Santa Baby, a Christmas song written in 1953 by Joan Javits, niece of Senator Jacob K. Javits, and a composer named Philip Springer, became a huge hit when Eartha Kitt lent her voice to it. Unlike other traditional songs played during the holiday season, Santa Baby makes no mention of…
Composed by lyricist Lou Baxter and lead singer Johnny Moore of The Drifters, Merry Christmas has been a traditional Christmas song since the late 1940s. The original version of this holiday classic was recorded by The Three Blazers, a rhythm and blues band formed by Johnny More, his…
Classic Christmas Music Origin and History of the Song An American Christmas song, with music and lyrics written by Tommie Connor, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" caused quite a stir at the time. Originally recorded by Jimmy Boyd, then 13, the lyrics of the song…
Although it is associated with Christmas and is not played strictly during the holiday season, the song called Home for the Holidays, whose title is often preceded by "There's No Place Like," refers more to Thanksgiving. This holiday is particularly celebrated in the United States, where it has a…
A huge hit by Elton John, for which he himself composed the music, "Step into Christmas" is now one of the favorite Christmas songs of the 21st century. However, when it was released as a single in 1973, it didn't achieve the success that had been hoped for. It took several years of airplay for it to finally become a...
In 1984, while watching a report on the American television network BBC, which was broadcasting images of the famine raging in Ethiopia, Midge Ure, rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, was suddenly inspired. Wanting to raise funds to help the Ethiopian population, he appealed to…
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas was popularized by American actor and singer Burl Ives, who was known for his impressive repertoire of songs. While he wasn't the first to perform this song, his version was the only one to achieve enormous success, and it was still being played on radio during the 1930s.
Edmund Sears, pastor of the Unitarium Church, claims to be the author of this old Christmas carol, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. The lyrics, composed in 1849, in both poem and song form, are said to have originated from one or two melodies, although the true authorship is unknown. However, we do know...
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year was composed in 1963 by Edward Pola, composer, actor, and television producer, and George Wyle, conductor and composer. The latter is well known for having written the theme song for the popular 1960s series, Gilligan's Island. The lyrics of the song…
One of the late Elvis Presley's biggest Christmas hits, Blue Christmas has long been a staple of traditional country songs played during the holiday season. However, while many believe he was the first to perform it, others have preceded him. That honor belongs to Doye O'Dell, a country singer from…
Composed by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr., "Wee Three Kings" is of Christian origin and refers to the Three Wise Men who came to offer their gifts to the baby Jesus on Christmas Day. Possibly dating from 1857, there is very little information about this ancient Christmas carol, like all…
Although Greensleeves was not originally a Christmas carol, it has since been revived and renamed What Child is This. According to history, it first appeared in manuscript form, written in honor of a lady with green sleeves named Anne Boleyn. Its title is said to come from…
Written in 1941, this Christmas carol, inspired by a 20th-century Czech lullaby, The Little Drummer Boy, was written by a teacher and classical composer named Katherine K. Davis. Originally titled Carol of the Drum, it was intended for an amateur choir composed solely of…
Come Divine Messiah is probably one of the oldest Christmas carols, as it most likely dates back to a very distant past. However, since there are very few traces of this popular song, there is no way of pinpointing the exact year it was composed. As for its…
Although not originally a Christmas carol, Ave Maria gradually became part of that category. This exceptional work by Franz Peter Schubert, an Austrian composer, dates back to 1826, when Schubert discovered the poetry of a man named Walter Scott, who inspired ten compositions. One of them, the Third Carol of Ellen…
In 1957, American country singer Bobby Helms performed a brand new Christmas song called "Jingle Bell Rock," which would go on to become an all-time classic. Co-writers Joseph Carlton Beal, a public relations executive, and James Ross Boothe, an advertising writer, were inspired by another popular Christmas song, "Jingle Bells," and…
A joint work by lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent, to which we could add the name of Buck Ram, the latter having written a poem with the same title and having claimed his rights, I'll Be Home for Christmas quickly became a very popular Christmas song. To write this carol, the co-authors…
Christmas Music – Christian Song Angels in Our Countryside is another popular Christmas carol, but it is unknown who composed the music and lyrics. However, it is known that it dates back to the 16th century. As for its origin, some claim that this song comes from Languedoc, while…
