ASCAP lists top 25 holiday songs of the decade
The Eurythmics’ version of “Winter Wonderland” is the most popular version of the holiday classic played on the radio today, according to ASCAP. (Associated Press photo)
Happy Thanksgiving! The holiday season officially starts today, and it now becomes completely socially acceptable to play Christmas music. (Truth be told, I’ve been listening to holiday songs for several days now, even though I know it’s really too early.)
On Friday, I’ll have a round-up of some of the big new holiday albums out this year. Until then, check out the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ (ASCAP) report on the favorite holiday songs of the past decade:
Topping ASCAP’s holiday songs list of the decade is one of the oldest songs on the list: “Winter Wonderland.” It was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, and was an instant hit for legendary bandleader Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians who took it to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard charts the same year. Recordings by the Andrews Sisters and Perry Como, in 1946, established the song as a Yuletide favorite. Versions by the Eurythmics, Jewel and Air Supply are frequently heard on radio today.
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams knows something about holiday songs, having received an Emmy nomination this year for “I Wish I Could Be Santa Claus” from “A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa,” an original Christmas special with both story and songs by the renowned songwriter. He said in a news release: “This is a tough list for any of us to break into. There’s a sense that people tend to gravitate towards tradition, especially at the holidays, and our top 25 list confirms this. So, whether you’re listening to holiday music on an iPod or a vintage record player, these time-honored favorites are sure to evoke the magic of the season and memories of holidays past.”
The top 25 most-performed ASCAP holiday songs of the decade are listed below. Each song includes songwriter credits, and cites the most popular artist version played on radio today. The data was compiled with the help of Mediaguide, the most comprehensive digital audio performance tracking technology in the world.
1. Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics
2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat “King” Cole
3. Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Bruce Springsteen
6. White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Bublé
8. Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Daryl Hall & John Oates
9. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry
10. Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra
11. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
Performed by: Andy Williams
12. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Josh Groban
13. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee
14. Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Anne Murray
15. Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano
16. Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Beach Boys
17. A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives
18. Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley
19. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis
20. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor
Performed by: John Mellencamp
21. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Gene Autry
22. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como
23. Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)
24. Wonderful Christmastime
Written by: Paul McCartney (PRS)
Performed by: Paul McCartney
25. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure, Bob Geldof
Performed by: Band Aid
After the break, read some fun facts about the top 25 songs.
Some facts about the Top 25 ASCAP Holiday Songs:
- Oldest songs: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “Winter Wonderland” (both 1934)
- Newest song: “Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)” (1984)
- Most recorded holiday song: “White Christmas” with more than 500 versions in dozens of languages
- Songs introduced in film and television: “White Christmas” in “Holiday Inn” (1942); “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944); “Silver Bells” in “The Lemon Drop Kid” (1950); “A Holly Jolly Christmas” in TV special “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” (1962)
- Writer with most top holiday songs: Johnny Marks with three – “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”
- “Sleigh Ride” is the only holiday song on the list written originally as an instrumental piece for a symphony orchestra. The Boston Pops Orchestra gave the first performance in a concert conducted by Arthur Fiedler at Symphony Hall in Boston, May 4, 1948. Mills Music published it that same year. The Boston Pops Orchestra recorded it in June of 1949. Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1949.
- BAM
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