the first to be released in the new widescreen process of VistaVision. 

The recording is noted for Crosby's whistling during the second chorus.  This was not the song's first performance; Crosby originally performed it in 1941 on his NBC radio show, The Kraft Music Hall, then sang it in the 1942 film, Holiday Inn. In that film, the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1942. 

Initially, the song performed poorly, but by the end of October 1942, White Christmas topped the Your Hit Parade chart staying there until the new year. It has been noted that the mix of melancholy, “just like the ones I used to know” with comforting images of home "where the treetops glisten” resonated strongly with listeners during WW II. A few weeks after the Dec 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks Crosby introduced the song on a Christmas Day broadcast and The Armed Forces Network was overwhelmed with with requests. (It's not one of my favorite holiday tunes.)

Silver Bells was performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the 1951 film, The Lemon Drop Kid, based on a Damon Runyon story of gangsters and dolls. It was composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, songwriters for Paramount whose contracts would lapse if they didn't produce a song. Studio bosses wanted a holiday song. The song's lyrics are unique in that rather than the nostalgic or rural settings in many holiday tunes, the lyrics describe a modern setting of busy sidewalks and street lights and "Christmas time in the city."

While we own and have watched many holiday films (which we re-watch every Christmas season), this was a new "Christmas" one for us. We watched it this weekend in our hotel room via YouTube. It's a typical Bob Hope comedy with lots of side comments. Be sure to catch the last one, a reference to his long-time "road pics" partner Bing Crosby.

The song was originally titled Tinkle Bells until the wife of one of the song’s composers explained that the word was a a child's term for urination; the title was changed. In 1950, the first recorded version of Silver Bells was done by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards. (My favorite version was done by Dean Martin and featured on his 1966 Christmas LP.)

All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth was performed by Spike Jones & His City Slickers in December 1947 with lead vocal by George Rock. This novelty song was written in 1944 by school music teacher Donald Yetter Gardner who taught at Smithtown, NY public schools. When he asked his second grade class what they wanted for Christmas, he noticed that almost all had at least one front tooth missing and answered in a lisp. Gardner wrote the song in 30 minute and it was published in 1948 after an employee of Witmark music company heard him sing it at a music teachers' conference. The song was later performed by The Satisfiers on Perry Como's 1948 radio show. (I'm not a fan of this one.)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was co-written by Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots in 1932 and first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. 

The song became an quick hit hit and within 24 hours there were orders for 500,000 copies of sheet music and more than 30,000 records were sold. A 1951 version sung by Perry Como was the song's first measurable hit. Since then it's become a traditional holiday standard and has been covered by many recording artists

Perhaps one of the best-known versions is the 1975 live recording by rocker Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is a Christmas carol based on the poem Christmas Bells by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who wrote it on Christmas Day 1864 after personal tragedies had affected his family; the death of his wife and serious injury of his 17-year old son, a Union soldier. 

The poem wasn't written as a Christmas standard, but tells of the narrator's despair, upon hearing Christmas bells, that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men." It concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among men. Two stanzas of the poem describing the effects of the Civil War, and the sadness it caused never made it to the song. It was not until 1872 that the poem is known to have been set to music. An updated arrangement was written in 1950 by Johnny Marks who also wrote Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. (This message is heartfelt no matter who does it.)

All I Want for Christmas is a Hippopotamus was performed by 10-year old Gayla Peevey from Oklahoma who recorded the song in 1953. That Christmas, the song sold a record half million copies and she performed it on the Ed Sullivan Show. 

The Oklahoma City Zoo capitalized on the success of its local celebrity by starting a campaign to buy Gayla a hippo for Christmas, but she had to donate it to the zoo. When Mathilda, a 2-year-old hippopotamus, arrived on Christmas Eve. Gayla greeted her at the airport, then turned her over to the zoo. On Christmas day, over 10,000 visitors came to see the zoo’s first hippo. Nearly 50 years later, the song is still a favorite. (But not of mine.)

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus was originally recorded by 13-year old Jimmy Boyd in July 1952 and went to No. 1 on the pop singles chart in December 1952. The song, written by British songwriter Tommie Connor, was commissioned by Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC to promote the store's Christmas card that year. 

In the tune lyrics, a child walks downstairs from his bedroom on Christmas Eve to see his mother kissing "Santa Claus" under the mistletoe. When first released, the record was condemned by the Roman Catholic Church in Boston on the grounds that it mixed kissing with Christmas. The ban was later lifted. (Shame on the church, this one is classic from my childhood.)

Nuttin for Christmas (also called Nothing for Christmas) was written by Sid Tepper and Roy Bennett. It was a hit novelty song during the 1955 holiday season and appeared on the Billboard charts performed by five different artists. 

The highest charting version which peaked at No. 6 and became a million seller was recorded by Art Mooney and his orchestra with vocals by 6-year old Barry Gordon. Another popular version was performed by Stan Freeberg. (I can skip all versions.)
Barry Gordon was  a character actor, voice actor, talk show host and also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1988-1995. (I've never liked this song.)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was popularized by the singing cowboy Gene Autry and written by Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story of the same name published by the Montgomery Ward Company. Autrey’s recording was No. 1 on the U.S. charts on Christmas week 1949. His version was also the only chart-topping hit to fall completely off the chart after reaching No. 1.

Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) was written and sung by Autrey with music composed by Oakley Halderman. Autry's original version, which was a top 10 hit on the pop and country charts, has been done by various artists many times since then. He also performed the song in his 1949 movie, The Cowboy and the Indians.

Autry said he got the idea for the song while riding his horse in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade in Los Angeles, California. During the parade he heard crowds shouting, “Here Comes Santa Claus.” In the song, Autrey pronounces Santa Claus as "Santy Claus.” (Both are perennial favorites from childhood.)

The Chipmunks Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) is a 1958 novelty song written by Ross Bagdasarian (a.k.a. David Seville). It was written and sung by Bagdasarian in the form of a high-pitched voice, but the singing credits are given to The Chipmunks, a fictitious singing trio comprised of Alvin, Simon and Theodore. 

The song proved very successful and reached No. 1 on the Pop singles chart. It was The Chipmunks' first (and only) single. (Thank goodness for small favors.)

Some popularly regarded "holiday" songs actually have nothing to do with the Christmas season, including these favorites.

(We're) Walking in a Winter Wonderland was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard (music) and Richard B. Smith (lyricist). Through the years it's been recorded by over 200 different artists. It's considered a holiday song even there is no mention of Christmas in the lyrics, perhaps it's because sleigh bells are mentioned in the tune several times. In the first bridge section of the song, the snowman's name is "Parson Brown." In the second bridge, the snowman is called a "circus clown." In some versions of the song, the snowman is both Parson Brown and the circus clown.

The original recording was in 1934 by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra on RCA Bluebird. The biggest chart hit at its debut was done by Guy Lombardo's and his orchestra. Singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer took the song to #4 in Billboard's chart in 1946. The same season, Perry Como hit the retail top ten and recorded a new version for a 1959 Christmas album. (This one was in my famly's holiday record collection and I've always liked it.)

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow was written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, CA during a heat wave as they imagined cooler conditions. First recorded for RCA Victor in 1945 by Vaughn Monroe it became a popular hit and reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart in late January and through February, 1946.

Although the song's lyrics make no mention of Christmas, it's played regularly during the Christmas season and is often covered by various artists on Christmas-themed albums.

 of this tune in the past few weeks. (It's one of my favorites.)

Happy Holiday composed by Irving Berlin in 194 and introduced in 1942 film Holiday Inn by Bing Crosby and Majorie Reynolds (dubbed by Martha Mears). While commonly regarded as a Christmas song. It’s actually performed as a New Year’s Eve tune in the film and wishes everyone happy holidays throughout the year. 

The song was popularized by singer Andy Williams who used it as the opening to his holiday specials. (This was also a popular album in my family's holiday record collection. Andy owns the cover for me.)

Do you like (or intensely dislike) any of these tunes? 

Please share your own favorites or least favorites as well

AND, Many Thanks for all your comments on our (still) pending VA house sale. We (finally) will be back "home" in NH by late Monday and I will catch up on blog reading next week.