Christmas is a celebration celebrated throughout the world by Christians and surprisingly non-Christians. Likewise, it is one of the greatest yearly celebrations globally, with billions of individuals participating in its festivals. The music during this holiday season makes this time of year so special. Christmas carols come in many different genres, like pop, R&B, country, and many more. Listed below is a little history on seven (7) special Christmas songs.
All I Want for Christmas
Mariah Carey’s hit song of the year, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” was first released in 1994, but it wasn’t until nearly two decades later that the catchy tune took on a life of its own. The single remained one of the most popular holiday tunes worldwide until 2015 when overjoyed fans started posting videos to YouTube of themselves singing along with their children. It became an amazing gift on Christmas day to witness even toddlers bouncing on their backs during that first refrain into “Santa Claus is Coming To Town.”
Feliz Navidad
Puerto Rican vocalist José Feliciano recorded “Feliz Navidad” in 1970; this Christmas jingle didn’t make it into the United States until 1998. The vocalist intended to record the melody with just Spanish verses; however, he decided to sing English verses. Singing the song in English also ensured American radio broadcasts would play the tune. Since then this, Feliz Navidad has continued to remain on Billboard’s 100 Holiday chart.
Santa Baby
Eartha Kitt previously sang this nervy Christmas hymn in 1953, which could be one of her most notable tunes. She was known to have said that “St Nick Baby” was one of her main tunes to record. With more than 500,000 duplicates sold, making it a guaranteed Gold Record, “Santa Clause Baby” is formally perhaps the most famous Christmas tune ever.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
For generations, this Christmas tune has delighted both children and adults alike. In 1939, Johnny Marks penned this holiday favorite. Gene Autry quickly recorded Rudolph Red Nosed Reindeer in 1949. The melody went right to number one on U.S. music diagrams. This song also gained popularity in 1964 all-time favorite Rankin/Bass Productions cartoon Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – what’s Christmas without watching Rudolph save Christmas?
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was sung by Judy Garland in the classic film Meet me in St. Louis. In 2004, this Christmas ditty was positioned number 76 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years… 100 Songs list. Likewise, it is on the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers’ most performed melodies during the Christmas season, positioning number three.
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
This song is famously known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.” This Christmas song became popular with Nat King Cole’s 1946 version. This critically acclaimed song joined the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1972.
A pleasant reality about the Christmas melody is that it was composed by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé. Surprisingly it only took them about 45 minutes to write this song on a swelteringly warm day in the late spring of 1945. Wells began writing it to attempt to take his brain off the warmth!
White Christmas
Sung by Bing Crosby, “White Christmas” is quite possibly the most famous Christmas song ever. The tune was composed by Irving Berlin for the 1942 film “Holiday Inn,” featuring Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds. White Christmas won the Academy Award for Best Song of the Year.
It was not until 1954 that it turned into the title melody in the film “White Christmas.” Bing Crosby’s chronicle of the tune has been named the best single ever by The Guinness Book of World Records, as it has sold more than 100 million copies globally. “White Christmas” is additionally the most recorded Christmas melody ever, with more than 500 distinct accounts to date.
Silent Night
‘Silent Night’ was first heard 202 years ago at Christmas Eve mass in Oberndorf. How did this simple melody become a beloved hymn of peace throughout the world with its words of comfort? This sentimental Christmas classic is about a special newborn child born on a calm and bright silent night. In 1816, a young priest, Joseph Mohr, from Austria wrote this sony not long after the Napoleonic wars had taken their toll.
Without carols and songs, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas. From angel-singing, bell-ringing ebullience to deep, spiritual contemplation, nothing can match Christmas songs to create an atmosphere festive. It does not matter if these songs are echoing through a vast cathedral, sung by children in a nativity play, or with family and friends around the Christmas Tree, their power to move can be simply overwhelming.
