Here are a few of my “quickpicks”:
WHITE CHRISTMAS by Irving Berlin
“White Christmas” is perhaps the most beloved song in Christmas song lore having sold over 50 million records making it the best-selling single of all time (a must have record for most American families). Sung by Bing Crosby who was both a singer and an actor, this song tends to capture the very essence of Christmas…be it the landscape, the family togetherness and the nostalgic longing (“I’m dreaming…just like the ones I used to know”) for past Christmases. Bing Crosby entertained WWII troops with this song (along with Bob Hope) and went on to sing it in the musical Holiday Inn with Majorie Reynolds (from which the following extract is taken) and in the more famous movie White Christmas (made in 1954) which is shown every holiday period in America.
Lyrics: I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright and may all your Christmases be white
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear (to hear) sleigh bells in the snow
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright and may all your Christmases be white!
THE CHRISTMAS SONG by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells
“The Christmas Song” (sometimes known as “Chestnuts Roading on an Open Fire”) is another nostalgic song that was written in 1944 by musician, composer and singer Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Broadcasting Music Incorporated (BMI) it is the most performed Christmas Song in the English speaking world even though it was written during a very hot summer according to legend. Nat King Cole recorded it first in 1946 with Mel Torme recording it himself in 1954 and in the 60’s and as late as 1992. Hundreds of other American singers of different musical styles subsequently sang and recorded this song including it in their own Christmas album including Whitney Houston, Judy Garland, James Brown and Celine Dion. My favorite is perhaps the one sung by Johnny Mathis, the singer with the “velvety voice” from California. Here he sings it on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1991:
Lyrics:Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, And folks dressed up like Eskimos. Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, Help to make the season bright. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, Will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that Santa’s on his way; He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother’s child is gonna spy, To see if reindeer really know how to fly.And so I’m offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although it’s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you
They know that Santa’s on his way; He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother’s child is going to spy, To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I’m offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although it’s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
My Christmas song collection would be lost without a song sung by Frank Sinatra. One of my favorites is “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. It was written for a 1944 Hollywood musical, Meet Me In St. Louis in which Judy Garland sang this song. It immediately became popular and in 2007 BMI ranked “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” as the third most performed Christmas song of all times. Frank Sinatra’s interpretation does justice to the melancholy air and nostalgic lyrics and probably did more than anyone to push it up to third place. In this video we don’t see Frank singing but his voice accompanies the collage of Christmas card images that create the ideas that he is imparting:
Lyrics: Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
From now on our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
and have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
and have yourself a merry little Christmas now!
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!“, also known as “Let It Snow“, is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945. This song, believe it or not, was written in Hollywood, California during one of the hottest days on record. Dean Martin who was one of the most popular American entertainers of the mid-20th century, recorded this version in 1959 for a record album called “A Winter Romance”. Dean’s style is indicative of his jazzy fun loving style. It’s no wonder he was nicknamed “King of Cool”. He frequently was seen in Las Vegas as one of the “Rat Pack” (Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Junior, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. Sometimes Jerry Lewis would join them as Dean Martin had played in many of his comedy films. So let’s listen to a nostalgic song about the snow:
Deb's Quick Picks Blog 