December is here and seasonal music fills the air with almost disconcerting ubiquity. So, with songwriters happily napping with visions of royalty checks dancing in their heads, last week performing rights organization ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) announced its Top 25 most-performed Holiday songs for the first five years of the 21st Century. Recorded over and over, decade by decade, these Christmas/winter holiday favorites continue to appeal to young and old alike and pay the bills for many a songwriter.
The great songwriter Johnny Marks leads this list with three tunes — "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and "A Holly Jolly Christmas." They all sound pretty great to me.
Working the songwriting crowd, Marilyn Bergman, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board said, "More than anything else, music sets the mood for the Holidays, evoking the magic of the season and memories of Holidays past. These timeless classics have been recorded by artists in every genre, yet each song retains the original stamp of its creators."
Here's the list with some random commentary from me (song title, songwriters):
1. "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" - Mel Tormé,
Robert Wells
The most performed ASCAP Holiday Song of the 21st Century is "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" written by Robert Wells and the singing great, Mel Tormé. The song, written when Tormé was 19 and Wells was 22, became a seasonal classic with the release of Nat "King" Cole's 1946 recording. Cole's version remains the most popular on radio today. Other popular recordings include versions by Celine Dion, Luther Vandross and Natalie Cole.
2. "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" - Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Bruce Springsteen's version — based upon Spector's '63 arrangement for the Crystals — was recorded in 1975 when Springsteen was still young and hungry and just coming into his own as a real rock star. I love the playful banter with the band and the audience, the ebulience of the performance, and the jazzed satisfaction in Springsteen's voice that he finally had the attention of the world. That and Clarence's jolly "ho ho ho's."
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Eric,
These songs are basically all winners. This year I've picked up on "Holly Jolly Christmas" and really appreciate Burl Ives's interpretation. It just gushes holiday warmth and spirit.
Nat King (Never Sang a Bad Song) Cole's version of "The Christmas Song" is a must for the season to feel right, and Crosby's "White Christmas" sends shivers through me. Why? Because my father told me about the first time he heard that song (he was far away fighting the Germans in WWII).
There is one other song that failed to make your list that is just a delight. Take a listen to Diana Ross and The Supremes singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Me" and you'll believe the heavenly host came down to sing for you.
2 - Justene Adamec
Being forced to listen to XM radio's Xmas channels, I'm betting Frosty moves up this year.
3 - Eric Olsen
Victor, I think context was a large part of why "White Christmas" was such a huge hit early on and for the WWII generation.
I'll have to find that Supremes song - I don't know it offhand. But the list isn't "mine," its ASCAP's.
Justene, I'm surpised "Frosty" isn't on here, but maybe it isn't an ASCAP song
4 - Justene Adamec
It's there. Lowly 17.
I thought that White Christmas was a big hit because it was a Bing Crosby signature song, much like Sinatra and New York, New York.
5 - Eric Olsen
ah yes, #17, I thought it sounded familiar - "White Christmas" became his sig tune BECAUSE it was so popular and struck such an emotional/cultural chord
6 - Mark Sahm
This is a thorough post EO, but I have to be honest--- it perplexes me that people can listen to these same songs every year, over and over.
This is a list of music that makes me cringe. Having to walk into stores, restaurants, people's houses, etc. and hear them like evil mantras... well, it makes me want to put a mall Santa in a headlock and launch him into a Xmas tree. Luckily, I resist.
Okay, serenity now. Ho ho ho. ;o)
7 - Eric Olsen
they are ritualistic Mark, and we respond positively or negatively accordingly.
8 - Mark Sahm
Does that make me a Scrooge then?
9 - Eric Olsen
it is perhaps a Scrooge-like tendency - do you like the "Holiday Season"? What is the "meaning of Christmas"?
10 - Mark Sahm
Holidays are likable in that they get people to be giving to each other, and allow families to spend quality time together.
But being honest, should we really need specific days to do that? No. But we do. Such is part of the image. The music, decorations, etc.--- all to encourage us to be festive. I guess I don't need to fluff (like overplayed tunes) to make me realize what is important.
11 - Eric Olsen
I can understand that, but I see the package, the ritual, as a big part of the fun.
12 - Stephen V Funk
a few that I hope will make this list some day:
* "Christmas Time is Here" - this timeless Vince Guaraldi tune from the Charlie Brown Christmas TV special is becoming more and more of a holiday standard for good reason...
* "The Christmas Waltz" by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne - really sets a holiday mood and has been sung memorably by many including Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, and Karen Carpenter...
* "Snowfall" - this gorgeous Claude Thornhill tune is often done as an instrumental: the lyric deserves to be sung more often too (there are good versions by Tony Bennett and the Singers Unlimited)
* "It's Christmas Time" by The Qualities (a.k.a. Sun Ra) -- on "The Singles" collection... just because it's so insane...
13 - Eric Olsen
very nice SVF, thanks!
14 - Sterfish
I was kind of surprised to see "Wonderful Christmastime" on that list. I like the song, but it's more for its melody and refrain than any of the lyrics (and certainly not McCartney's vocals). (In a side note, check out the De La Soul song "Simply Havin'" to hear an excellent use of a sample from "Wonderful Christmastime").
I also definitely agree with "Christmas Time Is Here" eventually becoming a holiday standard. It's a great song. I especially love the instrumental version (the beginning is just wonderful).
15 - Eric Olsen
Guaraldi died far too young - I think he is just beginning to be appreciated by the wider culture now
16 - Jake
Clay Aiken opens his Christmas concerts with "Christmas Time Is Here" I had never heard it before last week. He's one of the few singers that do justice to Christmas music. The concert was excellent.